Tasmanicosa kochorum, Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2016

Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2016, Revision of the Australian Union-Jack wolf spiders, genus Tasmanicosa (Araneae, Lycosidae, Lycosinae), Zootaxa 4213 (1), pp. 1-82 : 29-31

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4213.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9C76B987-3897-4666-87EF-62EB5BF5CF04
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5676933
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0B32B23C-7B05-9F62-BEF8-3C2DFDD3FE37
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Tasmanicosa kochorum
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Tasmanicosa kochorum View in CoL sp. nov.

Koch’s wolf spider

( Figs 3Q View FIGURE 3 , 4F View FIGURE 4 , 6B View FIGURE 6 , 7B View FIGURE 7 , 15A–K View FIGURE 15 , 16 View FIGURE 16 )

Type data. Holotype. Male , Ransome Reserve [27°29'S, 153°11'E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA], 30 October–1 December 2003, QM Museum party, Casuarina woodland (QM S68828 View Materials ). GoogleMaps

Paratype. Female , Illaweena St, Drewvale [27°38'S, 153°03'E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA], 31 October–1 December 2003, QM party, scribbly gum, heath, pitfall trap (QM S68829 View Materials ). GoogleMaps

Other material examined. 103 males, 125 females (6 with eggsac, 7 with spiderlings) and 25 juveniles in 157 records (Appendix B).

Etymology. The specific epithet honours Carl Ludwig Koch (1778–1857) and his son Ludwig Carl Christian Koch (1825–1908), both eminent German arachnologists and contributors to the taxonomy of the Australian arachnofauna.

Diagnosis. Males of T. kochorum ( Fig. 3Q View FIGURE 3 ) most resemble T. godeffroyi ( Fig. 3M View FIGURE 3 ) but the tegular apophysis ridge is much longer. Females of T. kochorum ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ), T. stella ( Fig. 26G View FIGURE 26 ) and T. subrufa ( Fig. 4K View FIGURE 4 ) are the only species with a medially bulging median septum; they differ from T. stella in the lack of a distinct light median pattern on the carapace and from T. subrufa in the much shorter median septum.

Description. Male (based on holotype, QM S68828 View Materials ).

Total length 14.8.

Prosoma. Length 8.5, width 6.5; reddish-brown with genus-specific Union-Jack pattern and distinct median and irregular marginal light bands ( Fig. 15A View FIGURE 15 ); sternum black ( Fig. 15C View FIGURE 15 ).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.28, ALE 0.27, PME 0.64, PLE 0.58.

Chelicerae. Black, with an elongated patch of golden setae frontally.

Labium. Black with lighter anterior rim ( Fig. 15C View FIGURE 15 ).

Endites. Brown, somewhat darker antero-laterally ( Fig. 15C View FIGURE 15 ).

Legs. Greyish-brown and covered with silvery setae; venter of coxae dark brown ( Fig. 15C View FIGURE 15 ).

Opisthosoma. Length 6.8, width 4.6; dorsally with dark folium pattern that is bordered by light setae ( Fig. 15A View FIGURE 15 ); venter black ( Fig. 15C View FIGURE 15 ).

Pedipalps. Cymbium dorsally with dense layer of silvery setae; tip with 5–7 macrosetae ( Figs 15E–F View FIGURE 15 ); tegular apophysis ridge about three quarters of tegular apophysis width, almost straight ( Figs 6B View FIGURE 6 , 15J–K View FIGURE 15 ); embolus very thin along its length and slightly curved apically; terminal apophysis broad, sickle-shaped ( Figs 7B View FIGURE 7 , 15I View FIGURE 15 ).

Female (based on paratype, QM S68829 View Materials ).

Total length 15.2.

Prosoma. Length 9.3, width 6.6; carapace and sternum colouration as male ( Fig. 15B, D View FIGURE 15 ).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.17; ALE 0.24; PME 0.65; PLE 0.71.

Chelicerae, labium, endites, legs and opisthosoma. Opisthosoma length 5.7, width 4.3; otherwise as male, but dorsal pattern of opisthosoma more demarcated with folium pattern of sharper angles ( Fig. 15B, D View FIGURE 15 ).

Epigyne. About as long as wide, median septum inverted T-shaped and medially bulging ( Fig. 15G View FIGURE 15 ); spermathecal heads almost globular, spermathecal stalks twisted ( Fig. 15H View FIGURE 15 ).

Life history and habitat preferences. Habitat descriptions with records of T. kochorum are very variable and include a number of open woodlands and forests, i.e. blackbutt and ironbark, rainforest, vine thickets, creek bed and banks and mudflats near ocean, grasslands and heathlands, but also areas near human habitation (gardens, paddocks). A number of specimens have also been found wandering into houses. Males have been found throughout the year with largest numbers between September and February, with similar activity extending into March. Females with eggsacs were recorded in September and October and then again in March, females carrying spiderlings from November to March.

Distribution. Tasmanicosa kochorum is largely a south-eastern Queensland species, but has been found into northern New South Wales ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 ).