Meedo booti, PLATNICK, 2002

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2002, A Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spiders Of The Families Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae, And Trochanteriidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (271), pp. 1-1 : 1-

Meedo booti , new species Figures 81–84 ; Map 6

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Booti Booti National Park , 32 ° 16 ̍ S, 152 ° 32 ̍ E, New South Wales (Nov. 25, 1997; L. Wilkie), deposited in AMS (KS57618) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Females resemble those of M. bluff but have a distinct epigynal septum (fig. 83) and s­shaped anterior epigynal ducts with anteromedian extensions (fig. 84); males resemble those of M. munmorah and M. gympie in having a peculiar elongation of the distal unsclerotized portion of the palpal tibia (cf. figs. 81, 85, 89), but can be distinguished by the moderately expanded embolar base and narrow, recurved conductor tip (figs. 81, 82).

MALE: Total length 4.1. Carapace light brown with scattered dark reticulations (heaviest at rear of pars cephalica), abdomen as in M. mullaroo , coxae, trochanters, and basal quarter of femora yellow, remainder of femora, patellae, and tibiae light brown, metatarsi and tarsi orange brown. Chelicerae vertical, endites relatively short. Tarsi III, IV with cuticular cracks. Retrolateral tibial apophysis reduced to thin, sharp prong (fig. 82), unsclerotized portion of tibia occupying almost half of ventral surface; embolar base moderately wide, embolus relatively long (fig. 81).

FEMALE: Total length 5.1. Coloration and mouthparts as in male. All tarsi entire. Anterior half of epigynum with distinct median septum (fig. 83); anterior portion of epigynal ducts s­shaped, with anteromedian extensions (fig. 84).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: New South Wales: Booti Booti National Park , 32 ° 16 ̍ S, 152 ° 32 ̍ E, Dec. 13, 1996 (L. Wilkie, AMS KS57619 ), 1♀, May 30, 1997 (L. Wilkie, AMS KS61380, 61381), 23, 1♀, Oct. 9, 1997 (L. Wilkie, AMS KS61382 ), 1♀ ; Myall Lakes National Park , 32 ° 38 ̍ S, 152 ° 12 ̍ E ,

Nov. 26, 1997 (L. Wilkie, AMS KS61383), 1♀.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from New South Wales (map 6).

Figures

Map 6. Records of Meedo booti, new species (squares) and M. gympie, new species (circles).

Figs. 81–84. Meedo booti, new species. 81. Left male palp, ventral view. 82. Same, retrolateral view. 83. Epigynum, ventral view. 84. Same, dorsal view.