Aname flexicaudula sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BC0DE856-8900-41F2-BD36-D16165F8753C

Figs 13, 102

Diagnosis

Males of A. flexicaudula sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. broadwater sp. nov. by a small body size (carapace length <4.0 mm), and the presence of a long embolus (embolus length / bulb length>1.5) that is reflexed relative to the bulb and relatively straight (Fig. 102K–P). Males of A. flexicaudula can be distinguished from those of A. broadwater by presence of a thicker tibia I (tibia length/ width ~3.5; cf. ~ 3.1 in A. broadwater) with a proximally-positioned tibial spur (length to spur/ tibia length ~ 0.4; cf. ~ 0.5 in A. broadwater) (Fig. 102P; cf. Fig. 101).

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

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ flexicaudula ’ is an adjective formed from the Latin ‘ flexus ’, meaning ‘bent’, and ‘ cauda ’ meaning ‘tail’ or ‘appendage’, and the diminutive suffix ‘- ula ’. Combined, the epithet references the small size of the species, and its distinctive, long, reflexed embolus.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°01′ S, 147°54′ E; 720 m a.s.l.; 26 Sep.–2 Nov. 2012; N. Starick, C. Lambkin, S. Wright and B. Keith leg.; pitfall trap; QMB S27992.

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S27992)

GENERAL (Fig. 102A–Q). Body length 7.41, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 102A, E–F). Carapace length 3.07, width 2.45, length/width 1.25, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.65, caput width/carapace width 0.66, carapace red-brown, caput slighty darker than thorax, reflective setae absent or inconspicuous, fovea straight, fovea width/carapace length 0.12 (Fig. 102A, F); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum present, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.55 (Fig. 102A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.1, eye tubercle present (Fig. 102E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 102B, D). Abdomen length 2.62, charcoal dorsally, pallid laterally, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 102C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 102H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 92, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 60% of maxillae length (Fig. 102C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 102C, I); sternum length/width 1.35, central sternum with consistent covering of very short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 102G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 102N–Q). Leg I pallid, darker on distal femur and patella, femur length 2.59, patella length 1.52, tibia length 1.74, metatarsus length 1.83, tarsus length 1.28, total length 8.96, leg I length/carapace length 2.92 (Fig. 102N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 102N–O); spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 (Fig. 102N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.11, even width along length, spur present, digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 22 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.42, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.64, megaspine length/tibia length 0.38 (Fig. 102N–P); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation straight with inconspicuous heel, heel rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.48, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.16 (Fig. 102N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 102J–M). Tibia length 1.53, width 0.54, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.81, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.67, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventrabl face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent (Fig. 102J–K); patella prolateral face with 0 spines (Fig. 102J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 102J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.09, length/palp tibia length 0.71 (Fig. 102L–M); bulb length/width 1.02 (Fig. 102L–M); embolus strongly reflexed, attenuate, long and relatively straight, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.19, embolus length/bulb length 2.26 (Fig. 102L–M).

Distribution and natural history

Aname flexicaudula sp. nov. occurs in central Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt South bioregion, in the Mount Moffatt region of Carnarvon National Park (Fig. 13). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown.