Aname intermedia sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7603502B-B1E2-4B9E-BFD0-73C6822041C3

Figs 1, 6, 29, 30

Diagnosis

Males of A. intermedia sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. attenuata, A. blackdownensis, A. convoluta sp. nov., A. ferruginea sp. nov., A. giraulti, A. pallida, and A. vigilata sp. nov. by a moderate to large body size (carapace length> 4.0 mm), and the presence of a long embolus (embolus length/ bulb length>1.5), a proximal excavation less than or equal to half the length of metatarsus I, and a prominent and sharp heel on metatarsus I (Fig. 29Q). Males of A. intermedia can be distinguished from those of A. attenuata, A. blackdownensis, A. convoluta, A. ferruginea, A. giraulti, A. pallida, and A. vigilata by the presence of a relatively wide basal section on the embolus, which then tapers to an attenuate, sinuous distal section after about 0.4 of length (similar to eddieorum -complex species) (Fig. 29L–M; cf. Figs 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27, 33).

Females of A. intermedia sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known by the presence of spermathecae with relatively short and wide lateral vesicles (lateral vesicle length / width ~1) and large, banana-shaped medial vesicles curving from a medial to lateral angle (medial vesicle length /lateral vesicle length ~2.6) (Fig. 30L).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ intermedia ’ is a Latin adjective referencing the intermediate morphology of this species between species of the pallida - and eddieorum -complexes.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Townsville, Condon; 19°20′ S, 146°42′ E; 12 Nov. 1979; V. Cataldo leg.; QMB S22502.

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 juv.; Granitevale Road, Alice River, SW of Townsville; 19°21′ S, 146°37′ E; 44 m a.s.l.; 17 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on bank (full of ant remains); QMB S118357 • 1 ♀; Jesmond Road, SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°08′ E; 364 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated; QMB S118353 • 1 juv.; Jesmond Road, SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°09′ E; 367 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated; QMB S118352 • 1 juv.; Jesmond Road, SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°09′ E; 340 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; open burrow on ground; QMB S118350 .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S22502)

GENERAL (Fig. 29A–Q). Body length 16.75, in moderate condition, leg I megaspines broken off, colour presumably faded.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 29A, E–F). Carapace length 7.14, width 5.78, length/width 1.24, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.63, carapace red-orange, caput slighty darker than thorax, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.13 (Fig. 29A, F); chelicerae red, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.47 (Fig. 29A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.95, eye tubercle present (Fig. 29E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 29B, D). Abdomen length 6.19, brown, dorsal pattern absent, with reflective setae on anterior portion.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 29C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 29H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 78, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length (Fig. 29C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 29C, I); sternum length/width 1.35, some posterior setae rubbed off, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 29G–H); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.21, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.14 (Fig. 29G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 29G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 29N–Q). Leg I orange-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, reflective setae on dorsal femur, femur length 5.68, patella length 3.64, tibia length 4.35, metatarsus length 3.84, tarsus length 2.39, total length 19.90, leg I length/carapace length 2.79 (Fig. 29N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 29N–O); spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1 (rubbed off), Pa PL 2 (distal rubbed off), Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 (Fig. 29N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.51, even width along length, spur present, intermediate triangular/digitiform, knuckle absent, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.44, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.61 (Fig. 29N–P); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel sharp, excavation length/ metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.47, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 3.49 (Fig. 29N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 29J–M). Tibia length 2.80, width 1.23, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.28, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.63, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent (Fig. 29J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 (distal rubbed off) spines (Fig. 29J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 29J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.73, length/palp tibia length 0.62 (Fig. 29L–M); bulb length/width 0.87 (Fig. 29L–M); embolus slightly reflexed, attenuate, with wide base tapering about halfway along into attenuate apical section, one slight bend, at about 0.4 of length, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.28, embolus length/bulb length 2.25 (Fig. 29L–M).

Female (QMB S118353)

GENERAL (Fig. 30A–L). Body length 23.00, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 30A, E–F). Carapace length 9.19, width 7.13, length/width 1.29, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.73, carapace red-brown, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.13 (Fig. 30A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.46 (Fig. 30A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.88, eye tubercle present (Fig. 30E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 30B, D). Abdomen length 9.43, dark brown, dorsal pattern absent, with full covering of reflective setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 30C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 30H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 100, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 45% of maxillae length (Fig. 30C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 30C, I); sternum length/width 1.22, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 30G–H); posterior sigilla ovoid, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.22, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.16 (Fig. 30G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 30G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 30J–K). Leg I red-brown, lighter on tarsus, femur length 6.47, patella length 4.37, tibia length 4.38, metatarsus length 3.96, tarsus length 2.48, total length 21.65, leg I length/carapace length 2.36; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 2, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 2, Ti RL 4 (2nd from proximal rubbed off), Me PL 2, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.00.

GENITALIA (Fig. 30D, L). Epigastric furrow unmodified (Fig. 30D); spermathecae with two vesicles each (Fig. 30L); lateral vesicle relatively straight, length 0.57, lateral vesicle length/genitalia width 0.19, length/width at base 0.95, crown un-demarcated (Fig. 30L); medial vesicle long, broad and curving from medial to lateral angle, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.49, length/width 5.82, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 2.6 (Fig. 30L).

Distribution and natural history

Aname intermedia sp. nov. occurs in north-eastern Queensland, near the boundaries of the Einsleigh Uplands, Desert Uplands, and Brigalow Belt North bioregions. It is known from two general localities, one in western Townsville and the other just west of Charters Towers (Fig. 6). It constructs an open, silk-lined burrow without silk outside of the entrance, often on an angle, and with a hidden secondary ‘wishbone’ entrance (Fig. 6).