Knotodo narelleae, Raven & Hebron & Williams, 2023

Raven, Robert J., Hebron, Wendy & Williams, Kylie, 2023, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders VI: five new stripe-less miturgid genera and 48 new species (Miturgidae: Miturginae), Zootaxa 5358 (1), pp. 1-117 : 84-85

Knotodo narelleae sp. nov.

Figs 67–68

Diagnosis. Males most closely resemble those of K. gracilis , but differ in the median apophysis with a predistal scoop retrolaterally ( Fig. 68c ). Males may be confused with those of Miturgopelma watarrka sp. nov. in the shape of the male palp and the ridge along the ventral palpal tibia ( Fig. 68c ), but differ in the very slender median apophysis and base of embolus, each about the same length; in M. watarrka sp. nov. both are much thicker and the embolus curves prolaterally distal of basal bulb. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is a patronym in honour of Narelle Murphy, in recognition of her tireless good will and patience in the management of the Facebook page Australian Spider Identification since 2017; arachnologically, this species epithet is a medal.

Type Material. Victoria: male holotype, 3.1 km N of Millewa S. Bore, Site 98 Drift fence, 34°45’S 141°04’E, pitfall, Oct 1986, A.L. Yen, MV K4810 .

Paratypes. 1 ma., Big Desert Survey site 3, 1.3 km N of Chinaman Well, 35°52’S 141°39’E, Apr–May 1980, J. Coventry, MV K4341 ; 1 ma., 0.6 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°46’S 141°04’E, Jun-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K4677 ; 2 ma., 3.3 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°45’S 141°04’E, Jun-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K4707 ; 1 ma., 4.6 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°44’S 141°08’E, Jun-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K4808 ; 2 ma., 3.1 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°45’S 141°04’E, Jun-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K4811 ; 2 ma., 2 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°45’S 141°04’E, Jun-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K4812 ; 1 ma., 14.5 km NW of Lascelles , 35°33’S 142°26’E, May-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K6965 ; 1 ma., 9.2 km NE of Hattah , 34°41’S 142°19’E, May-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K6966 ; 1 ma., 9 km NNE of Hattah , 34°41’S 142°18’E, May-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K6967 ; 1 ma., 3 km NE of Hattah , 34°45’S 142°17’E, May-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K6968 ; 4 ma., 20.4 km NE of Patchewollock , 35°14’S 142°19’E, May-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K69-69 ; 1 ma., 3.7 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°45’S 141°04’E, Jun-86, A.L. Yen, pitfall traps, MV K6978 .

Description. Male, holotype MV K4810

Carapace 5.12 long, 4.16 wide. Opisthosoma 5.12 long, 3.20 wide. Total, 10.2.

I: 5.00, 1.57, 4.86, 5.00, 3.00, 19.43. II: 5.00, 1.57, 4.86, 5.00, 3.14, 19.57. III: 5.14, 1.43, 4.86, 7.57, 3.86, 22.86. IV: 5.14, 1.43, 5.00, 6.14, 3.57, 21.28. Palp: 1.57, 0.71, 0.91, -, 1.86, 5.05.

Colour: carapace yellow brown with fine black “brackets” ( Fig. 67b ) subcentrally on striae and along caput edges. Chelicerae yellow brown with gray areas distally. Opisthosoma dorsally gray, medially with central band edged in black, becomes wider at mid-opisthosoma length and breaks into transverse dark bands interleaved with lighter bands, venter entirely pallid without flecking. Femora, patellae and tibiae yellow brown with dark clumped areas laterally.

Carapace: Light pile of dark hair centrally. Eyes: eight in 2 recurved rows; from above almost in 4 rows—front edge of ALE in base of back edge of AME, likewise in back row. All eyes (save ALE) of similar size but ALE clearly smallest. PLE behind ectal edge of ALE and “look” to side. Front width: back width: length, 59:73:48. AME 16, ALE, 10; PME, 12; PLE, 15. AME–AME, 8; AME–ALE, 2, PME–PME, 10, PME–PLE, 12.

Chelicerae. Promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2. Palpal coxae with prolateral tear-shaped glabrous groove and slightly constricted anteriorly. Labium with anterior shield but no grooves. Sternum subcircular with radial pattern of fine hairs converging on centre.

Spines. I: fe pv1p2d3r3; pa 0; ti p2d2r2v2.2.2; me p1.2r1.1v2.1. II: fe pv1p3d3r4; pa 0; ti p2d3r2v2.2.2; me p1.2.1r1.1v2.2. III: fe p4d3r4; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.2.1r2.2.2v2.2.1. IV: fe p4d3r3; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.2.2r2.2.2v2.2.1. Palp: fe p1d1.1.2d4; pa p1d2 (incl. 1 apical); ti p3d1. STC with 5–6 long teeth not obscured by tuft.

Spinnerets: ALS = 2x diameter of PLS but as long, apical PLS conical, PMS small cylindrical.

Palp. Tibia short; RTA includes ventral ridge apically in rounded knob with low glabrous retrolateral zone. RTA of two roughly triangular shields, ectally lower with folded wide tip forming point crossing apically with upper pointed prong; shields separated by narrow almost scoop-like sclerotised area; dorsal shield with long folded edge. Cymbium groove narrow glabrous ridge in basal retro-quarter and ridge and groove on retrolateral corner. Bulb. Median apophysis long, slender with apical hook converging from narrow trough; median apophysis with median hyaline zone but retrobasally fused to base of embolus; embolus base simple, tapers gradually and passes vertically back under reniform subtegulum. Embolus follows prolateral edge of subtegulum to wide conductor behind and close to median apophysis. Tegulum basally acute.

Distribution. Known only from mallee in northwestern Victoria.

Figures

FIGURE 67. Knotodo narelleae sp. nov., a, male paratype, MV K4341; b, c, male holotype, MV K4810; a, bulb, cymbium and tibia, ventral view; b, habitus, dorsal view; c, palpal tibia, dorsal view showing dorsal lobe of RTA.

FIGURE 68. Knotodo narelleae sp. nov., a–d, male holotype, MV K4810, scanning electron micrographs, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia: a, ventral view; b, median apophysis, ventral view; c, d, RTA, ventral (c) and retrolateral (d) views.