Morebilus nipping, 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-

Morebilus nipping , new species Figures 379–382 ; Map 30

TYPE: Male holotype taken in a pitfall trap in open forest at an elevation of 320 m at Nipping Gully , 25 ° 41 ̍ S, 151 ° 26 ̍ E, Queensland (Jan. 25–June 2, 1999; G. Monteith, G. Thompson), deposited in QMB ( S51131 ) .

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

DIAGNOSIS: This appears to be the sister species of M. fumosus , sharing with it a long, dorsally directed retrolateral tibial apophysis (fig. 380). Males can be distinguished by the distally narrowed embolus (fig. 379), females by the more dumbbell­shaped spermathecae (fig. 382).

MALE: Total length 11. Coloration as in M. plagusius . Leg spination: tibia II v3­2­2; metatarsus II v2­1p­0. Retrolateral tibial apophysis long, distally sinuous, directed dorsally (fig. 380); embolus with narrowed tip, not incised (fig. 379).

FEMALE: Total length 17. Coloration as in male. Leg spination: tibia II v3­2­2; metatarsus II v2­1p­0. Epigynal atrium transverse, wide oval, deepest medially (fig. 381); spermathecae dumbbell­shaped, with anterolaterally directed heads (fig. 382).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Queensland: Egans Creek, Crows Nest , 27 ° 16 ̍ S, 152 ° 03 ̍ E, Apr. 5, 1964 ( QMB S28491 ), 1♀ ; Nipping Gully , 25 ° 40 ̍ S, 151 ° 26 ̍ E, Jan. 26, 1999, vine forest, elev. 300 m (G. Monteith, Gough, D. Cook, G. Thompson, QMB S51127 ), 1♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from southeastern Queensland (map 30).

Morebilus diversus (L. Koch) , new combination Figures 383–386 ; Map 30

Hemicloea diversa L. Koch, 1875: 622 , pl. 39, figs. 4, 4a (female holotype from Bowen, Queensland, in ZMH, examined).

Hemicloea praesignis L. Koch, 1876: 837 , pl. 42, figs. 1, 2, 2a, 2b (male syntype from Peak Downs, Queensland, in ZMH, examined). NEW SYNONYMY.

Rebilus diversus: Simon, 1880: 239 .

Rebilus praesignis: Simon, 1880: 239 .

Hemicloea limbata (misidentification): Rainbow, 1912: 203.

Hemicloea sundevalli (misidentification): Rainbow, 1912: 203.

Rebilus sp. : Platnick, 1990: 38, figs. 143–146.

DIAGNOSIS: Males resemble those of M. tambo in having dorsally directed spines present on the retrolateral tibial apophysis (fig. 384), but can be distinguished by the subdistal embolar expansion (fig. 383); females also resemble those of M. tambo in having a relatively long, narrow epigynal atrium, but have the atrium restricted to the anterior portion of the epigynum (fig. 385) and smaller, basally wider spermathecae (fig. 386).

MALE: Total length 10. Coloration as in M. plagusius . Leg spination: femora: I d3­1­0; II, III d4­1­0; IV d2­1­0; tibiae: II v4­2­1r; metatarsi: I v2­2­1p; II v3­3­0. Retrolateral tibial apophysis long, triangular, sinuous near base, with dorsally directed spines (fig. 384); embolus with truncated basal lobe and arched, subdistally expanded tip (fig. 383).

FEMALE: Total length 12. Coloration as in M. graytown . Leg spination: femora: I–III d3­1­0; IV d2­1­0; tibiae: I v4­3­2; II v4­2­ 1p; metatarsi: I, II v2­2­ 1p. Epigynum with long, narrow, anteriorly situated atrium (fig.

