Venator Hogg, 1900

Framenau, Volker W., 2015, Review of the Australian wolf spider genus Ve n a t o r (Araneae, Lycosidae), Zootaxa 4013 (4), pp. 541-555 : 542-546

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4013.4.5
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F8E5FD46-9C11-4B26-B16A-9848B288C5AB
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6095289
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0387C169-C466-E11A-FF77-F9E6FF4BFD5E
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Venator Hogg, 1900
status

Treatment

Genus Venator Hogg, 1900 View in CoL View at ENA

Venator Hogg, 1900: 115 View in CoL .

Type species. Venator spenceri Hogg, 1900: 115 (by original designation). The gender is masculine ( Venator — hunter, Latin).

Diagnosis. Somatic characters such as size and colouration place Venator close to Knoelle Framenau, 2006 and Costacosa ; however, females differ by a raised epigynal atrium that forms an edge against the median septum ( Figs 3E, 3G View FIGURE 3 A – G , 5E View FIGURE 5 A – F ), which corresponds to a retrolateral incision in the tegular apophysis of the male pedipalp in most species ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 A – G ) (but not V. immansuetus ( Simon, 1909) comb. nov.; Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 A – F ). Together with the typical somatic colouration of spiders in the genus, in particular the black shield covering approximately three quarters of the venter ( Figs 2B, 2D View FIGURE 2 A – D , 4B, 4D View FIGURE 4 A – D ), these characters are not known to occur in any other wolf spider genus in Australia or world-wide.

Generic description. Small to large wolf spiders (TL 9.0–22.0 mm). Males slightly smaller than females. Carapace longer than wide, dorsal profile straight in lateral view in smaller species. Carapace colouration brown to dark brown with darker radial pattern and light median band and head region and irregular light lateral bands. Abdomen dorsally with median chevron-pattern, ventrally light brown with black anterior patch covering about three quarters of venter. AME larger than ALE, row of AE slightly procurved. Chelicerae with three promarginal teeth with the median largest and three retromarginal teeth with the apical smallest. Leg formula IV> I> II> III.

Tegulum of male pedipalp undivided; tegular apophysis with distinct, ventral spur and retrolaterally incised ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 A – G ) (not in V. immansuetus comb. nov.) ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 A – F ). Embolus originating prolaterally on palea and curving ventrally around it, long and slender. Terminal apophysis and pars pendula sickle-shaped ( Figs 3D View FIGURE 3 A – G , 5D View FIGURE 5 A – F ). Female epigyne with inverted T-shaped median septum, longer than wide, atrium elevated, forming distinct edge against median septum ( Figs 3E View FIGURE 3 A – G , 5E View FIGURE 5 A – F ); spermathecal heads spherical; spermathecal stalks slightly bent or straight ( Figs 3F View FIGURE 3 A – G , 5F View FIGURE 5 A – F ).

Included species. Venator spenceri , V. immansuetus comb. nov.

Remarks. Venator marginatus is considered incerta sedis as the genital morphology of the female does not correspond to the genus diagnosis and description provided here ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ).

Venator spenceri Hogg, 1900 View in CoL ( Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 A – C , 2A–D View FIGURE 2 A – D , 3A–G View FIGURE 3 A – G , 7 View FIGURE 7 )

Venator spenceri Hogg 1900: 116 View in CoL –118, plate 17, figs 2, 4A–E.— Rainbow 1911: 274; Roewer 1955: 307; Roewer 1960: 780; McKay 1973: 381; McKay 1985: 87.

Lycosa clara ? L. Koch. 1877.— Hogg 1905: 590 (misidentification; McKay 1979: 252).

Material examined. Holotype. Female, Macedon [37°25’S, 144°34’E, Victoria] ( BMNH 1907.2.24.6).

Other material examined. 191 records (110 males, 178 females) (Appendix A).

Diagnosis. Male V. spenceri differ from V. immansuetus comb. nov. by the presence of a retrolateral incision of the tegular apophysis. The edge of the epigyne atrium towards the medium septum is smooth in female V. spenceri , whereas it is irregular in V. immansuetus comb. nov.

