Cryptoerithus halifax, Platnick & Baehr, 2006

Platnick, N. I. & Baehr, B., 2006, A Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spiders Of The Family Prodidomidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2006 (298), pp. 1-287 : 261-264

Cryptoerithus halifax , new species Figures 625–629; Map 43

TYPE: Male holotype taken in pitfall trap 6.7 km NW of Halifax Hill, 29 ° 409S, 135 ° 469E, South Australia (Sept. 29–Oct. 5,

1995; H. Owens), deposited in SAM (NN11771).

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of this bizarre species can easily be recognized by the two distal tibial apophyses, prolonged tegular spur, prolaterally produced tegulum, and sinuous embolus (figs. 625–627), females by the widely separated anterior and posterior epigynal elements (fig. 628) and the elongated spermathecae (fig. 629).

MALE: Total length 3.44. Carapace 1.40 long, 1.20 wide, 0.44 high, length/width 1.16; sternum 0.96 long, 0.76 wide, length/width 1.26; abdomen 2.04 long, 1.04 wide; coxa I 0.52 long; relative length of coxae I–IV 1:0.77:0.61:1.04. Carapace, sternum, mouthparts, legs pale; abdomen pale, dorsally with dark horizontal bands. AME elevated; eye group width 0.68 of head width; AME 0.14; ALE 0.12; PME 0.2; PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.04; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.00; PME–PLE 0.06; ALE–PLE 0.04; eye group AME–PME 0.38; AME–AME 0.32; PME– PME 0.32. Clypeus 0.04 high. Abdomen covered with gray plumose setae, frontally without band of bent setae, venter with two

longitudinal rows of stiff, erect setae; ALS 0.33 of abdominal length, about their diameter apart. Metatarsi, tarsi I, II with scopula. Palp (figs. 625–627): conductor originating prodistally, broad, semicircular; median apophysis elongate, about four times longer than wide, with small distal hook; terminal apophysis basally situated, almost as long as bulb, piriform, connected to prolaterally produced tegulum; sperm duct semicircular; embolus sinuous, originating prolaterally, embolar base hidden behind terminal apophysis; retrolateral tibial apophysis divided into two small, distal projections.

FEMALE: Total length 3.78. Carapace 1.38 long, 1.30 wide, 0.48 high, length/width

1.06; sternum 0.94 long, 0.80 wide, length/ width 1.17; abdomen 2.40 long, 1.44 wide; coxa I 0.54 long; relative length of coxae I–IV 1:0.96:0.74:1.07. Coloration as in male. Eye group width 0.74 of head width; AME 0.12; PME 0.18; PLE 0.09; PME–PLE 0.04; ALE– PLE 0.02; eye group AME–PME 0.30; AME–AME 0.28. Epigynum (figs. 628, 629): atrium widely hexagonal, with wide epigynal hood, lateral plates rectangular; spermathecae L-shaped.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: South Australia: 7.5 km WNW Wilpoorinna, 29 ° 569S, 138 ° 169E, Nov. 2, 1994, pitfall (SAM NN11769), 1♀.

REMARKS: The male holotype has two acrocerid larvae in the booklungs.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from South Australia (map 43).

Cryptoerithus ninan , new species

Figures 630, 631; Map 40

TYPE: Female holotype taken in pitfall trap at Lake Ninan shire reserve, west site, 30 ° 579S, 116 ° 389E, Western Australia (Sept. 15, 1998 – Oct. 25, 1999; B. Durrant), deposited in WAM (T51179) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Females can easily be recognized by the massive, rounded anterior epigynal ducts (fig. 631).

FEMALE: Total length 4.60. Carapace 2.10 long, 1.86 wide, 0.42 high, length/width 1.13; sternum 1.36 long, 1.10 wide, length/ width 1.23; abdomen 2.50 long, 1.68 wide; coxa I 0.80 long; relative length of coxae I–IV 1:0.9:0.75:1.15. Carapace, sternum, endites, labium pale; chelicerae, abdomen gray; legs mottled with gray on distal half of femora. Eye group width 0.75 of head width; AME 0.17; ALE 0.16; PME 0.18; PLE 0.14; AME– AME 0.04; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.01; PME–PLE 0.06; ALE–PLE 0.04; eye group AME–PME 0.40; AME–AME 0.38; PME–PME 0.40. Clypeus 0.10 high. Cheliceral retromargin with 3–5 tiny teeth. Abdomen covered with gray plumose setae, frontally without band of bent setae; ALS 0.40 of abdominal length, about their diameter apart. Tibiae I distal half, metatarsi, tarsi I, II proventrally with scopula. Epigynum (figs. 630, 631) with massive, rounded anterior ducts, large inverted u-shaped lateral plates, median septum; spermathecae sausage-shaped, twisted, slightly separated, with dorsal diverticula.