385); spermathecae kidney­shaped, with laterally directed heads (fig. 386).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Northern Territory: Bullock Creek, Camfield Homestead , 17 ° 10 ̍ S, 131 ° 25 ̍ E, Aug. 19, 1982 (I. Archibald, MNT), 1♀ (penultimate but with full epigynum) ; Darwin , 12 ° 28 ̍ S, 130 ° 50 ̍ E, Oct. 14, 1913 ( NMV K3493 ), 1♀, May 1952 (E. Crawford, NMV K3513 ), 1♀ ; creek 5 km E Edith River Crossing , 14 ° 11 ̍ S, 132 ° 02 ̍ E, Aug. 28, 1995 (B., M. Baehr, CBB), 13 ; 2 mi N Northern Territory border, Apr. 14, 1979, under bark (D. Black, ANIC), 1♀ ; Rabbit Flat , 20 ° 13 ̍ S, 130 ° 01 ̍ E, Oct. 13, 1975, roadhouse (G. Gow, MNT), 1♀ ; Roper River , 14 ° 43 ̍ S, 135 ° 27 ̍ E (M. Colelough, QMB W2173 a, b, W2177a, b), 33, 1♀ ; Rop­ er River, 14 ° 44 ̍ S, 134 ° 44 ̍ E ( SAM N1999 / 26), 13 ; West Alligator Mouth, 12 ° 12 ̍ S, 132 ° 13 ̍ E, July 22–24, 1979 (G. Monteith, D. Cook, QMB S26433 ), 1♀. Queensland: Almaden , 17 ° 20 ̍ S, 144 ° 41 ̍ E, Mar. 1929 (W. Campbell, AMS KS35520 ), 2♀ ; Bowen, 20 ° 01 ̍ S, 148 ° 14 ̍ E, Godeffroy collection 11002 ( ZMH), 1♀ (holotype) ; Chillagoe , 17 ° 09 ̍ S, 144 ° 31 ̍ E, Dec. 15, 1997 (L. Little, QMB S34635 ), 1♀ ; Doomadgee , 17 ° 56 ̍ S, 138 ° 49 ̍ E, Nov. 29, 1963 (L. Fawsett, SAM N1999 /27), 13 ; Emerald , 23 ° 32 ̍ S, 148 ° 10 ̍ E, Aug. 29, 1995 (E. Allen, QMB S26447 ), 1♀ ; Longreach , 23 ° 26 ̍ S, 144 ° 15 ̍ E, Mar. 10, 1992, in garden, elev. 150–200 m (A. Emmott, QMB S20399 ), 13 ; Mount Isa, E. Leichhardt River , 1 km downstream from dam wall, 20 ° 44 ̍ S, 139 ° 29 ̍ E, May 25–June 18, 1988 (K. Mitchell ,, B., W. Barton, AMS KS30265 ), 1♀ ; Peak Downs, 22 ° 56 ̍ S, 148 ° 05 ̍ E (Godeffroy collection 14622, ZMH), 13 (syntype) ; Proa Station, 20 m S Nelia, 20 ° 54 ̍ S, 142 ° 09 ̍ E, May 7–13, 1978 (J. Covacevich, QMB S28467 ), 1♀. South Australia: 7 km NE Mount Woodroffe, Musgrave Ranges, 26 ° 17 ̍ S, 131 ° 48 ̍ E, Oct. 16, 1994, under bark of dead hakea ( SAM N1996 /41, 42), 23. Western Australia: Anna Plains Station , 19 ° 17 ̍ S, 121 ° 37 ̍ E, Jan. 6, 1981 (A., M. Douglas, WAM 84 /656), 1♀ ; Barrow Island, John Wayne Country , 20 ° 45 ̍ S, 115 ° 22 ̍ E, Nov. 4­Dec. 2, 1993, pitfall, rocky site (M. Harvey, J. Waldock, WAM 96 /1592), 13 ; 181 km SW Broome, off highway to Port Hedland , ca. 19 ° 10 ̍ S, 121 ° 40 ̍ E, Aug. 17, 1983 (W. McKenzie, QMB S34524 ), 13 ; 12 km E Derby , 17 ° 18 ̍ S, 123 ° 38 ̍ E, Nov. 24, 1984 (B., M. Baehr, CBB), 13 ; Drysdale River Station , 15 ° 42 ̍ S, 126 ° 23 ̍ E, Aug. 1, 1993, under bark (A. Longbottom, WAM 96 /1596), 1♀ (penultimate but with full epigynum), Oct. 17, 1993, in house (A. Longbottom, WAM 96 / 1593), 13 ; Fortescue River , 137 km SW Roeburne, 21 ° 00 ̍ S, 116 ° 06 ̍ E, Dec. 5–6, 1984 (B., M. Baehr, CBB), 1♀ ; Kunnanurra , 15 ° 46 ̍ S, 128 ° 44 ̍ E, Sept. 22, 1987 (A. Fischer, SAM N1999 /25), 13 ; Langey Crossing , 17 ° 40 ̍ S, 123 ° 33 ̍ E, Oct. 13, 1962, elev. 10 m (E. Ross, D. Cavagnaro, CAS), 4♀ (with egg case on bark) ; Lower Carawine Gorge , 21 ° 29 ̍ S, 121 ° 01 ̍ E, June 18–July 2, 1988 (L. McKenna, WAM 96 /1594), 1♀ ; Mundabullagana Station , 20 ° 32 ̍ S, 118 ° 05 ̍ E, Aug. 1981 (D. Hirst, SAM N1999 /143, 144), 13, 1♀ ; Port Hedland , 20 ° 19 ̍ S, 118 ° 34 ̍ E, July 1972 (P. Sadlier, WAM 84 /677–679), 1♀ ; Thangoo , 18 ° 10 ̍ S, 122 ° 22 ̍ E, Oct. 12, 1962, elev. 10 m (E. Ross, D. Cavagnaro, CAS), 5♀ ; Vampire Gorge, Hamersley Range , 50 km SE Wittenoom, 21 ° 53 ̍ S, 122 ° 22 ̍ E, Dec. 2, 1984 (B., M. Baehr, CBB), 13, 1♀ ; Woodstock Station , 21 ° 37 ̍ S, 118 ° 57 ̍ E, Feb. 16, 1989, laundry, day (J. Dell, R. How, J. Waldock, WAM 96 /1595), 1♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Widespread across northern Australia (map 30).

SYNONYMY: L. Koch (1876) noted the affinity between the female he assigned to Hemicloea praesignis and the holotype of H. diversa , separating them only by slight differences in eye spacing that do not appear to differentiate populations within Queensland.

Figures

Map 30. Records of Morebilus nipping, new species (squares) and M. diversus (L. Koch) (circles).

Figs. 379–382. Morebilus nipping, new species. 379. Left male palp, ventral view. 380. Same, retrolateral view. 381. Epigynum, ventral view. 382. Same, dorsal view.

Figs. 383–386. Morebilus diversus (L. Koch). 383. Left male palp, ventral view. 384. Same, retrolateral view. 385. Epigynum, ventral view. 386. Same, dorsal view.