Lampona airlie, PLATNICK, 2000

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2000, A Relimitation And Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spider Family Lamponidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2000 (245), pp. 1-328 : 73-75

Lampona airlie , new species

Figures 142–145 ; Map 13

TYPES: Female holotype and male allotype taken in rainforest litter at Airlie Beach , 208169S, 1488439E, Queensland (Feb. 16, 1986; R. Raven, J. Gallon), deposited in QMB ( S8069 ) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: This species seems to be the southern sister species of L. russell ; males have a longer, narrower tip on the retrolateral tibial apophysis (fig. 143); females have a more rectangular epigynal midpiece and larg­ er anterior portions of the spermathecae (figs. 144, 145).

MALE: Total length 4.5. Abdominal dorsum with anterior and median pairs of white spots united transversely into two transverse stripes; femora with weak subdistal, tibiae with weak proximal and subdistal dark rings. Palpal femur short, darkened basally, otherwise unmodified; retrolateral tibial apophysis with long, narrow tip (fig. 143); tegulum greatly expanded, reaching to about half of tibial length; embolus obscured by conductor in ventral view (fig. 142).

FEMALE: Total length 7.1. Coloration as in male except abdominal dorsum with anterior and median pairs of white spots united transversely as well as longitudinally. Epigynal midpiece widest anteriorly (fig. 144); spermathecae resembling those of L. russell but with larger anterior portions (fig. 145).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Queensland: Airlie Beach , 208169S, 1488439E, Feb. 16, 1986, rainforest litter (R. Raven, J. Gallon, QMB S8069 ), 1 /; Cape Hillsborough National Park , 208549S, 1498039E, pitfall, rainforest, Nov. 24, 1992 – Apr. 22, 1993 (R., J., S. Raven, P., E. Lawless, QMB S24475 ), 1 /; 5 km NW Mount Macartney , 208499S, 1488309E, Apr. 21, 1989, Berlese, sieved litter, open forest, elev. 480 m (G. Monteith, QMB S28085 ), 1 /; Mount William, Eungella National Park , 218029S, 1488369E, Apr. 19, 1979, Berlese, moss on trees, rainforest, elev. 1100 m (G. Monteith, QMB S34419 ), 1 /.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from mid­eastern Queensland (map 13).

Figures

Map 13. Records of Lampona russell, new species (circles) and L. airlie, new species (squares).

Figs. 142–145. Lampona airlie, new species. 142. Left male palp, ventral view. 143. Same, retrolateral view. 144. Epigynum, ventral view. 145. Same, dorsal view.