Zelandalbia longipalpis Pesic & Smit sp. nov.

(Fig. 2I, 23A–G)

Type material. Holotype: male dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer's fluid. New Zealand, South Island, Selwyn River near Scotts, 21.x.2004. Paratypes: 0/1/0 (mounted), same data as holotype; 1/0/0, Selwyn River near Ridgens, 26.xi.2003; 0/1/0, Selwyn River near Ridgens, 18.i.2005.

Diagnosis. Anteromedial portion of ventral shield with a relatively wide and convexly slightly protruding projection; anteromedial plate longer than the posteromedial plate; palp segments very long and slender (L/H ratio: P-3, 6.0; P-4, 11.0)

Description. Male. Eye pigment developed; surface of sclerites smooth (as shown in Fig. 2L); dorsal shield (Fig. 23A) L 306, W 239; anteromedial plate L 170, W 177; anterolateral platelets bearing a pair of glandularia; posterolateral platelets with two pairs of glandularia; antero- and posterolateral platelets with well developed ridges; posteromedial plate with two pairs of glandularia; anteromedial portion of ventral shield with a relatively wide and slightly convexly protruding projection (Fig. 23C); ventral shield (Fig. 23B) L 447; capitular bay L 163; tips of first coxae long and very sharply pointed, these extending far beyond the anterior margin of ventral shield; projections associated with insertions of IV-L relatively small and somewhat truncate; a pair of glandularia located well anterior to insertions of IV-L; a pair of long curved ridges on each side extending posterolaterally from region of insertion of IV-L; two pairs of glandularia close together on their respective sides located at posterior end of these ridges; gonopore terminal and approximately 31 in W; palp: total L 377, dL and %L (in parentheses): P-1, 44 (11.7); P-2, 68 (18.0); P-3, 112 (29.7); P-4, 124 (33.7); P-5, 29 (7.7); ventral setae of P-4 located anteroventrally; capitulum ventral L (without apodemes) 89, with apodemes 115; chelicera total L 105; all leg segments high and laterally compressed; dL of IV-L: 57, 44, 34, 39, 43, 59; chaetotaxy of IV-L as illustrated in Fig. 23F; swimming hairs absent.

Female. Similar to male except for genital field (Fig. 21 G); dorsal shield L 316, W 231; anteromedial plate L 173, W 165; ventral shield L 453-463, W 241; gonopore terminal and approximately 49 in width at posterior end; palp (Fig. 23D): total L 392, dL and %L (in parentheses): P-1, 51 (13.0); P-2, 69 (17.6); P-3, 115 (29.3); P-4, 129 (32.9); P-5, 28 (7.1); capitulum (Fig. 23E) ventral L (without apodemes) 92, with apodemes 118; chelicera total L 120; dL of IV-L: 54, 45, 37, 39, 43, 60. One female of the present species contains a single egg with a diameter of approximately 130 µm.

Etymology. Named for the long palp.

Remarks. This is the fourth known species of the genus Zelandalbia after Z. imamurai Cook, 1983, Z. hopkinsi (Imamura, 1978) and Z. acuta Cook 1991 . The new species is most similar to the latter two in the long, slender palps and a wide anterior margin on the dorsal side of the ventral shield. From these two species, Z. longipalpis differs in a number of characteristics, the most noticeable being the presence of a relatively wide and slightly convexly protruding anteromedial projection on the dorsal side of the ventral shield vs. an anterior margin that is rather truncate in Z. hopkinsi and roundly pointed in Z. acuta . Moreover, Zelandalbia hopkinsi differs in a posteromedial plate longer than the anteromedial plate and the genital field distinctly set off from the remainder of the body; Z. acuta differs in an extremely long and narrow rostrum of the capitulum.

Ecology. The studied material was collected from October to February, from ephemeral-losing reach of the river.