Hortophora Framenau & Castanheira, 2021
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.5.72474 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9AC22770-F300-4265-A21F-841EA364FFD5 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2057AF8B-723A-4EA4-B731-FC8B443DE127 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:2057AF8B-723A-4EA4-B731-FC8B443DE127 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Hortophora Framenau & Castanheira |
| status |
gen. nov. |
Hortophora Framenau & Castanheira gen. nov.
Type species.
Epeira biapicata L. Koch, 1871 (designated here). Gender female.
Etymology.
The generic name is composed of the stem hortus (Latin - garden), referring to the vernacular name of the species in Australia, Garden orb-weavers, and the ending - phora to indicate the similarity of the genus with Eriophora .
Diagnosis.
Hortophora gen. nov. is here diagnosed against the only four genera of the backobourkiines (sensu Scharff et al. 2020) which have been revised with modern taxonomic methods: Plebs , Backobourkia , Lariniophora Framenau, 2011 and Novakiella ( Framenau 2011; Framenau et al. 2010, 2021; Joseph and Framenau 2012). Other established backobourkiine genera, Singa , Carepalxis and Acroaspis , have not yet been revised in Australia and a diagnosis against those is not possible as their synapomorphies have not been defined based on modern taxonomic methods.
As we could not identify unambiguous synapomorphies of Hortophora gen. nov., we here propose the combination of the following characters to diagnose the genus within the backobourkiines: abdomen subtriangular to ovoid and generally with distinct humeral humps (Fig. 1A, C, D, F View Figure 1 ); tibia of the second leg of males enlarged with strong prolateral and ventral setae (e.g., Fig. 2A, C, F, G View Figure 2 ); male pedipalp with an elongated, transverse median apophysis, often ending in a bifid tip and with its base arching over the radix (Figs 3A-D View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 , 5A, C View Figure 5 ); terminal apophysis bubble-shaped, ending in a heavily sclerotised elongated tip (Figs 3A-C View Figure 3 , 4A-C View Figure 4 ), this tip accompanied at its base by a second pointy structure at least in H. biapicata comb. nov. (Fig. 5A, C, D View Figure 5 ); conductor lobe elongate, spatulate and with its end bent ventrally (Fig. 3A, D View Figure 3 ), this spatulate terminal part covered in scale-like structures (Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ); female epigyne base very compact; scape directed anteriorally at its base but then turning posteriorly, highly elongated and without a terminal pocket (e.g., Figs 7C View Figure 7 , 10C View Figure 10 , 13C View Figure 13 ).
Hortophora gen. nov. differ from Backobourkia by the absence of a basal flange on the median apophysis of the male pedipalp and by the generally much longer, not elongate triangular epigyne scape of females. In addition, Hortophora gen. nov. species lack the characteristic anterior triangular white marking and the strong spine-like setae found on the dorsum of abdomen in Backobourkia .
Hortophora gen. nov. species differ from those of Plebs by an overall much larger body size, although large Plebs such as P. bradleyi (Keyserling, 1887) may overlap in size with smaller Hortophora gen. nov. Plebs species have a comparatively longer abdomen and Hortophora gen. nov. species lack the characteristic ventral abdominal pattern of Plebs , i.e. a squared, light Ü-pattern with the dots placed near the spinnerets. Most Hortophora gen. nov. species have indistinct lateral light lines on the ventral abdomen, sometimes with transverse light bands or patches (e.g., Fig. 1B, G, E View Figure 1 ). Genital morphology of Hortophora gen. nov. and Plebs is similar, but male pedipalps of Hortophora gen. nov. generally have more pronounced, bubble-shaped terminal apophysis and have no conspicuous tegular protrusion or tegular lobe (except in H. lodicula comb. nov.).
The subtriangular abdomen of Hortophora gen. nov. greatly differs from the elongate abdomen of Lariniophora . Hortophora gen. nov. males lack the bilobed outgrowth on the median apophysis characteristic for Lariniophora , and females present an epigyne not as elevated and generally with a longer scape.
Male Hortophora gen. nov. differ from Novakiella by the elongate and transverse median apophysis of the pedipalp (short and pointing basally in Novakiella ) and a comparatively smaller conductor lobe (heavily enlarged in Novakiella ). In contrast to that of Novakiella females, the female epigyne base of Hortophora gen. nov. is rounded in ventral view and without wrinkles (triangular base with transverse or lateral wrinkles in Novakiella ).
