Habronestes grayi, Baehr, 2003

Baehr, Barbara, 2003, Revision of the Australian Spider Genus Habronestes (Araneae: Zodariidae). Species of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Records of the Australian Museum 55 (3), pp. 343-376 : 363-364

Habronestes grayi n.sp.

Figs. 60 , 90, 91 , 99 , 131, 132 , 140

Type material. HOLOTYPE 3: NSW, Ramornie SF, track off Mt Tindal Rd , 29°42'41"S 152°37'36"E, 4.ii–9.iv. 1993, 220 m, G/C, AM KS83931 .

PARATYPES: 1033 same data as holotype, AM KS39194 ; 13 as previous, AM KS56167 ; 2♀♀ , 1033 Boundary Ck SF, 0.45 km along Boundary Ck Rd from jnctn of Dungel & Shannon Ck Rds, 29°56'48"S 152°33'27"E, 4.ii– 9.iv. 1993, 600 m, G/C, AM KS39193 , 13 as previous, QM S60827 ; 1333 Boundary Ck SF, 1 km N along Joebill Rd from Shannon Ck Rd, 29°56'13"S 152°33'12"E, 4.ii–9.iv. 1993, 630 m, G/C, AM KS39196 ; 6 33 Boundary Ck SF,Shannon Ck,Shannon Ck Rd, 29°57'18"S 152°35'37"E, 4.ii–9.iv. 1993, 300 m, G/C, AM KS39197 ; 13 Ramornie SF, track off Mt Tindal Rd , 29°43'1"S 152°38'24"E, 9.iv.1993, 4.ii–9.iv. 1993 ,110 m,G/C, AM KS56169 ; 1♀ Ramornie SF, track off Mt Tindal Rd , 29°42'S 152°38'E, 9.iv.1993, 4.ii– 9.iv.1993, G/C, AM KS56171 ; 2333 Ramornie SF, track off Mt Tindal Rd , 29°42'38"S 152°38'9"E, 4.ii–9.iv. 1993, 200 m, G/C, AM KS39195 .

Diagnosis. Eyes in 2 rows, both rows procurved, PME and PLE largest. Abdomen with 2 pairs of large white patches on top and 3 patches in front of spinnerets. Extremely long DTiA; LTA with a long, broad horizontal stalk and irregular plate with bilateral wings retrolaterally, similar to H. bradleyi . Epigyne with paired broad-oval openings.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 6.88; carapace 3.60 long, 2.68 wide; 1.20 high; cl/cw 1.34; sternum 1.76

long, 1.48 wide; sl/sw 1.18. Abdomen 3.28 long, 2.28 wide. Colour. Carapace, sternum and chelicerae sepia brown; maxillae and labium sepia brown, distally white. Abdomen sepia brown with 2 pairs of large white patches and 3 patches in front of spinnerets; laterally with 2 long white patches equal in length; ventrally with 1 longitudinal white stripe from epigastric fold to near tracheal spiracle. Legs yellow brown; clearly annulated; legs I–IV with white coxa, sepia brown trochanter, proximal 2 3 –½ of femora white and distal part sepia brown, sepia brown patella; Eyes. In 2 rows each with 4 eyes, both rows procurved. AME smallest, other eyes equal. Eye group width 0.53 of headwidth; AME 0.16; ALE 0.18; PME 0.18; PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.04; AME– ALE 0.04; ALE–PLE 0.04; PME–PME 0.08; PME–PLE 0.10. MOQ: AME–PME 0.54; AME–AME 0.36; PME– PME 0.44. Clypeus & chilum. Clypeus 0.8 high; chilum divided. Legs. Length formula 4123; femora I, II with 1 row and III, IV with 2 rows of long thin setae ventrally. Male palp ( Figs. 90, 91 , 99 ). RCF deep almost running the entire cymbium length. LTA with a long broad horizontal stalk and irregular plate with bilateral wings retrolaterally; DTA with a flattened stalk; VTA, long, with sharp tip. Tibia short; DTiA twice as long as tibia; VTiA ( Fig. 91 ).

Female (paratype AM KS39193). Total length 7.84; carapace 3.44 long, 2.32 wide; 1.20 high; cl/cw 1.48; sternum 1.60 long, 1.44 wide; sl/sw 1.10.Abdomen 4.40 long, 3.08 wide. Colour. Same as male. Eyes. AME smallest, other eyes equal. Eye group width 0.51 of headwidth; AME 0.14; ALE 0.18; PME 0.18; PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.06; AME–ALE 0.04; ALE– PLE 0.06; PME–PME 0.08; PME–PLE 0.12. MOQ: AME– PME 0.54; AME–AME 0.34; PME–PME 0.44. Clypeus 0.8 high. Epigyne ( Figs. 131, 132 ). With paired broad-oval openings. Copulatory ducts anteriorly visible through the tegument. Vulva with long, spiralled copulatory ducts ending in pear-shaped, posteriorly touching spermathecae.

Distribution. Northeastern New South Wales ( Fig. 140 ).

Etymology. The species name is a patronym honouring Dr Michael Gray of the Australian Museum, in esteem for his important work on Australian spiders.

Figures

Figs. 59–63. Habronestes pictus species-group body, dorsal view: (59) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (60) Habronestes grayi n.sp.; (61) Habronestes longiconductor n.sp.; (62) Habronestes minor n.sp.; (63) Habronestes wilkiei n.sp. Scales 1 mm.

Figs. 86–91. Habronestes pictus species-group male palps, ventral view (above), lateral view (below): (86, 87) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (88, 89) Habronestes grahami n.sp.; (90, 91) Habronestes grayi n.sp. Scales 0.5 mm.

Figs. 98–110. Habronestes pictus species-group male palps, LTA ventral view: (98) Habronestes bradleyi (Pickard-Cambridge); (99) Habronestes grayi n.sp.; (100) Habronestes piccolo n.sp.; (101) Habronestes jocquei n.sp.; (102) Habronestes grahami n.sp.; (103) Habronestes minor n.sp.; (104) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (105) Habronestes wilkiei n.sp.; (106) Habronestes giganteus n.sp.; (107) Habronestes longiconductor n.sp.; (108) Habronestes pictus (Koch); (109) Habronestes raveni n.sp.; (110) Habronestes hunti n.sp. Scales 0.25 mm.

Figs. 127–132. Habronestes pictus species-group epigynes, ventral view (above), vulvae, dorsal view (below): (127, 128) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (129, 130) Habronestes grahami n.sp.; (131, 132) Habronestes grayi n.sp. Scales 0.25 mm.

Figs. 138–143. New South Wales, showing collection localities: (138) species of Habronestes australiensis species-group; (139) species of Habronestes macedonensis species-group; (140–143) species of Habronestes pictus species-group.