Aname salina sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 0C1B6CB6-2BEF-4204-82C4-1E9A7B1E67EA

Figs 1–2, 4–5

Diagnosis

Males of A. salina sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of other Aname except members of the mainae group (see below) by the combination of highly elongate posterior sigilla (Fig. 4G), abdominal chevrons or pattern (more conspicuous in ethanol than in life, see Figs 1C–D, 4B) and the shape of metatarsus I, which has a short proximal excavation and a relatively long and elongate distal section with a straight or concave ventral edge (Fig. 4Q). They can be distinguished from those of other members of the mainae group as follows: from A. lorica Castalanelli, Framenau, Huey, Hillyer & Harvey, 2020 by the more elongate embolus and more elongate asetose depression on the pedipalpal tibia (PDL/PTL 0.65 cf. 0.60) (Fig. 4K–M; cf. Castalanelli et al. 2020: fig. 55); from A. aragog Harvey, Framenau, Wojcieszek, Rix & Harvey, 2012 and A. mcleeryorum Harvey & Huey, 2020 by their much more elongate embolus (Fig. 4L–M; cf. Harvey et al. 2012: figs 32–33; Harvey et al. 2020: fig. 73); from A. exulans Harvey & Huey, 2020 by the embolus, which is clearly demarcated from the bulb (Fig. 4L–M; cf. Harvey et al. 2020: fig. 15); and from A. mainae Raven, 2000 by the longer asetose depression on the pedipalpal tibia (Fig. 4K; cf. Main 1982: fig. 2B).

Females of A. salina sp. nov. can be distinguished from all those of other species of Aname by their spermathecae, which consist of single, elongate vesicles with several articulations, and tiny accessory vesicles near the base. Only A. lorica possesses a similar conformation, but in A. salina the primary vesicles are more elongate (Fig. 5L; cf. Castalanelli et al. 2020: figs 60–61). Like in males, females of mainae group species (including A. salina) also generally have highly elongate posterior sigilla and faint abdominal chevrons (Figs 1C, 5B, G).

Etymology

The species epithet refers to the coastal distribution of this species (‘ salina ’, Latin, for ‘salt’, ‘salty’) (Brown 1956).

Material examined

Holotype AUSTRALIA – Western Australia • ♂; Ashburton Salt, ca 25.2 km WSW of Onslow; 21°43′ S, 114°53′ E; 12 Apr. 2019; D. Kamien and M. Greenham leg.; WAM T148204.

Paratypes AUSTRALIA – Western Australia • 1 ♂; Ashburton Salt, ca 2 km ESE of Onslow; 21°39′ S, 115°08′ E; 11 Apr. 2019; P. Brooshooft and M. Greenham leg.; WAM T148195 • 1 ♂; Ashburton Salt, ca 22 km WSW. of Onslow; 21°44′ S, 114°56′ E; 15 Apr. 2019; J. Keen and M. Greenham leg.; WAM T148216 • 1 ♀; Ashburton Salt, ca 25.2 km WSW of Onslow; 21°43′ S, 114°53′ E; 12 Apr. 2019; M. Greenham and D. Kamien leg.; WAM T148205 • 1 ♂; Ashburton Salt, ca 39 km SW of Onslow; 21°48′ S, 114°46′ E; 13 Apr. 2019; J. Keen and M. Greenham leg.; WAM T148209 • 1 ♂; Ashburton Salt, ca 39.5 km WSW of Onslow; 21°48′ S, 114°46′ E; 12 Apr. 2019; P. Brooshooft and M. Greenham leg.; WAM T148203 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; WAM T148202 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Apr. 2019; WAM T148217 .

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Western Australia • 1 juvenile; Ashburton Salt, ca 39 km SW of Onslow; 21°48′ S, 114°46′ E; 3 Nov. 2018; P. Brooshooft leg.; WAM T148716 • 1 ♂; Cape Range National Park, camps; 22°01′ S, 113°56′ E; 7 Apr. 1998; R. Karniewicz leg.; WAM T44339 • 1 ♂; Cape Range National Park, Yardie Creek; 22°19′ S, 113°49′ E; 24 Mar. 2021; M.S. Harvey and M.E. Blosfelds leg.; WAM T153270 • 1 ♂; Cape Range National Park, Yardie Creek campground; 22°19′ S, 113°49′ E; 24 Mar. 2021; M.S. Harvey and M.E. Blosfelds leg.; WAM T153269 • 1 ♀; Cape Range, coastal dune site; 21°59′ S, 113°56′ E; 24 Jun. 2019; R.J. Ellis leg.; WAM T148135 • 1 juvenile; Cape Range, Defence Land; 22°28′ S, 113°51′ E; 22 Jun. 2019; P. Doughty et al. leg.; WAM T148117 .

Description

Male holotype (WAM T148204)

DIMENSIONS (mm). Total body length 23.7. Carapace length 9.5, width 8.0; abdomen length 9.4, width 5.6. Leg I: femur 7.8; patella 4.8; tibia 6.1; metatarsus 6.1; tarsus 3.6.

