Aname rubrochelicera sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A6251250-5C8F-400C-B43F-15C4DAB67C48

Figs 1, 12, 90–91

Diagnosis

Males of A. rubrochelicera sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. fuscochelicera sp. nov., A. inglewood sp. nov., and A. nigrochelicera 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. 90L–Q). Males of A. rubrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. inglewood by the presence of a shorter, less curved embolus (embolus length / bulb length <1) (Fig. 90L–M; cf. Fig. 86). Males of A. rubrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. fuscochelicera by the presence of a shorter embolus (embolus length / bulb length <0.8) (Fig. 90L–M; cf. Fig. 84). Males of A. rubrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. nigrochelicera by the presence of a longer proximal excavation and shorter distal pad on metatarsus I (excavation length/ metatarsus length ~ 0.53; cf. ~ 0.43 in A. nigrochelicera) (Fig. 90Q; cf. Fig. 87).

Females of A. rubrochelicera sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. fossoria sp. nov., A. fuscochelicera sp. nov., A. nigrochelicera sp. nov., A. nigrotarsa 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. 91A–L). Females of A. rubrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. fossoria, A. fuscochelicera, and A. nigrotarsa by the presence of spermathecae with straight medial vesicles (Fig. 91L; cf. Figs 83, 85, 89). Females of A. rubrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. nigrochelicera by the presence of spermathecae with lateral vesicles without narrow, round crowns (Fig. 91L; cf. Fig. 88). Females of A. rubrochelicera can be distinguished from those of A. savannensis by the presence of spermathecae with medial vesicles with distally-flattened crowns (Fig. 91L; cf. Fig. 93).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ rubrochelicera ’ is an adjective formed from the Latin ‘ rubro ’, meaning ‘red’, and ‘ chelicera ’, referring to the mouthparts of arachnids. Combined, the epithet references the red chelicerae of this species.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Longreach, “Bexley” property; 23°12′ S, 144°19′ E; 200-250 m a.s.l.; 1987; A. Emmott leg.; hand collected, wandering, sandy soil; QMB S25637.

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♀; Emerald, near Mayfair Drive; 23°33′ S, 148°10′ E; 10 Aug. 2020; E.J. Briggs and B.R. Briggs leg.; excavated; QMB S118210 • 1 ♀; Barcaldine, 780 Barcaldine-Isisford Road, “River Drive”; 23°38′ S, 145°13′ E; 25 Aug. 2010; L. Coward and R. Coward leg.; excavated, found in yard while gardening; QMB S29059 • 1 ♀; Alpha, off Star Downs Road, near junction of Tambo Road; 23°39′ S, 146°39′ E; 351 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground (no silk, no wishbone); QMB S118285 • 1 juv.; Drummond Range, Lookout off Capricorn Highway; 23°39′ S, 147°12′ E; 544 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground (no silk, no wishbone); QMB S118287 • 1 juv.; Minerva Hills National Park, off Dendle Scenic Drive; 24°06′ S, 148°03′ E; 422 m a.s.l.; 17 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground (no silk, no wishbone); QMB S118275 • 1 juv.; Minerva Hills National Park, off Dendle Scenic Drive; 24°06′ S, 148°03′ E; 416 m a.s.l.; 17 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground (no silk, no wishbone); QMB S118274 • 1 ♂; Blackall; 24°26′ S, 145°28′ E; 5 Feb. 1979; P.R. Wilson leg.; QMB S96435 .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S25637)

GENERAL (Fig. 90A–Q). Body length 20.17, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 90A, E–F). Carapace length 8.07, width 6.97, length/width 1.16, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.68, caput width/carapace width 0.63, carapace orange, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, light on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/ carapace length 0.12 (Fig. 90A, F); chelicerae orange, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.44 (Fig. 90A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.09, eye tubercle present (Fig. 90E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 90B, D). Abdomen length 8.54, tan-brown, darker dorsally and lighter laterally, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 90C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 90H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 57, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 25% of maxillae length (Fig. 90C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 90C, I); sternum length/width 1.11, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 90G–H); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.23, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.18 (Fig. 90G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 90G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 90N–Q). Leg I pallid, femur length 6.73, patella length 4.15, tibia length 5.01, metatarsus length 4.75, tarsus length 2.98, total length 23.62, leg I length/carapace length 2.93 (Fig. 90N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 90N–O); spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 2, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 2, Ti RL 0, Me PL 1, Me RL 0, Ta 0 (Fig. 90N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.23, even width along length, spur present, triangular, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 33 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.51, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.51, megaspine length/tibia length 0.20 (Fig. 90N–P); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with slight heel, heel semi-sharp, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.53, metatarsus length/ width [MIL/MID] 3.69 (Fig. 90N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 90J–M). Tibia length 3.03, width 1.31, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.32, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.47, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with patch of spines on distal half, disto-medial spine present (Fig. 90J–K); patella prolateral face with 5 spines (Fig. 90J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 90J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.49, length/palp tibia length 0.49 (Fig. 90L–M); bulb length/width 1.12 (Fig. 90L–M); embolus tapering from bulb, short and thick, flanged with hooked tip, angled, pointed tip, width at base/bulb width 0.31, embolus length/bulb length 0.70 (Fig. 90L–M).

Female (QMB S118285)

GENERAL (Fig. 91A–L). Body length 23.15, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 91A, E–F). Carapace length 9.28, width 7.53, length/width 1.23, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.70, caput width/carapace width 0.77, carapace pallid-orange, reflective setae absent or inconspicuous, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.12 (Fig. 91A, F); chelicerae orange, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.48 (Fig. 91A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.08, eye tubercle present (Fig. 91E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 91B, D). Abdomen length 9.60, tan-brown, darker dorsally and lighter laterally, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 91C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 91H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 151, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 45% of maxillae length (Fig. 91C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 91C, I); sternum length/width 1.24, 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. 91G–H); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.21, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.16 (Fig. 91G–H); other sigilla small and lateral, medial sigilla semi-elongate, anterior sigilla round (Fig. 91G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 91J–K). Leg I pallid, femur length 7.26, patella length 4.47, tibia length 5.26, metatarsus length 5.10, tarsus length 2.57, total length 24.65, leg I length/carapace length 2.66; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 2, Pa PL 3 (proximal rubbed off), Ti PL 4, Ti RL 4, Me PL 4, Me RL 4, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.33.

GENITALIA (Fig. 91D, L). Epigastric furrow unmodified (Fig. 91D); spermathecae with two vesicles each (Fig. 91L); lateral vesicle very wide, short and roughly triangular, length 0.42, lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width 0.22, length/width at base 0.48, crown un-demarcated (Fig. 91L); medial vesicle short, undulating, and projecting postero-ventrally, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.19, length/width 2.65, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 0.86 (Fig. 91L).

Distribution and natural history

Aname rubrochelicera sp. nov. occurs in central Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt North, Desert Uplands, and Mitchell Grass Downs bioregions; it is known from Longreach east to Emerald, and as far south as Blackall and Springsure (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).