Artoria extraordinaria, Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018

Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018, The wolf spider genus Artoria in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae), Evolutionary Systematics 2 (2), pp. 169-241 : 169

Artoria extraordinaria sp. n. Figs 2E, 15, 18 A–H, 47I Curious Forest Runner

Material examined.

Holotype male, Macquarie Road, 70 m S from junction with Milo Road, Buckenbowra State Forest (35°38'S, 149°53'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA], 16 Mar 1999, R. Harris, H.M. Smith, leaf litter sample (AM KS128074). Paratype: 1 female, same data as holotype (AM KS68638).

Other material examined.

10 males in 9 records (all NSW). AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 male, 30 km SE of Braidwood, 250 m along Corn Trail Road from junction with Highway 54, 35°33 ’43” S, 150°00 ’32” E (AM KS68635); 1 male, Deua National Park, Dampier Mt Fire Trail, 3.5 km E of junction with Minuma Range Fire Trail, 35°59 ’13” S, 149°42 ’40” E (AM KS68637); 1 male, Deua National Park, Minuma Range Fire Trail, approx.. 1.5 km ENE of apex of Dampier Mt, 35°59 ’10” S, 149°39 ’22” E (AM KS64397); 2 males, Enfield State Forest, Dodds Fire Trail, 1 km from Enfield Road, 31°23 ’47” S, 151°52 ’59” E (AM KS39804); 1 male, Enfield State Forest, Dodds Fire Trail, about 3 km from Enfield Road, 31°24 ’17” S, 151°53 ’00” E (AM KS39803); 1 male, Monga State Forest, Lookout Road, 35°34 ’47” S, 149°54 ’18” E (AM KS64399); 1 male, Monga State Forest, Northern Fire Trail, 1.85 km N from junction with McKeuns Road, 35°32 ’10” S, 149°53 ’17” E (AM KS68634); 1 male, Monga State Forest, W side of Turtle Creek Fire Trail, 1.7 km from junction with Boundary Fire Trail, 35°38 ’20” S, 149°55 ’52” E (AM KS64398); 1 male, Putty State Forest; approx. 80 m from Hunter Main Trail and just past '3 Ways’, 32°45 ’26” S, 150°33 ’45” E (AM KS128874);

Etymology.

The specific epithet is an adjective in apposition derived from Latin ( extraordinaria - unusual) and refers to the unusual shape of the basoembolic apophysis of the male pedipalp.

Diagnosis.

The male pedipalp of A. extraordinaria sp. n. is highly unusual within the genus owing to the shape of the basoembolic apophysis, which forms an almost 360-degree circle (Fig. 47I). The female epigyne is poorly defined with two almost transparent lateral lobes (Fig. 18G).

Description.

Male (based on holotype, AM KS1128074).

Total length 3.6.

Prosoma. Length 2.1, width 1.4; carapace light reddish-brown with dark radial pattern and black V-shaped pattern between cephalic and thoracic region; indistinct and irregular broad lighter central and marginal band (Fig. 18A); sternum pale, with darker margin (Fig. 18B).

Eyes (Fig. 2E). Diameter of AME: 0.10; ALE: 0.09; PME: 0.30; PLE: 0.20.

Anterior eye row. Strongly procurved, distance between AME/ALE at least twice AME/AME.

Chelicerae. Dark brown.

Labium. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 18B)

Pedipalp coxae. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 18B).

Legs. Yellow brown with darker annulations; metatarsi and tarsi darker, less annulated (Fig. 18A).

Opisthosoma. Length 1.5, width 1.1; dark grey with pale anterior cardiac mark and light irregular pattern (Fig. 18A). Venter pale with darker pattern (Fig. 18B); spinnerets pale.

Pedipalps. Tibia as long as broad; cymbium tip with cluster of macrosetae (Fig. 18E, F); dorsal scopula patch present; tegular apophysis spatulate with two lateral appendices, basally narrowed to 2/3 width, retrolateral tip pointed inwards not reaching margin of cymbium (Fig. 18E); palea about 1 1/2 times as long as wide; basoembolic apophysis small, rounded; embolus elongated coiled with long thin tip, reaching beyond terminal apophysis; terminal apophysis small with pointed tip (Fig. 47I).

Female (based on AM KS68638).

Total length 3.8.

Prosoma. Length 2.0, width 1.4; carapace and sternum colouration as male (Fig. 18C).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.08, ALE 0.09, PME 0.30, PLE 0.21.

Anterior eye row. Strongly procurved, distance between AME/ALE at least twice AME/AME.

Opisthosoma. Length 1.8, width 1.2; otherwise as male, but opisthosoma pattern more obscure (Fig. 18C, D).

Epigyne. About as long as wide, poorly sclerotised at posterior tips, atrium lighter (Fig. 18G); spermathecal heads ellipsoid in inverted v-shaped position about 1/2 short diameter apart, spermathecal stalks attached ventrally, globular at base (Fig. 18H).

Life history and habitat preferences.

Based on locality data, Artoria extraordinaria sp. n. is a forest species. Detailed habitat data were not available on locality labels of the specimens. Most specimens were collected between February and April, with one male recorded from June, suggesting Artoria extraordinaria sp. n. to be autumn to winter mature.

Distribution.

This species was found some distance from the coast at scattered localities in the NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SYB) and South Easter Corner (SEC) IBRA bioregions (Fig. 15).