Artoria incrassata sp. nov.

Figs 17–19

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 09ADE142-EB4D-403F-A6B2-2077227E8B44

Type material. Holotype male, Wilroy Nature Reserve, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA, 28º37’34”, 115º38’40”, 15 July 1998 – 18 October 1999 (WAM T162512).

Other material examined (279 males, 36 females, 6 juv. in 95 records). AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2 males, Ajana Back Road, 27º59’57’’S, 114º37’55’’E (WAM T68343); 1 male, same locality (WAM T68342); 3 males, Badjaling Siding, 31º59’10’’S, 117º29’53’’E (WAM T68345); 10 males, 2 females, Balidu, 30º35’28’’S, 116º45’25’’E (WAM 98 /2131–42); 1 male, same locality (WAM T64602); 1 male, Bendering East Reserve Road, 32º23’57’’S, 118º23’12’’E (WAM T68329) ; 2 males, Bendering Reserve Road, 32º21’27’’S, 118º29’46’’E (WAM T68325) ; 2 males, Boorabbin, 31º14’S, 120º19’E (WAM T56524); 2 males, Brown Road, East, NE of Toolibin, 32º53’25’’S, 117º45’29’’E (WAM T68293) ; 10 males, 1 female, Bruce Rock-Doodlakine Road, 31º51’26’’S, 117º58’49’’E (WAM T68292); 1 male, Buntine Nature Reserve, East, 29º58’38’’S, 116º34’27’’E (WAM T68349) ; 2 males, Buntine Rocks Nature Reserve, 29º59’06’’S, 116º35’35’’E (WAM T64092) ; 2 males, Burracoppin Nature Reserve, powerline, 31º24’39’’S, 118º30’33’’E (WAM T68318) ; 1 male, Comitun Dam Nature Reserve, 31º45’38’’S, 118º03’47’’E (WAM T68303) ; 1 male, Commonwealth Road, West, 32º44’13’’S, 118º16’16’’E (WAM T68309); 1 male, Cookinbin Nature Reserve, 31º00’05’’S, 118º14’00’’E (WAM T68340) ; 1 female, Dongolocking Nature Reserve, South, 33°04’38”S, 117°41’44”E (WAM T68467) ; 1 male, Dongolocking Spring Reserve, 33º05’19’’S, 117º41’29’’E (WAM T68470) ; 1 female, 5.3 km WNW Dongolocking, 33°08’07.36’’S, 117°42’47.19’’E, (HBI N28719-1) ; 2 males, Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve, Pingaring-Varley Road, 32º46’10’’S, 119º00’32’’E (WAM T68321) ; 1 male, Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve, West, 32º38’40’’S, 118º59’11’’E (WAM T68302) ; 3 males, SW of Dudinin, water reserve on railway line, 32º54’42’’S, 117º53’40’’E (WAM T68319) ; 6 males, 2 females, Durokoppin Nature Reserve, South, 31º24’46’’S, 117º45’16’’E (WAM T68304) ; 5 males, East Yorkrakine Nature Reserve, 31º23’S, 117º39’E (WAM T68685) ; 2 males, East Yorkrakine Nature Reserve, 31º23’S, 117º40’E (WAM T55392) ; 2 males, 1 juv., same locality (WAM T55394); 2 males, 1 juv., same locality (WAM T55393); 1 male, Elashgin Nature Reserve, granite (hill) site, 31º20’07’’S, 117º26’10’’E (WAM T70671) ; 3 males, 2 females, Elashgin Nature Reserve, N site on Maitland Road, 31º19’35’’S, 117º26’41’’E (WAM T70662) ; 1 male, same locality (WAM T70582); 1 male, Eneabba, R.G.C. Mineral Sands, 29º56’S, 115º17’E (WAM T68707); 6 males, Eujinyn Road, North, 31º45’34’’S, 118º01’44’’E (WAM T68301); 2 males, Gundaring Nature Reserve, 31º51’13’’S, 117º37’08’’E (WAM T68288) ; 1 male, Gunyidi Nature Reserve, Midlands Road, 30º11’10’’S, 116º01’51’’E (WAM T68306) ; 2 males, Gunyidi, private property ca. 12 km W, 30º9’17’’S, 115º57’38’’E (WAM T68300); 1 male, 1 female, Heilmans Scrub, 31º31’S, 117º37’E (WAM T55388); 7 males, 1 female, 1 juv., same locality (WAM T55386); 6 males, 1 female, same locality (WAM T55387); 1 male, Hotham River National Park, 32º36’40’’S, 117º06’00’’E (WAM T68337) ; 2 males, Hyden, Lake Hurtstone Road, 32º38’35’’S, 119º22’18’’E (WAM T68298) ; 7 males, 3 females, Kalgarin National Park, Hyden Road, 32º29’59’’S, 118º33’05’’E (WAM T68310) ; 1 male, Kodj Kodjin Nature Reserve, 31º26’58’’S, 117º46’27’’E (WAM T68324) ; 1 male, Koorda Road Nature Reserve, 30º45’25’’S, 117º05’26’’E (WAM T68365) ; 3 males, Kulja-Mollerin Rock Road, 30º31’50’’S, 117º33’49’’E (WAM T68289); 16 males, 1 female, Kwelkan, 31º08’21’’S, 117º59’43’’E (WAM T69984); 2 males, 1 female, same locality (WAM T69995); 2 males, Lake Gulson East, 32º47’11’’S, 119º22’07’’E (WAM T68296) ; 2 males, Lake Ninan Shire Reserve, East, 30º57’9’’S, 116º39’29’’E (WAM T68362) ; 1 female, same locality (WAM T68716); 1 female, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’11.26’’S, 116°36’38.34’’E (HBI N28587-1) ; 1 male, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’11.58’’S, 116°36’39.42’’E, (HBI N28592-1) ; 1 male, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’16.49’’S, 116°33’59.7’’E, (HBI N28614-1) ; 1 male, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’17.46’’S, 116°33’58.84’’E, (HBI N28615-1) ; 1 male, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’16.48’’S, 116°33’58.68’’E, (HBI N28618-1) ; 1 male, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’15.76’’S, 116°33’58.47’’E, (HBI N28619-2) ; 1 female, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’55.66’’S, 116°37’56.32’’E, (HBI N28625-1) ; 1 female, near Lake Ninan, 30°57’54.82’’S, 116°37’57.56’’E, (HBI N28628-1) ; 4 males, Lily McCarthy Rock, 32º41’35’’S, 119º20’25’’E (WAM T68282); 6 males, 2 females, Long Muir Road West, S of Mollerin, 30º32’50’’S, 117º33’56’’E (WAM T68295) ; 2 males, Manmanning Nature Reserve, north-east, 30º53’32’’S, 117º05’46’’E (WAM T68359) ; 3 males, Minnivale, W of, 31º07’58’’S, 117º10’13’’E (WAM 98 /2162–4); 2 males, S of Mollerin Lake, Long Muir Road, granite rock, 30º32’50’’S, 117º33’56’’E (WAM T68327) ; 2 males, Moorajin Soak Nature Reserve, 30º45’17’’S, 117º14’30’’E (WAM T68352) ; 1 male, Mordetta National Park, 32º51’28’’S, 118º31’52’’E (WAM T68326) ; 1 male, Mt Gibson Station, 29º41’15’’S, 117º21’06’’E (WAM T68704) ; 1 male, Mt Gibson Station, 29º42’9’’S, 117º18’23’’E (WAM T68718) ; 11 males, 4 females, 1 juv., Mt Hampton Nature Reserve, 31º45’40’’S, 119º04’21’’E (WAM T68363) ; 