Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994

Ivan L. F. Magalhaes, 2016, On new or poorly known Australian Filistatidae spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae), including a study on the fine morphology of Wandella, Journal of Natural History 50 (29 - 30), pp. 1815-1858 : 29-31

Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994

( Figures 3 – 8 , 12 , 13 F – H, 15, 25 – 27)

Wandella stuartensis

Gray 1994, p. 54, figs 8, 65 – 70, 80.

Male holotype from Lagoon Waterhole, Mabel Creek Station , SA, 28°56' S, 134°19' E, 26/X/1984, P. Greenslade, in pitfall trap, deposited in SAM ARA5311 (2), not examined.

Diagnosis

Male ( Figure 25 ) diagnosed by Gray (1994). Females can be distinguished by the combination of the following: the enlarged, usually longer than wide, bases of the spermathecae; the lack of a clear distinction between the base and the inner spermathecae; and the rounded outer spermathecae, on the top of a short, laterally directed stalk ( Figure 26 E – H).

Description

Male ( Figure 25 ) described by Gray (1994).

Female from Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales, Australia (AM KS.114345) ( Figure 26 A – E). Coloration: carapace cream, with dark brown median pattern and clypeal markings, and light brown median area, with slightly dark submarginal bands; chelicerae cream with an anterior brown patch; labium and endites light yellow; sternum cream with diffuse light brown patches along the anterior border; legs light yellow, with incomplete light brown rings in the base and apex of the femora, tibiae and metatarsi and a prolateral light brown patch on the patellae; abdomen dorsum light brown, clothed with whitish setae, with dark brown chevron with five markings posteriorly; abdomen venter cream, darker posteriorly. Sternum subrounded, with a well-marked pair of posterior sigillae. Total length 3.65. Carapace length 1.47, width 1.16. Clypeus length 0.27. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.08, PME 0.07, ALE 0.11, PLE 0.78, AME – AME 0.03, PME – PME 0.14. Palp: femur length 0.8, width 0.26, tibia length 0.54, width 0.26. Right leg I: femur 1.68, patella 0.39, tibia 1.83, metatarsus 1.49, tarsus 1.06. II: fe 1.16, pa 0.39, ti 1.01. III: fe 1.05, pa 0.38, ti 0.85. IV: fe 1.45, pa 0.39, ti 1.36, mt 1.19, ta 0.75. Abdomen: length 2.04, width 1.24. Leg macrosetae: absent. Calamistrum with three rows, the middle one slightly reduced (~ 5 setae, others ~ 6 – 7). Epigastric furrow adorned with thick setae, slightly longer towards the laterals. Spermathecae: inner spermathecae rounded, somewhat sclerotized, outer spermathecae about the same size as inner, not so sclerotized, on a short stalk. State of the specimen: missing left leg I from the tibia.

Variation

Females (n = 4): total length 2.75 – 3.65 (3.31), carapace length 1.03 – 1.47 (1.21), femur I length 1.21 – 1.68 (1.39), tibia I length 1.23 – 1.83 (1.46), tibia/carapace ratio 1.13 – 1.24 (1.19). The morphology of the spermathecae is variable, especially in the base: some specimens have it short and wider, while others have it longer and narrower ( Figures 26 , 27 ). The morphology of the male palp is variable as well ( Figure 25 ), although all specimens fit to Gray ’ s (1994) original diagnosis. This is a small, widely distributed species that might have to be split after a more careful revision.

Note

Males and females have been matched because they have been collected several times from the same localities.

Distribution

Arid regions of Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and southwestern Queensland ( Figure 15 ).

