Xistera auriphila, 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 : 105-107

Xistera auriphila sp. nov.

Fig. 82

Diagnosis. Males most closely resemble those of Xis. barlee sp. nov. and differ from those in the short median apophysis with deeper incursion, the position of embolus origin, the apex of the cymbium, and the RTA with deeper apical scoop ( Fig. 82b ). Males may also be confused with those of Xis. jandateae sp. nov., but differ in the relatively much longer RTA ( Fig. 82b ) and in the two basal lobes of the RTA forming a collar rather than a simple lobe ( Fig. 82b ). Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet alludes to the type locality, the Goldfields (Latin aurum, gold); i.e., the species is gold-loving.

Type Material. Western Australia: male holotype, Woodline, Woodline , site WLR9, 31°53`S 122°27`E=- 31.833°S 122.4500°E, 31 Mar–2 Apr 1981, W. F. Humphreys et al., pitfall trap, gimlet woodland, WAM T33517 .

Paratypes. 1 ma., taken with holotype, WAM T74163 ; 2 ma., Boorabin, 31°12 120°18, Mar.1981, WAM 97 /183– 184; 1 ma., same locality but BNR4, Eucalyptus salmonphloia woodland, 31°13 S 120°19 E, WAM97 /190.

Description. Male, holotype WAM T33517

Carapace 4.00 long, 3.12 wide. Opisthosoma 3.92 long, 2.48 wide. Total, 7.92.

I: 2.93, 1.07, 2.67, 2.60, 1.87, 11.14. II: 3.00, 1.12, 2.67, 2.67, 1.80, 11.26. III: 3.07, 1.07, 2.87, 3.14, 1.80, 11.95. IV: 4.07, 1.27, 3.54, 4.54, 2.27, 15.69. Palp: 0.94, 0.47, 0.47, -, 1.80, 3.68.

Colour: carapace tan with brown areas along strial and caput edges and reticulated marks along submargin, bush of white hairs between PME & PLE and back; opisthosoma damaged, dorsally dark medial region with undulating edges for length; venter pallid with large dark areas only near spinnerets; femora yellow brown but brown irregular bands basally, medially and distally, entirely brown ventrally.

Carapace: pilosity generally light. Eyes: 2 strongly recurved or 4 rows; front edge of ALE behind back edge of AME, likewise in back row. ALE smallest, other eyes of similar size. Group front width: back width: length, 33:44:32. Sizes: AME 9, ALE 4, PME 9, PLE 10. Interspaces: AME–AME, 6, AME–ALE 3, PME–PME 5, PMEPLE, 13. Chelicerae: promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2. Sternum: pilosity light; pallid hairs, except for margins, converge centrally.

Legs: trochanter notches ca. x 1.5 wider than deep on IV. Claws with 5 long teeth. Scopula: thin for 2/3–3/4 of metatarsi I–IV; denser but still thin on tarsi I–IV; pseudotufts distinct dense.

Spines: I: fe pv1p1d3r1; pa 0; ti p2r2v2.2.2 me p1v2. II: fe p2d3r1; pa 0; ti p2r1v2.2.2; me p1v2. III: fe p4d3r3; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.2.1r1.1.1v2.2. IV: fe p3d3r2; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.1.1r1.1.2v2.1.1.1. Palp: fe d1.1.2; pa p1d1.1 (including 1 apical); ti p4r1.

Spinnerets: PLS and ALS long, cylindrical; PLS ca. 0.5 x diameter of ALS with conical apical article; PMS smaller cylinders.

Palp: tibia: proventral keel for length and glabrous to RTA for length of tibia, a long, twisted scoop, deeply distal of cymbial base, proximally a short scoop with two rounded opposed caliper-like processes at base, upper “claw” slightly longer. Cymbium thick beside RTA and with distinct sclerotised groove dorsally adjacent to main scoop of RTA; few thicker brown setae mixed with pallid hairs and light scopula in apical third; apical cone asymmetrical; lateral margins both obscured by tegulum/subtegulum, flared prolaterally; short broadly rounded. Median apophysis triangular beak-like with apical retrolateral hook, unsclerotised area deeply incursed almost to tip, free of conductor. Embolus origin central, bipartite, hammer-like distal portion joined by shallow less sclerotised groove to club-like basal portion; reflexes back passing under subtegulum emerging just distal of median apophysis where elongate unsclerotised area marks start of long low narrow conductor ending opposite tip of median apophysis.Tegulum narrow on retrolateral face forming apical crown behind median apophysis. Subtegulum reniform, large, prolateral.

Distribution. Known only from the Goldfields region in southwestern Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 82. Xistera auriphila sp. nov., male holotype, WAM T33517: a, b, male palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a) and retrolateral (b) views; c, carapace, dorsal view; d, opisthosoma, dorsal view.