Aname nigrochelicera sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 574949AA-6F83-4A52-9DD0-FC29BAF4A147

Figs 1, 12, 87–88

Diagnosis

Males of A. nigrochelicera sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. fuscochelicera sp. nov., A. inglewood sp. nov., and A. rubrochelicera sp. nov. by a moderate to large body size (carapace length> 4.0 mm), the presence of a short embolus (embolus length /bulb length <1.5) that is short, thick, and relatively straight, and a small, triangular tibial spur (Fig. 87L–P). Males of A. nigrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. inglewood by the presence of a shorter, less curved embolus (embolus length/ bulb length <1) (Fig. 87L–M; cf. Fig. 86). Males of A. nigrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. fuscochelicera by the presence of a shorter embolus (embolus length / bulb length <0.8) (Fig. 87L–M; cf. Fig. 84). Males of A. nigrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. rubrochelicera by the presence of a shorter proximal excavation and longer distal pad on metatarsus I (excavation length/ metatarsus length ~ 0.43; cf. ~ 0.53 in A. rubrochelicera) (Fig. 87L, Q; cf. Fig. 90).

Females of A. nigrochelicera sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. fossoria sp. nov., A. fuscochelicera sp. nov., A. nigrotarsa sp. nov., A. rubrochelicera sp. nov., and A. savannensis sp. nov. by the presence of spermathecae with two vesicles, with very short, wide lateral vesicles (lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width <0.25) and thinner medial vesicles projecting from the ventral face of the lateral vesicles (Fig. 88A–L). Females of A. nigrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. fossoria, A. fuscochelicera, and A. nigrotarsa by the presence of spermathecae with straight medial vesicles (Fig. 88L; cf. Figs 83, 85, 89). Females of A. nigrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. rubrochelicera and A. savannensis by the presence of spermathecae with lateral vesicles with narrow, round crowns (Fig. 88L; cf. Figs 91, 93).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ nigrochelicera ’ is an adjective formed from the Latin ‘ niger ’, meaning ‘black’ or ‘dark’, and ‘ chelicera ’, referring to the mouthparts of arachnids. Combined, the epithet references the black chelicerae of this species.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Emerald, Weewah camp; 23°32′ S, 148°02′ E; 3 Jan. 1973; R. Wicks leg.; QMB S96459.

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 juv.; Emerald, W on Capricorn Highway, near Fairbairn State Forest; 23°32′ S, 148°00′ E; 254 m a.s.l.; 18 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground (no silk, with parallel wishbone re-connecting to main shaft); QMB S118279 • 1 ♀; Roundstone, E on Dawson Highway; 24°37′ S, 149°49′ E; 202 m a.s.l.; 22 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground (no silk, with parallel wishbone re-connecting to main shaft); QMB S118300.

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S96459)

GENERAL (Fig. 87A–Q). Body length 19.50, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 87A, E–F). Carapace length 7.86, width 7.14, length/width 1.10, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.68, caput width/carapace width 0.73, carapace red-orange, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.12 (Fig. 87A, F); chelicerae red, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.53 (Fig. 87A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.14, eye tubercle present (Fig. 87E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 87B, D). Abdomen length 7.46, tan-brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 87C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 87H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 100, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 25% of maxillae length (Fig. 87C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 87C, I); sternum length/width 1.11, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, setae at higher density around anterior edges (Fig. 87G–H); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.22, posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.19 (Fig. 87G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 87G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 87N–Q). Leg I orange-brown, reflective setae on dorsal femur, femur length 6.61, patella length 3.93, tibia length 5.05, metatarsus length 5.03, tarsus length 3.32, total length 23.94, leg I length/ carapace length 3.05 (Fig. 87N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 87N–O); spine count Fe D 2, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 (Fig. 87N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.43, even width along length, spur present, triangular, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 20 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.57, spur height/tibia width [TISH/ TID] 0.54, megaspine length/tibia length 0.25 (Fig. 87N–P); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with slight heel, heel semi-sharp, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.43, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.36 (Fig. 87N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 87J–M). Tibia length 3.06, width 1.34, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.28, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.53, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with two spines below depression (1 rubbed off), prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine present (Fig. 87J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 87J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 87J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.31, length/palp tibia length 0.43 (Fig. 87L–M); bulb length/width 0.95 (Fig. 87L–M); embolus tapering from bulb, short and thick, flanged with hooked tip, angled, pointed tip, width at base/bulb width 0.26, embolus length/bulb length 0.78 (Fig. 87L–M).

Female (QMB S118300)

GENERAL (Fig. 88A–L). Body length 22.05, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 88A, E–F). Carapace length 8.00, width 6.58, length/width 1.22, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.68, caput width/carapace width 0.77, carapace tan-yellow, reflective setae absent or inconspicuous, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 (Fig. 88A, F); chelicerae dark brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.51 (Fig. 88A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.15, eye tubercle present (Fig. 88E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 88B, D). Abdomen length 9.42, brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 88C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 88H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 125, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 50% of maxillae length (Fig. 88C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 88C, I); sternum length/width 1.14, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, setae at higher density around anterior edges, symmetrical pattern of distinct elongate setae on central sternum (Fig. 88G–H); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.22, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.20 (Fig. 88G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 88G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 88J–K). Leg I femur length 5.88, patella length 3.70, tibia length 4.43, metatarsus length 3.75, tarsus length 2.53, total length 20.28, leg I length/carapace length 2.54; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 4, Ti RL 4, Me PL 2, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/ width [TIL/TID] 3.34.

GENITALIA (Fig. 88D, L). Epigastric furrow unmodified (Fig. 88D); spermathecae with two vesicles each (Fig. 88L); lateral vesicle very wide, short and roughly triangular, length 0.18, lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width 0.14, length/width at base 0.41, crown distinct and narrow (Fig. 88L); medial vesicle short, undulating, and projecting postero-ventrally, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.16, length/ width 3, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 1.1 (Fig. 88L).

Distribution and natural history

Aname nigrochelicera sp. nov. occurs in central Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt North bioregion, where it is known from two localities, west near Emerald, and further east near Biloela (Fig. 12). It constructs an open burrow with very inconspicuous (or absent) silk-lining and often without a secondary ‘wishbone’ entrance, or if a wishbone is present, the tunnels of the two entrances run parallel and adjacent to one another (Fig. 12).