Kochosa tanakai, Framenau & Castanheira & Yoo, 2023

Framenau, Volker W., Castanheira, Pedro De S. & Yoo, Jung-Sun, 2023, The artoriine wolf spiders of Australia: the new genus Kochosa and a key to genera (Araneae: Lycosidae), Zootaxa 5239 (3), pp. 301-357 : 340-343

Kochosa tanakai sp. nov.

( Figs 20 , 23A–E , 24A–D )

Holotype. Male , Orchid Beach , Eliza Avenue, K’gari (Fraser Island) (24º58'00''S 153º18'59''E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA), R. J. Raven, P. Fishburn, P. Lawless, 20 August–17 December 1997, pitfall trap, site F02 ( QM S43428 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym honouring Hozumi Tanaka, Sonoda Gakuen Women's College, Japan, for his continuing support of our arachnological studies.

Other material examined (35 males, 26 females, 6 juveniles). AUSTRALIA: New South Wales : 1 female, Boundary Creek State Forest , 29º59'25''S 152º34'33''E ( AM KS.39797) ; 4 females, Bulls Ground State Forest , 31º35'S 152º31'E ( AM KS.43337–8, KS.89836–7) ; 1 female, Bungawalbin State Forest , 29º02'10''S 153º9'11''E ( AM KS.88470) ; 1 female, Chaelundi State Forest , 29º57'50''S 152º31'23''E ( AM KS.39800) ; 1 female, Doubleduke State Forest , 29º11'31''S 153º16'29''E ( AM KS.88477) ; 1 female, Doubleduke State Forest , 29º08'20''S 153º10'55''E ( AM KS.88484) ; 1 female, 1 juv., Kunderang Station Creek , 30º48'26''S 152º06'26''E ( AM KS.39799) ; 12 males, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, East Kunderang Track , 30º09'06''S 152º08'06''E ( AM KS.124247) ; 1 female, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, Warm Corner Trail, ca. 600 m from Jeogla Boundary Trail , 30º38'26''S 152º02'05''E ( AM KS.124488) ; 2 females, Ramornie State Forest, track off Mt Tindal Road , 29º42'41''S 152º37'36''E ( AM KS.39798) . Queensland: 1 female, Brisbane Forest Park, 27º22'S 152º46'E ( QM S18660 ) ; 1 male, Consuelo Park , 5.5 km W, 24º56'18''S 148º06'37''E ( QM S71588 ) ; 3 males, Cooloola , 26º12'S 153º03'E ( QM S71608 –9 ) ; 1 female, Kroombit Tops, Calliope Range, 45 km SSW Calliope, 24º22'54''S 151º01'52''E ( QM S71597 ) ; 1 female, same locality ( QM) ; 3 males, Mt Moffatt National Park, Foleys Spring , 24º56'49''S 48º07'55''E ( QM S71614 -6 ) ; 2 males, Orchid Beach, K’gari ( Fraser Island ), 24º58'S 153º19'E ( QM S31303 ) ; 2 males, Orchid Beach, K’gari ( Fraser Island ), 24º57'40''S 153º18'55''E ( QM S41757 ) ; 1 male, 1 female, Orchid Beach, Eliza Avenue, K’gari ( Fraser Island ), 24º58'00''S 153º18'59''E ( QM S59862 ) ; 1 male Peawaddy Gorge Lookout , 2.6 km W, 24º54′49″S 148º02′01″E ( QM S57909 ) ; 5 males, 1 female, Rochedale State Forest , 27º37′S 153º09′E ( QM S71589 –94 ) ; 1 male, 1 juv., same locality ( QM S71595 ) ; 1 female, 2 juv., same locality ( QM S71596 ) ; 3 males, 5 females, same locality ( QM S71600 –7 ) ; 1 male, 1 female, 2 juv., Rochedale State Forest , 27º37'S, 153º09'E ( QM S71586 –7 ) ; 1 female, Stony Creek, via Samford , 27º20'20''S, 152º47'52''E ( QM S48379 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of K. tanakai sp. nov. are unique within the genus as the embolus is kinked medially and points apically, its tip extending past the basoembolic apophysis, with a broad structure accompanying it ( Fig. 23E ). Females of K. tanakai sp. nov. have an epigyne with distinct median septum that broadens posteriorly ( Fig. 24C ), similar to those of K. obelix sp. nov. ( Fig. 19C, D ) and K. westralia sp. nov. ( Fig. 32C ). Unlike in the latter two species, however, the median septum is poorly defined posteriorly in K. tanakai sp. nov. ( Fig. 24C ); in addition, the spermathecal heads are much further separated ( Figs 24D vs 19E, 32D).

