Trichocyclus nullarbor, HUBER, 2001

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2001, The Pholcids Of Australia (Araneae; Pholcidae): Taxonomy, Biogeography, And Relationships, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2001 (260), pp. 1-1 : 1-

Trichocyclus nullarbor , new species Figures 186 –197

TYPE: Male holotype from northern overhang, Knowles Cave (31°08̍S, 130°30̍E), Nullarbor Plain, South Australia, Australia ; Sept. 29, 1988 (D. Hirst), in SAM (N1999/ 842).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the Nullarbor Plain, where this species is common. The species name is a noun in apposition.

DIAGNOSIS: Easily distinguished from most congeners by the long narrow apophyses on the male chelicerae (fig. 190); from T. kokata (which has identical chelicerae) by the shape of the dorsal apophysis on the procursus (compare figs. 197 and 201); from T. hirsti by the less voluminous procursus (compare figs. 197 and 198), and by the apophyses on the male chelicerae (compare figs. 190 and 199).

MALE (holotype): Total length 3.7, carapace width 1.65. Leg 1: 31.8 (8.8 + 0.7 + 8.7 + 11.7 + 1.9), tibia 2: 6.3, tibia 3: 4.5, tibia 4: 6.2; tibia 1 l/d: 54. Habitus and prosoma shape as in figs. 186–189; carapace pale ochre with light brown pattern as in fig. 187. Eye pattern as in fig. 188; distance PME­PME 0.185; diameter PME 0.105; distance PME­ALE 0.045; diameter AME 0.135. Clypeus with wide, light brown band; sternum pale ochre, labium darker. Chelicerae ochre with pair of long, narrow frontal apophyses, smaller cones at their bases, and stridulatory ridges (fig. 190). Palps as in figs. 191 and 192, procursus as in fig. 197. Legs ochre, with indistinct darker rings on femora (subdistally) and tibiae (proximally and subdistally), patellae also darker; tips of femora and tibiae whitish; legs without spines, curved, and vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 15%; tarsal pseudosegments very indistinct, not countable. Opisthosoma ochre gray, dorsally with some blackish spots; genital plate light brown, about square.

VARIATION: Tibia 1 in 19 males: 6.5–10.4 (x = 8.1). The specimens from near Perth have slightly narrower dorsal apophyses on the procursus, and are therefore assigned tentatively.

FEMALE: In general very similar to male, but opisthosoma usually much higher (i.e., dorsoposteriorly more elongated), chelicerae without stridulatory ridges. Tibia 1 in 11 females: 6.8–10.3 (x = 8.2). Palpal tarsus tip as in fig. 196. Opisthosoma frontodorsally apparently without humps. Epigynum as in fig. 193, dorsal view as in fig. 194. Several piriform gland spigots on ALS (fig. 195).

