Kangaraneus arenaceus (Keyserling, 1886) Castanheira & Framenau, 2023

Castanheira, Pedro de S. & Framenau, Volker W., 2023, Kangaraneus, a new genus of orb-weaving spider from Australia (Araneae, Araneidae), Zoosystematics and Evolution 99 (2), pp. 307-323 : 307

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.99.101417
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F1A740F4-6BC2-44B4-9F9F-3222C428B23C
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/005B0E9E-7D45-50B0-BEA5-76C866969845
treatment provided by	Zoosystematics and Evolution by Pensoft
scientific name	Kangaraneus arenaceus (Keyserling, 1886)
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

Kangaraneus arenaceus (Keyserling, 1886) comb. nov.

Figs 1A-E View Figure 1 , 2A-D View Figure 2 , 3A-E View Figure 3 , 4A, B View Figure 4 , 5A-C View Figure 5 , 12 View Figure 12

Epeira arenacea Keyserling 1886: 145-148, plate 12, figs 2, 2a, 3, 3a, 3b.

Araneus arenaceus (Keyserling, 1886).- Rainbow 1911: 182; Bonnet 1955: 438.

Type specimens.

Lectotype of Epeira arenacea Keyserling, 1886 (designated here): female, Sydney (33°53'S, 151°13'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA) (NHM 1890.7.1.4138), examined. Paralectotypes: 5 males, 3 females, same locality as lectotype (ZMH Rack (1961) -catalogue 224), examined; 1 male, same locality as lectotype (NHM 1890.7.1.4137), examined; 1 female, same locality as lectotype, misidentified (this is K. amblycyphus comb. nov.) (NHM 1890.7.1.4139), examined.

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA - New South Wales • 2 females, 3 juveniles, ‘Allambi’, 31°19'S, 149°15'E (AM KS.56967) GoogleMaps ; • 1 male, Pittwater, 33°38'S, 151°18'E, (AM KS.31675). Queensland • 1 male, Blackdown Tableland, SW Rockhampton, 23°50'S, 149°03'E (QM) GoogleMaps ; • 1 female, same locality (QM) GoogleMaps ; • 1 female, Braemar State Forest , 27°13'S, 150°50'E (QM) GoogleMaps ; • 1 male, 2 females, 4 juveniles, Peak Downs, 22°56'S, 148°05'E (ZMH); • 2 females, same locality (ZMH) GoogleMaps . South Australia • 1 female, Bridgewater, 35°S, 138°46'E (SAM) GoogleMaps ; • 1 female, Cape du Couedic, on road to Flinder Chase Ranger Station, Kangaroo Island , 36°03'S, 136°42'E (SAM) GoogleMaps ; • 1 female, Dudley Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island , 35°48'S, 137°51'E (SAM) GoogleMaps ; • 1 female, Kuitpo Forest Reserve , 35°12'S, 138°40'E (SAM) GoogleMaps ; Victoria • 2 females, unknown locality (MV K-10342) ; • 1 female, Berwick, Quarry Hill, 38°02'S, 145°20'E (QM); • 1 female, 1 juvenile, Spring Gully, 36°48'S, 144°17'E (CVIC 1174). Western Australia • 2 females, south-west Western Australia (no exact locality) (SAM) ; • 1 female, Boddington Bauxite Mine, 32°55'S, 116°26'E (WAM T77221 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; • 1 female, Busselton, 33°39'S, 115°20'E (AM KS.131227); • 1 female, Fitzgerald National Park , Twertup, 34°01'S, 119°20'E (WAM T75902 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; • 1 male, Fitzgerald River National Park , on track to Rose Rock, 34°04'S, 119°25'E (WAM T70101 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; • 1 male, Huntly Mine, 5 km E Banksiadale Dam , 32°39'S, 116°05'E (WAM T64598 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; • 1 male, same locality (WAM T64400 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; • 1 male, Jarrahdale (Alcoa) Mine area , 32°20'S, 116°03'E (WAM T48219 View Materials ) GoogleMaps ; • 1 female, Pemberton, 34°26'S, 116°02'E (AM KS.32901); • 1 male, 1 female, 1 juvenile, Shannon National Park , 34°40'S, 116°22'E (WAM T70165 View Materials ) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Males of Kangaraneus arenaceus comb. nov. are most similar to those of K. amblycyphus comb. nov. as both have pedipalp with a similar median apophysis with a blunt central protrusion and a conductor with an elongated basal protrusion (Figs 1C-E View Figure 1 , 2A-D View Figure 2 , 6C-E View Figure 6 , 7A-D View Figure 7 ). However, K. arenaceus comb. nov. is identified by a lanceolate terminal apophysis with a more prominent and sclerotised basal lobe, and lacking a distal spine-like tip (present in K. amblycyphus comb. nov.). Kangaraneus arenaceus comb. nov. is the only species in the genus in which females have baso-lateral flaps on the epigyne base (Figs 3E View Figure 3 , 4A, B View Figure 4 ), and in addition can be differentiated from K. amblycyphus comb. nov. by the epigyne scape completely covering the atrium (Figs 3C View Figure 3 vs 8C).

Redescription.

