Hortophora yesabah Framenau & Castanheira sp. nov.

Figs 2K, 33, 34, 35

Type-material.

Holotype male, Dandabah, Bunya Mountains National Park (26°51'S 151°34'E, Queensland, Australia), QM Party, 1-7 March 1976 (QM S111896).

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the Yesabah Caves (New South Wales), one of the few localities where the species was found. It is a noun in apposition.

Other material examined.

See Appendix 1.

Diagnosis.

The male pedipalp of male H. yesabah sp. nov., specifically the shape of the median apophysis is unlike any other in the genus, as it terminates in two large somewhat pointy lobes, of which the dorsal one is heavily sclerotised (Fig. 33D). Females of H. yesabah sp. nov. are similar to the ones of H. lodicula comb. nov., however, the epigyne of H. yesabah sp. nov. is broad at the base of the scape (Fig. 34C), whereas it is narrow at the base of the scape in H. lodicula comb. nov. (Fig. 13C).

Description.

Male (holotype, QM S11896): Total length 7.6. Carapace 3.8 long, 3.1 wide, dark-brown, cephalic area somewhat lighter and covered in white setae (Fig. 33A). Eye diameter AME 0.27, ALE 0.18, PME 0.20, PLE 0.18; row of eyes: AME 0.74, PME 0.49, PLE 1.62. Chelicerae reddish-brown; four promarginal teeth (apical and third largest) and three retromarginal teeth (similar size). Legs brown with light discolourations, specifically ventrally and on legs III and IV (Fig. 33A, B). Tibiae of leg II with few strong setae and a conspicuous megaspur with strong spine (Fig. 2J). Leg formula I> IV> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 4.3 + 1.7 + 4.0 + 3.5 + 1.1 = 14.6, II - 3.8 + 1.5 + 3.5 + 0.9 + 1.0 = 10.7, III - 2.7 + 0.9 + 1.7 + 1.8 + 0.8 = 7.9, IV - 3.7 + 1.3 + 2.8 + 2.6 + 0.9 = 11.3. Labium 0.45 long, 0.72 wide, dark brown; endites brown (Fig. 33B). Sternum 1.6 long, 1.4 wide, dark brown, yellow-brown centrally (Fig. 33B). Abdomen 4.0 long, 3.6 dorsum with humeral humps, olive-grey folium pattern on beige background (Fig. 33A); venter covered by large guanine patch (Fig. 33B). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + cymbium = total length): 0.8 + 0.4 + 0.3 + 1.1 = 2.6; paracymbium short and ending in a hook-like rounded tip (Fig. 33D); median apophysis transverse, terminating in two broad lobes, the dorsal of which is heavily sclerotised (Fig. 36C); conductor lobe elongated apically (Fig. 33C); terminal apophysis bubble-shaped terminating in a short sclerotised tip; conductor heavily sclerotized and rounded (Fig. 33C); embolus thick and short (Fig. 33C).

Female (QM S111897): Total length 8.6. Carapace 4.2 long, 3.7 wide; reddish brown, centrally darker, cephalic area with few white setae (Fig. 34A). Eye diameter AME 0.79, PME 0.50, PLE 1.95. Chelicerae yellow-brown; four promarginal teeth (apical and third largest) and three retromarginal teeth (similar size). Leg colouration similar to male but with lighter hue (Fig. 34A, B). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total length): 1.3 + 0.6 + 0.9 + 1.4 = 4.2. Leg formula I> IV> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 4.4 + 1.8 + 4.0 + 3.5 + 1.2 = 14.9, II - 4.2 + 1.8 + 3.6 + 0.9 + 1.2 = 11.7, III - 3.1 + 1.3 + 1.9 + 2.0 + 0.9 = 9.2, IV - 4.1 + 1.8 + 3.2 + 3.2 + 1.0 = 13.3. Labium 0.68 large, 0.99 wide, reddish-brown; endites brown (Fig. 34B). Sternum 2.1 long, 1.8 wide, brown, centrally yellow-brown (Fig. 34B). Abdomen 4.8 long, 4.8 with, dorsum with humeral humps, colouration and folium pattern as in male but with darker colour hue (Fig. 34A, B). Epigyne (QM S111898; Fig. 34C-E) dark reddish-brown, atrium longer than wide; central division narrow; scape elevated with large subquadrate base, slightly reaching posteriorly beyond epigyne, wrinkled and with long setae.

Variation.

Size variation: total length males 7.5-8.9 (n=4), females 8.6.1-10.9 (n=5). The epigyne scape was broken off in one of five females measured for this study. A folium pattern is always clearly discernible in all specimens of H. yesabah sp. nov. examined by us, but no distinct white guanine patterns were evident.

Life history and habitat preferences.

Mature males of H. yesabah comb. nov. were found from February to July and mature females from March to October. This suggests that this species is autumn and winter mature. The only habitat description with collection specimens reads ‘rainforest’ .

Distribution.

Hortophora yesabah comb. nov. has been found from south-eastern Queensland south to about Wollongong in eastern New South Wales (Fig. 35)