Graycassis chichester, 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 : 236-238

Graycassis chichester , new species

Figures 558–561 ; Map 66

TYPES: Female holotype and male allotype taken in pitfall traps at an elevation of 385 m on Allyn River Forest Road, 500 m S Mount Allyn Road , Chichester State Forest , 328099S, 1518289E, New South Wales (Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993; M. Gray, G. Cassis), deposited in AMS ( KS37356 ) .

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

DIAGNOSIS: This species resembles G. bruxner but can be distinguished by the sharp point on the retrolateral side of the median apophysis in males (fig. 558) and the closely spaced, anteriorly situated epigynal openings of females (fig. 560).

MALE: Total length 5.1. Coloration as in G. bruxner . Leg spination: tibiae: III v0­1p­ 2, r0­0­0; IV v2­1p­2; metatarsi IV p0­1­0. Retrolateral tibial apophysis not bifid, with ventral edge ledge­shaped (fig. 559); median apophysis with twisted tip originating from sharp point on retrolateral side (fig. 558).

FEMALE: Total length 4.9. Coloration as in male. Leg spination: femur I d0­0­0; tibiae: III v0­1p­2, r0­0­1; IV v1p­1p­2; metatarsi IV p0­1­0. Epigynal openings situated anteriorly, closely spaced (fig. 560); spermathecae sharply angled (fig. 561).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: New South Wales: Allyn River Forest Road, 1.1 km N Mount Allyn Road, Chichester State Forest , 328089S, 1518289E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 378 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37354 ), 1 ?; Ballengara Creek, crossing on Gregs Road, Ballengara State Forest , 318139S, 1528459E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 40 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS42079 ), 2 ?; Bobbin Head, Kuring­gai Chase National Park , 338389S, 1518129E, June 22, 1991, sieved eucalypt litter (D. Black, WAM 96 /1531, 1532), 2 /; Broken Head , 288439S, 1538379E, Mar. 6–Nov. 7, 1976, rainforest pitfall, elev. 30 m (G., S. Monteith, QMB S26703 , 28111 , 28112 ), 3 ?; Gloucester­Bowendoc Road, beside Barnard River , 318479S, 1518549E, July 9, 1992, Berlese, rainforest litter (G. Hunt, AMS KS49465 ), 1 /; Gordon , 338449S, 1518099E, Apr. 14–June 9, 1983, pitfall in litter (C. Horseman, AMS KS12371 , 12399 ), 2/, Nov. 24–Dec. 22, 1983, pitfall in litter (C. Horseman, AMS KS13562 ), 1/, Aug. 4– Sept. 9, 1983, pitfall in litter (C. Horseman, AMS KS13293 ), 1/, Mar. 3–May 9, 1984, pitfalls in litter (C. Horseman, AMS KS14245 , 14391 ), 2 /; 1.2 km up track N Grey Gums Forest Road, 2.1 km from Doyles River Road, Bulga State Forest , 318329S, 1528149E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 620 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS39521 ), 8?, 1 /; 3–5 km NW Harrington , 318529S, 1528429E, litter on sandy soil, littoral rainforest (G. Williams, AMS KS23424 ), 3 /; Homewoods Road, 2.8 km W Knodingbul Road, Bulga State Forest , 318379S, 1528079E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 690 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS39526 ), 25 ?; 600 m N Homewoods Road, 2.8 km W Knodingbul Road, Bulga State Forest , 318379S, 1528079E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 650 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS39525 ), 9?, 2 /; 1.8 km N ford of Karuah River on Karuah River Road, Chichester State Forest , 328059S, 1518439E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37335 ), 35 ?; 2.3 km N Karuah River on Karuah River Road, Chichester State Forest , 328059S, 1518439E, Feb. 4– Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 520 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS3732 ), 29?, 1 /; Kerewong State Forest, near Lorne , 318369S, 1528349E, Nov. 7–Dec. 10, 1978, pitfall in litter (D. Milledge, AMS KS16197 ), 1 /; Middle Brother State Forest, near Lorne , 318409S, 1528419E, Sept. 24–Dec. 20, 1978, pitfall in litter (D. Milledge, AMS KS16108 ), 1 /; junction, Mount Allyn Road and Allyn River Forest Road, Chichester State Forest , 328089S, 1518289E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 355 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37353 ), 5 ?; Mount Allyn Road, 300 m E Shellbrook Forest Road, Chichester State Forest , 328099S, 1518279E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 580 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37347 ), 8 ?; Mount Allyn Road, 800 m N Shellbrook Forest Road, Chichester State Forest , 328099S, 1518279E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 636 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37349 ), 1 ?; Mount Allyn Road, 2.3 km N Shellbrook Forest Road, Chichester State Forest , 328089S, 1518279E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 770 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37350 ), 5?, 1 /; Mountain Road, 0.2 km S junction with Kunungra Road , 328089S, 1518449E, Feb. 4– Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37345 ), 23?, 1 /; Mountain Trail, 0.8 km from junction with Kunungra Road , 328089S, 1518459E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 300 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37341 ), 11?, 1 /; Mountain Trail, 2.1 km from junction with Kunungra Road on SE side, ford over Kunungra River , 328089S, 1518459E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 180 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS37341 ), 7 ?; Pacific Palms , 328219S, 1528319E, May 11–25, 1992, pitfalls (C. Peterson, AMS KS55278 ), 2?, June 1–23, 1992, pitfall (C. Peterson, AMS KS55279 ), 1 ?; Padmans Road, near junction of Pole Dump Road, Bulga State Forest , 318369S, 1528109E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 730 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS39523 ), 6 ?; Running Road, 100 m E Rocky Creek crossing, Whian Whian State Forest , 288369S, 1538219E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 250 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS35916 ), 2 ?; Victoria Park, via Alstonville , 288539S, 1538239E, Mar. 23–Aug. 3, 1975, rainforest pitfall (G., S. Monteith, QMB S28329 ), 1?, Aug. 3–Nov. 16, 1975, rainforest pitfall, elev. 213 m (G., S. Monteith, QMB S12206 ), 1?, Dec. 16–26, 1974, pitfall (G., S. Monteith, QMB S31319 ), 1 /; Wild Cattle Creek, 400 m NE Spur Track, Bulga State Forest, 318369S, 1528079E, Feb. 4–Apr. 9, 1993, pitfall, elev. 400 m (M. Gray, G. Cassis, AMS KS39524 ), 5?. Queensland: Mount Tambourine , 278589S, 1538129E, Sept. 14–Oct. 12, 1978, pitfall (J. Grimshaw, QMB S30192 ), 3 /; Mount Tambourine, Joalah National Park , 278569S, 1538129E, Oct. 18–21, 1978, rainforest litter (J. Lawrence, T. Weir, QMB), 1 /; Palm Grove, Mount Tambourine , 278569S, 1538129E, Mar. 22–May 25, 1975, rainforest pitfall, elev. 670 m (G., S. Monteith, QMB S28350 ), 1 ?.

DISTRIBUTION: New South Wales and adjacent Queensland (map 66).

Figures

Map 66. Records of Graycassis chichester, new species (squares), Asadipus auld, new species (circles), and A. humptydoo, new species (triangles).

Figs. 558–561. Graycassis chichester, new species. 558. Left male palp, ventral view. 559. Same, retrolateral view. 560. Epigynum, ventral view. 561. Same, dorsal view.