Aname warialda -complex

Figs 1, 3F, 5F, 11, 71–82

Remarks

See the key to complexes and Figures 3–5 for diagnostic information. In life, warialda -complex species range in colour from a light tan ‘coffee’ colour, to almost black. They tend to grow quite large, and their carapace has only inconspicuous setation, compared to the conspicuous reflective setation present in species of many of the other complexes present in eastern Australia (Fig. 11; cf. Figs 6–10). They construct an open, silk-lined burrow with silk extending out from the entrance, with a short hidden ‘wishbone’ entrance with a thick, white sheath of silk near the top (see Fig. 11, image of A. scutitheca sp. nov. burrow) although this is covered with soil and can only be seen when the burrow is excavated. The burrow entrance is often quite conspicuous, sometimes with a soil mound around the entrance, or with the entrance embedded in low vegetation (Fig. 11).

Distribution

The warialda -complex occurs from the New South Wales north coast, in the New England Tablelands, Nandewar, and Brigalow Belt South bioregions, to as far north as the Einasleigh Uplands and Wet Tropics bioregions of northern Queensland. They are typically found inland of the Great Dividing Range (Fig. 11).

Composition

The warialda -complex includes six described species: Aname bifaceta sp. nov., A. boreovillosa sp. nov., A. occivillosa sp. nov., A. scutitheca sp. nov., A. villosa (Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918), and A. warialda Raven, 1985 . Another potentially distinct species, A. sp. “maraboon”, is shown in the phylogeny (Fig. 1) and on the map for this complex (Fig. 11); however, because only a single specimen of this species is known, and it is morphologically so similar to A. bifaceta, further evidence is required to confirm that these species are distinct.

Key to species in the Aname warialda -complex

Note: males are unknown for A. boreovillosa sp. nov.

1. Male ................................................................................................................................................... 2

– Female ................................................................................................................................................ 6

Males

2. Embolus length <2 × bulb length; palp tibia asetose depression length <0.6 × palp tibia length (Figs 74, 78)....................................................................................................................................... 3

– Embolus longer (> 2 × bulb length), asetose depression longer (> 0.6 × palp tibia length) (Figs 71, 76, 81)................................................................................................................................................ 4

3. Metatarsus I with a relatively sharp heel; embolus gradually curving (Fig. 74) ................................. .......................................................................................................................... A. occivillosa sp. nov.

– Metatarsus I with a more rounded heel, embolus straighter (Fig. 78)................................................. .................................................................................................. A. villosa Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918

4. Tibia I widening from the proximal end to the base of the tibial spur when in lateral view; palp tibia relatively spiny (Fig. 76).................................................................................... A. scutitheca sp. nov.

– Tibia I staying about the same width from the proximal end to the base of the tibial spur when in lateral view; palp tibia less spiny....................................................................................................... 5

5. Palp tibia asetose depression length ~ 0.71 × palp tibia length; tibia I with a knuckle at the base of the tibial spur (Fig. 81) ................................................................................ A. warialda Raven, 1985

– Palp tibia asetose depression shorter ~0.61 × palp tibia length; tibia I without a knuckle at the base of the tibial spur (Fig. 71)..................................................................................... A. bifaceta sp. nov.

Females

6. Spermathecae with a single vesicle (medial vesicle absent) (Figs 72, 77, 82).................................. 7

– Spermathecae with medial vesicles present (Figs 73, 75, 80) ........................................................... 9

7. Ventral abdomen with a rounded extension of the posterior genital plate covering the epigastric furrow (Fig. 77) ................................................................................................. A. scutitheca sp. nov.

– Ventral abdomen without an unmodified epigastric furrow .............................................................. 8

8. Spermathecae vesicle length ~0.8 × genitalia width (Fig. 82).................... A. warialda Raven, 1985

– Spermathecae with shorter vesicles (length ~ 0.5 × genitalia width) (Fig. 72)..... A. bifaceta sp. nov.

9. Spermathecae lateral vesicle length <2.5 × width, with round crowns (Fig. 73)................................ ....................................................................................................................... A. boreovillosa sp. nov.

– Spermathecae with more elongate lateral vesicles and less rounded crowns (Figs 75, 80) ............ 10

10. Spermathecae lateral vesicles with wide bases and asymmetrical crowns projecting laterally from the ends (Fig. 75).............................................................................................. A. occivillosa sp. nov.

– Spermathecae lateral vesicles with narrower bases and more symmetrical, flattened crowns (Figs 79– 80)............................................................................................. A. villosa Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918