Lamponina kakadu, 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

Lamponina kakadu , new species Figures 303–306 ; Map 35

TYPES: Male holotype from Kapalga, Kakadu National Park , Northern Territory, 128369S, 1328259E (Apr. 28, 1992; A. Andersen et al.), deposited in WAM (96/257), and female allotype from Kapalga, Kakadu National Park , Northern Territory, 128299S, 1328199E (Dec. 17, 1986; A. Andersen et al.), deposited in WAM (96/258) .

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males can easily be separated from those of all other known Lamponina species by the large, ventral expansion on the palpal femur (fig. 304); females resemble those of L. asperrima in having a squared epigynal midpiece, but have that midpiece proportionately much smaller (fig. 305).

MALE: Total length 7.2. Dorsum of abdomen gray, with transverse anterior and median white bands and posterior white spot; legs orange, femora I darkened. Palpal femur with slight ventral invagination at about half its length, invagination immediately behind distinct ventral expansion; tibia globose, with dorsodistally directed, sharply curved retrolateral apophysis, ventral edge of apophysis receding rather than protuberant (fig. 304); tegulum with greatly pronounced posterolateral corner, embolus relatively short, tip almost straight (fig. 303).

FEMALE: Total length 8.9. Coloration as in male except dorsal abdominal white stripes reduced to paired spots. Epigynal midpiece small, squared (fig. 305); spermathecae small, on posteriorly expanded stalks (fig. 306).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Northern Territory: Berrimah, Darwin , 128259S, 1308559E, May 7–Oct. 8, 1996, pitfall, lawn (T. Churchill, CSID, A0043 , A0077 , A0184 , A0191 , A0251 – A0253 , A0255 , A0256 , A0258 ), 9?, 2 /; E Flying Fox Creek, Arnhem Highway , 128459S, 1328229E, July 4–8, 1977 (R. Pengilley, MNT T020 ), 1 /; Georgetown Billabong , 128409S, 1328559E, Aug. 8, 1975 (R. Pengilley, MNT T021 ), 1 ?; Humpty Doo , 128389S, 1318159E, May 3, 1992 (Burns, MNT), 1 /; Jabiru , 128409S, 1328549E, July 5–9, 1977 (R. Pengilley, MNT T022 ), 1 ?; Taracumbi Falls, near Melville Island , 118369S, 1308439E, Oct. 4–7, 1996 (P. Horner, MNT T024 ), 2 ?; Wildman River , 128209S, 1318569E, Feb. 8–9, 1989, cashew plantation, pit light (M. Malipatil, W. Houston, MNT T026 ), 1 /.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from far northern Australia (map 35).

Figures

Map 35. Records of Lamponina elongata, new species (circles) and L. kakadu, new species (squares).

Figs. 303–306. Lamponina kakadu, new species. 303. Left male palp, ventral view. 304. Same, retrolateral view. 305. Epigynum, ventral view. 306. Same, dorsal view.