Hortophora cucullus Framenau & Castanheira, 2021
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.5.72474 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9AC22770-F300-4265-A21F-841EA364FFD5 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3FDB1696-3815-49FD-ABD7-C1DFC9629E02 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:3FDB1696-3815-49FD-ABD7-C1DFC9629E02 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Hortophora cucullus Framenau & Castanheira |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Hortophora cucullus Framenau & Castanheira sp. nov.
Figs 2B View Figure 2 , 9 View Figure 9 , 10 View Figure 10 , 11 View Figure 11
Type material.
Holotype male, Pandappa Conservation Park (33°10'00"S, 139°08'15"E, South Australia, Australia), 22-25 April 2003, D. Hirst, night collection, mallee and sparse chenopods (SAM NN19582).
Etymology.
The specific epithet is a masculine noun in apposition from Latin Hortophora cucullus - a monk’s hat, and refers to the distinct abdominal shape, specifically of the male of this species.
Other material examined.
See Appendix 1.
Diagnosis.
Males of Hortophora cucullus sp. nov. can be easily identified from all other Hortophora species by the lateral lobes on the abdomen of both males (Fig. 9A View Figure 9 ) and females (Fig. 10A View Figure 10 ), which are absent in all other species. In addition, males (and less so females) differ by the dorsally drawn up abdomen (Fig. 9B View Figure 9 ). The male pedipalp H. cucullus sp. nov. has two macrosetae on the patella (Fig. 9E View Figure 9 ), one being smaller, but there is only one in all other Hortophora gen. nov. species.
Description.
Male (holotype, SAM NN19582): Total length 11.5. Carapace 4.1 long, 2.9 wide, dark brown with yellow setae mainly centrally (Fig. 9A View Figure 9 ). Eyes diameter AME 0.23, ALE 0.13, PME 0.20, PLE 0.13; row of eyes: AME 0.67, PME 0.61, PLE 1.37. Chelicerae brown; two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth. Legs brown to light brown, femora basally yellow-brown (Fig. 9A-C View Figure 9 ). Tibiae of leg II very little enlarged and without strong spines, but distinct white setae ventrally (Figs 2B View Figure 2 , 9A-C View Figure 9 ). Leg formula I > IV > II > III; and length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 5.0 + 2.6 + 4.7 + 4.0 + 1.6 = 17.9, II - 4.0 + 2.2 + 3.7 + 0.9 + 1.5 = 12.3, III - 2.9 + 1.3 + 2.0 + 1.5 + 0.9 = 8.6, IV - 3.4 + 1.8 + 3.3 + 3.4 + 1.2 = 13.1. Labium 0.36 long, 0.52 wide, brown; endites brown. Sternum 1.9 long, 0.9 wide, dark brown with few yellow setae (Fig. 9C View Figure 9 ). Abdomen 7.5 long, 3.5 wide, dorsally extended and arching posteriorly and with lateral protrusions (Fig. 9A-C View Figure 9 ); dorsum olive-brown and mottled yellow-brown (Fig. 9A-C View Figure 9 ); venter dark olive-brown (Fig. 9C View Figure 9 ). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + cymbium = total length): 0.7 + 0.4 + 0.3 + 1.3 = 2.7; paracymbium short (Fig. 9E View Figure 9 ); median apophysis elongate transverse and apically bifid curved tip (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ); conductor lobe large and rectangular, clearly connecting to the conductor basis from beneath the embolus (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ); terminal apophysis bubble-shaped tapering into an elongated, sclerotised tip (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ); conductor with strong sclerotised tip (Fig. 9D, E View Figure 9 ); embolus strong and curved apically (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ).
Female ( WAM T70164): Total length 13.1. Carapace 6.0 long, 5.2 wide; reddish-brown, cephalic area and lateral flanks darker, flanks covered in with white setae (Fig. 10A View Figure 10 ). Eyes diameter AME 0.32, ALE 0.18, PME 0.16, PLE 0.18; row of eyes: AME 0.88, PME 0.79, PLE 2.36. Chelicerae dark reddish-brown; four promarginal teeth (apical and third largest) and two retromarginal teeth (basal largest). Legs orange-brown and mottled in dark brown especially along joints (Fig. 10A, B View Figure 10 ). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total length): 1.3 + 1.0 + 1.1 + 2.0 = 5.4. Leg formula I > IV> II > III; and length of segments: I - 6.2 + 3.6 + 4.8 + 4.1 + 1.5 = 20.2, II - 5.6 + 3.8 + 4.7 + 0.9 + 1.3 = 16.3, III - 4.1 + 2.1 + 2.0 + 2.3 + 1.0 = 11.5, IV - 4.6 + 3.2 + 4.0 + 3.9 + 1.3 = 17.0. Labium 0.94 long, 1.26 wide, dark brown; endites reddish-brown (Fig. 10B View Figure 10 ). Sternum 2.7 long, 2.0 wide, dark brown, with white setae particularly along the lateral edges (Fig. 10B View Figure 10 ). Abdomen 8.8 long, 8.2 wide, with lateral, dorsal and posterior humps, dorsum dark olive-brown, mottled with yellow spots (Fig. 10A View Figure 10 ); venter olive-brown with lateral rows of white spots (Fig. 10B View Figure 10 ); Epigyne (Fig. 10C-E View Figure 10 ) base ovoid; scape highly elongated and centrally slightly wider, short dorsal narrow ridge in basal half (Fig. 10D, E View Figure 10 ), covered with sparse long setae.
Variation.
Size variation: total length males 11.5-12.1 (n=2), females 13.1-17.8 (n=3). Little colour variation has been found within this species, although the abdomen may be a bit darker and less distinctly mottled than in the specimens illustrated here. No case of scape break-off was observed in female H. cucullus sp. nov.
Life history and habitat preferences.
Mature males of H. cucullus sp. nov. were found between April and August suggesting reproductive activity mainly in winter (or the dry season in northern latitudes). Mature females were found between March and November, also suggesting that this species is not reproductively active in summer (or the wet season). The species has generally been found in open forests where the spiders build large orb-webs between shrubs and trees. Like H. biapicata sp. nov. it has been found in a variety of climatic conditions, including semi-arid to arid, tropical and temperate regions.
Distribution.
Hortophora cucullus sp. nov. has been found throughout all mainland states of Australia, except in the south-eastern states of New South Wales and Victoria. The species has not been found in Tasmania (Fig. 11 View Figure 11 ).
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