Poltys timmeh, Smith, 2006

Smith, H. M., 2006, A Revision of the Genus Poltys in Australasia (Araneae: Araneidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58, pp. 43-96 : 72-75

Poltys timmeh n.sp.

Figs 136–137, 144–147, 155–157, 158.

Etymology. The specific name is an arbitrary combination of letters.

Type material. NEW CALEDONIA: HOLOTYPE ♀ ( HNHM), Lifou , Loyalty Islands, c. 20°43'S 167°15'E, 16 Aug. 1982, rainforest, beating . PARATYPES Ƌ ( HNHM), data as holotype ; ♀ KS86349 , Tiea Reserve , 5 km E of Pouembout, 21°08'06"S 164°56'11"E, 4 Nov. 2001, T. Moulds, 36 m; Ƌ ( BPBM), Lifou, Loyalty Islands, 26–27 Mar. 1968, J.L. Gressitt & T.C. Maa; Ƌ ♀ ( AR14306–7 MNHNP, ex HNHM), Maré, Loyalty Islands, c. 21°30'S 168°00'E, 26 May–8 Jun. 1987 and 7 Jun. 1986 respectively, Araucaria ; Ƌ ( HNHM), Farino , 21°40'S 165°46'E, 25 Aug. 1982 ; ♀ S66578 , New Caledonia, Foret Nord , site 2, 22°19'S 166°55'E, 2 Dec. 2004, QM party, rainforest, 200 m, night hand collecting .

Other material examined. ♀ S69840 , New Caledonia, Pic du Grand Kaori, site 2, 22°17'S 166°53'E, 22 Nov. 2004, QM party, rainforest, 250 m, night hand collecting .

Diagnosis. Females. From other species groups, as P. frenchi , except number of prolateral cheliceral teeth is variable. From P. frenchi by broader and longer epigynal foveae that extend basally almost to the position of the spermathecae ( Fig. 144), also by carapace shape ( Figs 136– 137), and rather shorter legs with more distinctly broadened femora. Males. From other species groups, as P. frenchi for palpal characters (no recently collected specimens seen to comment on colouration). From P. frenchi by longer, lobed conductor with distinct basal kink ( Figs 155, 157) and that most of the sclerites are longer in proportion to the tegulum and subtegulum (compare ventral views, Figs 156 and 153).

Description. Female. Carapace length range: 2.94–3.67. Drawn specimens Figures: 136–137, KS86349; 144–147, holotype (HNHM) ex Lifou.

Holotype. Prosoma. Carapace: length 3.67, width 2.90, height 0.82; broad and relatively low, rear of caput slopes steeply into pro-foveal suture; eye tubercle well developed, slender basally, slightly enlarged anteriorly, slightly elevated ( Figs 136–137). Chelicerae: paturon with 3 promarginal teeth. Labium: length 0.43, width 0.61. Sternum: length 1.67, width 1.55; sternal extensions at bases of legs III–IV. Eyes. ( Fig. 137). AME>PME>PLE≥ ALE ; ALE c. 2 ⁄ 3 × its own diameter from AME; ventral margin of ALE level with mid point of AME. Legs. P+TL I: 4.90, II: 4.57, III: 2.90, IV: 3.67; front femora distinctly broadened with greatest diameter c. 3 ⁄ 5 way to apex leg I, or ½ way leg II; legs distinctly shorter than P. frenchi . Abdomen. ( Figs 146–147). Length 7.92, width 3.00; broadest at anterior apodemes; some “microsigillae” visible but not strongly developed. Epigyne. ( Figs 144–145). Spadelike (as in cards), widest point less than half-way to tip; foveae broad and shallow (thin in lateral view, Fig. 145), occupying almost the entire posterior surface, narrowing abruptly into short, narrow copulatory ducts basally ( Fig. 144); spermathecae closely spaced. Colour in alcohol. Carapace creamy-white, caput straw yellow, black around all eyes. Chelicerae cream, labium, maxillae and sternum yellow.Pedipalps cream. Femora I and II pale creamy-yellow with remains of dark distal band (with blue shine on recent specimen); femur III almost all cream; femur IV paler basally and distally, dark brown between; distal legs mottled yellow–cream, faint dark bands on distal metatarsi and tarsi of I and II. Abdomen ventrally blackish posteriorly, dorsally and anteroventrally with brown and black markings on a pale ground.

Male. Carapace length range: 0.98–1.43. Drawn specimen Figs 155–157 (BPBM) ex Lifou.

Male (HNHM) ex Lifou. Prosoma. Carapace: length 1.43, width 0.98, height 0.41; broad pear-shape in dorsal view; eye tubercle well defined both in lateral and dorsal views (carapace similar shape to that shown for larger P. noblei male, Fig. 204), slightly elevated and PME slightly overhanging AME. Labium: length 0.14, width 0.26. Sternum: length 0.61, width 0.57. Eyes. AME>PME≥ PLE> ALE ; ALE almost touching AME; height of ventral margin of ALE is just ventral to mid point of AME; AME prominent on slight tubercles. Legs. P+TL I: 1.76, II: 1.65, III: 0.86, IV: 1.12. Abdomen. AL 1.61, width 1.06; an almost evenly elongate ellipsoid; anterior margin slightly crenate, with submarginal “microsigillae”; apodemes well developed for a male. Palpal organ. ( Figs 155–157). Radix–stipes joint retrolateral, stipes directed apicoventrally, not hidden by cymbium; embolus and TA arise retroapically ( Figs 156–157); conductor deeply grooved, retrolaterally expanded into rounded flap ( Fig. 156), distinctly kinked basally ( Fig. 155, 157); embolus longer than in P. frenchi , a slender sinuously curved rod (but not examined under SEM, so groove may be present, as in P. frenchi ) ( Fig. 155); TA adpressed to embolus basally, free retrolaterally apically ( Fig. 157); PM a curved plate ( Fig. 156), appears similar to that of P. frenchi but microstructure unknown. Colour in alcohol. Carapace amber brown with darker caput; eye tubercle with orange dorsally, secondary eyes with black around, AME surround pale. Chelicerae brown to yellow distally. Sternum dark yellow with dark margins. Femora amber-olive; lower front legs yellow-olive dorsally, dark ventrally; rear legs mottled; all legs with distinct dark banding on distal metatarsi and tarsi. Abdomen dark ventrally and dorsal margins; main dorsal area pale with uneven central brown patch.

Variation. Some female specimens of P. timmeh have three promarginal cheliceral teeth whilst others have four. The range of abdominal variation is probably similar to that seen in P. frenchi .

Biology. Tim Moulds, the collector of the AM specimen informs me he was beating mainly living plants in lowland vine scrub. Some other labels give rainforest as the habitat. These descriptions would agree with the favoured habitat of P. frenchi in Australia. Several other specimens (including some unlisted juveniles in HNHM) were collected on Araucaria .

Distribution. Only recorded from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands ( Fig. 158).