Aname calida sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D4EE1841-81E9-4A90-8EA6-015C5E695723

Figs 9, 56

Diagnosis

Males of A. calida sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. carina, A. cassowariensis sp. nov., A. harmoniosa sp. nov., A. robertsorum, and A. tropicana 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) that is thin, with a sharp bend near its base before a relatively straight distal section (Fig. 56L–M). Males of A. calida can be distinguished from those of A. carina, A. harmoniosa, and A. robertsorum by the presence of a shorter embolus (embolus length / bulb length <2) (Fig. 56L–M; cf. Figs 57, 60–61). Males of A. calida can be distinguished from those of A. tropicana by the presence of thinner leg and pedipalp segments (e.g., metatarsus I length / width>4) (Fig. 56J–K, N–Q; cf. Fig. 62). Males of A. calida can be distinguished from those of A. cassowariensis by the presence of a more elongate palp tibia (palp tibia length / width ~2.6; cf. 2.3 in A. cassowariensis) (Fig. 56J–K cf. Fig. 59).

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

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ calida ’ is a Latin adjective meaning ‘hot’ or’ warm’, referencing the heat of tropical Queensland, and the occurrence of this species near the volcanic Undara Lava Tubes.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Undara Volcanic National Park, Wind Tunnel; 18°14′ S, 144°38′ E; 8 Dec. 2002 – 8 Feb. 2003; G.B. Monteith leg.; flight intercept trap, vine scrub; QMB S95243.

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S95243)

GENERAL (Fig. 56A–Q). Body length 19.90, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 56A, E–F). Carapace length 7.44, width 5.91, length/width 1.26, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.66, carapace red-brown, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, very light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.14 (Fig. 56A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.63 (Fig. 56A); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.89, eye tubercle present (Fig. 56E).

ABDOMEN (Fig. 56B, D). Abdomen length 7.40, light grey, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 56C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 56H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 82, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length (Fig. 56C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 56C, I); sternum length/width 1.20, most setae rubbed off, row of longer setae around posterior edges (Fig. 56G–H); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.21, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.15 (Fig. 56G–H); other sigilla small, round and lateral (Fig. 56G–H).

LEG I (Fig. 56N–Q). Leg I red-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 5.97, patella length 4.10, tibia length 4.35, metatarsus length 4.46, tarsus length 2.47, total length 21.34, leg I length/ carapace length 2.87 (Fig. 56N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 56N–O); spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 2, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 (Fig. 56N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/ TID] 3.20, even width along length, spur present, intermediate triangular/digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 24 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.63, spur height/ tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.65, megaspine length/tibia length 0.20 (Fig. 56N–P); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with slight heel, heel rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.48, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.18 (Fig. 56N–O, Q).

PEDIPALP (Fig. 56J–M). Tibia length 3.34, width 1.29, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.60, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.53, retrolateral face with short, thorn-like setae along retrolateral edge of depression, getting denser proximally, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with patch of spines on distal half, disto-medial spine absent (Fig. 56J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 (both rubbed off) spines (Fig. 56J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 56J–K); copulatory organ total length 1.69, length/palp tibia length 0.51 (Fig. 56L–M); bulb length/width 0.89 (Fig. 56L–M); embolus tapering from bulb, attenuate, very thin, protruding laterally with strong basal curve, one strong bend, at about 0.3 of length, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.23, embolus length/bulb length 1.77 (Fig. 56L–M).

Distribution and natural history

Aname calida sp. nov. occurs in northern Queensland, in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion. It is known from a single location in Undara Volcanic National Park (Fig. 9). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown, but is likely to be similar to that of other robertsorum -complex species (Fig. 9).