Barraina melanoros, Richardson, 2022

Richardson, Barry J., 2022, Additions to the euophryine jumping spider fauna (Araneae: Salticidae) of Australia, Zootaxa 5141 (3), pp. 249-269 : 254-257

Barraina melanoros n. sp.

Figs 18–28

Type material. Holotype: 1♀ Black Mountain , Australian Capital Territory, 149.10°E, 35.27°S, J. Devonshire, 21 Jan. 2000, ( ANIC, 42 002173) . Paratypes: Australian Capital Territory: 1♀ Black Mountain , 149.10°E, 35.27°S, J. Devonshire, 21 Jan. 2000, ( ANIC, 42 001578); 1♀ Black Mountain , 149.10°E, 35.27°S, T. Weir, Dec. 2006, (ANIC, 42 002169).

Other material examined: New South Wales: 1♀ East Kunderang Trail , 2.1km E of West Kunderang Trail, 152.05°E, 30.82°S, G.A. Cassis, M.R. Gray, 4 Feb. 1993, ( AMS, KS 69767) ; 1♀ 35km S of Burcher on Burcher- W Wyalong Rd , 147.32°E, 33.7°S, D. Smith, R. Harris, 28 Mar. 1996, ( AMS, KS 50848) ; 1♀ Pooginook Wildlife Refuge, along Fernbank Rd ; survey grid 3, 145.67°E, 34.9°S, L. Wilkie and M.G. Elliot, ( AMS, KS 113857) , South Australia: 2♂, 2.5km NNE Glenora, 139.37°E, 33.4°7S, Sth Olary Plains Survey, 23.Oct. 1992, ( SAMA NN-30290) ; 1♀ Pinkawillinie Conservation Park , 135.83°E, 33.05°S, D. Hirst, 23 Nov. 1995, ( SAMA NN-30401) ; 1♀ Between Bucks Camp and Rabbit Island, Mount Roscoe Conservation Park , 140.32°E, 35.93°S, D. 18. Mar. 1992, D. Hirst, ( SAMA NN-30299)) ; 2♀ Gum Lagoon Conservation Park , 140.01°E, 36.62°S, D. Hirst, 26.3.1992, ( SAMA NN-30314) .

Etymology. A combination of letters reflecting the name of the type locality.

Diagnosis. Gracile, all other species more stoutly built. Widest point of the cephalothorax at PLE. The female has a strong, grey clypeal fringe and white palps with off-white tibia and metatarsals also with a long grey hair covering. Copulatory openings far from the spermathecae and closer together than the width across the entrances to the fertilization ducts. Unlike all other species, the fold back in each insemination duct includes only a single, long loop (two thirds the length of spermathecae). These are placed alongside the medial edges of the spermathecae and join the posterior edge of the spermatheca. The male has a strong white clupeal fringe. Each embolus is long, with a spear-like twisted shape but without a spiral section midway along its length (contra B. pilata n. sp.). It arises as a visible circular section at the base of the ‘spear’ (contra B. anfracta Richardson, 2013 ).

Description. Female: Cephalothorax mid to dark brown. Pars cephalica dark brown. Pars thoracica without markings. Clypeus narrow, mid-brown, with a thin fringe of grey hairs. Chelicerae straight, mid-brown. Two promarginal teeth and one small, blunt, retromarginal tooth. Endites and labium off-white, brown at base. Sternum dirty brown. Dorsal abdomen light, grey-brown with darker mottled patterning and faint transverse stripes towards the rear. Spinnerets light brown. Ventral abdomen light, grey-brown. Palps off-white, with a sparse covering of long grey hairs. Legs light brown with dark brown stripes. Large strong spines, L1 similar build to other legs, without a fringe on patella and tibia, L4 much longer than the others. Epigynum: The epigyne includes a pair of oval-shaped atria with faintly-delineated guides. The copulatory openings are aligned with the guides and placed a short distance anterior to the spermatheca. There is a gland on the side of the insemination duct close to the copulatory opening. Each insemination duct includes a long loop (two thirds the length of the spermathecae) on the posteromedial edge of the spermatheca, before connecting to the posterior edge of the spermathecae. The spermathecae are within the atria and close to the epigastric fold. Fertilization ducts open from anterior extensions of the spermathecae. Dimensions (Holotype): CL 1.4, EFL 0.55,AL 1.65, CW 1.1,AEW 0.9,AMEW 0.55, PEW 0.45, L1 2.3 (0.65+0.5+0.4+0.4+0.35), L2 1.9 (0.5+0.4+0.4+0.25+0.35), L3 2.2 (0.45+0.5+0.5+0.45+0.3), L4 2.7 (0.8+0.45+0.55+0.5+0.4).

Male: As for female, except with a thick, white clypeal fringe. Palp: off-white to light brown, tibia with single short, curved apophysis with a rounded end. The tegulum with small, rounded, proximal lobe and a small projection beside the embolus. Each embolus is long, with a spear-like twisted shape but without a spiral section midway along its length. It arises as a circular section at the base of the ‘spear’. Dimensions: CL 1.1, EFL 0.5, Al 1.1, CW 0.9, AEW 0.75, AMEW 0.48, PEW 0.5, L1 1.95 (0.63+0.38+0.38+0.33+0.25), L2 1.68 (0.55+0.28+0.35+0.25+0.25), L3 2.0 (0.75+0.25+0.35+0.35+0.3), L4 2.28 (0.88+0.38+0.38+0.38+0.28).

Distribution and Biology. The species has been collected using pitfall traps and is ground living in woodland on the western slopes of New South Wales and in the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia ( Fig. 28 ). It is likely to also be found in Victoria. Due to its wide distribution, presence in nature reserves and common appearance in traps, recommended IUCN Red List Category is LC.

Figures

FIGURES 18–28. Barraina melanoros n. sp. Holotype (42 002173), (female; 18 dorsal, 19 ventral, 20 lateral, 21 anterior views); (external epigyne 22; semi-diagrammatic, dissected and cleared epigyne 23 dorsal, 24 ventral); (male palp, (NN-30290), 25 anterior, 26 ventral, 27 posterior), 28 distribution map with BICLIM prediction of distribution. Scales: 0.2mm.