Description.

Male ( based on holotype, QM S43428 ) .

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown; light median band narrowing posteriorly; light lateral bands indistinct but covered with white setae ( Fig. 23A ). Sternum brown, mottled darker grey ( Fig. 23B ).

Abdomen. Dorsally light olive-grey; cardiac mark continuous and poorly defined darker borders ( Fig. 23A ). Venter light olive-brown ( Fig. 23B ).

Pedipalps ( Fig. 23C–E ). Cymbium broad, tegular apophysis brown, sclerotised; embolus basally broad, kinked medially and pointing apically and exceeding basoembolic apophysis ( Fig. 23E ).

Legs. Light brown with dark annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal, 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 4 ventral pairs (apical pair small and closer to each other), 1 prolateral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral, 2 prolateral, 1 apicoprolateral, 1 retrolateral.

Measurements. TL 3.58, CL 2.07, CW 1.10. Eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.07, PME 0.21, PLE 0.18. Row of eyes: AE 0.46, PME 0.61, PLE 0.69. Sternum (length/width) 0.82/0.67. Labium (length/width) 0.44/0.24. AL 1.60, AW 1.10. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.65+0.45+- +0.74=1.84, I 1.16+1.39+0.85+0.71=4.11; II 1.14+1.31+0.88+0.65=3.98, III 1.08+1.02+0.94+0.59=3.63; IV 1.28 +1.62+1.56+0.85=5.31.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.40–4.91, 3.99 ± 0.47; CL 1.86–2.60, 2.19 ± 0.25; CW 1.10–1.65, 1.32 ± 0.17, n = 10. In some male, the legs had distinct dark annulations, much more prominent than in the specimen illustrated here.

Female (based on AM KS89836).

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown with indistinct light median band ( Fig. 24A ). Sternum brown, mottled darker ( Fig. 24B ).

Abdomen. Dorsally dark olive-brown with light brown lanceolate cardiac mark ( Fig. 24A ). Venter light olivebrown ( Fig. 24B ).

Epigyne ( Fig. 24C, D ). Ventral view: median septum elongate trapezoid ( Fig 24C ); dorsal view: spermathecal heads spherical; spermathecal stalks straight ( Fig. 24D ).

Legs. Light brown with darker annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal, 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral, 2 prolateral; 1 apicoprolateral; 1 retrolateral.

Measurements. TL 4.10, CL 2.12, CW 1.52. Eyes: AME 0.07, ALE 0.09, PME 0.24, PLE 0.20. Row of eyes: AE 0.54, PME 0.74, PLE 0.92. Sternum (length/width) 1.00/0.85. Labium (length/width) 0.26/0.32. AL 1.85, AW 1.21. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.50+0.75+- +0.55=1.80, I 1.30+1.60+0.90+0.65=4.45, II 1.25+1.40+0.90+0.60=4.15, III 1.10+1.17+1.00+0.56=3.82, IV 1.65 +1.90+1.73+0.75=6.03.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 4.00–5.65, 4.57 ± 0.54; CL 2.18–2.65, 2.41 ± 0.18; CW 1.38–1.65, 1.52 ± 0.09, n = 10. Kochosa tanakai sp. nov. is a comparatively dark species and the abdominal cardiac mark is often not very distinct in some females.

Life history and habitat preferences. Kochosa tanakai sp. nov. was found in open forests, eucalypt woodlands and heathland; a single specimen was collected on a dune. Many of the pitfall traps that caught K. tanakai sp. nov. were exposed for too long to allow an interpretation of its phenology, however, adults seem to be most prevalent from October to December.

Distribution. North-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland ( Fig. 20 ).

Figures

FIGURE 19A–E. Kochosa obelix sp. nov., female, WAM T62655 (A–C) and WAM T69498 (D–E). A, B, female habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, D, epigyne, epigyne, ventral view; E, epigyne, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 m; C, D, E 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 23A–E. Kochosa tanakai sp. nov., male holotype, QM S43428. A, B, male habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, D, male, left pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view; E, male, left pedipalp, apical section. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm; E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 24A–D. Kochosa tanakai sp. nov., female, AM KS89836. A, B, female habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, epigyne, epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 32A–D. Kochosa westralia sp. nov., female, WAM 98/2158. A, B, female habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, epigyne, epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE20. Distribution recordsof Kochosaobelix sp. nov., K.queenslandica sp.nov., K.sharae sp. nov. andK.tanakai sp. nov.