Tasmanicosa harmsi, 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 : 24-27

Tasmanicosa harmsi sp. nov.

Danilo’s wolf spider

( Figs 3C , 12A–K , 13 )

Type data. Holotype. Male , West of Lake Gilles [32°43'16”S, 136°47'16”E, South Australia, AUSTRALIA], 28 December 1980, P. Hudson ( SAM NN29490).

Paratypes. Female, North of Bower [34°04’S, 139°21'E, South Australia, AUSTRALIA], 19 February 2002, spotlighting, S. Donellan ( WAM T 141187); 2 females, same data ( WAM T55438).

Other material examined. 10 males, 19 females and one juvenile in 20 records (Appendix B).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of Danilo Harms, Head of the Department of Arachnology at the Centrum für Naturkunde, University Hamburg (formerly ZMH), for his contribution to Australian arachnological research.

Diagnosis. Males and females of T. harmsi ( Fig. 12 ) most resemble T. phyllis ( Fig. 20 ) but differ in details of the genitalia. Most conspicuously, however, are dense white setae ventrally between epigastric furrow and pedicel ( Fig. 3C ) in both males and females, which is absent in T. phyllis , and the black spinnerets (light brown in T. phyllis ). The median septum of the female epigyne has irregular edges with are smooth ( Fig. 12G ) and straight in T. phyllis ( Fig. 20G ).

Description. Male (based on holotype, SAM NN29490).

Total length 17.8.

Prosoma. Length 9.9, width 7.1; dark reddish-brown with genus-specific Union-Jack pattern and indistinct median and submarginal light bands ( Fig. 12A ); sternum dark brown to black with dark brown and few silvery setae ( Fig. 12C ).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.26, ALE 0.24, PME 0.79, PLE 0.67.

Chelicerae. Dark brown, frontally with an elongated patch of golden setae.

Labium. Very dark brown, with lighter anterior rim ( Fig. 12C ).

Endites. Dark brown, somewhat darker antero-laterally ( Fig. 12C ).

Legs. Brown, in particular femora ventrally lighter; venter of coxae dark brown ( Fig. 12C ).

Opisthosoma. Length 7.3, width 5.0; dorsally with dark folium pattern that is bordered by light setae in particular in anterior third ( Fig. 12A ); venter with black patch along about three quarters, not reaching spinnerets; distinct band of white setae between epigastric furrow and pedicel; spinnerets black ( Fig. 12C ).

Pedipalps. Cymbium dorsally with dense layer of silvery setae, approximately ten macrosetae on tip ( Figs 12E–F ); apical tip of tegular apophysis exceeding cymbium margin, ridge as wide a tegular apophysis ( Fig. 12F, I– J ); embolus sickle-shaped, barely tapering towards tip; terminal apophysis broad, stronger sclerotised along basal edge and apically slightly notched ( Fig. 12K ).

Female (based on paratype, WAM T 141187).

Total length 22.37.

Prosoma. Length 10.85, width 7.60; carapace and sternum colouration as in male ( Figs 12B, D ).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.42; ALE 39; PME 0.91; PLE 0.85.

Chelicerae, labium, endites, legs and opisthosoma. Opisthosoma length 10.16, width 8.08; otherwise as male, but endites lighter antero-medially and dorsal opisthosoma somewhat lighter ( Figs 12B, D ).

Epigyne. About one and a half times as long as wide, median septum inverted T-shaped, with irregular edges ( Fig. 12G ); spermathecal heads spherical, spermathecal stalks S-shaped ( Fig. 12H ).

Life history and habitat preferences. Three records of T. harmsi had habitat information, which included waterhole, bluebush and saltbush. Mature males of T. harmsi have been found between September and January and females between December and May; however, numbers are too low for an accurate assessment of the species’ phenology.

Distribution. Tasmanicosa harmsi has been found in South Australia and western and central New South Wales ( Fig. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3 A – T. Illustrations for the key to the Tasmanicosa species of Australia. Roman letters refer to the key choices in the text.

FIGURE 12 A – K. Tasmanicosa harmsi sp. nov., male (SAM NN 29490) and female (WAM T 141187); A, C, male, dorsal (A) and ventral (C) view; B, D, female, dorsal (B) and ventral (D) view; E, F, right male pedipalp, retrolateral (E) and ventral (F) view; G, H, female epigyne, ventral (G) and dorsal (H) view; I, J, tegular apophysis of right pedipalp in (I) ventral and (J) apical view; K, palea of right pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A – D, 2 mm; E, F, 1 mm; G, H, 0.5 mm; I – K, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 13. Distribution records of Tasmanicosa harmsi sp. nov. (full circles) and T. hughjackmani sp. nov. (white squares) in Australia.

FIGURE 20 A – K. Tasmanicosa phyllis (Hogg) comb. nov., male (NMV K 11539) and female (NMV K 11540); A, C, male, dorsal (A) and ventral (C) view; B, D, female, dorsal (B) and ventral (D) view; E, F, right male pedipalp, retrolateral (E) and ventral (F) view; G, H, female epigyne, ventral (G) and dorsal (H) view; I, palea of right pedipalp, ventral view; J, K, tegular apophysis of right pedipalp in apical (J) and ventral (K) view. Scale bars: A – D, 5 mm; E, F, 1 mm; G – K, 0.1 mm.