DISTRIBUTION: Widely distributed in western South Australia and southern Western Australia (map 9).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Nullarbor Plain: Knowles Cave: Male holotype above, with 1♀ ( SAM N1999 / 843) ; same data, 23 5♀ several juveniles ( SAM N1999 /844 –50) ; Koonalda area (31°24̍S, 129°50̍E), Feb. 1957 (C. Warner), 13 ( SAM N1999 /841) ; Koonalda Cave (31°24̍S, 129°50̍E), Apr. 3, 1970 (J. Lowry), 13 ( WAM 93 /2356) ; Warbla Cave (31°31̍S, 129°07̍E), Oct. 10, 1966 (J. Lowry), 1♀ ( WAM 93 /2377) ; unnamed cave 8.6 km E of Bore no. 5 off Murrawinjine Caves Road, N of Nullarbor Station (~31°10̍S, 131°00̍E), Feb. 19, 1985 (N. Poulter), 13 1 juvenile ( AMS KS16911 ) ; unnamed cave 14.5 km E of Bore no. 5 off Murrawinjine Caves Road, N of Nullarbor Station (~31°10̍S, 131°00̍E), Feb. 18, 1985 (N. Poulter), 1 juvenile assigned tentatively ( AMS KS16909 ). Western Australia: Nullarbor Plain : Top of Eucla Pass (31°39̍S, 128°52̍E), Mar. 9, 1979 (collector not given), 13 1 juvenile ( AMS KS14997 ) ; unnamed cave (31°11̍S, 128°29̍E), Sept. 14, 1966 (J. Lowry), 13 3♀ 3 juveniles ( WAM 96 /39–45) ; Old Homestead Cave (31°09̍S, 127°56̍E), Sept. 7, 1966 (J. Lowry), 1♀ ( WAM 93 /2382), assigned tentatively ; Skink Hole (31°28̍S, 127°55̍E), Sept. 10, 1966 (J. Lowry), 13 ( WAM 93 /2353) ; degraded doline S of Mullamullang Cave (31°45̍S, 127°15̍E), Jan. 8, 1966 (J. Lowry), 1♀ ( WAM 96 /64) ; Kestral Cavern no.1 (31°39̍S, 127°13̍E), cave doline, Jan. 9, 1972 (M. Gray), 13 ( AMS KS56196 ) ; Firestick Cave (31°46̍S, 127°02̍E), Oct. 17, 1966 (J. Lowry), 13 ( WAM 93 /2379) ; Dingo Cave (31°51̍S, 126°44̍E), Oct. 28, 1968 (J. Lowry), 3♀ 1 juvenile ( WAM 93 /2320– 3) assigned tentatively ; Mullamullang Cave (31°44̍S, 126°44̍E), north doline, Jan. 3, 1966 (J. Lowry), 13 ( WAM 93 / 2381) ; same locality, doline, Aug. 30, 1966 (J. Lowry), 3♀ ( WAM 92 /2385–7) ; same locality, Jan. 6, 1972 (M. Gray), 1♀ ( AMS KS56198 ) ; Haig Cave (30°44̍S, 126°23̍E), July 29, 1966 (J. Lowry), 13 ( WAM 93 /2374) ; caves at 30°51̍S, 126°07̍E, Apr. 15, 1990 (A. Baynes ‘‘et al.’’), 13 1♀ ( WAM 99 /1643–4) ; Cocklebiddy Cave (31°58̍S, 125°53̍E), Jan. 10, 1966 (J. Lowry), 23 ( WAM 93 /2236–7) ; Grass Patch (33°14̍S, 121°44̍E), house ceiling, Jan. 3, 1988 (A. F. Longbottom), 23 1♀

196. Tip of palp. Scale lines: 20 µm.

( WAM 99/1721–3); Great Victoria Desert , S of Skipper Knob (~26°57̍S, 126°20̍E), wall under overhang, Aug. 12, 1970 (J. Lowry), 13 2♀ ( WAM 99 /2112–4). The following material from near Perth is assigned tentatively (see above): Walyunga (31°44̍S, 116°04̍E), Nov. 28, 1981 (D. Hirst), 13 1♀ ( SAM N1999 /863–4) ; between Chittering and Pearce (~31°33̍S, 116°03̍E), no date (G. H. Lowe), 13 ( WAM 99 /1638) ; Darlington (31°54̍S, 116°04̍E), 1975–79 (G. H. Lowe), 13 ( WAM 99 /1639) ; Gooseberry Hill on Darling Swamp near Perth , Aug. 26, 1971 (J. Lowry), 13 ( AMS KS45158 ) .

Trichocyclus hirsti , new species Figures 198–200

TYPE: Male holotype from rocky cliff face near ephemeral waterfall, 8 km SE of Mitchell Nob, Musgrave Ranges (26°11̍S, 131°53̍E), South Australia, Australia ; Oct. 18, 1994 (D. Hirst/Pitlands Survey), in SAM (N1999/837).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the collector of this material and of many more pholcids in the South Australian Museum.

DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished from the very similar T. nullarbor by the much stronger dorsal apophysis on the procursus (compare figs. 197 and 198) and by the apophyses on the male chelicerae (distal apophyses wider, proximal apophyses larger; compare figs. 190 and 199).

