Aname barakula sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8D9C4C85-1CC2-4D86-9071-F0491E77EE45

Figs 1, 8, 50–51

Diagnosis

Males of A. barakula sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. ammolithica sp. nov. and A. lambkinae 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 is relatively straight, a triangular tibial spur (rather than more digitiform), and a thin metatarsus I (metatarsus I length/ width>3.9) with an unpronounced heel (Fig. 50A–Q). Males of A. barakula can be distinguished from those of A. lambkinae by the presence of a narrower sternum (sternum length /width> 1.4) and a less pronounced heel on metatarsus I (Fig. 50A–Q; cf. Fig. 53). Males of A. barakula can be distinguished from those of A. ammolithica by the presence of more laterally-positioned posterior sternal sigilla (distance of posterior sigilla from sternum centre/ sternum length ~ 0.26; cf. ~ 0.17 in A. ammolithica), and a thinner tibia I (tibia I length / width ~3.5; cf. ~ 3.2 in A. ammolithica) (Fig. 50H, P; cf. Fig. 49).

Females of A. barakula sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. braemar sp. nov., A. lambkinae sp. nov., and A. truncata 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 medial vesicles with few bends (usually one or two), and a narrow sternum (sternum length / width>1.3) (Fig. 51A–L). Females of A. barakula can be distinguished from those of A. lambkinae and A. truncata by the presence of spermathecae with lateral vesicles with a wide base and distinct, slightly wider crowns (Fig. 51L; cf. Figs 54, 55). Females of A. barakula can be distinguished from those of A. braemar by the presence of spermathecae with shorter medial vesicles (medial vesicle length / lateral vesicle length ~0.8; cf. ~ 1.2 in A. braemar) (Fig. 51L; cf. Fig. 52).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ barakula ’ is a noun in apposition, referencing the distribution of this species within and around Barakula State Forest in south-eastern Queensland.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Barakula State Forest, off Auburn Road; 26°25′ S, 150°41′ E; 3 Dec. 2012 – 19 Apr. 2013; C. Moeseneder and S. Moeseneder leg.; flight intercept trap; QMB S109544.

Paratype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♀; Barakula State Forest, off Auburn Road; 26°25′ S, 150°41′ E; 360 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson, M.G. Rix and G. Hearle leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118249.

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 juv.; Barakula State Forest, off Auburn Road; 26°31′ S, 150°39′ E; 364 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson, M.G. Rix and G. Hearle leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118247 • 1 juv.; Barakula State Forest, off Auburn Road; 26°31′ S, 150°39′ E; 359 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson, M.G. Rix and G. Hearle leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118248 • 1 ♀; Barakula State Forest, off Auburn Road; 26°34′ S, 150°36′ E; 349 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118252 • 1 juv.; Barakula State Forest, off Auburn Road; 26°34′ S, 150°36′ E; 354 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118250 • 1 juv.; Barakula State Forest, off Auburn Road; 26°34′ S, 150°36′ E; 354 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118251 .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S109544)

GENERAL (Fig. 50A–Q). Body length 17.73, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 50A, E–F). Carapace length 6.89, width 5.43, length/width 1.27, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.66, caput width/carapace width 0.67, carapace dark red-brown, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea straight, fovea width/carapace length 0.12 (Fig. 50A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.48 (Fig. 50A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2, eye tubercle present (Fig. 50E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 50B, D). Abdomen length 6.79, light grey, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 50C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 50H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 80, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 20% of maxillae length (Fig. 50C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 50C, I); sternum length/width 1.61, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 50G–H); posterior sigilla circular, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.26, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.10 (Fig. 50G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 50G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 50N–Q). Leg I dark red-brown, femur length 5.37, patella length 3.40, tibia length 3.91, metatarsus length 3.85, tarsus length 2.64, total length 19.17, leg I length/carapace length 2.78 (Fig. 50N– O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 50N–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. 50N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.55, even width along length, spur present, triangular, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 30 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.52, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.55, megaspine length/tibia length 0.20 (Fig. 50N–P); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with slight heel, heel semi-sharp, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.41, metatarsus length/ width [MIL/MID] 3.93 (Fig. 50N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 50J–M). Tibia length 3.00, width 0.98, length/width [PTL/PTD] 3.07, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.51, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with patch of spines on distal half, disto-medial spine present (Fig. 50J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 50J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 50J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.52, length/palp tibia length 0.51 (Fig. 50L–M); bulb length/width 0.97 (Fig. 50L–M); embolus tapering from bulb, attenuate, tapering and curving relatively evenly to point, one slight bend, at about 0.5 of length, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.31, embolus length/bulb length 2.03 (Fig. 50L–M).

Female (paratype, QMB S118249)

GENERAL (Fig. 51A–L). Body length 22.59, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 51A, E–F). Carapace length 6.73, width 5.74, length/width 1.17, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.76, carapace red-brown, reflective setae present, light on caput, light on thorax, fovea straight, fovea width/carapace length 0.14 (Fig. 51A, F); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.61 (Fig. 51A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.94, eye tubercle present (Fig. 51E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 51B, D). Abdomen length 11.12, dark brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 51C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 51H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 93, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 30% of maxillae length (Fig. 51C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 51C, I); sternum length/width 1.38, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 51G–H); posterior sigilla ovoid, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.27, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.10 (Fig. 51G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 51G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 51J–K). Leg I red-brown, darker on patella and tibia, femur length 5.03, patella length 3.35, tibia length 3.44, metatarsus length 3.11, tarsus length 2.07, total length 17.00, leg I length/carapace length 2.53; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 1, Ti RL 4, Me PL 1, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.13.

GENITALIA (Fig. 51D, L). Epigastric furrow unmodified (Fig. 51D); spermathecae with two vesicles each (Fig. 51L); lateral vesicle relatively straight, length 0.32, lateral vesicle length/genitalia width 0.28, length/width at base 2.79, crown slightly wider than stem (Fig. 51L); medial vesicle short, projecting medially and curving from medial to lateral angle, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.22, length/ width 3.28, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 0.79 (Fig. 51L).

Distribution and natural history

Aname barakula sp. nov. occurs in south-eastern Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt South bioregion, in and around Barakula State Forest, near the town of Miles (Fig. 8). It constructs an open, silk-lined burrow with silk spilling out from the entrance, and sometimes with a slightly built up ‘collar’ of soil around the entrance, and with a hidden secondary ‘wishbone’ entrance (Fig. 8).