Aname aurensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3DE17C41-ABD3-42DD-B713-EFD9B910F24E

Figs 1, 7, 34–35

Diagnosis

Males of A. aurensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. briggsi sp. nov., A. eddieorum sp. nov., A. hughenden sp. nov., A. longitheca, A. mulgana sp. nov., A. rupicola sp. nov., and A. warrego sp. nov. by a moderate to large body size (carapace length> 4.0 mm), the presence of a long embolus (embolus length / bulb length>1.5) that has a relatively wide basal section tapering into an attenuate, sinuous distal section after about 0.4 of length, and the absence of a prominent sharp heel on metatarsus I (as in the pallida -complex) (Fig. 34L–M). Males of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. eddieorum, A. longitheca, and A. warrego by the presence of a tibia I that widens from the proximal end to the base of the tibial spur when in lateral view (Fig. 34P; cf. Figs 39, 42, 48). Males of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. briggsi, A. hughenden, and A. mulgana by the presence of a shorter embolus (embolus length /bulb length <2.5) (Fig. 34L–M; cf. Figs 36, 41, 44). Males of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. rupicola by the presence of a longer distal pad and shorter proximal excavation on metatarsus I (excavation length / metatarsus length ~0.37; cf. ~ 0.46 in A. rupicola) (Fig. 34Q; cf. Fig. 46).

Females of A. aurensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. briggsi sp. nov., A. camara, A. dingo sp. nov., A. eddieorum sp. nov., A. longitheca, A. mulgana sp. nov., and A. rupicola sp. nov. by the presence of spermathecae with two vesicles, with relatively long and straight lateral vesicles (lateral vesicle length / genitalia width>0.25) and long medial vesicles (medial vesicle length / lateral vesicle length>1) that project medially or posteromedially, before undulating anteriorly (Fig. 35L). Females of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. eddieorum and A. mulgana by the presence of spermathecae with lateral vesicles terminating in narrower ends (Fig. 35L; cf. Figs 40, 45). Females of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. camara by the presence of a darker body colouration and spermathecae with longer vesicles (lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width> 0.35) with less widely-spaced crowns (distance between crowns less than length of lateral vesicles) (Fig. 35A–L; cf. Fig. 107). Females of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. briggsi by the presence of spermathecae with less elongate lateral and medial vesicles (medial vesicle length/ genitalia width <0.65) (Fig. 35L; cf. Fig. 37). Females of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. rupicola by the presence of spermathecae with straighter lateral vesicles (Fig. 35L; cf. Fig. 47). Females of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. longitheca by the presence of spermathecae with shorter medial vesicles (medial vesicle length/ genitalia width usually <0.6), and the absence of dark patches of cuticle on the sternum, surrounding and lateral of the sigilla (Fig. 35G–I, L; cf. Fig. 43). Females of A. aurensis can be distinguished from those of A. dingo by the presence of spermathecae with thicker, less undulating medial vesicles (medial vesicle length / width ~ 5.3; cf. ~ 6.2 in A. dingo), and a dark red body colouration (Fig. 35A–L; cf. Fig. 38).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ aurensis ’ is an adjective formed from the Latin ‘ aureus ’, meaning ‘golden’, and the suffix ‘- ensis ’, which signifies association with a place, referencing the distribution of this species in the Charters Towers region, an area that experienced a gold rush in the 19 th century.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Charters Towers; 20°04′ S, 146°12′ E; Dec. 2003; E. Rowe leg.; QMB S61200.

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♀; Charters Towers, Connors Gully Road; 20°03′ S, 146°18′ E; 293 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated; QMB S118346 • 1 ♀; Charters Towers, Connors Gully Road; 20°03′ S, 146°18′ E; 293 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated; QMB S118347 • 1 ♂; Charters Towers; 20°04′ S, 146°12′ E; 8 Feb. 2005; G. Simpson leg.; QMB S73408 • 1 ♂; Charters Towers; 20°04′ S, 146°12′ E; 25 Mar. 2006; D. Duncan leg.; QMB S87666 .