MALE (holotype): Total length 3.7, carapace width 1.84. Leg 1: 44.8 (11.9 + 0.8 + 11.7 + 17.7 + 2.7), tibia 2: 8.5, tibia 3: 6.0, tibia 4: 8.3; tibia 1 l/d: 68. Habitus and prosoma shape as in T. nullarbor (cf. figs. 186– 189); carapace pale ochre with light brown pattern as in T. nullarbor , but less distinct. Distance PME­PME 0.160; diameter PME 0.145; distance PME­ALE 0.045; diameter AME 0.120. Clypeus with wide, distally ta­

Figs. 197–201. Trichocyclus nullarbor (197), T. hirsti (198–200), and T. kokata (201). 197, 198, 201. Left procursi, retrolaterodorsal views; ‘‘a’’, ‘‘p’’ = apophysis and pocket; asterisk: weak zone on cymbium; unshafted arrow: more prominent in other male studied. 199. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 200. Epigynum, ventral view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm (197–199, 201), 0.5 mm (200).

pering light brown band; sternum light brown, with light speckles and larger spots near bases of coxae. Chelicerae ochre with pair of strong, black apophyses distally and another pair of shorter apophyses more prox­ imally, and stridulatory ridges (fig. 199). Palps in general very similar to T. nullarbor (cf. figs. 191, 192), but procursus with much stronger dorsal apophysis (fig. 198). Legs ochre­yellow, with indistinct darker rings on femora (subdistally) and tibiae (proximally and subdistally), patellae also darker; legs without spines, without curved and vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 10%; tarsus 1 distally with ~13 quite distinct pseudosegments, proximally pseudosegmentation very indistinct. Opisthosoma ochre gray, covered with blackish spots except ventrally; genital plate gray­brown, about rectangular.

VARIATION: Tibia 1 in other male: 9.7; carapace width in this male: 1.61.

FEMALE: In general very similar to male; tibia 1 in 2 females: 8.2, 8.8. Opisthosoma frontodorsally apparently without humps. Epigynum as in fig. 200, dorsal view not distinguishable from T. nullarbor (cf. fig. 194).

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from type locality in Musgrave Ranges, South Australia (map 9).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Musgrave Ranges: Male holotype above, with 13 2♀ ( SAM N1999/838–40).

Trichocyclus kokata , new species

Figure 201

TYPE: Male holotype from Kolay Hut , Paney Station, Gawler Ranges (32°33̍S, 135°36̍E), South Australia, Australia ; Dec. 9, 1989 (D. Hirst), in SAM (N1999/832).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the Kokata, the so­called Gawler Range tribe, whose territory included some of the most inhospitable country in Australia; the water from tree roots was a necessary source over much of the area. The species name is a noun in apposition.

DIAGNOSIS: Easily distinguished from most congeners by the long narrow apophyses on the male chelicerae, which are identical to those of T. nullarbor (cf. fig. 190); distinguished from T. nullarbor by the long dorsal apophysis on the procursus (fig. 201).

MALE (holotype): Total length 3.1, carapace width 1.35. Leg 1: 24.3 (6.7 + 0.5 + 6.7 + 8.7 + 1.7), tibia 2: 4.9, tibia 3: 3.3, tibia 4: 4.8; tibia 1 l/d: 50. Habitus and prosoma shape as in T. nullarbor (cf. figs. 186– 189); carapace pale ochre with light brown pattern similar to that of T. nullarbor (cf. fig. 187). Distance PME­PME 0.160; diameter PME 0.095; distance PME­ALE 0.045; diameter AME 0.120. Clypeus with wide, distally tapering light brown band; sternum pale ochre, light brown speckled. Chelicerae identical to those of T. nullarbor (cf. fig. 190), ochre with pair of long, narrow frontal apophyses, smaller cones at their bases, and stridulatory ridges. Palps in general as in T. nullarbor (cf. figs. 191, 192), but procursus with long dorsal apophysis (fig. 201). Legs ochre, with darker rings on femora (subdistally) and tibiae (proximally and subdistally), patellae also darker; tips of femora and tibiae whitish; legs without spines, without curved and vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 12%; tarsal pseudosegments very indistinct, hardly countable (apparently>10). Opisthosoma roundish, ochre gray, dorsally with many blackish spots; genital plate very light brown, about rectangular.

VARIATION: Tibia 1 in male from Musgrave Ranges: 8.1; this male is in general slightly larger, the pattern on the carapace is more distinct, and the prolateral apophysis on the procursus (unshafted arrow in fig. 201) is slightly more prominent. Tibia 1 in males from Kalamurina Station and Murda Hill: 6.5, 7.1; these males differ slightly from the holotype with respect to the procursus (dorsodistal black flap missing, dorsoproximal apophysis slightly more slender).