Male (based on WAM T64400). Total length 6.7. Carapace 3.0 long, 2.4 wide, light brown, centrally darker around fovea (Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ). Eye diameter AME 0.11, ALE 0.11, PME 0.12, PLE 0.07; row of eyes: AME 0.51, PME 0.42, PLE 1.12. Chelicerae light brown with four promarginal teeth (third largest) and three retromarginal teeth of similar size. Legs light brown mottled dark brown, base of femora lighter (Fig. 1A, B View Figure 1 ). Leg length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 3.9+ 1.6 + 3.2 + 2.8 + 1.2 = 12.7, II - 3.1 + 1.5 + 2.4 + 2.3 + 1.0 = 10.3, III - 1.1 + 0.9 + 1.4 + 1.0 + 0.6 = 5.0, IV - 1.8 + 0.9 + 1.5 + 1.8 + 0.8 = 6.8. Labium 0.47 long, 0.35 wide, light brown; maxillae light brown, both beige anteriorly (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ). Sternum 1.3 long, 1.0 wide, light brown with smooth darker radial shading (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ). Abdomen 3.5 long, 3.6 wide, triangular with two conspicuous and pointed shoulder humps; dorsum with pale beige background, large olive-grey patch in cardiac area and irregular folium with olive-grey spots, laterally pale beige with dark streaks (Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ); venter same background colour as dorsum and with sparse guanine spots (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ). Pedipalp (Figs 1C-E View Figure 1 , 2A-D View Figure 2 ) length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + cymbium = total length): 0.6 + 0.4 + 0.2 + 1.0 = 2.2; paracymbium strong, hook-like and curved apically; median apophysis C-shaped, terminating in an acute tip, central protrusion small; radix strong; terminal apophysis elongated, membranous and lanceolate, bearing a large, sclerotised, round projection, ending in an acute tip; conductor large, round and laterally projected, bearing a hook-like apical protuberance and an elongated basal protrusion tapering to a bifid tip; basal conductor lobe inconspicuous; embolus prominent, elongate, heavily sclerotised with a curved tip.

Female (based on WAM T77221): Total length 5.6. Carapace 2.5 long, 2.4 wide; beige, cephalic area light brown (Fig. 3A View Figure 3 ). Eye diameter AME 0.11, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.09; row of eyes: AME 0.46, PME 0.38, PLE 1.23. Chelicerae beige, with four promarginal teeth (apical and third largest) and three retromarginal teeth of similar size. Legs beige, patellae and tibiae apically slightly darker (Fig. 3A, B View Figure 3 ). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total length): 0.6 + 0.4 + 0.4 + 1.2 = 2.6. Leg length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 2.9 + 1.4 + 2.4 + 2.3 + 1.1 = 10.1, II - 2.4 +1.1 + 2.1 + 2.1 + 0.9 = 8.6, III - 1.4 + 0.9 + 1.0 + 1.0 + 0.8 = 5.1, IV - 1.8 + 1.0 + 1.5 + 1.7 + 1.0 = 7.0. Labium 0.25 long, 0.60 wide, beige; maxillae beige (Fig. 3B View Figure 3 ). Sternum 1.5 long, 1.2 wide, beige (Fig. 3B View Figure 3 ). Abdomen 3.5 long, 3.2 wide; dorsum of same colour background as male but almost completely covered greyish, laterally grey (Fig. 3A View Figure 3 ); venter grey with a few guanine spots (Fig. 3B View Figure 3 ). Epigyne base oval, wider than long, with wide lateral borders, atrium convex, barely visible in ventral view (Fig. 3C View Figure 3 ); central division narrow, baso-lateral flaps present (Figs 3E View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 ); scape elongate-triangular extending over the posterior epigyne border, basally broadly rounded and slightly wrinkled, almost straight in lateral view, tip flattened without terminal pocket (Fig. 3C, D View Figure 3 ); spermathecae elongate-ovoid, copulatory ducts sinuous and terminating at base of scape (Fig. 4A, B View Figure 4 ).

Variation.

Males total length 4.5-6.7 (n = 6); females total length 5.6-8.7 (n = 6). The colouration of K. arenaceus comb. nov. males can vary considerably, with some specimens having a dark brown carapace and a black abdomen with a large white patch in the cardiac area (Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ). Examined females are less variable in colouration. Both males and females may have a pair of white spots ventrally on the abdomen, a character mentioned in the original description (see Keyserling 1886) (Fig. 5B, C View Figure 5 ).

Remarks.

The syntypes of Epeira arenacea Keyserling, 1886 are deposited at the ZMH and NHM. A female paralectotype (NHM 1890.7.1.4139) was misidentified by Keysersing (1886); this is K. amblycyphus comb. nov. To unequivocally fix the species-group name of K. arenaceus comb. nov., we here designate a female collected in Sydney (NHM 1890.7.1.4138) as the lectotype of the species. We do not consider the specimens from Peak Downs (Queensland) at the ZMH syntypes of K. arenaceus comb. nov. as Keyserling’s type locality is "Sydney. Museum Godeffroy".

Life history and habitat preferences.

Specimens of K. arenaceus comb. nov. have mainly been found from October to January, with only a few specimens collected in the colder months like June and August. Therefore, the species seems to be largely spring to early summer mature.

Habitat descriptions on the collection labels include "cypress and brigalow" and "in low bush". Two labels indicated that the species falls prey to wasps ("in wasp nest" and "mud dauber wasp nest").

Distribution.

Kangaraneus arenaceus comb. nov. has been found in eastern New South Wales and Queensland, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, Victoria and south-western Western Australia (Fig. 12 View Figure 12 ).