Description.
Median to large-sized orb-weaving spiders, males (TL 5.9-11.5) generally smaller than females (TL 7.00-22.00). Carapace longer than wide, pear-shaped and with cephalic region relatively narrower in males than in females; colouration variable from beige to reddish-brown, often covered with dense white setae (e.g., Figs 1A-D, F View Figure 1 , 6A, C, E, G View Figure 6 ). Fovea longitudinal in males, but a roundish pit in females that somewhat extends anteriorly. Anterior median eyes largest, row of posterior eyes slightly recurved, lateral eyes almost touching, posterior lateral eyes apart from posterior median eyes by more than their diameter; lateral eyes of males on tubercles, anterior median eyes protruding from the carapace (e.g., Figs 6A, C, E, G View Figure 6 , 9A View Figure 9 , 10A View Figure 10 ). Sternum longer than wide with a sparse to dense cover of setae. Labium wider than long, with anterior glabrous light edge. Endites of male with lateral tooth. Chelicerae fangs with two to four promarginal teeth of differing sizes, and one to four retromarginal teeth of similar size. Legs: Leg formula I > IV > II > III. Tibiae II of males stronger than tibiae I and with heavy spination and sometimes with conspicuous apico-ventral megaspur that carries a strong spine (e.g., Fig. 2F, H, J View Figure 2 ). Abdomen slightly longer than wide, subtriangular to ovoid (except in H. cucullus sp. nov.; Figs 9A-C View Figure 9 , 10A-B View Figure 10 ), without specialised setae, sigillae, condyles or other specific structures; dorsally with variable folium pattern and often with variable white patterns of guanine crystals (e.g., Fig. 1A, C, F View Figure 1 ). Venter with indistinct light lateral lines, sometimes pairs of white spots centrally or transverse light bands or patches.
Male pedipalp patella with a single macroseta (e.g., Fig. 3A, C, D View Figure 3 ) (two in H. cucullus sp. nov.; Fig. 9D, E View Figure 9 ); paracymbium elongated and hook-like (e.g., Figs 3 View Figure 3 , 7B View Figure 7 , 9E View Figure 9 ); median apophysis generally elongate transverse with two or rarely three apical tips (e.g., Figs 3A-D View Figure 3 , 4A, B View Figure 4 , 5A View Figure 5 , 7A, B View Figure 7 , 9D View Figure 9 ) or shorter with apical lobes (e.g., Figs 12C View Figure 12 , 30C View Figure 30 ); conductor lobe well developed and ending in a rounded spatula with a ventrally bent tip (e.g., Figs 3A-D View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 , 7A View Figure 7 , 9D View Figure 9 , 12C View Figure 12 ); terminal apophysis bubble-shaped and tapering to a sclerotised, pointed tip (e.g., Figs 3A-D View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 , 7A View Figure 7 , 9D View Figure 9 , 12C View Figure 12 ); conductor with sclerotised and membranous portions, carved ventrally to accommodate embolus and terminal apophysis tip (e.g., Figs 3A-D View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 , 7A View Figure 7 , 9D View Figure 9 , 12C View Figure 12 ); embolus straight to sinuous, uncapped (e.g., Figs 3A-D View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 , 9D View Figure 9 ). Epigyne base compact and strongly sclerotised with distinct atrium; scape highly elongated in most species (e.g., Figs 7C View Figure 7 , 10C View Figure 10 , 13C View Figure 13 ).
Composition.
13 species: H. biapicata comb. nov.; H. capitalis comb. nov.; H. cucullus sp. nov.; H. flavicoma comb. nov.; H. lodícula comb. nov.; H. megacantha sp. nov.; H. porongurup sp. nov.; H. tatianeae sp. nov.; H. transmarina comb. nov.; H. urbana comb. nov.; H. viridis comb. nov.; H. walesiana comb. nov.; H. yesabah sp. nov.
Distribution.
Most species are restricted to Australia, with H. transmarina comb. nov. also found in Papua New Guinea (Table 1 View Table 1 ). Hortophora capitalis comb. nov. has been recorded in Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, H. flavicoma comb. nov. in New Caledonia and H. viridis comb. nov. in Samoa (Table 1 View Table 1 ).
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