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♀; Granitevale Road, Alice River, SW of Townsville; 19°21′ S, 146°36′ E; 61 m a.s.l.; 17 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118358 • 1 ♂; Ayr, Mount Kelly; 19°40′ S, 147°18′ E; 6 Dec. 1999; Jamieson leg.; hand collected, in swimming pool; QMB S60776 • 1 ♀; Jesmond Road, SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°09′ E; 343 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated; QMB S118349 .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S61200)

GENERAL (Fig. 34A–Q). Body length 20.68, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 34A, E–F). Carapace length 8.10, width 6.43, length/width 1.26, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.69, caput width/carapace width 0.75, carapace dark red-brown, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.14 (Fig. 34A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.52 (Fig. 34A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.07, eye tubercle present (Fig. 34E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 34B, D). Abdomen length 8.31, grey, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 34C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 34H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 145, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 35% of maxillae length (Fig. 34C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 34C, I); sternum length/width 1.12, some setae rubbed off, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 34G–H); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.23, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.15 (Fig. 34G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 34G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 34N–Q). Leg I dark red-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 6.35, patella length 3.99, tibia length 4.66, metatarsus length 4.53, tarsus length 2.99, total length 22.51, leg I length/carapace length 2.78 (Fig. 34N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 34N–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. 34N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 2.96, widening from proximal end to spur before narrowing again towards distal end, spur present, intermediate triangular/digitiform, knuckle present, megaspine angled at 12 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.44, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.37, megaspine length/tibia length 0.23 (Fig. 34N–P); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel broadly rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.37, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 3.86 (Fig. 34N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 34J–M). Tibia length 3.33, width 1.29, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.58, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.64, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with one elongate bristle-like seta below depression, prolateral face with patch of spines on distal half, disto-medial spine absent (Fig. 34J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 34J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 34J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.94, length/palp tibia length 0.58 (Fig. 34L–M); bulb length/width 0.82 (Fig. 34L–M); embolus tapering from bulb, 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 0.33, embolus length/ bulb length 2.10 (Fig. 34L–M).

Female (paratype, QMB S118347)

GENERAL (Fig. 35A–L). Body length 22.15, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 35A, E–F). Carapace length 8.67, width 7.10, length/width 1.22, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.72, caput width/carapace width 0.76, carapace red-brown, reflective setae present, light on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.18 (Fig. 35A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.46 (Fig. 35A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.08, eye tubercle present (Fig. 35E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 35B, D). Abdomen length 9.80, brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 35C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 35H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 110, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 50% of maxillae length (Fig. 35C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 35C, I); sternum length/width 1.19, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 35G–H); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.19, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.21 (Fig. 35G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 35G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 35J–K). Leg I red-brown, darker on patella and tibia, femur length 6.75, patella length 4.13, tibia length 4.63, metatarsus length 4.07, tarsus length 2.54, total length 22.11, leg I length/carapace length 2.55; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 2, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 1, Ti RL 4, Me PL 2, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.43.

GENITALIA (Fig. 35D, L). Epigastric furrow unmodified (Fig. 35D); spermathecae with two vesicles each (Fig. 35L); lateral vesicle relatively straight, length 0.65, lateral vesicle length/genitalia width 0.36, length/width at base 1.41, crown un-demarcated (Fig. 35L); medial vesicle with distinct basal section angled medially, before undulating anteriorly, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.45, length/width 5.30, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 1.27 (Fig. 35L).

Distribution and natural history

Aname aurensis sp. nov. occurs in north-eastern Queensland, near the boundaries of the Einsleigh Uplands, Desert Uplands, and Brigalow Belt North bioregions, west from around Charters Towers, east to the coast around Townsville and Ayr (Fig. 7). 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. 7).