Aname vigilata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4A3BB11D-5344-45DA-8FE4-5924A06D1FBD

Figs 6, 33

Diagnosis

Males of A. vigilata 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. intermedia sp. nov., and A. pallida 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. 33Q). Males of A. vigilata can be distinguished from those of A. ferruginea, A. giraulti, and A. pallida by the presence of an embolus that is not reflexed and does not have a small hook at the tip, and the presence of thorn-like setae along the retrolateral edge of the asetose depression on the palp tibia (Fig. 33K–M; cf. Figs 15, 25, 27). Males of A. vigilata can be distinguished from those of A. intermedia by the presence of a more gradually tapering embolus, with a narrower basal section (Fig. 33L–M; cf. Fig. 29). Males of A. vigilata can be distinguished from those of A. convoluta by the presence of a shorter embolus (embolus length/ bulb length <2) (Fig. 33L; cf. Fig. 23). Males of A. vigilata can be distinguished from those of A. attenuata by the presence of a copulatory organ with a more demarcated bulb and embolus (Fig. 33L; cf. Fig. 18). Males of A. vigilata can be distinguished from those of A. blackdownensis by the absence of erect, bristle-like setae on the posterior part of the abdomen (Fig. 33B, D; cf. Fig. 21).

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

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ vigilata ’ is a Latin adjective meaning ‘vigilant’ or ‘watchful’, alluding to the use of Shoalwater Bay (where the species occurs) as a military training area.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Shoalwater Bay, Manifold Road, near Manifold ruins; 22°40′ S, 150°42′ E; 14 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; QMB S20019.

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Shoalwater Bay; 22°40′ S, 150°41′ E; 15 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; QMB S20020 • 4 ♂♂; Shoalwater Bay; 22°40′ S, 150°42′ E; 13 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; pitfall trap, rainforest; QMB S20015 • 1 ♂; Shoalwater Bay; 22°40′ S, 150°40′ E; 16 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; QMB S20016 • 1 ♂; Shoalwater Bay; 22°40′ S, 150°41′ E; 12 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; pitfall trap; QMB S20013 • 2 ♂♂; Shoalwater Bay; 22°40′ S, 150°39’W; 13 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; QMB S60948 • 1 ♂; Shoalwater Bay; 22°44′ S, 150°48′ E; 19 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; QMB S20018 • 1 ♂; Shoalwater Bay; 22°45′ S, 150°47′ E; 19 Aug. 1991; J.C. Wombley leg.; QMB S20021 .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S20019)

GENERAL (Fig. 33A–Q). Body length 16.31, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 33A, E–F). Carapace length 6.44, width 5.26, length/width 1.22, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.69, caput width/carapace width 0.69, carapace red-brown, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, light on thorax, fovea straight, fovea width/carapace length 0.17 (Fig. 33A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.47 (Fig. 33A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.89, eye tubercle present (Fig. 33E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 33B, D). Abdomen length 6.83, dark grey-brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 33C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 33H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 105, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 35% of maxillae length (Fig. 33C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 33C, I); sternum length/width 1.19, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 33G–H); posterior sigilla ovoid, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.25, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.14 (Fig. 33G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 33G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 33N–Q). Leg I red-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 5.82, patella length 3.71, tibia length 4.18, metatarsus length 3.92, tarsus length 2.57, total length 20.20, leg I length/ carapace length 3.14 (Fig. 33N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 33N–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. 33N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.03, even width along length, spur present, digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 19 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.51, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.68, megaspine length/tibia length 0.25 (Fig. 33N–P); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel sharp, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.47, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 3.92 (Fig. 33N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 33J–M). Tibia length 2.72, width 1.05, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.60, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.59, retrolateral face with short, thorn-like setae along retrolateral edge of depression, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent (Fig. 33J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 33J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 33J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.73, length/palp tibia length 0.63 (Fig. 33L–M); bulb length/width 0.88 (Fig. 33L–M); embolus demarcated and roughly perpendicular to bulb, attenuate, tapering and curving relatively evenly to point, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.23, embolus length/bulb length 1.76 (Fig. 33L–M).

Distribution and natural history

Aname vigilata sp. nov. occurs in central-eastern Queensland, at Shoalwater Bay, in the Central Mackay Coast bioregion (Fig. 6). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown, but is likely to be similar to that of other pallida -complex species (Fig. 6).