Material examined

Australia. New South Wales: ‘ Eumenbah ’ Station, 500 m east of Castlereagh Highway, 12 km north of junction with Gwydir Highway, C. cristata patch (as shown in label), pitfall trap (148.13208°, −29.81491°), F. Christie, P. Flemons & M. Elliott, 13/XII/1999, 1 ♂ (AM KS.77066); Lower Murray-Darling Region, Coombah Station, mallee/spiniflex shrubland (141.57444°, −33.05194°), M. Le Breton, 11 – 15/XII/1999, 1 ♂ (AM KS.91536); Mallara Station (142.51667°, −33.3825°), 13 – 17/XII/1999, 5 ♂ (AM KS.91534); Popitah Station, black box woodland (141.69556°, −33.15444°), 11 – 15/XII/1999, 1 ♂ (AM KS.91514); Tapio Station (142.06861°, −34.04306°), 20 – 24/III/2000, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (AM KS.91535); Warrakoo Station, mallee/spinifex shrubland (141.285°, −33.8544°), 16/X/1998, 1 ♂ (AM KS.71400); Paroo-Darling National Park, Peery section, Arrow Bar addition, 2.3 km south of junction with White Cliffs Rd (143.4256°, −30.8431°), G.A. Milledge & H.M. Smith, 28/X – 25/XI/2010, 1 ♂ (AM KS.114191); Track to east of Wilga HS, beat/sweep & hand collecting (143.9492°, −31.4594°), 25/X/2010, 1 ♀ (AM KS.114345); Sturt National Park, site 19 – 1, SNPORD10331, pitfall trap (141.8675°, −29.0936°), M. Dangerfield, 26/IX/ 1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78571); site 19 – 1, SNPORD10549, M. Gillings, 26/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78574); site 19 – 1, SNPORD12446, A. Holmes, 26/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78543); site 19 – 1, SNPORD17767, M. Dangerfield, 26/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78513); site 19 – 1, SNPORD17841, M. Gillings, 26/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78562); site 33 – 1, SNPORD02760 (141.9667°, −29.1119°), M. Dangerfield, 22/IX/1997, 1 imm. (AM KS.78804); site 35 – 1, SNPORD02121 (141.9564°, −29.1889°), A. Holmes, 25/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78907); site 35 – 1, SNPORD02420, 1 ♀ (AM KS.78898); site 35 – 1, SNPORD03644, R. Harris, 25/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78865); site 35 – 1, SNPORD03789, 1 ♀ (AM KS.78864); site 35 – 1, SNPORD03994, 1 ♂ (AM KS.78846); site 77 – 1, SNPORD04169 (142.1553°, −29.2822°), M. Streulens, 25/IX/1997, 4 ♂ 1 ♀ (AM KS.79388); site 80 – 1, SNPORD03940, A. Holmes, 25/ IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.79451); site 80 – 1, SNPORD13616, R. Harris, 25/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.79439); site 90 – 3, SNPORD01693 (142.155°, −29.2822°), M. Henery, 25/IX/1997, 1 ♀ 1 imm. (AM KS.79477); site 90 – 3, SNPORD01715, 1 ♂ (AM KS.79481); site 90 – 3, SNPORD01774, 1 ♂ (AM KS.79545); site 90 – 3, SNPORD03163, 1 ♂ (AM KS.79482); site 90 – 3, SNPORD03188, M. Streulens, 25/IX/1997, 1 ♂ (AM KS.79486); 1 ♂ (AM KS.79492); site 90 – 3, SNPORD04346, M. Henery, 25/IX/1997, 2 ♂ (AM KS.79541); Site 90 – 3, SNPORD03220, 1 ♂ (AM KS.79520); 24.7 km on road to Cawwell Stn from jnctn with Jobs Gate Rd (146.9986°, −29.1142°), F. Christie, P. Flemons, M. Elliot, 16/XII/1999, 1 ♂ (AM KS.71143); about 1 km along access road to Cawwell Station (147.0674°, −29.0642°), F. Christie, P. Flemons & M. Elliott, 16/XII/1999, 1 ♂ (AM KS.77068); Darling River, ‘ Kalyanka ’ approx 11 km east of Wilcannia, Eucalyptus camaldulensis patch (143.4869°, −31.5619°), F. Christie, P. Flemons, M. Elliot, 22/XII/1999, 4 ♂ (AM KS.71144); Little Weir 19.5 km west-southwest of Mungindi on road to Collarenebri, Eucalypts beside dry creek bed (149.15795°, −29.04895°), M. Moulds & J. Thompson, 26/IV/1994, 1 ♂ (AM KS.42442); ‘ Wyninebah ’ Stn, 0.3 km past stockyards, 300 m east of road, Acacia pendula patch, pitfall trap (147.4903°, −30.3639°), L. Wilkie, R. Harris & T. Moulds., 15/XII/1999, 1 ♂ (AM KS.77065). Queensland: Ethabukka, Simpson desert [139.2627°, −25.20494°], R. Raven & B. Baehr, 4 – 6/III/1999, 1 ♂ (QM S68882 ); 1 ♂ (QM S52363 ); Taroom district, Boggomoss, pitfall trap (150.01667°, −25.43333°), P. Lawless, 11/XI/1996 – I/1997, 1 ♂ (QM S36634 ). South Australia: Beda Hill, South Gap Station, Gairdner/Torrens basin (137.61667°, −31.85°), D. Hirst, 4/XII/1989, 1 ♂ ( SAM NN 28352); 5/XII/1989, 2 ♀ ( SAM NN 28350); pitfall trap, 4/XII/1989, 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28351); Hiltaba Stn, BushBlitz 4, 151 m, Chenopod scrubland (135.1°, −32.18333°), B. Baehr, 12 – 21/XI/2012, 1 ♂ ( SAM NN 28239); BushBlitz 7, 233 m (135.18333°, −32.13333°), 12 – 22/XI/2012, 1 ♂ ( SAM NN 28240); Chillunie Well, Gawler Ra. (135.61667°, −32.61667°), D. Hirst, 9/XII/1989, 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28366); Kolay Hut, Paney Stn. Gawler Ra., pitfall trap (135.38333°, −32.58333°), 8 – 11/XII/1989, 3 ♂ ( SAM NN 28362); in leaf litter, 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28373); Olympic Dam [136.88775°, −30.47588°], E.G. Watts, 2 – 5/XI/1987, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28364).

