Meedo yeni, 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 yeni , new species Figures 77–80 ; Map 5

TYPE: Female holotype taken in drift fence pitfall trap 13.6 km SSW of Murrayville, 35 ° 23 ̍ S, 141 ° 09 ̍ E, Victoria (Nov. 1985; A. Yen), deposited in NMV .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Dr. A. L. Yen of the Mu­ seum of Victoria, whose mallee pitfall trapping program produced the holotype.

DIAGNOSIS: Males have not been collected with females, but the South Australian adults listed below are all similar in size and coloration. Males have a triangular retrolateral tibial apophysis, similar to that of M. houstoni , but have a much shorter embolus, restricted to the prolateral edge of the palpal bulb (figs. 77, 78). Females can be recognized by the small anterolateral projections on the spermathecal ducts (fig. 80).

MALE: Total length 3.7. Coloration as in M. houstoni . Chelicerae inclined, endites relatively short. Tarsi III with cuticular cracks. Retrolateral tibial apophysis short, triangular (fig. 78); embolus relatively short, restricted to prolateral surface of bulb (fig. 77).

FEMALE: Total length 5.5. Coloration as in M. houstoni . Chelicerae almost vertical, endites relatively short. Tarsi III with cuticular cracks. Epigynal atrium small, triangular (fig. 79); spermathecal ducts with anterolaterally directed anterior projections (fig. 80).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: South Aus­ tralia: Aldinga Scrub , 35 ° 18 ̍ S, 138 ° 27 ̍ E, Sept. 15–22, 1987, pitfall (E. Matthews, SAM N1998 /925), 13 ; Ferries McDonald Conservation Park , 35 ° 14 ̍ S, 139 ° 08 ̍ E, Oct. 5–Nov. 9, 1977 –1978, pitfalls (E. Matthews, SAM N1998 /923, 924), 23 ; Kelly Hill Caves, Kangaroo Island , 36 ° 01 ̍ S, 136 ° 55 ̍ E, Nov. 9–10, 1987, pitfall, camp area (D. Hirst, SAM N1998 /926), 1♀ ; South Island, Greenly Islands, c. 34 ° 38 ̍ S, 134 ° 47 ̍ E, under log ( SAM N1998 /927), 1♀. Western Australia: Hampton Microwave Repeater Tower , Roe Plain , 31 ° 57 ̍ S, 127 ° 32 ̍ E, Oct. 17, 1992, under limestone (A. Longbottom, WAM 99 / 310), 1♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Drier parts of southern Australia (map 5).

Figures

Map 5. Records of Meedo broadwater, new species (circles), M. yeni, new species (squares), and M. bluff, new species (diamonds).

Figs. 77–80. Meedo yeni, new species. 77. Left male palp, ventral view. 78. Same, retrolateral view.