Phryganoporus melanopygus, Gray, Michael R., 2002

Gray, Michael R., 2002, The Taxonomy and Distribution of the Spider Genus Phryganoporus Simon (Araneae: Amaurobioidea: Desidae), Records of the Australian Museum 54 (3), pp. 275-292 : 290-292

Phryganoporus melanopygus n.sp.

Figs. 3d , 4b , 9a–h

Type material. HOLOTYPE 3, KS45120 ( AMS), track to Windy Corner , Western Australia, 23°30'S 124°35'E, 16Aug 1990, A.E. de Jong . PARATYPES: 2♀ (with 5 j), KS23446 ( AMS); 13, KS45121 ( AMS); all data as for holotype . 1♀, 91/1619 ( WAM), Canning Stock Route , Western Australia, 23°05'S 123°12'E, 19 Jul–1 Nov 1987, AEJ; tube nest .

Diagnosis. CL female 2.8–3.5, male 1.9–2.2. Separated from all other species by the strong dark brown pigmentation covering the distal third of the abdomen; and from P. nigrinus and P. davidleei by the gently distally sloping central limb of the S-shaped embolus/conductor.

Description

Male holotype. BL 3.95, CL 1.93, CW 1.38, LL 0.24, LW 0.37, SL 1.00, SW 0.82. Similar to female but usually with two distinct abdominal chevrons, remainder fused posteriorly. Spination: leg I, femur d112 p01, tibia v012 p01 r11, metatarsus d01 v221 p11 r11; leg II, femur d112 p01, tibia v012 p11 r10, metatarsus d02 v211 p011 r11; leg III, femur d112 p01, tibia v02 p01 r01, metatarsus d02 v111 p011 r011; leg IV, femur d111 p01, tibia v02 r01, metatarsus d02 v111 p011 r01. Central limb of “S” shaped embolus/ conductor angled gently upward across the upper palpal bulb.Apical section of “S” relatively broad, about two-thirds the width of basal section. Prolateral tegular bulge height usually less than half cymbium length.

Female paratype (KS23446). BL 7.27, CL 3.29, CW 2.24, LL 0.45, LW 0.65, SL 1.75, SW 1.29. Carapace silvery grey to brown depending on density of white hair cover.Anterior two-thirds of abdomen silvery grey with middorsal stripe present but rendered indistinct in life by dense white hair cover. One or two brown chevrons of variable size present, remainder completely fused so that entire distal third of abdomen is dark brown. Legs brown with dark brown pigment rings. Abdomen may broaden posteriorly. Spination: leg I, femur d111 p001, tibia v122 p1010 r0100, metatarsus d002 v221 p001 r0101; leg II, femur d101 p001, tibia v102 p0010, metatarsus d001 v221 p0101 r0101; leg III, femur d100 p001, tibia 002 r010, metatarsus d001 v2111 p001 r001; leg IV, femur d112, tibia v002 r010, metatarsus d001 v011 p01 r001. Transverse epigynal ridge indented anteriorly, longitudinal width about one-fifth as wide as epigynal fossa. Fossa wider than long. Lateral teeth narrowly pointed. Internal genitalia Fig. 9f .

Distribution. Shrubland habitats of the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia ( Fig. 4b ).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the darkly pigmented posterior abdomen.

c, prolateral. d,e, body, dorsal: d, female; e, male. f,g, female: f, internal genitalia; g, epigynum. h, Canning Stock

Route, WA, female: ventral body. Scale lines: d,e,h: 1 mm; others 0.5 mm.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Funding assistance from the Australian Biological Resources Study is gratefully acknowledged. Judy Thompson provided artwork assistance. Collections material for this study was kindly provided by David Hirst (SAM), Graham Milledge (NMV), Robert Raven, Phillip Lawless (QM), Mark Harvey, Julianne Waldock (WAM), Barbara York Main (BYM coll.). I am grateful to Mr A.de Jong for provision of specimens from northwestern Australia.

Figures

Figure 3. a–d, spiders and webs. a,b, Phryganoporus candidus: a, communal web; b, female. c, Phryganoporus nigrinus: female on solitary web with horn-shaped retreat. d, Phryganoporus melanopygus: female (note partial loss of white setae on carapace).

Figure 4. a,b, species distributions based on material examined: a, • Phryganoporus candidus; b, ' P. nigrinus, O P. davidleei, • P. melanopygus, Δ P. vandiemeni.

Figure 9. a–h, Phryganoporus melanopygus n.sp. a–g,Windy Corner, WA.a–c, male palp:a, ventral; b, retrolateral;