Pillara macleayensis, Gray & Smith, 2004

Gray, M. R. & Smith, H. M., 2004, The “ Striped ” Group of Stiphidiid Spiders: Two New Genera from Northeastern New South Wales, Australia (Araneae: Stiphidiidae: Amaurobioidea), Records of the Australian Museum 56 (1), pp. 123-138 : 123-138

Pillara macleayensis n.sp.

Figs. 8b , 11a–d

Etymology. The species name is taken from the Macleay River region which encompasses the type locality.

Types. Australia, New South Wales. HOLOTYPE Ƌ KS34508, 3 mi E of Carrai on Kempsey road, 30°57'15"S 152°23'27"E, 26 Apr 1974, M. R. Gray . PARATYPES ♀ KS70130, data as holotype; Ƌ KS34507, ♀ KS70131, Carrai, near top of Bat Cave Trail, 30°59'03"S 152°20'27"E, 26 Apr 1974, M. R. Gray, sheet web in litter; ♀ KS34764, Carrai Bat Cave , 30°58'59"S 152°19'49"E, under rock .

Other material. Australia, New South Wales. ♀ KS9419, Bellangry SF, Wilson River Flora Reserve , 31°18'S 152°29'E, 6 Mar 1981, M. R. Gray .

Diagnosis. Differsfrom other species inhaving the bifurcate RTA processes markedly dissimilar and widely divergent. Epigynal fossa very small.

Male (holotype). BL 5.96, CL 2.90 (2.73–2.90), CW 2.00, CapW 1.10, EGW 0.82, LL 0.39, LW 0.41, SL 1.39, SW 1.29. Legs: 1243 (I: 17.00; II: 14.25; III: 11.83; IV: 14.00); ratio tibia I length:CW = 1:0.37. Male Palp: ( Fig. 11a,b ). Deeply bifurcate RTA with large, thin, widely divergent and dissimilar processes, (ventral processlong, tapering; dorsal process shorter, plate-like). RVTA with a small, acute retroapical ridge. Cymbial bristles weak. Tegular lobebasal. Embolic origin probasal. Conductor stalked, bent and extended retrolaterally as a sickle-like, grooved spine. MA a prominent, curved, membraneous process.

Female (KS70130). BL 5.96, CL 2.53 (2.37–2.53), CW 1.67, CapW 1.18, EGW 0.78, LL 0.35, LW 0.39, SL 1.22, SW 1.12. Legs: 1423 (I: 11.00; II: 8.92; III: 7.58; IV: 9.25); ratio tibia Ilength:CW = 1:0.59. Epigynum: (KS34764, Fig. 11c ). Fossa a small pit set in a shallow broad depression; pit narrowest anteriorly where there is a small darker area of strongly sclerotized cuticle; copulatory ducts opening anterolaterally from fossa. Internal genitalia: (KS34764, Fig. 11d ). Copulatory ducts less broad than in P. karuah ; spermathecae closely adjacent medially.

Distribution. Carrai Plateauand the Hastings Range of New South Wales.

Figures

Fig. 8. Locality records for Borrala n.gen. (map a) and Pillara n.gen. (map b) species, northeastern New South Wales.

Fig. 11. Pillara macleayensis n.sp. (a,b) Male palp (KS34508): (a) ventral, (b) retrolateral. (c–d) Female epigynum (KS34764): (c) ventral, (d) dorsal-internal genitalia. Scale line 0.5 mm.