Kochosa timwintoni, Framenau & Castanheira & Yoo, 2023

Framenau, Volker W., Castanheira, Pedro De S. & Yoo, Jung-Sun, 2023, The artoriine wolf spiders of Australia: the new genus Kochosa and a key to genera (Araneae: Lycosidae), Zootaxa 5239 (3), pp. 301-357 : 347-350

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5239.3.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BF1FF837-56D5-4829-8D46-E821D9D31AB3
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7634871
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/193AC81C-002C-FFCB-FF3C-FDAA1CD0639C
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Kochosa timwintoni
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Kochosa timwintoni sp. nov.

( Figs 27 View FIGURE 27 , 28A–E View FIGURE 28 , 29A–D View FIGURE 29 )

Holotype. Male , West Mt Barren (34º13'S 119º26'E, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA), R. J. McKay, 15 July 1970, on sand ( WAM T86692 View Materials ). GoogleMaps

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym honouring the Western Australian author Tim Winton for his ongoing environmental advocacy (i.e., Winton 2008). His novels have given the senior author hours of pleasure and time of reflection.

Other material examined (4 males, 6 females). Australia. Western Australia : 1 male, West Mt Barren , 34º13'S 119º26'E ( WAM 71 View Materials /499) GoogleMaps ; 2 females, same locality ( WAM 71 View Materials /856–7) GoogleMaps ; 1 female ( WAM 70 View Materials /209), same locality GoogleMaps ; 2 males, same locality ( WAM T86693 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; 3 females, same locality ( WAM70 View Materials /246a–c) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Males of K. timwintoni sp. nov. can be easily separated from other species of Kochosa gen. nov. by the unique light brown to yellow, broad base of the embolus ( Fig. 28C, E View FIGURE 28 ). They are most similar to those of K. westralia sp. nov., but in addition to the embolus, the first species has a triangular and pointing retrolaterally basoembolic apophysis, whereas it is broad and round in K. westralia sp. nov. ( Figs 28E View FIGURE 28 vs 31E). The epigyne of female K. timwintoni sp. nov. has a distinct median septum similar to K. obelix sp. nov. and K. westralia sp. nov., but the posterior transverse part is much broader, so that the median septum forms and inverted “T” ( Figs 29C View FIGURE 29 vs 19D, 32C).

Description.

Male ( based on holotype, WAM T86692 View Materials ) .

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown; indistinctly lighter medially ( Fig. 28A View FIGURE 28 ); broad lateral bands with white setae ( Fig. 28A View FIGURE 28 ); Sternum dark shiny brown ( Fig. 28B View FIGURE 28 ).

Abdomen. Dorsally dark olive-grey; cardiac mark continuous, but almost dissolved into two spots ( Fig. 28A View FIGURE 28 ). Venter uniformly olive-grey ( Fig. 28B View FIGURE 28 ).

Pedipalps ( Figs 28C–E View FIGURE 28 ). Cymbium comparatively broad; embolic division almost entirely exposed; tegular apophysis reduced, shark-tooth-shaped; basoembolic apophysis somewhat duckbill-shaped, pointing retrolatrally ( Fig. 28E View FIGURE 28 ); embolus with light brown base, apically stout.

Legs. Dark brown, with light annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal (apical one small), 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs, 1 prolateral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral, 2 prolateral, 1 apicoprolateral, 1 retrolateral, 1 apicoretrolateral.

Measurements. TL 3.91, CL 2.34, CW 1.64. Eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.08, PME 0.26, PLE 0.21. Row of eyes: AE 0.47, PME 0.70, PLE 0.86. Sternum (length/width) 0.98/0.86. Labium (length/width) 0.19/0.30. AL 1.72, AW 1.56. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.81+0.56+- +0.81=2.19, I 1.53+1.63+1.28+0.86=5.30; II 1.35+1.72+1.40+0.81=5.28, III 1.40+1.63+1.21+0.70=4.93; IV 1.93 +2.12+2.02+0.91=6.98.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.91–4.40, 4.07 ± 0.22; CL 2.30–2.70, 2.44 ± 0.18; CW 1.64–2.00, 1.81 ± 0.15, n = 4. There is little colour variation between the males examined here except for somewhat lighter legs in one specimen.

Female (based on WAM 70/246a; epigyne dorsal WAM 70/246b).

Cephalothorax and abdomen. Colouration and setae-arrangement generally as male, but light median and lateral carapace bands less distinct ( Fig. 29A, B View FIGURE 29 ).

Epigyne ( Fig. 29C, D View FIGURE 29 ). Ventral view: median septum inverted T-shaped ( Fig. 29C View FIGURE 29 ); dorsal view (based on WAM 70/246b): spermathecal heads spherical, comparatively large, spermathecal stalks basally curved ( Fig. 29D View FIGURE 29 ).

Legs. Light brown with dark annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal; tibia: 3 ventral pairs, 1 prolateral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs and 1 apicoventral, 2 prolateral; 1 apicoprolateral; 1 retrolateral; 1 apicoretrolateral.

Measurements. TL 5.50, CL 2.55, CW 1.70. Eyes:AME 0.11, ALE 0.09, PME 0.25, PLE 0.23. Row of eyes: AE 0.67, PME 0.85, PLE 1.16. Sternum (length/width) 1.00/0.90. Labium (length/width) 0.40/0.47. AL 2.60, AW 2.30. Pedipalp 0.75+0.77+-+0.75=2.27, I 1.61+1.75+1.10+0.65=5.10, II 1.45+1.66+1.05+0.65=4.81, III 1.25+1.71+1.26 +0.65=4.76, IV 2.05+2.01+2.01+0.75=6.82.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 5.32–5.62, 5.46 ± 0.13; CL 2.50–2.55, 2.50 ± 0.08; CW 1.70–1.95, 1.81 ± 0.10, n = 4. The females of K. timwintoni sp. nov. are generally poorly preserved and it is therefore difficult to assess any colour variation.

Life history and habitat preferences. Males and females of K. timwintoni sp. nov. were found in July and August suggesting reproductive activity in winter. The habitat preferences appear unusual, as specimens were found “on sand” or “on sand plain”, in contrast to most other species of Kochosa gen. nov. which appear to prefer forests or woodland.

Distribution. Only know from the type locality, West Mt Barren, Western Australia ( Fig. 27 View FIGURE 27 ).