Hortophora tatianeae Framenau & Castanheira sp. nov.

Figs 1D-F, 2G, 21, 22, 23

Type material.

Holotype male, Hume St, Ringwood East, unnamed park (37°49'26.88"S, 145°15'31.97"E, Victoria), 7 January 2019, V.W. Framenau, spotlighting (MV K-14612).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a matronym in apposition honouring Tatiane Almeida Diorio, wife of one of the junior authors (PSC), for her support during his research career.

Other material examined.

See Appendix 1.

Diagnosis.

Male and female genital morphology of H. tatianeae sp. nov. is most similar to H. biapicata comb. nov. and H. transmarina comb. nov., but differs from both species in the distinctly different ventral abdomen colouration that lacks the broad transverse light bands (Fig. 1E, 21B, 22B vs 1E, G, 6B, D, F, H, 24B, 25B).

Description.

Male (holotype, MV K-14612): Total length 7.8. Carapace 4.5 long, 3.5 wide, centrally beige and with dark brown lateral flanks, white setae particularly centrally (Fig. 21A). Eye diameter AME 0.29, ALE 0.13, PME 0.20, PLE 0.14; row of eyes: AME 0.68, PME 0.47, PLE 1.66. Chelicerae dark brown, three promarginal teeth widely separated on sclerotised irregular ridge, three retromarginal teeth of same size. Legs dark brown with light discolourations, particularly basally on all femora and hooks on coxae I (Fig. 21A, B). Tibiae of leg II enlarged with apico-ventral megaspur that carries a strong spine, additional strong spines ventrally and prolaterally (Fig. 2G). Metatarsus of leg II heavily bent (Fig. 2F). Leg formula I> IV> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 4.7 + 1.9 + 4.0 + 3.4 + 1.1 = 15.1, II - 3.9 + 1.8 + 3.3 + 0.9 + 1.0 = 10.9, III - 2.8 + 1.1 + 1.8 + 1.7 + 0.8 = 8.2, IV - 3.5 + 1.4 + 2.8 + 2.7 + 1.0 = 11.4. Labium 0.45 long, 0.72 wide, dark brown, endites dark brown (Fig. 21B). Sternum 1.8 long, 1.3 wide, brown, with darker discolorations (Fig. 21B). Abdomen 4.0 long, 2.8 wide, dorsum with humeral humps, dark brown folium pattern and central white guanine patches (Fig. 21A); venter olive-brown with two white lateral lines and ca. four pairs of white spots centrally (Fig. 21B). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + cymbium = total length): 0.5 + 0.4 + 0.3 + 1.9 = 3.1; paracymbium elongated with terminal hook (Figs 3C, 21D); median apophysis transverse elongate with central pointy protrusion and terminating in two sclerotized apical tips (Figs 3C, 21C); conductor lobe of standard size (Figs 3C, 21C); terminal apophysis bubble-shaped tapering into a short sclerotised tip (Figs 3C, 21C); conductor apically and basally sclerotised and with a lamellar, excavated central portion (Figs 3C, 21C); embolus sinuous with acute tip (Figs 3C, 21C).

Female (MV K-14613): Total length 10.1. Carapace 4.5 long, 3.9 wide; reddish-brown with darker lateral flanks (Fig. 22A). Eye diameter AME 0.22, ALE 0.14, PME 0.15, PLE 0.14; row of eyes: AME 0.68, PME 0.50, PLE 2.44. Chelicerae brown, three promarginal teeth (median largest) and three retromarginal teeth (similar size). Legs brown, variously ringed lighter and darker (Fig. 22A, B). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total length): 1.3 + 0.6 + 0.8 + - + 1.6 = 4.3. Leg formula I> IV> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 4.4 + 2.5 + 4.2 + 4.1 + 1.4 = 16.6, II - 4.2 + 2.2 + 3.7 + 0.9 + 1.3 = 12.3, III - 3.0 + 1.2 + 1.6 + 1.7 + 0.9 = 8.4, IV - 4.3 + 2.0 + 3.0 + 3.2 + 1.2 = 13.7. Labium 0.81 long, 1.15 wide, as in male; endites as in male (Fig. 22B). Sternum 2.0 long, 1.7 wide, but reddish-brown with dusky markings (Fig. 22B). Abdomen 6.0 long, 4.9 wide; dorsum with indistinct humeral humps, olive-grey folium pattern with light lines and patches (Fig. 22A); venter as in male (Fig. 22B). Epigyne (Fig. 22C-E) base about as wide as long in ventral view; scape very elongated, basally with transverse ridge, very sparse setae; central division narrow with parallel sides.

Variation.

Size variation: total length males 6.3-11.3 (n=21), females 6.3-14.0 (n=31). There was no incidence of epigyne scape breaking in H. tatianeae sp. nov. in any of the specimens examined by us. Dorsal abdominal colour variations are similar to that of H. biapicata comb. nov. and H. transmarina comb. nov., which range from a fairly uniform light to dark brown colour, faint to distinct folium pattern as described here and variable guanine patterns, as for example in the holotype male (Fig. 1F, 21A).

Life history and habitat preferences.

Mature males of H. tatianeae sp. nov. have been found from December to April, with a single record in May. Mature females have been found throughout the year, but with very low numbers between June and November. Therefore, the species is largely summer- to autumn mature. Habitat descriptions include open, dry sclerophyll and rainforest, but the species has also been found in urban parks and gardens.

Distribution.

Hortophora tatianeae sp. nov. has been found along the east coast of Australia, from northern Queensland to Tasmania (Fig. 23).