13 males, Mt Moore Nature Reserve South, 31º12’45’’S, 118º18’15’’E (WAM T68317) ; 6 males, Mt Vernon, 32º46’40’’S, 119º14’01’’E (WAM T68291) ; 3 males, Mungarine Nature Reserve, North, 30º19’51’’S, 117º45’12’’E (WAM T68294) ; 3 males, 3 km W Nembudding, 31º11’49’’S, 117º32’51’’E (WAM T70660) ; 1 male, Nerren Nerren Station, 27º03’24’’S, 114º34’23’’E (WAM T68924) ; 1 male, North Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve, 32º41’27’’S, 118º58’30’’E (WAM T68348) ; 3 males, Piawaning-Wongan Hills Road, 30º50’11’’S, 116º39’40’’E (WAM T68366); 3 males, Pintharuka Nature Reserve, 29º06’00’’S, 115º59’35’’E (WAM T68328) ; 1 male, Quairading Railway water supply, East, 32º01’15’’S, 117º22’57’’E (WAM T68315); 2 males, Quairading Railway water supply, West, 32º01’32’’S, 117º21’58’’E (WAM T68334); 7 males, Salt River, Beverly Road, 32º05’02’’S, 117º23’33’’E (WAM T68341) ; 11 males, 2 females, Sandplains Nature Reserve South, 31º34’40’’S, 118º44’20’’E (WAM T68308) ; 5 males, Silver Wattle Hill Nature Reserve, 33º08’56’’S, 118º49’46’’E (WAM T68350) ; 1 female, same locality (WAM T162511); 1 male, St Ronans Nature Reserve, South, 31º53’01’’S, 116º35’20’’E (WAM T68361) ; 1 male, Talgomine Reserve, South, 31º15’24’’S, 118º23’46’’E (WAM T68346) ; 1 female, same locality (WAM 162514); 12 males, 4 females, ca. 11 km NE Tammin, 31º30’03’’S, 117º32’52’’E (WAM T69990) ; 3 males, 1 juv., same locality (WAM T70234); 1 male, Toolibin Lake, 32º55’05’’S, 117º36’57’’E (WAM T68320) ; 3 males, Tutanning Nature Reserve, 32º31’S, 117º23’E (WAM 98 /2188–90) ; 2 females, same locality (WAM 98 /2193–4); 1 male, same locality (WAM 98 /2195); 1 male, 1 female, same locality (WAM 98 /2191–2); 1 male, same locality (WAM 98 /2196); 1 male, same locality (WAM 98 /2197); 2 males, Tutanning Nature Reserve, South-east, 32º33’17’’S, 117º20’03’’E (WAM T68338) ; 2 males, Tutanning Nature Reserve, East, west end, 32º32’29’’S, 117º16’50’’E (WAM T68333) ; 1 male, West Perenjori Nature Reserve, West, 29º27’52’’S, 116º12’36’’E (WAM T68323) ; 2 males, 1 female, Wilroy Nature Reserve, 28º37’34’’S, 115º38’40’’E (WAM T68313) ; 1 male, Wongan Hills-Ballidu Road, 30º51’49’’S, 116º43’10’’E (WAM T68349); 1 female, ca. 10.7 km SW. of Wongan Hills, 30°56’39.59’’S, 116°37’22.67’’E (HBI N30117-1); 1 male, Wroth Road Nature Reserve, Wattening Brook, 31º19’16’’S, 116º33’38’’E (WAM T68290) ; 2 males, Yarding Nature Reserve, 31º55’02’’S, 117º58’49’’E (WAM T68305) ; 3 males, Yenyenning Lakes, 32º13’38’’S, 117º13’08’’E (WAM T68469); 2 males, same locality (WAM T68335); 3 males, 1 juv., Yorkrakine Rock Nature Reserve, quarry site, 31º25’16’’S, 117º30’24’’E (WAM T70661) ; 1 male, Yorkrakine Rock Nature Reserve, site at base of rock, 31º25’05’’S, 117º30’56’’E (WAM T70218) ; 8 males, 1 female, Yorkrakine town site, 31º22’27’’S, 117º34’48’’E (WAM T70640) .

Etymology. The specific epithet “ incrassata ” is a Latin adjective meaning ‘robust, larger than usual’, referring to the large and globose tibia of the male pedipalp.

Diagnosis. Males of A. incrassata sp. nov. and A. taeniifera have a similar pedipalp with a tegular apophysis bearing a two-lobed apex pointing ventrally. However, the prolateral lobe in A. incrassata sp. nov. is shorter and its ventrally projecting margin is truncated in retrolateral view (Fig 18D), while in A. taeniifera it is longer, with a ventral projecting margin forming an acute angle in retrolateral view (Fig. 37D). Females of A. incrassata sp. nov. are similar to those of A. taeniifera and A. equipalus Framenau & Baehr, 2018 due to their epigyne having large and sclerotized lateral lobes projecting mesally. However, in A. incrassata sp. nov. the lateral lobes bear an acute tip at the median apex of its mesal margin (absent in A. equipalus and A. taeniifera) and are often widely separated (Fig. 19C), while in A. taeniifera they are very close together, dividing the median septum into one semi-circular area anteriorly, and a very small triangular area posteriorly (Fig. 38C).

Description. Male (holotype, WAM T162512).

Total length, 4.60. Carapace, length 2.50, width 1.81, reddish-brown, with a paler median longitudinal band, wider in cephalic area, and lateral areas dusted with dark grey radial bands (Fig. 18A). Sternum, reddish-brown (Fig. 18B). Eyes, diameter: AME: 0.08; ALE: 0.08; PME: 0.24; PLE: 0.19, anterior eye row procurved, evenly spaced. Chelicerae, reddish-brown, as carapace, three retromarginal and three promarginal teeth, median largest. Labium dark brown, with pale anterior rim (Fig. 18B). Legs, yellowish-brown, ventrally femora I–II with continuous dark grey patch, while III–IV with spaced ones (Fig. 18A, B). Opisthosoma, length 2.17, width 1.67, dorsum greyish-yellow, with irregular dark patches and pale-yellow cardiac mark ⅔ as long as opisthosoma (Fig. 18A). Venter greyish-yellow with spinnerets dark brown (Fig. 18B).

Pedipalp (Fig. 18C–E), tibia globular; cymbium free tip around ⅓ as long as the whole cymbium in ventral view, and with weakly developed macrosetae; subtegulum broad and sclerotized, clearly visible in ventral view. Tegular apophysis mostly subrectangular in ventral view, wider at its distal half, with a small rounded projection near the middle of its retrolateral margin, and with two apical lobes, the ventral one with a broader excavated prolateral part bearing a rounded keel at its prolateral margin ending in a pointed tip in ventral view and distal margin of the keel truncated in retrolateral view; and a retrolateral part transversal to the prolateral one, triangular in ventral view and ending in a broad rounded tip in retrolateral view. Dorsal lobe has an excavated rounded projection forming a keel that is fused with a ventral knob broad and rounded, directed retrolaterally in ventral view, and appearing as a broad stalk at retrolateral view. Basoembolic apophysis about as long as wide, large, heavily sclerotized and with a truncated apex. Embolus semicircular, flat, slightly broadening on its apex. Terminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, wider than embolus, especially at its truncated apex.

Female (WAM T162511).

Total length, 4.60. Carapace, length 2.05, width 1.50. Carapace and sternum colouration like male (Fig. 18A, B). Eyes, diameter of AME 0.07, ALE 0.06, PME 0.23, PLE 0.20, anterior eye row and chelicerae colouration and teeth pattern like male. Labium, reddish-brown, with pale anterior rim (Fig. 18B). Legs, yellow with almost inconspicuous irregular dark grey stains (Fig. 19A, B). Opisthosoma, length 2.80, width 1.83, colour pattern like male (Fig. 19A, B).

Epigyne, wider than long; median septum half as long as epigyne, pentagonal, delimited anteriorly by two transverse elevated margins and laterally by mesal margins of lateral lobes. Lateral lobes large, conspicuously sclerotized, inner margins almost straight, ending in acute tip slightly projecting mesally, posterior margin with a notch (Fig. 19C). Spermathecal heads globular and about one diameter apart; spermathecal stalks about one diameter of spermathecal heads in length, attached ectally and abruptly bent mesally (Fig. 19D).

Variation. Body length: Males (n=5): 3.71–4.88; Females (n=5): 4.60–6.62. The female epigyne may have the lateral lobes closer together posteriorly, almost touching each other. The lobes of the tegular apophyses in the male pedipalp are variable, particularly the retrolateral branch.

Life history and habitat preferences. Most mature specimens were collected between July and September, suggesting a winter to early spring maturity. Habitat descriptions include Allocasuarina woodland and ‘samphirelithic complex’.

Distribution. Throughout the Western Australian Wheatbelt (Fig. 17).