Centrothele spurgeon, 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 : 184-185

Centrothele spurgeon , new species Figures 442–445 ; Map 48

TYPE: Female holotype taken in eucalypts in Mount Spurgeon area , 168269S, 1458129E, Queensland (Apr. 19, 1994; J. Thompson, M. Moulds, F. MacKillop), deposited in AMS ( KS45911 ) .

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males and females have not been taken together, but males have a short, sinuous retrolateral tibial apophysis, stubby dorsal tibial apophysis, and a relatively short embolus with a thickened base (figs. 442, 443); females resemble those of C. fisher but have a wider epigynal midpiece (fig. 444).

MALE: Total length 10.3. Abdominal dorsum gray, with pair of narrow transverse white stripes at about half its length, stripes extending around sides, venter pale white with four longitudinal rows of small orange sclerotizations; anterior coxae, trochanters, and femoral bases darkened, almost red. Leg spination: tibiae: III r0­1­1; IV p0­1­1, r0­1­ 2. Retrolateral tibial apophysis short, sinuous, tibia also with stubby dorsal apophysis (fig. 443); embolus short, basally thickened, originating near midline of bulb, embolar apophysis very slightly invaginated on proximal edge, tegular apophysis highest medially, median apophysis with hooked tip (fig. 442).

FEMALE: Total length 11.0 (penultimate but with fully formed epigynum). Abdominal dorsum with white stripes fused medially to form single stripe, extending around sides; coloration otherwise difficult to discern because of unshed cuticle. Leg spination: tibiae: III r0­1­1; IV p0­1­1; metatarsi III, IV p0­1­0, r0­1­0. Epigynal midpiece relatively long, wide, bulging at about half its length (fig. 444); lateral epigynal ducts with edges folded over (fig. 445).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Queensland: Mount Edith, Lamb Range, 178069S, 1458379E, Oct. 11, 1982, elev. 1140 m (G.

Monteith, D. Yeates, Thompson, QMB S26479 ), 1?.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from northern Queensland (map 48).

Figures

Map 48. Records of Centrothele nardi, new species (circles) and C. spurgeon, new species (squares).

Figs. 442–445. Centrothele spurgeon, new species. 442. Left male palp, ventral view. 443. Same, retrolateral view. 444. Epigynum, ventral view. 445. Same, dorsal view.