Karaops mparntwe sp. nov.

Figs 1I, 3C-F, Maps 1, 2

Material examined.

Holotype: Northern Territory • ♀; Alice Springs; Aug.; (ZMT AA 10.852).

Diagnosis.

The female of Karaops mparntwe sp. nov. (Fig. 1I) is similar to other members of the Central Desert species group, K. pilkingtoni, K. ngarutjaranya, K. deserticola, K. vadlaadambara, K. larapinta sp. nov., and K. manaayn in that the median field of the epigyne is a rectangular lobe with copulatory openings located anteriorly at either side of the lobe, the accessory bulbs are large, and the body lengths are 5.5-7 mm (Figs 1A-H, 2A-D). However, it can be differentiated by the raised medial portion of the lobe (Fig. 3E). The accessory bulbs are more oval than round as they are in the other species, with the spermathecae ventral and posterior to them, and the spermathecae and accessory bulbs are nearly the same size and connected by a short, thick duct (Fig. 2F). In the other species, the accessory bulbs are round, larger than the spermathecae, and the spermathecae are located posterior to the accessory bulbs, connected by a thin, coiled duct.

Description.

Female (holotype). Total length 6.97. Carapace: length 2.46, width 3.26. Chelicerae: promargin with five teeth, fourth tooth toward base of fang larger than others, retromargin with three teeth. Eyes: AER slightly recurved, PER strongly recurved; diameters, AME 0.17, ALE 0.14, PME 0.22, PLE 0.32; interdistances AME-PME 0.09, PME-ALE 0.14, ALE-PLE 0.34, PME-PME 0.84, ALE-ALE 1.23, AME-AME 0.51, PLE-PLE 1.59. Sternum: length 1.46, width 1.77. Abdomen: length 4.51, width 3.66. Color: Carapace: orangish yellow, dark patches behind eyes contiguous with darker area in median furrow, setose, with short, stiff setae, although several missing in this specimen. Chelicerae: orange-brown with dusky markings proximally and distally, nearly forming an unfilled oval on the paturon anteriorly (Fig. 1I), setae dark, more prominent anteriorly. Maxillae: orange-brown, pale distally. Labium: brownish, pale distally. Sternum: orangish. Abdomen: dorsally whitish orange, faded, with short, stiff setae, some dark spots laterally, dark chevrons medially, dark at posterior; ventrally, grayish brown. Legs: orangish, Cx II and III with black stripe prolaterally, Tr with dark mark prolaterally, dark dot on Fm at Tr-Fm joint, Fm with dark line proximally, prolaterally with horizontal extensions, nearly forming annulation, medially with dark line and two areas of horizontal extensions forming annulations, Pt with dusky area proximally, Ti with dark annulation at Pt-Ti joint and distally, Mt same, Ta tip dusky; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1-0, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg III Fm d 1-1-1; leg IV Fm d 1-1-1; leg formula 4321; measurements leg I 11.45 (3.27, 1.48, 3.19, 2.23, 1.28); leg II 12.97 (3.94, 1.55, 3.33, 3.01, 1.14); leg III 13.74 (4.78, 1.09, 3.56, 2.97, 1.34); leg IV 14.64 (4.88, 1.25, 3.66, 3.42, 1.43). Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-2; 2.99 (0.86, 0.70, 0.54, 0.89); dusky marking on Fm and Ti; claw with five teeth. Epigyne: EP triangular; MF with rectangular lobe, somewhat raised medially; COs located anteriorly on sides of lobe (Fig. 3C, E). Endogyne: CDs short, wide; ABs oval, large, anterior and dorsal to S; S large, oval; FDs directed anterolaterally; small pdf (Fig. 3D, F).

Male. Unknown.

Etymology.

The species name is the indigenous word for the type locality in the Western Arranda language. Noun in apposition.

Distribution.

Known from only the type locality, Northern Territory (see Discussion) (Map 2).

Natural history.

Nothing is known of this specimen other than it was collected in August; thus, adult females can be found in August, one of the cool, dry months in Alice Springs (Suppl. material 2: table S1).

Discussion.

The label appears to say "Alice Springs, Ctrl. Sta?. VIII". There is no collector given, and searching the database at ZMT did not uncover any additional information. It was thought that Pekka Lehtinen may have been the collector, but he has never been to Alice Springs (pers. comm.). Presumably, "Ctrl. Stn.?" refers to the Old Telegraph Station. The holotype male of Karaops pilkingtoni is known from Alice Springs, Old Telegraph Station, base of Trig Hill. The female of K. pilkingtoni is from more than 60 km ENE of Alice Springs. The species were paired based on their general similarity and geographic proximity; however, it is now known that multiple species can occur in sympatry and/or syntopically, and similar species do occur nearby ( K. larapinta sp. nov.). Based on morphology, no changes are made to the status of the female of K. pilkingtoni, and K. mparntwe sp. nov. and K. pilkingtoni are considered separate species. The region is poorly collected yet peppered with several species in somewhat close proximity (Map 2). Thorough collecting in the Northern Territory and South Australia as well as molecular data will help support or refute current species hypotheses and undoubtedly uncover new species. Nearby in Watarrka (Figs 2E, F, 5D) no adults of an undescribed species were found in April. Molecular data indicate that this is yet a different species from K. kwartatuma sp. nov. (Suppl. material 1).