Description. Male (based on WAM T53755 from Adelaide, South Australia): Carapace. Brown; distinct dark radial pattern; light brown median band; irregular light brown submarginal bands ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 A – D ); brown setae, but white setae in median and submarginal bands and in eye region. Eyes. Row of anterior eyes slightly procurved and narrower than row of PME. Sternum. Black; black setae, which are denser and longer towards margins ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 A – D ). Labium. Very dark brown; front end truncated and white. Chelicerae. Very dark reddish-brown; covered with white setae and silvery macrosetae basally; three promarginal teeth, the median largest; three retromarginal teeth with the basally smallest. Pedipalp ( Figs 3A–D View FIGURE 3 A – G ). Cymbium with ca. 5 macrosetae; tegular apophysis retrolaterally incised ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 A – G ); embolus and pars pendula slender and sickle-shaped, terminal apophysis very broad through apical lamella ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 A – G ). Abdomen. Olive-brown with broad light median band that incorporates chevron pattern ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 A – D ). Venter yellow-brown with large black patch covering ca. three quarters behind epigastric furrow ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 A – D ). Spinnerets light brown. Legs. Leg formula IV> I> II> III; light brown, with irregular darker pigmentation; coxae ventrally partially blackened with intensity decreasing from leg I to IV; dense scopulate setae ventrally on tarsi and metatarsi of leg I and II. Spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal, 3 retrolateral, 2 apicoprolateral; patella: 1 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs, 2 prolateral, 2 retrolateral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 3 prolateral, 3 retrolateral, 1 apicoventral.

Female (based on WAM T64071 from Adelaide, South Australia): Carapace. As male but faint light radial pattern present ( Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 A – C , 2C View FIGURE 2 A – D ). Labium, sternum, chelicerae. As male ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 A – D ). Abdomen. As male, mottled pattern darker and heart mark less distinct ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 A – D ). Venter and spinnerets as male ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 A – D ). Epigyne. Median septum inverted T-shaped, atrium elevated with smooth edge towards median septum ( Figs 3E, G View FIGURE 3 A – G ); spermathecal heads spherical, much wider than spermathecal stalks, spermathecal stalks slightly bent ( Fig. 3F View FIGURE 3 A – G ). Legs. Leg formula IV> I> II> III; colouration as male; dense scopulate setae on tarsi and metatarsi of all legs and apical half of tibiae I. Spination of leg I: Femur: 2 dorsal, 2 retrolateral, 1 apicoprolateral; patella: 1 prolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs, 2 prolateral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral.

Measurements. Male WAM T53755 (female WAM T64071): TL 10.85 (17.80), CL 6.01 (8.32), CW 4.84 (6.21). Eyes: AME 0.32 (0.42), ALE 0.20 (0.35), PME 0.65 (0.91), PLE 0.56 (0.75). Row of eyes: ALE 1.28 (1.76), PME 1.54 (2.12), PLE 1.89 (2.68). Sternum (length/width) 2.63/2.38 (3.10/2.89). Labium (length/width) 0.86/0.81 (1.25/1.19). AL 5.40 (10.31), AW 3.60 (7.02). Legs: Lengths of segments (femur + patella/tibia +metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 1.89 + 1.70 + - + 1.45 = 5.04, I 5.52 + 6.76 +4.95 + 2.72 = 19.95, II 5.29 + 6.48 + 4.82 + 2.63 = 19.22, III 4.75 + 5.41 + 4.85 + 2.53 = 17.54, IV 6.29 + 7.06 + 5.74 + 3.36 = 22.45 (Pedipalp 2.69 + 3.41 + - + 2.12 = 8.22, I 5.75 + 6.76 + 3.94 + 2.42 = 18.87, II 5.14 + 6.30 + 3.86 + 2.40 = 17.70, III 4.78 + 5.78 + 4.10 + 2.47 = 17.13, IV 6.20 + 7.00 + 5.66 + 2.65 = 21.51).

Variation. Males (females) TL 9.50–12.25; n = 11 (TL 14.85–21.70; n = 8).

Remarks. Hogg (1905) reported “ Lycosa clara ? L. Koch, 1877” from Goolwa in South Australia, but McKay (1979, p. 252) corrected this identification to V. spenceri . I examined the respective specimens, four females lodged in the SAM (NN453–6), and they are V. spenceri and not Knoelle clara (L. Koch, 1877) , which represents a monotypic genus from northern Australia (Framenau 2006).

Data on specimen labels suggest a habitat preference for dry sclerophyll forests, including those of Black Box ( Eucalyptus largiflorens ), Box-Ironbark (Eucalypts spp), Cypress Pine ( Callitris spp.), River Red Gum ( E. camaldulensis ) and Coolibah ( E. microtheca ). It is not uncommon to find wandering male V. spenceri in houses near or in these forests.

Phenological data can be derived from the analysis of 191 records of the material examined (110 male, 179 females). Highest reproductive activity documented by largest capture rates, in particular of males, are March to May with a peak in April. The hottest (January, February) and colder months (June–October) see little activity; males have not been found at all in January and February. This suggests a similar phenology as for V. immansuetus comb. nov., a species of which the life history was studied in detail ( Lane 1965) (see below).

Distribution. South-eastern Australia, from southern Queensland into South Australia, absent in Tasmania ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ).