Canterburaturus minutus Pesic & Smit sp. nov.

(Fig. 2D, 14A–C, 14A–C, 16A–C)

Type material. Holotype: female dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer's fluid. New Zealand, South Island, Selwyn River near Old Bridge Rd., 20.ix.2004. Paratypes: 0/1/0 (mounted), same date as holotype; 1/0/0, same place as holotype, 08.vii.2004; 1/0/0 same place as holotype, 04.vi.2004; 1/0/0, same place as holotype, 10.ix.2004; 5/3/0 (1/1/0 mounted), Selwyn River near Ridgens, 20.viii.2004; 2/1/0, Selwyn River near Ridgens, 18.i.2005; 1/1/0, Selwyn River near Ridgens, 07.vii.2004.

Diagnosis. Surface of dorsal sclerites with small rounded papillae and ridges of various sizes on parts of the surface; P-2 somewhat swollen but without ventral projection; P-3 with a slight ventrodistal projection.

Description. Female (holotype, in parentheses some measurements of two paratype specimens). Integumental pigment absent; eye pigment reduced; surface of sclerites with small rounded papillae and ridges of various sizes on parts of the surfaces (as shown in Fig. 2D); dorsal shield (Fig. 14A) L 216 (214- 215), W 179 (182); anteromedial plate L 101 (98-99), W 108 (111-112); anterolateral platelets bearing a pair of glandularia; posterolateral platelets with one pair of glandularia; posteromedial plate bearing two pairs of glandularia; anterodorsal portion of ventral shield forming a somewhat pointed hood-like projection which does not extend to the tips of the first coxae (Fig. 14C); ventral shield (Fig. 14B) L 294 (289-293), W 208 (194); capitular bay L 63 (63); tips of first, second and third coxae somewhat pointed and with well developed intercoxal slots; projections associated with insertions of IV-L truncate, moderately large and extending to sides of idiosoma; a well developed ridge on each side extending posterolaterally from region of insertion of IV-L; a pair of apophyses and glandularia located medial to insertions of fourth legs; gonopore L 40 (43–45); genital acetabula numerous; palp (Fig. 15A–B): total L 112 (117), dL: P-1, 15 (14–15); P-2, 28 (29); P-3, 19 (19–22); P-4, 35 (37); P-5, 15 (15–17); %L: P-1, 13.4 (12.0–12.8); P-2, 25.0 (24.8); P-3, 17.0 (16.2–18.8); P- 4, 31.3 (31.6); P-5, 13.4 (12.8–14.5); P-2 somewhat swollen but without ventral projection; P-3 with a slight ventrodistal projection; capitulum ventral L 57 (55); chelicera total L 77; dL of IV-L-2-6: 45 (46), 23 (23), 31 (29–32), 34 (35–36), 40 (40–43); maximum H of IV-L-2, 29 (26–29); IV-L-2 L/H ratio, 1.55 (1.59–1.8); chaetotaxy of IV-L as illustrated in Fig. 15C; swimming hairs absent.

Male. Similar to female except for genital field (Fig. 16A); dorsal shield L 195, W 177; anteromedial plate L 97, W 108; ventral shield L 285, W 198; capitular bay L 65; gonopore subterminal, L 17; ejaculatory complex L 62; palp (Fig. 16B): total L 116, dL and %L (in parentheses): P-1, 15 (12.9); P-2, 29 (25.0); P-3, 20 (17.2); P-4, 37 (31.9); P-5 15 (12.9); capitulum ventral L 59; dorsal L of IV-L-2-6: 48, 23, 32, 35, 39; maximum H of IV-L-2, 26; IV-L-2 L/H ratio, 1.85.

Etymology. Name referring to the small dimensions of this species.

Remarks. See remarks below under Canterburaturus cooki, for characteristics which will separate the new species from other members of the genus

Ecology. The studied material was collected from July to February, from the ephemeral-losing (Ridgens) and the perennial-gaining (Old Bridge Rd.) reaches of the river.