MALE: Unknown.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Western Australia: Boolathana Station , 24 ° 259S, 113 ° 409E, May 28–June 2, 1995, pitfall (J. Waldock, WAM T45253), 1♀ ; Boolathana Station , 24 ° 259S, 113 ° 429E, May 29, 1995, head torching at night (J. Waldock, WAM T51827), 1♀ ; Boolathana Station , 24 ° 259S, 113 ° 469E, Sept. 30, 1994 – Jan. 15, 1995, pitfall (N. McKenzie, J. Rolfe, WAM T45254), 1♀, Jan. 15–May 31, 1995, pitfall (J. Waldock, WAM T45255), 1♀ ; Darkin Road , W Beverley, 32 ° 089S, 116 ° 309E, Oct. 30, 1997 – May 29, 1998, pitfall (P. Van Heurck, N. Guthrie, WAM T51115), 1♀ ; Lake Mollerin , 30 ° 329S, 117 ° 349E, Sept. 15, 1998 – Oct. 25, 1999, pitfall (L. King, WAM T49554), 1♀ ; Nanga Station , 26 ° 299S, 114 ° 039E, Aug. 23– Oct. 16, 1994 (P. West, WAM T45256), 1♀ ; Ogilvie Road , ca. 40 km SW Ajana, 27 ° 599S, 114 ° 129E, Sept. 15, 1998 – Mar. 30, 1999, pitfall (P. Van Heurck, WAM T49570), 1♀ ; Woodleigh Station , 26 ° 129S, 114 ° 259E, Oct. 10, 1994 – Jan. 12, 1995, pitfall (N. McKenzie, J. Rolfe, WAM T45260), 1♀ ; Woodleigh Station , 26 ° 139S, 114 ° 359E, Jan. 12–May 17, 1995, pitfall (P. West, WAM T45257), 1♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Western Australia (map 40).

Cryptoerithus annaburroo , new species

Figures 632, 633; Map 44

TYPE: Female holotype taken in pitfall trap at sand site, Annaburroo , 12 ° 549S, 131 ° 409E, Northern Territory (Apr. 1997; T. Churchill), deposited in MNT ( A001503 ) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Females can easily be recognized by the relatively wide epigynal atrium and triangular posterior epigynal projections (fig. 632).

MALE: Unknown.

FEMALE: Total length 4.12. Carapace 1.42 long, 1.30 wide, 0.40 high, length/ width 1.09; sternum 1.00 long, 0.80 wide, length/width 1.25; abdomen 2.70 long, 1.40 wide; coxa I 0.50 long; relative length of coxae I–IV 1:0.88:0.80:1.40. Carapace pale yellow, with marginal dark filigree net pattern; sternum, endites, labium, abdomen pale; chelicerae pale gray; legs cinnamon brown, with distally darkened femora, patellae, tibiae. Eye group width 0.66 of head width; AME 0.14; ALE 0.10; PME 0.18; PLE 0.08; AME–AME 0.02; AME–ALE 0.02; PME–PME 0.00; PME–PLE 0.04; ALE– PLE 0.02; eye group AME–PME 0.36; AME–AME 0.30; PME–PME 0.34. Clypeus 0.08 high. Cheliceral retromargin with 3–5 tiny teeth. Abdomen weakly covered with gray plumose setae, frontally without band of bent setae; ALS 0.26 of abdominal length, about half their diameter apart. Tibiae I distal half, metatarsi, tarsi I, II proventrally with scopula. Epigynum (figs. 632, 633): atrium with wide rectangular anterior margin, wide, triangular posterior projections; spermathecae close together, sausage-shaped and twisted.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: None.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Northern Territory (map 44).