Karaops conilurus, Crews, 2023

Crews, Sarah C., 2023, But wait, there's more! Descriptions of new species and undescribed sexes of flattie spiders (Araneae, Selenopidae, Karaops) from Australia, ZooKeys 1150, pp. 1-189 : 1

Karaops conilurus sp. nov.

Figs 28B, C , 29A, B , Maps 1 , 7

Karaops umiida Crews, 2013: 447, figs 3-4 (♂ only, mismatched).

Material examined.

Holotype: Western Australia • ♂, Buccaneer Archipelago, Conilurus Island, 127 km north of Derby ; 16°9'12"S, 123°34'42"E; 18 Jul. 2010; R. Teale, M. Greenham leg.; opportunistic collecting; (WAM T110400) . Paratype: ♂; same data as previous; (WAM T110401) . Other material examined: 1 imm., same data as previous; 135 km north of Derby ; 16°5'0"S, 123°32'28"E; 20 Jul. 2010; (WAM T110402) .

Diagnosis.

In light of the new species described here, a new diagnosis is provided. This species can be distinguished from all other members of the group by the genitalia. Karaops conilurus sp. nov. (Fig. 28B, C ) is most similar to K. garyodwyeri sp. nov. (Fig. 31B, D, E ), K. dejongi sp. nov., and K. malumbu sp. nov. (Fig. 32A-C ) but differs by the conductor and dRTA (Fig. 29A, B ). In K. garyodwyeri sp. nov., the tip of the conductor curves posteriorly and does not extend past the medial part of the conductor, and the dRTA is broad, with a spine on the tip of the outer branch. In K. conilurus sp. nov., the tip of the conductor extends beyond the medial part, and the dRTA is long and narrow in ventral view ( Crews 2013: figs 3, 4). In K. dejongi sp. nov., the tip of the conductor is similar to K. conilurus sp. nov., but the medial part of K. conilurus sp. nov. is more upturned, the median apophysis is located more distally, and the dRTA does not have a keel. Additionally, the vRTA of K. dejongi sp. nov. is narrow and arched, whereas in K. conilurus sp. nov. it is straighter on the retrolateral side and more spoon shaped overall in ventral view. Finally, K. conilurus sp. nov. differs from K. malumbu sp. nov. by the conductor being more indented laterally below the tip/above the medial part, and the distal part of the conductor is flat rather than arched, with a larger sheath. The dRTA is also connected to a prolateral keel.

Description.

The description of the male can be found in Crews (2013: sub Karaops umiida ).

Etymology.

The name is taken from the type locality, Conilurus Island. Noun in apposition.

Distribution.

Known from only the type locality, Conilurus Island, Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia (Map 7 ).

Natural history.

The species was collected in the cooler, drier time of the year, under rocks on boulder scree during the day. It is found in the Mitchell subregion of the Northern Kimberley bioregion (Suppl. material 2: table S1).

Discussion.

Karaops conilurus sp. nov. was originally described as the male of K. umiida . At the time, the rich diversity of the Kimberley species group was unknown, and the general similarity and proximity of the specimens made the decision reasonable. Based on molecular data (Suppl. material 1) and the new knowledge of the large number of species, it is clear that the males here are not conspecific with K. umiida or any of the other species in the group and thus represent a new species. Given the diversity of species in close proximity on the mainland, it is expected that Kimberley islands also harbor multiple species that will only be found with targeted surveys.

Figures

Map 1. Map of Australia showing areas that are expanded in subsequent figures. CD = Central Desert group, D = Karaops dawara group, F = Karaops francesae group, K = Kimberley group, UA = species that are not assigned to a group, PG = Pilbara-Gascoyne group.

Map 7. Species of the Kimberley species group. Diamonds (juveniles): light purple = Mimbi Caves; blue = Geike Gorge, green = Adcock Gorge, teal = Augustus Island, pink = Little Mertens Falls, yellow = Emma Gorge, orange = Kelly's Knob, red = Keep River National Park; Circles: green = Karaops dejongi sp. nov., blue = Karaops jenniferae, red = Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov., purple = Karaops sp. adult male (will be described in subsequent publication), white = Karaops conilurus sp. nov., pink = Karaops umiida, yellow = Karaops alanlongbottomi, teal = Karaops keithlongbottomi, mauve = Karaops larryoo, orange = Karaops garyodwyeri sp. nov., black = Karaops malumbu sp. nov. Juveniles are treated as distinct species based on molecular data.

Figure 28. Members of the Kimberley species group A Karaops alanlongbottomi, holotype male, Degerando Island, Champagny Islands, Western Australia (WAM T 28014 ex 93 / 1330) B Karaops conilurus sp. nov., holotype male, Conilurus Island, Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia (WAM T 110400) C Karaops conilurus sp. nov., paratype male, Conilurus Island, Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia (WAM T 110401) D Karaops jenniferae, holotype female, Mowambini (Oscar Range), Western Australia (WAM T 65078) E Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov., paratype male, Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge), Western Australia (sel _ 1233, WAM T 155609) F Karaops jenniferae, holotype female, epigyne (WAM T 65078) G same, endogyne. 0.5 mm (F, G); 1 mm (A-D).

Figure 29. Members of the Kimberley species group A Karaops conilurus sp. nov., paratype male, palp, dorsal, Conilurus Island, Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia (WAM T 110401) B Karaops conilurus sp. nov., holotype male, palp, dorsal, Conilurus Island, Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia (WAM T 110400) C Karaops alanlongbottomi, holotype male, palp, dorsal, Degerando Island, Champagny Islands, Western Australia D Karaops malumbu sp. nov., holotype female, El Questro Gorge, Western Australia (sel _ 1305, WAM T 155681) E same F Karaops malumbu sp. nov., paratype male, El Questro Gorge, Western Australia (sel _ 1309, WAM T 155685) G same. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-C); 5 mm (E, G).

Figure 31. Karaops garyodwyeri sp. nov., 167 km west of Wyndham, Gibb River Road, Western Australia A juvenile on sandstone (photo J. DeJong) B palp, dorsal C juvenile on sandstone D palp, ventral (sel _ 1256, WAM T 155632) E palp retrolateral. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 32. Karaops malumbu sp. nov., El Questro Gorge, Western Australia A palp, ventral (sel _ 1309, WAM T 155685) B palp, retrolateral C palp, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.