Artoriopsis murphyi, Framenau & Douglas, 2021

Framenau, Volker W. & Douglas, John, 2021, New Eastern Australian Species in the Wolf Spider Genus Artoriopsis (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae), Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 73 (3), pp. 103-114 : 109-111

Artoriopsis murphyi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C086130F-E906-4113-ACC6-DBBC86A43D29

Fig. 5A–D

Holotype. Male , Deal Island , Kent Group, East Cove (39°28'33"S 147°218'40"E, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA), 6 June 2020, Murphy Widdowson (QVM:2020:13:0303).

Other material examined. Only known from male holotype.

Diagnosis. Artoriopsis murphyi sp. nov. is very similar to A. eccentrica Framenau, 2007 , but differs in details of the male genitalia, in particular the shape of the tegular apophysis. This is bent dorsally into the cymbium in A. eccentrica , but not so in A. murphyi sp. nov. The profile of the tegular apophysis in retrolateral view is also less pronounced in A. murphyi sp. nov.

Description. Male (based on holotype, QVM:2020:13:0303).

Prosoma, dorsal shield ( Fig. 5A ). Dorsal profile in lateral view straight; dark reddish-brown, with light median and lighter lateral bands; dense white setae lateral bands and flanks of head, less dense otherwise; two bristles below AE and few bristles between eyes.

Eyes. Row of AE procurved, narrower than row of PME.

Sternum ( Fig. 5B ). Very dark brown, shiny; black bristles that are longer and denser towards margins.

Labium. Dark brown, shiny; front end truncated and white.

Chelicerae. Dark reddish-brown, with black macrosetae; three promarginal teeth, the median largest; three retromarginal teeth of almost equal size.

Legs. Leg formula IV>I>II>III; yellow-brown with dark annulations; femora of leg VI somewhat lighter centrally.

Pedipalp ( Fig. 5C,D ). Tegular apophysis elongate, flat and broad; narrowing distally and ending broadly truncated in ventral view ( Fig. 5C ); embolus strong, terminal apophysis heavily sclerotized and tip twisted ( Fig. 5C ).

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 5A,B ). Typical Artoriopsis -pattern, i.e. black diamond-shaped mark centrally that is cut through by light lanceolate cardiac mark; posteriorly with rectangular light patch. Venter yellow-brown, mottled dark. Spinnerets brown.

Measurements. TL 5.2, PL 2.7, PW 1.9. Eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.07, PME 0.29, PLE 0.18. Row of eyes: AE 0.52, PME 0.70, PLE 0.79. Sternum (length/width) 1.30/0.98. Labium (length/width) 0.41/0.36. OL 2.4, OW 1.6. Legs: Lengths of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.85 + 0.40 + 0.40 + — + 0.90 = 2.55, I 1.60 + 0.80 + 1.15 + 1.20 + 0.85 = 5.60, II 1.55 + 0.75 + 1.10 + 0.90 + 0.75 = 5.05, III 1.35 + 0.70 + 0.90 + 1.05 + 0.65 = 4.65, IV 2.20 + 0.85 + 1.40 + 1.85 + 0.85 = 7.15.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym for Murphy Widdowson, the then ten year old son of Jo and Justin Widdowson, who collected the specimen while staying on Deal Island in Bass Strait. His father, Justin, was seconded there from June to August, 2020, as part of his role as ranger with Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. Jo and Murphy accompanied Justin to the island and as Murphy had to be home-schooled, they tried to combine a mix of indoor theory with outside practical studies. Several sampling trips were undertaken aiming for a variety of species and sampling locations each time.

Natural history and habitat preferences. The holotype of A. murphyi sp. nov. was found in a coastal woodland ( Fig. 6 ) in June suggesting this to be a winter-mature species.

Distribution. Only known from the holotype male collected on Deal Island, Tasmania ( Figs 2 , 6 ).

Figures

Figure 2. Distribution records of Artoriopsis bogabilla sp. nov.(full circle), A. lacustris sp. nov. (grey

Figure 5. Artoriopsis murphyi sp. nov., male holotype (QVM:2020:13:0303). (A) habitus, dorsal view; (B) habitus, ventral view; (C) left pedipalp, ventral view; (D) left pedipalp, retrolateral view. Scale bar: A, B, 2.0 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm.

Figure 6. Habitat where the holotype of Artoriopsis murphyi sp. nov. was found on Deal Island, Tasmania.