COLOUR (in alcohol) (Fig. 4). Carapace chocolate-brown, caput slightly darker than thoracic region; chelicerae dark red-brown; legs and ventral prosoma concolorous with carapace; abdomen grey-brown with pale mottled chevrons; ventral abdomen pale. In life, carapace and legs darker, almost black (Fig. 1D)

CARAPACE, CHELICERAE, ABDOMEN (Fig. 4A–F). Carapace 1.19 × longer than broad; almost glabrous, but with inconspicuous silver hairs present; clypeal edge straight; fovea straight. Eye group rectangular (width/length 2.22), on distinct tubercle. Chelicerae without rastellum. Abdomen 1.69 × longer than wide, pilose.

MOUTHPARTS AND STERNUM (Fig. 4G–I). Labium width/length 2.19, without cuspules. Left maxilla with 150-160 cuspules, spread across inner 40% of maxillae. Coxae without cuspules. Sternum length/width 1.25; with setae over entire surface; with 3 pairs of sigilla, each pair increasing in size from anterior to posterior; all pairs close to sternum margin; posterior pair thin and elongate.

PEDIPALP (Fig. 4J–M). Tibia cylindrical, length/width 2.72; PDL/PTL 0.65; prolateral face with two distal spines, ventral face with 1 spine and 1 strong bristle proximally, at base of pedipalpal depression; cymbium length/width 2.78, medially constricted and broadest distally; scopula present distally; bulb ovoid, 0.42 × PTL; embolus, thin and curving, with slight basal flange; embolus 2.2 × longer than bulb.

LEG I (Fig. 4N–Q). Tibia I with large megaspur; TIL/TID 4.12; TIS/TIL 0.63; TISH/TID 0.56; metatarsus incrassate, with proximal excavation; MIL/ MID 5.64; MIPEL/MIL 0.40; scopulae present on tarsus and distal metatarsus.

Female holotype (WAM T148205)

DIMENSIONS (mm). Total body length 19.0. Carapace length 8.0, width 6.5; abdomen length 7.1, width 3.9. Leg I: femur 5.8; patella 3.7; tibia 4.1; metatarsus 3.9; tarsus 2.6.

COLOUR (in alcohol) (Fig. 5). Carapace uniformly tan-brown; legs and ventral prosoma concolorous; chelicerae darker red-brown; dorsal abdomen grey-brown with pale chevrons, ventral abdomen yellow-brown. In life much darker, carapace and legs almost black (Fig. 1C).

CARAPACE, CHELICERAE, ABDOMEN (Fig. 5A–F). Carapace 1.23 × longer than broad; virtually glabrous; clypeal edge slightly convex; fovea slightly procurved. Eye group rectangular (width/length 1.92), on distinct tubercle. Rastellum absent. Abdomen 1.85 × longer than wide, lightly pilose.

MOUTHPARTS AND STERNUM (Fig. 5G–I). Labium width/length 2.13, without cuspules. Left maxilla with 160-170 cuspules, spread laterally on inner 40% of maxilla. Coxae without cuspules. Sternum length/ width 1.15; with denser setation around edge; with 3 pairs of sigilla, each pair increasing in size from anterior to posterior; all pairs close to sternum margin; posterior pair thin and elongate.

LEG I (Fig. 5J–K). Spination, femur 2 bristles (1PL, 1D), patella 2 (2PL), tibia 8 (3PL, 1V and 4RL), metatarsus 6 (3PL, 3RL), tarsus 0, total 18; metatarsus length/width 5.00; scopulae present on tarsus and metatarsus.

GENITALIA (Fig. 5L). Each spermatheca with one elongate receptacle and a small accessory vesicle at the base, positioned medially. The elongate receptacle is convoluted, with three articulations – from the base it angles laterally, medially, laterally, medially.

Remarks

This species was previously recognised under two different code names – Aname ‘MYG627’ for a female specimen from Exmouth, and ‘MYG712’ for male specimens from Ashburton salt (not included in previous phylogenies). It is a member of the mainae group (Clade 7) sensu Rix et al. (2021) (Fig. 1).

Distribution and natural history

Two reciprocally monophyletic populations of Aname salina sp. nov. are currently known (Fig. 2). One of these is around the town of Onslow (most specimens are from the west of the town, near the Ashburton River), the other is in Cape Range National Park. Although these were recovered as monophyletic groups (Fig. 1), average pairwise divergence in COI between them is just 5.15% (low for COI in mygalomorph spiders, see Castalanelli et al. 2014) and they show no evidence of morphological divergence based on the samples available to us. The habitat in the regions where this species occurs is a mix of bare sand and salt flats, tussock, and hummock (spinifex) grasslands, and coastal habitats. Based on when adult males of this species have been collected, they appear to mature in Autumn (March/April).