Figures

Figure 3. Scanning electron microscopy, Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, male from Mallara Station, New South Wales (AM KS. 91534). (A) Cephalothorax, dorsal. (B) Eyes and clypeus, dorsal. Inset showing apodeme. (C) Same, lateral. (D) Cephalothorax, anterior. (E) Unsclerotized region of the clypeus, anterior, detail of projections. (F) Cephalothorax, ventral. Abbreviations: A, apodeme; CS, clypeal step.

Figure 4. Scanning electron microscopy, Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, female from Sturt National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 78864), cephalothorax. (A) Dorsal view. (B) Eye region, lateral view. (C) Ventral view. Inset showing vestigial sigilla. (D) Mouth region, ventral view. Abbreviations: Mu, muscles; SSt, sucking stomach.

Figure 5. Scanning electron microscopy, Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, female from Sturt National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 78864), appendages. (A) Right chelicerae, retromargin. (B) Same, promargin. Inset showing detail of cheliceral glands. (C) Right palpal tarsus and tibia, prolateral. Inset showing detail of the claw. (D) Right leg IV, tarsus, retrolateral. Inset showing tarsal organ. (E) Right leg IV, calamistrum. (F) Same, detail of calamistrum setae. (G) Right metatarsus IV, dorsolateral. Abbreviations: Ch, chemosensory seta; CL, apex of the chelicera lamina; FS, fang serrula; PrL, promarginal lobe; MeS, metatarsal stopper; SS, slit sensilla; Tr, trichobothrial socket; VO, venom outlet.

Figure 6. Scanning electron microscopy, Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, male from Mallara Station, New South Wales (AM KS. 91534). (A) Left leg I, retrolateral. (B) Same, apex of metatarsus. Notice absence of a distal macroseta. (C) Tarsus tip. (D) Apex of metatarsus, dorsolateral. Abbreviations: Ch, chemosensory seta; MeS, metatarsal stopper; SS, slit sensilla; Tr, trichobothrial socket. Arrows to the position of some tricobothria.

Figure 7. Scanning electron microscopy, Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, male from Mallara Station, New South Wales (AM KS. 91534). (A) Posterior tracheal spiracles, ventral. (B) Epiandrium, ventral. (C) Spinnerets, ventral. (D) Cribellum, ventral. (E) Right ALS, subventral. Notice strand of silk. (F) PMS and PLS, ventral. Abbreviations: ALS, anterior lateral spinnerets; Ch, chemosensory seta; Cr, cribellum; MAP, major ampullate gland spigot; mAP, minor ampullate gland spigot; MS, modified seta; PC, paracribellar gland spigot; Pi, piriform gland spigot; PLS, posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS, posterior median spinnerets; S, tracheal spiracle; Si, strand of silk.

Figure 8. Scanning electron microscopy, Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, female from Sturt National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 78864). (A) Spinnerets, ventral view. (B) Cribellum, ventral view. Inset showing cribellar spigots. (C) Right ALS, ventral view. (D) PMS and PLS, ventral view. (E) Right PMS, subventral view. (F) Right PLS, ventral view. Abbreviations: ALS, anterior lateral spinnerets; Ch, chemosensory seta; Cr, cribellum; MAP, major ampullate gland spigot; mAP, minor ampullate gland spigot; MS, modified seta; PC, paracribellar gland spigot; Pi, piriform gland spigot; PLS, posterior lateral spinnerets; PMS, posterior median spinnerets.

Figure 12. Scanning electron microscopy, Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, male from Mallara Station, New South Wales (AM KS. 91534), right palp. (A) Bulb and cymbium, prolateral. (B) Embolus and paraembolic lamina, prolateral. Inset showing apex of paraembolic lamina. (C) Bulb and cymbium, apical. (D) Bulb and cymbium, dorsal. (E) Bulb and cymbium, retrolateral. (F) Embolus and paraembolic lamina, retrolateral. Abbreviations: Cy, cymbium; E, embolus; ES, embolus slit; O, embolus opening; PL, paraembolic lamina.

Figure 13. Female genitalia, pancreatin digested. (A) Light microscopy, (B – H) scanning electron microscopy. (A) Wandella murrayensis Gray 1994 from Karunjie Station, Western Australia (WAM T 132986), lactic acid cleared, dorsal. (B – E) Same species, from Roachdale National Trust Reserve, South Australia (SAM NN 28356). (B) Genital region, ventral. (C) Spermathecae, dorsal. (D) Left spermathecae, dorsal. (E) Detail of pores of the inner spermatheca. (F – H) Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994 from Sturt National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 78864). (F) Spermathecae, dorsal. (G) Right spermathecae, dorsal. Inner spermathecae partially covered during preparation of the piece. (h) Detail of pores of the outer spermatheca. Abbreviations: IF, interpulmonary fold; IS, inner spermathecae; OS, outer spermathecae.

Figure 15. Distribution maps for Australian filistatids (including records by Gray 1994). Above: triangles = Wandella barbarella, white circles = Wandella diamentina, stars = Wandella grayi, black circles = Wandella murrayensis, asterisks = Wandella orana, crosses = Wandella parnabyi, white squares = Wandella waldockae. Below: triangles = Wandella alinjarra, black circles = Wandella australiensis, asterisks = Wandella centralis, star = Wandella infernalis, cross = Wandella pallida, white circles = Wandella stuartensis, squares = Yardiella humphreysi.

Figure 25. Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, males. (A, B) Habitus, male from Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 114191). (A) Dorsal. (B) Ventral. (C – E) Left palps, prolateral, cleared. (C) Beda Hill, South Australia (SAM NN 28352). (D) Kolay Hut, South Australia (SAM NN 28362). (E) Taroom district, Queensland (QM S 36634). Abbreviation: PL, paraembolic lamina.

Figure 26. Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, females. (A, B) Habitus and calamistrum, female from Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 114345). (A) Dorsal. (B) Lateral. (C) Ventral. (D) Right calamistrum, retrolateral. (E – H) Spermathecae, dorsal, cleared. (E) Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 114345). (F, G) Chillunie Well, South Australia (SAM NN 28366). (h) Beda Hill, South Australia (SAM NN 28351).

Figure 27. Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994, female spermathecae, dorsal, cleared. (A) Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 114345). (B) Chillunie Well, South Australia (SAM NN 28366). (C) Kolay Hut, South Australia (SAM NN 28373). (D) Beda Hill, South Australia (SAM NN 28351).