Longrita whaleback, 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-

Longrita whaleback , new species Figures 427–430 ; Map 33

TYPE: Male holotype taken in dry pitfall trap on Mount Whaleback , 23 ° 20 ̍ S, 119 ° 40 ̍ E, Western Australia (Aug. 7–12, 1997; D. Knowles), deposited in WAM (99/ 361) .

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males can easily be recognized by the proximally directed hook on the basal tibial apophysis (fig. 428) and the narrow, sinuous tip of the embolus (fig. 427), females by the transverse and longitudinal epigynal striations (fig. 429).

MALE: Total length 11. Coloration as in L. arcoona . Leg spination: femora: I d1­0­1; II d1­0­0; III, IV d1­0­1; metatarsi: I, II v2­2­ 0; III v2­0­0. Basal tibial apophysis with proximally directed hook (fig. 428); embolus restricted to retrolateral side of bulb, with narrow, sinuous, distally directed tip, prolateral portion of median apophysis short, reaching only to prolateral edge of embolus (fig. 427).

FEMALE: Total length 14. Coloration as in female of L. arcoona . Leg spination: femora I–IV d1­0­1; tibiae III v2­2­0; metatarsi: I, II v2­2­0; III v2­0­0; IV v1p­0­0. Epigynum with short, curved lateral margins, atrium anteriorly with transverse, posteriorly with longitudinal striations (fig. 429); pair of large, translucent, recurved ducts occupying about half of epigynal length (fig. 430).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: South Aus­ tralia: 35 km W Vokes Hill Corner, Great Victoria Desert , 28 ° 33 ̍ S, 130 ° 22 ̍ E, Apr. 19, 1994, under bark on dead tree (D. Niejalke, D. Hirst, SAM 1999 /32), 1♀. Western Australia: Elvira Station , via Halls Creek , 18 ° 28 ̍ S, 127 ° 58 ̍ E, 1958 (W. Gosnell, SAM N1999 /24), 1♀ ; Tambrey Station, Ashburton , 21 ° 38 ̍ S, 117 ° 36 ̍ E, Jan. 16, 1933 (C. Cussack, WAM 99 /362), 1♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Western and South Australia (map 33).

Figures

Map 33. Records of Longrita grasspatch, new species (squares), L. arcoona, new species (circles), and L. whaleback, new species (stars).

Figs. 427–430. Longrita whaleback, new species. 427. Left male palp, ventral view. 428. Same, retrolateral view. 429. Epigynum, ventral view. 430. Same, dorsal view.