Aname gilbertensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4751401B-03B6-4DC4-A76C-BC0F677D363B

Figs 13, 97

Diagnosis

Males of A. gilbertensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. aurantella sp. nov. and A. pyroensis 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 curves gradually to a point, a triangular tibial spur (rather than more digitiform), a tibial megaspine of moderate length (megaspine length/ tibia length 0.25–0.3), and short thorn-like setae along the retrolateral edge of the asetose depression on palp tibia (Fig. 97A–Q). Males of A. gilbertensis can be distinguished from those of A. aurantella by the presence of a more sinuous metatarsus I, with a longer proximal excavation (excavation length / metatarsus length ~0.5; cf. ~0.4) (Fig. 97Q; cf. Fig. 96). Males of A. gilbertensis can be distinguished from those of A. pyroensis by the presence of a thicker, more strongly curving embolus (Fig. 97L–M; cf. Fig. 98).

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

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ gilbertensis ’ references the distribution of this species near the Gilbert River of the Gulf of Carpentaria, in northern Queensland.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Marsupial Creek, 94 km W of Georgetown; 18°16′ S, 142°41′ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 5–11 Feb. 1998; G.B. Monteith and D.J. Cook leg.; pitfall trap, open forest; QMB S57129.

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂, 2 juvs; Marsupial Creek, 94 km W of Georgetown; 18°16′ S, 142°41′ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 5–11 Feb. 1998; G.B. Monteith and D.J. Cook leg.; pitfall trap, open forest; QMB S118366 .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S57129)

GENERAL (Fig. 97A–Q). Body length 13.92, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 97A, E–F). Carapace length 4.66, width 3.99, length/width 1.17, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.68, caput width/carapace width 0.71, carapace red-brown, caput slighty darker than thorax, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.15 (Fig. 97A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.69 (Fig. 97A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.88, eye tubercle present (Fig. 97E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 97B, D). Abdomen length 5.92, grey-brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 97C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 97H); maxillae heel absent or inconspicuous, cuspules present, count = about 60, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 45% of maxillae length (Fig. 97C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 97C, I); sternum length/width 1.27, many setae rubbed off, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 97G–H); posterior sigilla ovoid, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.23, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.15 (Fig. 97G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 97G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 97N–Q). Leg I orange-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, reflective setae on dorsal femur, femur length 4.15, patella length 2.74, tibia length 3.07, metatarsus length 3.01, tarsus length 1.83, total length 14.80, leg I length/carapace length 3.17 (Fig. 97N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 97N–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. 97N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.21, even width along length, spur present, triangular, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 27 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.56, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.52, megaspine length/tibia length 0.28 (Fig. 97N– P); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with slight heel, heel rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.53, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.26 (Fig. 97N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 97J–M). Tibia length 2.07, width 0.86, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.42, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.51, 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 two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine present (Fig. 97J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 (proximal spine weak) spines (Fig. 97J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 97J–K); copulatory organ total length 0.93, length/palp tibia length 0.45 (Fig. 97L–M); bulb length/width 0.98 (Fig. 97L–M); embolus demarcated and roughly perpendicular to bulb, attenuate, tapering and curving relatively evenly to point, small hook on tip, width at base/bulb width 0.21, embolus length/bulb length 1.33 (Fig. 97L–M).

Distribution and natural history

Aname gilbertensis sp. nov. occurs in northern Queensland, near the boundary of the Einasleigh Uplands and Gulf Plains bioregions, near the town of Gilbert River (Fig. 13). The burrow constructed by specimens of this species is unknown.