Aname corundaria sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 38B0827E-31D8-4554-B082-CFFAE64BDF72

Figs 13, 95

Diagnosis

Males of A. corundaria sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. callitra sp. nov. by a small body size (carapace length <4.0 mm), and the presence of a copulatory organ with a short embolus (embolus length/ bulb length <1.5) and an angular bulb with a slight ridge adjacent to the embolus (Fig. 95J–Q). Males of A. corundaria can be distinguished from those of A. callitra by the presence of a thinner, more strongly curved embolus (Fig. 95L–M; cf. Fig. 94).

Females of A. corundaria sp. nov. are unknown.

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ corundaria ’ is an adjective formed from the Latinised ‘ corundum ’, meaning the mineral corundum that forms sapphires and rubies, and the suffix ‘- aria ’ denoting a connection or association, in reference to the distribution of this species near the ‘Gemfields’ region of central Queensland, which is famous for its sapphire and ruby deposits.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Drummond Range, summit; 23°32′ S, 147°18′ E; 920 m a.s.l.; 18 Dec. 2000 – 27 Mar. 2001; D.J. Cook and G.B. Monteith leg.; pitfall trap, open forest; QMB S63017.

Paratype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Sapphire; 23°28′ S, 147°43′ E; 2 Feb. 1991; L. Kempson leg.; QMB S118365.

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Alpha; 23°39′ S, 146°38′ E; Jun. 1981; Alpha Hospital leg.; QMB S9753 .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S63017)

GENERAL (Fig. 95A–Q). Body length 19.12, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 95A, E–F). Carapace length 6.69, width 5.42, length/width 1.24, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.69, caput width/carapace width 0.66, carapace red-brown, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 (Fig. 95A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.60 (Fig. 95A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.94, eye tubercle present (Fig. 95E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 95B, D). Abdomen length 7.64, grey-brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 95C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 95H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 160, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 45% of maxillae length (Fig. 95C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 95C, I); sternum length/width 1.26, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 95G–H); posterior sigilla ovoid, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.24, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.10 (Fig. 95G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 95G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 95N–Q). Leg I red-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, reflective setae on dorsal femur, femur length 5.36, patella length 3.58, tibia length 3.84, metatarsus length 4.37, tarsus length 2.49, total length 19.64, leg I length/carapace length 2.93 (Fig. 95N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 95N–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. 95N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 2.91, widening from proximal end to spur before narrowing again towards distal end, spur present, digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 26 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.58, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.62, megaspine length/tibia length 0.21 (Fig. 95N–P); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with inconspicuous heel, heel rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.53, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.39 (Fig. 95N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 95J–M). Tibia length 2.45, width 1.18, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.08, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.54, retrolateral face with short, thorn-like setae along retrolateral edge of depression, getting denser proximally, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with patch of spines on distal half, disto-medial spine present (Fig. 95J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 95J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 95J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.22, length/palp tibia length 0.50 (Fig. 95L–M); bulb length/width 1.10, with angular ridge on bulb adjacent to embolus, embolus tapering and curving relatively evenly to point (Fig. 95L–M); embolus slightly reflexed, attenuate, tapering and curving relatively evenly to point, width at base/bulb width 0.16, embolus length/bulb length 0.97 (Fig. 95L–M).

Distribution and natural history

Aname corundaria sp. nov. occurs in central Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt North bioregion. It is known from three locations, near Sapphire, Drummond Range, and Alpha respectively (Fig. 13). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown.