Meedo cohuna, 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-

Meedo cohuna , new species Figures 69–72 ; Map 4

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype taken in shelterbelt pitfall trap at Barr Creek, Cohuna , 35 ° 50 ̍ S, 144 ° 11 ̍ E, Victoria (Nov. 16–21, 1996; J. Shield, J. Hooper), deposited in NMV courtesy of J. Shield .

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

DIAGNOSIS: This species seems to be the western and southern sister species of M. broadwater , sharing with it a blade­shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis in males and thumb­shaped anterior spermathecal extensions in females. Males can be distinguished by the simple, untwisted conductor (fig. 69), females by the tiny epigynal atrium of females (fig. 71).

MALE: Total length 4.2. Coloration as in M. mullaroo . Chelicerae porrect, endites rel­ atively long. Tarsi III with cuticular cracks. Retrolateral tibial apophysis blade­shaped, very narrow in lateral view (fig. 70); embolus with long, narrow base, conductor arched (fig. 69).

FEMALE: Total length 7.3. Coloration and mouthparts as in male. All tarsi entire. Epigynal atrium tiny, poorly defined anteriorly (fig. 71). Spermathecae with thumb­shaped anterior extensions (fig. 72).

VARIATION: The two males from western Queensland are very small (total length 2.9), and may have matured after fewer instars than is normal for the group, but their palpi (aside from size) seem to show all the characters of this species.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: New South Wales: 83 km E Cobar , ca. 31 ° 33 ̍ S, 146 ° 43 ̍ E, May 27, 1979, pitfall, woodland, grass tussocks (B. Main, WAM 99 /311), 1♀ ; Coleambally Irrigation Area , 34 ° 59 ̍ S, 146 ° 04 ̍ E, Dec. 16, 1998, pitfall (L. Wilkie, S. Priday, AMS KS58139 ), 1♀ ; Coleambally Irrigation Area , 35 ° 02 ̍ S, 145 ° 55 ̍ E, Dec. 14, 1998, pitfall (L. Wilkie, S. Priday, AMS KS68659 ), 1♀ ; Gubatta , 33 ° 35 ̍ S, 146 ° 33 ̍ E, Oct. 12–18, 1999, pitfall, roadside, spinifex (D. Driscoll, QMB S53295), 1♀ ; Pulletop , 34 ° 01 ̍ S, 146 ° 05 ̍ E, Nov. 3–8, 1999, pitfall, roadside, no spinifex (D. Driscoll, QMB S52643 ), 1♀. Northern Territory: Illamurta Spring, 24 ° 19 ̍ S, 132 ° 41 ̍ E, Feb. 23, 1993, pitfall (D. Hirst, SAM N1998 /922), 1♀. Queensland: 8 km N Ambrose, 23 ° 43 ̍ S, 150 ° 56 ̍ E, Dec, 15, 1999– Mar. 20, 2000, pitfall, vine scrub, elev. 20 m (G., S. Monteith, QMB S52757), 2♀ ; Osbourne Mine site, SSE Mount Isa , 22 ° 07 ̍ S, 140 ° 34 ̍ E, Dec. 1996 (A. Nicholson, QMB S34516 ), 23. South Australia: 19 km N Renmark, 34 ° 00 ̍ S, 140 ° 47 ̍ E, Dec. 14–21, 1995, pitfall, saltbush (K. Pullen, S. Dominelli, ANIC), 1♀ ; 79 km NNW of Renmark, 33 ° 31 ̍ S, 140 ° 24 ̍ E, Nov. 8–22, 1995, pitfall, casuarina (A. Lambie, K. Pullen, QMB S30948 ), 13. Victoria: Barr Creek, Cohuna , 35 ° 50 ̍ S, 144 ° 11 ̍ E, Nov. 16–21, 1996, shelterbelt pit­ fall (J. Shield, J. Hooper, CVIC), 13, Dec. 1996 – Jan. 1997, pitfalls (J. Hooper, CVIC 482 , 493 ), 23, 1♀ ; 5 km SE Lower Moira , 36 ° 05 ̍ S, 145 ° 03 ̍ E, Apr. 10–17, 1994, pitfall (G. Milledge, P. Lillywhite, NMV K4631 ), 13 ; McDonalds Road, 1.8 km S Shepparton­ Barmah Road , 36 ° 04 ̍ S, 145 ° 02 ̍ E, Jan. 17– 22, 1994, pitfall (G. Milledge, NMV K4630 ), 1♀ ; 9.7 km NW junction of MV Highway and Annuello Road , 34 ° 46 ̍ S, 142 ° 32 ̍ E, Oct. 1985, drift fence pitfall (A. Yen, NMVS), 1♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in eastern Australia (map 4).

Figures

Map 4. Records of Meedo harveyi, new species (circles), M. cohuna, new species (squares), M. flinders, new species (diamond), and M. munmorah, new species (stars).

Figs. 69–72. Meedo cohuna, new species. 69. Left male palp, ventral view. 70. Same, retrolateral view. 71. Epigynum, ventral view. 72. Same, dorsal view.