Queenvic, 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 : 208-209

Queenvic , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Queenvic mackay , new species.

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name is an arbitrary combination of letters, considered feminine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: Males are best recognized by the prolaterally arched terminal apophysis (figs. 510, 514, 518, 522), females by the epigynum having a pair of lateral pockets and medially situated, recurved ducts (figs. 512, 516, 520, 524).

DESCRIPTION: Small spiders, total length of males 2.5–2.9, of females 2.6–3.2. Carapace brownish orange, almost entirely coated with large seta­bearing tubercles, pars cephalica elevated, pars thoracica elevated to region behind thoracic groove, steeply sloping posteriorly; thoracic groove short, deep. Eight eyes in two rows, anterior medians smallest, circular, dark, laterals subequal in size, oval, light, posterior medians largest, irregularly oval, flattened, light; from above, anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior row slightly procurved, from front, both rows slightly procurved; anterior medians separat­ ed by more than their diameter, closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by roughly their diameter,by about as much from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by about their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in back than in front, wider in back than long. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts light brownish orange; chilum narrow, triangular, reflexed un­ der medially elongated clypeus, accompanied by second, longitudinal posterior chilum (extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, anterior surface with large, sharply pointed, seta­bearing tubercles, with diffuse, relatively unsclerotized area near promargin; promargin with row of long setae originating in line along base of fang, seta closest to fang bent near base at almost 908 angle, extending to near midline; promargin with three teeth, median one largest, proximal one smallest; retromargin with two large, narrowly separated teeth. Labium elongate, triangular, gradually narrowed anteriorly, posterior margin truncate, anterior margin slightly invaginated at middle, surface distinctly depressed medially. Endites obliquely depressed, with sharply demarcated, deep groove along margin near labium; serrula long, with single row of teeth. Sternum slightly elevated, with gradually sloping lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with triangular extensions to and between coxae; surface smooth medially, with large tubercles around margins. One epimeric sclerite on each side, above each coxa, reaching but not fused to sternal triangles, not fused to carapace or pedicel. Pedicel consisting of large, pentagonal sclerite bearing wide anterior margin meeting posterior tip of sternum at transverse line.

Anterior edge of abdomen of male with complete sclerotic ring formed by strong epigastric scutum surrounding pedicel; males with strong dorsal abdominal scutum covering entire front edge of abdomen, reaching entire length of abdomen, females with dorsal scutum represented only by small transverse plate above pedicel, restricted to lower one­third of anterior surface of abdomen; cuticle with long, recumbent setae, with white scale­like setae over pair of anterior white spots and pair of transverse white stripes at about one­third of abdominal length; epigastric scutum accompanied posterolaterally by pair of oval, deeply invaginated sclerites bearing clearly elevated anterior rim; anterior rim of sclerites fitting under epigastric scutum; colulus represented only by pair of long setae; posterior spiracle transverse, on small, triangular plate. Anterior lateral spinnerets tubular, separated by about their diameter, cuticle representing distal, second spinneret segment restricted to semicircle surrounding major ampullate gland spigots (piriform gland spigots surrounded only by soft cuticle); posterior median spinnerets of males large, tubular, of females with anteriorly expanded tips, bases occupied by three enormously widened cylindrical gland spigots; posterior lateral spinnerets two­segmented, those of females with greatly widened cylindrical gland spigots.

Leg spination greatly reduced; typical leg spination pattern (only surfaces with spines listed): tibiae IV v0­0­ 1p. Most leg surfaces with long setae; both sexes with all coxae dorsally tuberculate; anterior coxae with slightly protuberant posterolateral corners, slightly widened at about half their length; trochanters unnotched; tarsi without distinct scopulae; posterior metatarsi with thick, distal preening brushes; tarsi with two finely dentate claws, claw tufts composed of lateral pads of short, closely appressed setae; trichobothria present in double row on tarsi, single row on metatarsi and tibiae. Female palpal patella, tibia, and tarsus with long, thin spines; female palpal tarsus with long, basally dentate claw accompanied by triad of short spines.

Male palp with long retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface slightly excavat­ ed opposite tibial apophysis; tegulum wide, with long, distally hooked median apophysis; large terminal apophysis excavated laterally, functioning as conductor; embolus originating posteriorly, long, looping through terminal apophysis to actual conductor recessed at retrolateral side of terminal apophysis, with complex lobes; embolar base without apophysis. Epigynum with anterior hood, pair of median openings, and pair of posterolateral pockets; spermathecae accompanied by looping ducts.

KEY TO SPECIES OF QUEENVIC

1. Retrolateral tibial apophysis long, narrow throughout its length (figs. 511, 515); anterior portion of epigynal ducts oriented transversely (figs. 512, 516)......... 2

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis shorter, widened at figs. 519, 523); anterior portion of epigynal ducts oriented obliquely (figs. 520, 524)............................ 3

2. Ventral edge of retrolateral tibial apophysis convex (fig. 511); anterior portion of epigynal ducts far from epigynal hood (fig. 512)....................... mackay

– Ventral edge of retrolateral tibial apophysis concave (fig. 515); anterior portion of epigynal ducts near epigynal hood (fig. 516)............................. kelty

3. Retrolateral tibial apophysis widened, flattened near tip (fig. 523); epigynal pockets relatively small (fig. 524).... piccadilly

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis narrowed at tip (fig. 519); epigynal pockets relatively large (fig. 520)................... goanna