Aname pyroensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E4E3B890-B323-43B3-94DD-3517C2C9A1C4

Figs 13, 98

Diagnosis

Males of A. pyroensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. aurantella sp. nov. and A. gilbertensis 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 the palp tibia (Fig. 98A–Q). Males of A. pyroensis 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. 98Q; cf. Fig. 96). Males of A. pyroensis can be distinguished from those of A. gilbertensis by the presence of a thinner, straighter embolus (Fig. 98L– M; cf. Fig. 97).

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

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ pyroensis ’ is a Latin adjective meaning ‘fire-born’, referencing both the fiery colours of the holotype of this species, and the type locality, which is near the Undara Lava Tubes.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Undara Lava Tunnels [tubes], near 100 mile scrub; 18°13′ S, 144°34′ E; 20 Sep. 1989; Operation Raleigh leg.; on granite, open woodland; QMB S24999.

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S24999)

GENERAL (Fig. 98A–Q). Body length 15.52, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 98A, E–F). Carapace length 6.25, width 5.21, length/width 1.20, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.70, caput width/carapace width 0.65, carapace red-brown, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, light on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.15 (Fig. 98A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.53 (Fig. 98A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.14, eye tubercle present (Fig. 98E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 98B, D). Abdomen length 6.06, grey-brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 98C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 98H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 68, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length (Fig. 98C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 98C, I); sternum length/width 1.22, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 98G–H); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.25, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.15 (Fig. 98G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 98G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 98N–Q). Leg I orange, darker on femur and patella, reflective setae on dorsal femur, femur length 5.36, patella length 3.41, tibia length 3.86, metatarsus length 3.97, tarsus length 2.33, total length 18.93, leg I length/carapace length 3.03 (Fig. 98N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 98N– 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. 98N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.23, even width along length, spur present, triangular, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 22 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.56, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.54, megaspine length/tibia length 0.26 (Fig. 98N–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] 4.65 (Fig. 98N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 98J–M). Tibia length 2.77, width 1.14, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.43, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.49, retrolateral face with short, thorn-like setae along retrolateral edge of depression, getting denser proximally, ventral face with one elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent (Fig. 98J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 98J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 98J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.32, length/palp tibia length 0.48 (Fig. 98L–M); bulb length/width 1.03 (Fig. 98L–M); embolus demarcated and roughly perpendicular to bulb, attenuate, tapering and curving relatively evenly to point, width at base/bulb width 0.20, embolus length/bulb length 1.09 (Fig. 98L–M).

Distribution and natural history

Aname pyroensis sp. nov. occurs in northern Queensland, in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion. It is known from a single location in Undara Volcanic National Park (Fig. 13). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown.