Platorish jimna, PLATNICK, 2002

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2002, A Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spiders Of The Families Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae, And Trochanteriidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (271), pp. 1-1 : 1-

Platorish jimna , new species Figures 491–494 ; Map 38

TYPE: Male holotype taken in open forest at Pig Pkt., Jimna State Forest, 26 ° 42 ̍ S, 152 ° 24 ̍ E, Queensland (July 4, 1978; K. McDonald), deposited in QMB ( S26474 ) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males resemble those of P. gelorup but have a shorter embolus and more twisted retrolateral flange on the median apophysis (fig. 491). Although the female epigynum (fig. 493) resembles that of Morebilus diversus , the spermathecae resemble those of P. gelorup but do not extend as far anteriorly as in that species (fig. 494).

MALE: Total length 5. Coloration as in P. gelorup . Leg spination: metatarsi: I–III v1p­ 0­0; IV v0­0­0; scopulae virtually absent on anterior legs. Retrolateral tibial apophysis large, flat, club­shaped (fig. 492); embolus tip short, not curled around hypertrophied retrolateral flange of median apophysis (fig. 491).

FEMALE: Total length 6. Coloration as in male except femora I darkened. Leg spination: metatarsi: I–III v1p­0­0; IV v0­0­0. Epigynal atrium triangular but only weakly defined laterally, posterior margin v­shaped, anterior hood transverse (fig. 493); spermathecae with large lateral lobes incorporating ducts (fig. 494).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: New South Wales: Noorongong, near Forbes, 33 ° 23 ̍ S, 148 ° 01 ̍ E, Sept. 17, 1981 (N. Coleman, AMS KS8360 ), 1♀. Queensland: Bunya Mountains , 26 ° 54 ̍ S, 151 ° 35 ̍ E, Aug. 1940 (J. Henry, NMV K3471 ), 1♀ ; Farm Creek, near Tannymorel , 28 ° 18 ̍ S, 152 ° 15 ̍ E, Sept. 18, 1971, under log on hillside (R. Monroe, QMB S26472 ), 13 ; Mount Gayndah , 25 ° 35 ̍ S, 151 ° 32 ̍ E, Nov. 16, 2000 (N. Platnick, R. Raven, B. Baehr, AMNH), 1♀ ; Southwood , 30 m W Moonee, 27 ° 47 ̍ S, 149 ° 59 ̍ E, July 24, 1973 (R. Raven, QMB S26470 ), 1♀ ; 30 km N Tara , 27 ° 17 ̍ S, 150 ° 28 ̍ E, Feb. 14, 1999 (A. Hubert, QMB S42855 ), 1♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Southeastern Queensland and New South Wales (map 38).

Fissarena Henschel, Davies, and Dickman

Fissarena Henschel et al., 1995: 138 (type species by original designation Fissarena ethabuka Henschel, Davies & Dickman, 1995 ).

DIAGNOSIS: Males resemble those of Rebilus but differ in having only one, basal retrolateral tibial apophysis (as in figs. 502, 510); females also resemble those of Rebilus but have longer, more highly convoluted, epigynal ducts (as in figs. 504, 512). Fissarena was originally described only as a member of ‘‘the superfamily Clubionoidea’’ (because of its atypical, only slightly flattened posterior median eyes and the reduced oblique depression on the endites) but does appear to be, as its authors suggested, a close relative of Rebilus . The type species is un­ usual in several respects, and is unfortunately still known only from females. Extensive attempts to capture males at the type locality have been made by Drs. R. Raven and B. Baehr, but those attempts have been unsuccessful (even though females of the type species, and specimens assigned below to anoth­ er species of the genus, were collected). Even the seemingly closest species, described below from Barrow Island, is known only from females. In the absence of males of those species, the monophyly of the genus, as here delimited, remains tenuous.

DESCRIPTION: Large spiders, total length of males 8–10, of females 9–12. Carapace flattened, without tubercles, with rebordered lateral margins, evenly coated with scattered, dark, stiff, erect setae interspersed among white, recumbent setae; longer, erect, dark setae present only in ocular area and on clypeus; thoracic groove long, Y­shaped, wider anteriorly than posteriorly; cephalic groove pronounced, additional intercoxal grooves almost obsolete. Eight subequal eyes in two rows, anterior medians circular, dark, poste­ rior medians circular, lenses slightly flattened, canoe­shaped tapetum apparently lost, laterals oval; from above, anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior row straight, from front, anterior row straight, posterior row slightly procurved; anterior medians separated by more than their diameter, about as far from anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by about three times their diameter, slightly closer to posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by more than their diameter; median ocular quadrangle much wider in back than in front or than long. Chelicerae porrect, divergent, with distinct oblique groove just below clypeus; anterior surface with stiff setae along inner margins; chilum very wide, triangular, unipartite but with small area of unsclerotized cuticle along ventral one­third of midline area, accompanied by second, elongated, posterior chilum (narrow, I­shaped sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, promargin with series of long setae originating in line along base of fang, those nearest base of fang bent; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smaller than others, distalmost tooth separated from other two, retromargin with two widely separated teeth; presumptive cheliceral gland openings not obvious. Labium rectangular, flat, posterior one­quarter narrowed, anterior margin truncate. Endites long, divergent, with oblique depression restricted to their median edge; serrula absent (fig. 159), long, oval, sieve plate conspicuous under light microscopy; anteromedian edges and apex bearing wide patch of long, stiff, dark setae. Sternum flat, with rebordered, slightly depressed lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with small triangular extensions to coxae, extensions between coxae represented by four pairs of small triangular sclerites separated from sternal margin by unsclerotized cuticle; surface smooth, with few long setae, posterior margin not rebordered, separating coxae IV. One weakly sclerotized epimeric sclerite on each side, not extending between coxae, not fused to carapace. Pedicel composed of two dorsal sclerites (anterior sclerite without deep posterior invagination, posterior sclerite without beakshaped anterior extension) and weak, invert­ ed v­shaped ventral sclerite with anteriorly unexpanded head not reaching posterior tip of sternum.

Abdomen without dorsal or anterior scutum; cuticle with weak, recumbent setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, with wellmarked booklung openings at sides but without postepigastric sclerites, booklung covers not strongly ridged; colulus represented only by scattered setae situated near narrow posterior spiracle; males apparently with scattered short epiandrous spigots. Six spinnerets (figs. 495–500), anterior laterals short, conical, separated by about their diameter at base, with two articles, distal article with two major ampullate gland spigots and several small, unmodified piriform gland spigots; posterior medians with several aciniform gland spigots and apparently only one minor ampullate gland spigot, those of males triangular, those of females bipartite, enlarged posterior portion with two parallel rows, each row with about 13 large cylindrical gland spigots; posterior laterals with two articles, apparently without minor ampullate gland spigots, those of males seemingly with aciniform gland spigots only, those of females with two large cylindrical gland spigots in addition.

Legs laterigrade, subequal in length, most surfaces with long setae; coxae and trochanters without dorsal tubercles, fourth trochanters slightly elongated; anterior coxae without protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters very slightly notched, producing sharp point at ventralmost edge; anterior metatarsi and tarsi with undivided scopula composed of short, straight setae; posterior metatarsi without distal preening brushes; tarsi with two long, smooth claws bearing no ventral teeth, strong claw tufts composed of two large pads of narrow setae; tarsi without cuticular cracks, relatively short; morphologically dorsal surface with modified proximal margin consisting of patch of unsclerotized cuticle followed by strong cuticular ridge, that ridge opposing distinct distal extensions situated at distal edge of metatarsi; trichobothria present, in three rows on tarsi, two on metatarsi and tibiae. Female palpal femur with strong dorsal spines, distal segments with weaker but longer spines; female palpal tarsus with long claw bearing several tiny ventral teeth, without ventral scopula. Typical leg spination pattern (counts refer to morphological surfaces, only surfaces bearing spines listed): femora: I d1­1­0, p1­1­0, r0­ 1­0; II d1­1­0, p1­1­0, r0­1­1; III d1­1­0, p1­ 1­1, r0­1­1; IV d1­0­1, p1­1­1, r0­1­1; tibiae: I, II v2­2­2; III, IV p1­1­1, v2­2­2, r1­1­1; metatarsi: I v2­0­0; II v2­1r­0; III p0­1­1, v2­ 2­2, r1­1­0; IV p1­1­0, v2­2­2, r1­1­0.

Male palpal tibia with basally situated retrolateral apophysis, with distally situated apophysis represented at most by small mound; cymbium with thick distal scopula; cymbial surface not invaginated at base; tegular surface mostly occupied by massive, translucent portion of conductor, sclerotized, retrolateral portion of conductor making one or two turns along retrolateral side of bulb. Epigynum with small anterior atrium, spermathecal ducts posteriorly situated, highly convoluted.

Figures

Map 38. Records of Platorish jimna, new species (circles), Fissarena ethabuka (Henschel, Davies, and Dickman) (square), and F. barrow, new species (star).

Figs. 491–494. Platorish jimna, new species. 491. Left male palp, ventral view. 492. Same, retrolateral view. 493. Epigynum, ventral view. 494. Same, dorsal view.