Aname ammolithica sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DCAB1BC0-DA42-40E0-A4A8-3180B056A097

Figs 8, 49

Diagnosis

Males of A. ammolithica sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. barakula 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. 49A–Q). Males of A. ammolithica 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. 49A–Q; cf. Fig. 53). Males of A. ammolithica can be distinguished from those of A. barakula by the presence of more medially-positioned posterior sternal sigilla (distance of posterior sigilla from sternum centre /sternum length ~ 0.17; cf. ~ 0.26 in A. barakula), and a thicker tibia I (tibia I length / width ~3.2; cf. ~ 3.5 in A. barakula) (Fig. 49H, P; cf. Fig. 50).

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

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ ammolithica ’ is an adjective formed from the Greek ‘ ammos ’, meaning sand, and ‘ lithos ’ meaning stone, in reference to the distribution of this species in the Mount Moffatt section of Carnarvon National Park, an area with sandy soil and sandstone outcrops.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°01′ S, 147°56′ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 13 Jan.–22 Apr. 2013; G. Keith leg.; gutter trap, Eucalyptus / Acacia woodland, sandy; QMB S24079.

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section, behind Marlong Arch; 24°59′ S, 147°54′ E; 760 m a.s.l.; 16 Jan.–22 Apr. 2013; G. Keith leg.; gutter trap, spinifex; QMB S52898 • 1 ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°01′ S, 147°56′ E; 26 Jan. 1999; C. Eddie, R. Johnson and A. Young leg.; pitfall trap, Callitris; QMB S42845 • 1 ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°01′ S, 147°56′ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 13 Jan.–22 Apr. 2013; G. Keith leg.; gutter trap, Eucalyptus / Acacia woodland, sandy; QMB S24855 • 1 ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°01′ S, 147°55′ E; 730 m a.s.l.; 13 Jan.–22 Apr. 2013; G. Keith leg.; gutter trap, Callitris; QMB S24063 • 1 ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°02′ S, 147°56′ E; 24 Jan. 1999; C. Eddie, R. Johnson and A. Young leg.; hand collected, active on road during rain; QMB S42843 • 2 ♂♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°03′ S, 147°55′ E; 26 Jan. 1999; C. Eddie, R. Johnson and A. Young leg.; pitfall trap, Angophora woodland; QMB S42844 • 1 ♂; Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section; 25°06′ S, 147°52′ E; 25 Jan. 1999; C. Eddie, R. Johnson and A. Young leg.; QMB S42842.

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S24079)

GENERAL (Fig. 49A–Q). Body length 15.10, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 49A, E–F). Carapace length 6.42, width 4.97, length/width 1.29, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.69, caput width/carapace width 0.73, carapace red-brown, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.13 (Fig. 49A, F); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.50 (Fig. 49A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.92, eye tubercle present (Fig. 49E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 49B, D). Abdomen length 5.48, dark grey, dorsal pattern absent, with some evidence of reflective setae on anterior portion.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 49C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 49H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 75, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 30% of maxillae length (Fig. 49C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 49C, I); sternum length/width 1.42, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 49G–H); posterior sigilla circular, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.17, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.12 (Fig. 49G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 49G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 49N–Q). Leg I red-brown, femur length 4.89, patella length 3.08, tibia length 3.59, metatarsus length 3.68, tarsus length 2.48, total length 17.72, leg I length/carapace length 2.76 (Fig. 49N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 49N–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. 49N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.17, even width along length, spur present, triangular, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 18 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.47, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.51, megaspine length/tibia length 0.24 (Fig. 49N–P); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with slight heel, heel semi-sharp, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.46, metatarsus length/ width [MIL/MID] 3.96 (Fig. 49N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 49J–M). Tibia length 2.57, width 1.04, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.47, 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 patch of spines on distal half, disto-medial spine present (Fig. 49J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 49J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 49J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.45, length/palp tibia length 0.57 (Fig. 49L–M); bulb length/width 0.97 (Fig. 49L–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 0.38, embolus length/bulb length 2.22 (Fig. 49L–M).

Distribution and natural history

Aname ammolithica sp. nov. occurs in central Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt South bioregion, in the Mount Moffatt region of Carnarvon National Park (Fig. 8). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown, but is likely to be similar to that of other barakula -complex species (Fig. 8).