Araneus obscurtus (Urquhart, 1893)

W. Framenau, Volker, 2019, Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions, Evolutionary Systematics 3 (1), pp. 1-27 : 17

Araneus obscurtus (Urquhart, 1893)

Epeira obscurta Urquhart, 1893: 116-117.

Araneus obstructus (Urquhart). Rainbow 1911: 190 (misspelled)

Aranea obscurata (Urquhart). Roewer 1942: 830 (misspelled).

Araneus obscuratus (Urquhart). Bonnet 1955: 554 (misspelled).

Type material.

Holotype of Epeira obscurta Urquhart, 1893: female, Tasmania [no exact locality, AUSTRALIA] (whereabouts unknown).

Remarks.

The holotype female of Epeira obscurta seems to be lost. Similar to A. diabrosis , A. singularis (Urquhart, 1891) and A. viridulus (Urquhart, 1891) (see below for the latter two species), this species appears to have affinities to E. pustulosa. Taking the diversity of this group in south-eastern Australian into account, it appears very unlikely that the identity of this species can be elucidated based on the original description alone. I therefore consider the species-group name Epeira obscurta a nomen dubium.