Misgolas rapax Karsch, 1878
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.3853/j.0067-1975.63.2011.1553 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/823987EB-1651-0C0B-62E4-FB6C9C14FC63 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Misgolas rapax Karsch, 1878 |
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Misgolas rapax Karsch, 1878 View in CoL
Figs 4A–K View Fig , 14A View Fig
Misgolas rapax Karsch, 1878: 821–823 View in CoL . Type species of Misgolas Karsch, 1878 ; Simon, 1892: 116; Bonnet, 1957: 2931; Wishart, 2006: 1–18; Wishart & Rowell, 2008: 45–86.
Misgolas hubbardi Wishart, 1992: 263–278 , figs 1–6, 28–29; placed in the synonymy of M. rapax View in CoL by Wishart & Rowell, 2008: 45–86.
Misgolas rapax Karsch, 1878 View in CoL .–Wishart & Rowell, 2008: 45–86: the first three of the six species listed below are explicitly removed from synonymy with M. rapax View in CoL , while the last three species are each considered to be nomen dubia because female characters are unreliable for the diagnosis of these species. All of these species are treated below or in Wishart (2006) and Wishart & Rowell (2008).
Megalosora villosa Rainbow, 1914 , Dyarcyops melancholicus Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918 , Arbanitis montanus Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918 , Arbanitis fuscipes Rainbow, 1914 , Dyarcyops ionthus Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918 and Arbanitis chisholmi Hickman, 1933 .
Material examined. NEW SOUTH WALES: holotype ♀ from NSW, Museum fur Naturkunde an der Humbolte Universitat zu Berlin, Germany, dried, pinned, deteriorated specimen, possibly collected 1874–75, Edward Damel (Daemel) ( Fig. 4K View Fig ) . Holotype ♂ of Misgolas hubbardi Wishart,AMS KS 22301, “Scalloway”, Willow Vale nr Gerringong, NSW (34°44'11"S 150°47'23"E), 17 Dec. 1985, GW. Allotype ♀ Misgolas hubbardi Wishart, AMS KS 22302, 10 June 1985, other details as for AMS KS22301.
Diagnosis. In male and female: large sized brown spiders; retrodorsal surface of metatarsi IV lack spines ( Fig. 4I View Fig ). Venter pattern as figured, dark brown speckle more dense immediately adjacent to spinnerets ( Fig. 4G,H View Fig ). In female: carapace length c. 10–13.5. In male: carapace length c. 8.2–10.5. Embolus of bulb apically twisted clockwise through 90° with subdistal thorn-like apophysis as figured ( Fig. 4D View Fig ) appearing to be retrolaterally positioned; retrolateral flange with about 5 folds, edge straight ( Fig. 4B,C View Fig ). Conformation of palp as figured ( Fig. 4A,F View Fig ).
Distribution and natural history. ( Figs 4J View Fig , 14A View Fig ) Numerous specimens of this large spider have been collected in and nearby the small township of Gerringong (New South Wales, Australia). Collection sites most remote from Gerringong are the town of Kiama 10 km to the North and localities of Toolijooa and Harley Hill 10 km to the southwest. Mature males wander almost throughout the year ( Wishart, 1993). Burrow entrance ( Fig. 4J View Fig ) is rigid, funnel-like, the lip at an oblique angle with leaves attached, one of which is utilized as a trapdoor ( Wishart, 1992).
Remarks. The Idiopid genus Misgolas was raised by the German taxonomist, Ferdinand Karsch, when in1878 he named and described the new species, Misgolas rapax . The spider specimen is the holotype of the type species of the Misgolas genus. It is disappointing that the preservation of the specimen has not withstood ravages of time, Main (1985 a) describing it as “dried, pinned specimen very shrivelled and difficult to distinguish many features” ( Fig. 4K View Fig ). The spider’s condition added to its character poor female gender virtually prevented a positive identity until molecular methods were used. The collector of the type specimen was Edward Damel, a professional German collector, who at one time was based in Sydney, NSW, from May 1874 to February, 1875. During this time it is expected that this spider had been collected from Gerringong or possibly from Kiama, NSW.
Karsch gave no indication of the derivation of the names “ Misgolas ” or “rapax”. A person named Misgolas was a Greek homosexual man known from ancient Greek records and the word “rapax” is believed to translate as “predator”. Ferdinand Karsch himself wrote extensively on homosexual affairs quite apart from his arachnology work.
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