Xeromiturga gumbardo, Raven & Hebron & Williams, 2023

Raven, Robert J., Hebron, Wendy & Williams, Kylie, 2023, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders VI: five new stripe-less miturgid genera and 48 new species (Miturgidae: Miturginae), Zootaxa 5358 (1), pp. 1-117 : 92-94

Xeromiturga gumbardo sp. nov.

Figs 73–74

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of all other species of unstriped Miturgidae , except K. coolgardie sp. nov., by the presence of a patellar process on the male palp ( Fig. 74c–e ) and from those of K. coolgardie sp. nov. in the embolus at an acute angle to the median apophysis base ( Fig. 74a ). Males further differ from those of Xi. jandateae sp. nov. in not having the long, scooped RTA but a small triangular RTA ( Fig. 74b ). Epigyne with two large lateral lobes closely juxtaposed.

Type Material. Queensland: male holotype, “Gumbardo”, site 1, mulga, 26°04.1’S, 144°46.3’E, Apr 2001, T . Beutel, pitfall trap 5, Sampcode 10643, QM S12300 .

Paratypes. 1 ma., same data as holotype, QM S116679 ; 1 ma., 1 fem., Lake Muncoonie , NW Birdsville, 25°12’S, 138°41’E, 12–17 Nov 1976, R . Raven & B. Company RAR, QM S31431 , QM S31432 ; 9 ma., Lake Muncoonie , NW Birdsville, 25°12’S, 138°40’59.88”E, general collecting, 12–17 Nov 1976, QM S31433 ; 2 ma., Lake Muncoonie , NW Birdsville, 25°12’S, 138°40’59.88”E, general collecting, 12–17 Nov 1976, QM S31430 ; 1 ma., Jumbo Bore , “Norley”, Thargomindah, 27°59’S, 143°49’E, mulga, pitfall, 28 Sep 1983, B. R . Jahnke, QM S31440 .

South Australia: 1 ma., Lake Eyre Basin, Chillimookoo , 27°24’S 139°58’E, May 1939, SAM N199798 .

Description. Male, holotype QM S12300

Carapace 4.07 long, 3.20 wide. Opisthosoma 3.87 long, 2.13 wide. Total length, 8.0.

I: 4.53, 1.73, 3.93, 3.67, 2.07, 15.93. II: 4.20, 1.60, 3.60, 3.60, 2.07, 15.00. III: 4.33, 1.67, 3.60, 4.47, 2.40, 16.47. IV: 5.53, 1.73, 4.47, 6.00, 2.80, 20.53. Palp: 1.60, 1.00, 0.67, -, 2.27, 5.54.

Colour. Carapace pallid with narrow dark margin made darker by black hairs, centrally extending back from eye group a pear-shaped region of black hairs. Opisthosoma dorsally light brown with dark median zone over to heart, some ill-defined transverse bars posterior of that. Ventrally entirely pallid. Legs fawn to brownish yellow with black hairs forming darker zones but forming no discernible pattern.

Carapace. Dorsal ridge horizontal; fovea long; caput distinct but low; clypeus a gradual slope; long bristles between eyes and on clypeal edge.

Eyes. Group occupies 2/3 of head-width; length, front width, back width, 24, 30, 36; 8 eyes in 2 recurved rows. From above, front row strongly recurved with front edge of ALE cutting through back third of AME; back row recurved with PME and PLE overlapping only slightly in extent. AME the largest, but not by much from PLE; PME about equal to ALE. Eyes of front row about equidistant from each other; likewise for eyes of back row. MOQ wider in front than behind; length, front width, back width 16, 16, 18. Chelicerae. 2r, 3p. Sternum rounded, no strong modified setae or spines.

Legs. RCH absent. Scopula on tarsi I–IV, sparse but distinct on metatarsi I–IV., Trochanters distinctly notched. Spines. I: fe p3d3r2; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p2r1.1v2. II: fe p4d3r4; pa 0; ti p1.1.r1.1v2.2.2; me p2d1r2v2. III: fe p4d3r4; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.2.1d1.1r2v2.2.2. IV: fe p4d3r3; pa 0; ti p3d2r3v2.2.2; me p1.1.1.1.1.2 d1 r2.1.1.1.2 v2.2.2.

Palp. Patella at mid-length with distal retroventral bilobed process; tibia shorter than patella with short bipartite RTA, one edge interlocking with patella proceses, trianguloid in ventral view. Cymbium with long, deep retrolateral groove for length of bulb; cymbium apically with cluster of short thick bristles. Tegulum transverse, reniform, basal. Embolus origin directly transverse retrolaterally. Median apophysis a long trianguloid hook with ridge basally on prolateral edge; apical hook simple, tapers uniformly.

Female QM S31432

Carapace 3.69 long, 3.03 wide. Opisthosoma 3.01 long, 2.46 wide.

I: 4.34; 2.13; 3.47; 3.14; 1.74; 14.82. II: 4.07; 2.00; 3.27; 3.20; 1.67; 14.21. III: 3.87; 1.47; 3.2; 3.87; 2.13; 14.54. IV: 5.47; 2.00; 4.40; 4.87; 2.47; 19.21. Palp: 1.74; 0.67; 1.13; -; 2.00; 5.54.

Colour. Carapace as for male with darker central region edging distally. Opisthosoma dorsally gray medially with central band edged in black, follows shape of heart, becomes wider mid-opisthosoma length and breaks into transverse dark crescentic bands. Venter and femora without pattern; no black edges on carapace.

Carapace. Hoary long white hairs on marginal band, short black hairs centrally. Eyes: all of similar size but ALE now smallest and AME the largest. Chelicerae: promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2. Sternum and coxal edges with long white hairs. Palpal coxae rhomboidal, prolaterally pallid with diagonal groove basally. Labium shield with thick anterior edge.

Legs. Trochanteral notches ca. twice as wide as deep. Claws with 4–5 long teeth. Scopula. Thin for tripartite 2/3–3/4 of metatarsi I–IV; denser but still thin on tarsi I–IV extends just beyond tip as pseudotufts. None on tibia. II–IV divided by seta. Palp terminates bluntly with distal cap of thick black bristles; claw atrophied, enclosed in hairs, no tufts.

Spines. I: fe pv1 p2 d3, pa 0; ti p2v2.2.2; me p1v2. II: fe pv1 p2 d3 r2; pa 0; ti p2v2.2.2; me p1.1 v2. III: fe p3d3r4; pa 0; ti p2 d2.1 r2 v2.2.2; me p1.1.1.2 r2.1.1.2 v2.2.1. Palp: fe p1d1.1.2 pa p1 d1.1 (including 1 apical) ti p3 d1, ta v3. Spinnerets: Both PLS and ALS cylindrical; PLS about 1/2 diameter of ALS; PMS smaller cylinders. Epigyne ( Fig. 73c, d ). Two large lateral lobes converging distally.

Distribution. Known from Lake Muncoonie, Thargomindah, Gumbardo, Ayrshire Hills and Ethabuka, southwestern Queensland; and Chillimooka, South Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 73. Xeromiturga gumbardo sp. nov.: a, e, male, QM S31433; QM S31433; a, habitus, dorsal view; b, e, male palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia; b, scanning electron micrograph, ventral view; e, retrolateral view; c, d, female, QM S31432: c, epigyne, ventral view; d, internal genitalia, dorsal view.

FIGURE 74. Xeromiturga gumbardo sp. nov., male, QM S12300: a, b, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia: a, ventral view (arrow showing groove); b, proventral view; c–e, RTA; c, prodorsal view; d, dorsal view; e, retroventral view.