Lamponina loftia, 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 : 132-135

Lamponina loftia , new species Figures 307–310 ; Map 36

TYPE: Male holotype taken in a pitfall trap in Loftia Recreation Park, Mount Lofty Ranges , South Australia, 358029S, 1388429E (Mar. 20–27, 1990; D. Hirst), deposited in SAM ( N1996 /240) .

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

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this species can easily be separated from those of the other known Lamponina species by the presence of a distinctive dark, longitudinal stripe extending along the midline of the abdominal venter, from the epigastric furrow to the spinnerets. Males have an unmodified palpal femur and a low retrolateral tibial apophysis (fig. 308); females have the median epigynal ducts forming an m­shaped pattern (fig. 310).

MALE: Total length 8.4. Abdominal dorsum dark gray, with white markings usually restricted to tiny posterior white spot no wid­ er than spinneret field; venter mottled gray, with dark, longitudinal stripe extending along midline from epigastric furrow to spinnerets; legs reddish­brown, with femora and sides of tibiae darkest. Palpal femur without ventral invagination; retrolateral tibial apophysis short, not protuberant ventrally (fig. 308); tegulum with pronounced posterolateral corner, embolus relatively short, tip abruptly bent at base (fig. 307).

FEMALE: Total length 6.1. Coloration as in male. Epigynal midpiece shield­shaped (fig. 309); spermathecae small, on long, narrow stalks, median ducts forming m­shaped pattern (fig. 310).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: South Australia: SE Big Desolation, Gum Lagoon , 368169S, 1398599E, Mar. 25, 1992, vibration on stony ground (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /245– 247), 1?, 2 /; Bretag Scrub, Monarto Zoological Park , 358079S, 1398109E, Oct. 11–15, 1993 (T. Morley, P. Goonan, SAM N1996 / 236), 1 /; Burnside, Adelaide , 348569S, 1388389E, Jan. 6, 1990 (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /235), 1 ?; Carrappee Hill Conservation Park , 338259S, 1368169E, Apr. 2, 1987, under rock (D. Lee, D. Hirst, SAM N1996 / 261), 1 /; Cortina Station, Coorong, via Kingston , 368209S, 1398459E, Jan. 20, 1968 (A. Forbes, SAM N1996 /242), 1 /; Gum Lagoon Conservation Park , 368179S, 1408029E, Mar. 16–26, 1992, vibration, lagoon edge (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /248–252), 1?, 4/, pitfall (D. Hirst, J. Forrest, SAM N1996 /243, 244), 1?, 1 /; Jip Jip Conservation Park , 368299S, 1408119E, Mar. 23, 1992, vibration (J. Forrest, D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /256), 1 ?; N Keilira, 368359S, 1408109E, Mar. 23, 1992, pitfall (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /259, 260), 2 ?; 13 km N Keilira Station , 368379S, 1408109E, Mar. 23, 1992, vibration (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 / 257, 258), 2 /; Loftia Recreation Park, Mount Lofty Ranges , 358029S, 1388429E, Mar. 25, 1984, Berlese sample, litter and soil under Eucalyptus obliqua (R. Southcott, SAM N1996 /237), 1?, Sept. 14, 1989, in litter with moss (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /238), 1/, Mar. 20–27, 1990, pitfall (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /240), 1?, in litter (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /239), 1 /; northern lagoon, Gum Lagoon Conservation Park , 368189S, 1408019E, Mar. 25, 1992, vibration (J. Forrest, D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /253–255), 3 /; Ravine de Casoars, Kangaroo Island , 358489S, 1368369E, Nov. 5–6, 1987 (D. Hirst, SAM N1996 /234), 1/. Victoria: 5 km E Dunolly, 368519S, 1438449E, Aug. 4, 1983, leaf litter (R. Moran, NMV K3439 ), 1 /; 4.5 km S Wychitella , 368199S, 1438369E, Mar. 26–29, 1990, mallee (A. Coventry, NMV K4666 ), 1 ?; Upper Lurg , 368359S, 1468119E, Feb. 18, 1995, house at night (J. Strudwick, CVIC 632 ), 1 ?.

DISTRIBUTION: South Australia and Victoria (map 36).

Figures

Map 36. Records of Lamponina loftia, new species (circles) and L. isa, new species (squares).

Figs. 307–310. Lamponina loftia, new species. 307. Left male palp, ventral view. 308. Same, retrolateral view. 309. Epigynum, ventral view. 310. Same, dorsal view.