FEMALE: In general very similar to male, but dark patterns on carapace and legs more distinct. Tibia 1 in 2 females accompanying male holotype: 7.2, 7.9. Opisthosoma frontodorsally apparently without humps. Epi­ gynum externally not distinguishable from that of T. nullarbor (cf. fig. 193).

DISTRIBUTION: Known from four localities in South Australia (map 9).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Gawler Ranges, Paney Station: Male holotype above, with 2♀ ( SAM N1999 / 833– 4) ; Musgrave Ranges, Ngarutjara (26°14̍S, 131°47̍E), amongst rocks, Oct. 13, 1994 (D. Hirst), 13 1 juvenile ( SAM N1999 / 836) ; 1 km E of Rat Hole Yard, Kalamurina Station (27°56̍S, 138°00̍E), Oct. 2–8, 1999 (D. Hirst), 13 ( SAM NN9037 ) ; Simpson Desert , 1.7 km S of Murda Hill (26°58̍S, 138°22̍E), broad claypan between dunes, Mar. 24–29, 1998 (Sandy Desert Survey), 13 ( SAM NN9038 ) .

Trichocyclus pandima , new species Figures 202, 203

TYPE: Male holotype from Dales Gorge , Karijini National Park (22°28̍S, 118°33̍E), Western Australia, Australia ; Sept. 11, 1981 (D. Hirst), in SAM (N1999/798).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the Pandjima (also called Pand’ima), an aboriginal tribe in Western Australia. The species name is a noun in apposition.

DIAGNOSIS: Easily distinguished from most congeners by the long dorsal apophysis on the procursus (fig. 203); from T. kokata (which has a similar procursus; fig. 201) by the shorter and wider distal cheliceral apophyses and the shape of the bulb (figs. 202, 203).

MALE (holotype): Total length ~3.5 (opisthosoma shrunken), carapace width 2.03. Leg 1: 14.9 + 0.9 + 15.1 + 22.8; tarsus missing; tibia 2: 10.5, tibia 3: 6.8, tibia 4: 9.5; tibia 1 l/d: 81. Habitus and prosoma shape as in T. nullarbor (cf. figs. 186–189); carapace pale ochre with light brown spot behind ocular area and three lateral spots hardly visible, without radial marks. Ocular area with darker median and lateral marks; distance PME­PME 0.160; diameter PME 0.135; distance PME­ALE 0.030; diameter AME 0.135. Clypeus with slightly darker median band; sternum ochre­yellow, posteriorly light brown with yellowish speckles. Chelicerae with two pairs of apophyses and stridulatory ridges (fig. 202). Palps in general as in T. aranda (cf. fig. 231), but femur with distinct dark knob ventrally subdistally; procursus with long dorsal apophysis (fig. 203). Legs ochre­yellow, with barely visible darker rings on femora (subdistally); tips of femora and tibiae whitish; almost all hairs missing; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 10%; distally with ~12 quite distinct pseudosegments, proximally pseudosegmentation very indistinct. Opisthosoma roundish, gray, with blackish and white spots except ventrally; genital plate very light brown, about rectangular.

VARIATION: Tibia 1 in other male: 11.7.

FEMALE: In general very similar to male, but sternum darker, with many yellowish speckles and larger light spots near bases of coxae. Tibia 1 in 2 females: 12.8, 12.7. Opisthosoma frontodorsally with pair of distinct, sclerotized humps. Epigynum externally very similar to that of T. aranda (cf. fig. 233), but plate in front of frontal plate wider.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from type locality, Karijini National Park, Western Australia (map 9).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Karijini National Park, Dales Gorge: Male holotype above, with 13 (and a non­conspecific female) ( SAM N1999 / 799–800) ; same locality, July 24–25, 1998 (D. Hirst), 13 3♀ 5 juveniles ( SAM N1999 / 794–7) .

Figures

Figs. 186–190. Trichocyclus nullarbor, male. 186. Habitus. 187–189. Prosoma, dorsal, frontal, and ventral views. 190. Chelicerae, frontal view. Scale lines: 1 mm (186–189), 0.3 mm (190).

Figs. 202, 203. Trichocyclus pandima, male. 202. Chelicerae, frontal view. 203. Left procursus and genital bulb, retrolateral view; arrow: transparent bulbal process. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.