Mitzoruga elapines, Raven, Robert J., 2009

Raven, Robert J., 2009, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: IV. The spider subfamily Diaprograptinae subfam. nov. (Araneomorphae: Miturgidae), Zootaxa 2035, pp. 1-40 : 23-26

Mitzoruga elapines sp. nov.

( Figs 14 a–j, 15a–d, 16a, b, 25a)

Material examined. Holotype. Male, Cape River, Pentland 20°26'30"S 145°31'50"E, northeastern Queensland, 4 August 1997, R. Raven (QM S31422 ).

Paratype. Allotype female, taken with holotype (QM S31423 ).

Other material examined. Australia: Queensland: Female, same data as holotype (QM S31424 ). South Australia: male, Trinity Gardens, Adelaide, 34°56'S, 138°37'E, 15 October 1988, D. Hirst ( SAMA NN 6192); female, same data but 12 March 1988 ( SAMA NN 61949); female, Nuriootpa, 34°29'S 139°00'E, 27 October 1991, A. F. Longbottom ( WAM 98/1693); female, Kapunda, 34°21'S 138°55'E, 28 May 1995, A. F. Longbottom, under rocks at copper/barite mine, S.1786 ( WAM 98/1697).

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of M. insularis in the much broader tripartite median apophysis ( Fig. 15 d), the narrower base of embolus ( Fig. 15 a), the deeply incised closely juxtaposed apices of the RTA ( Fig. 15 c) and the presence of thick setae on coxae I–III as well as coxae IV; females differ in the relatively larger basal lobe of the spermathecae ( Fig. 16 b) giving a more block-like appearance to the spermathecal folds.

Etymology. From elapine, alluding to the long pair of front fangs of the most venomous snakes of the family Elapidae Boie, 1827 .

Description. Male (holotype QM S31422 )

Carapace 4.00 long, 2.48 wide. Abdomen 4.32 long, 2.64 wide. Colour ( Figs 14 a, b). (seemingly recently moulted) Carapace pallid with 2 narrow dark lateral bands and pair of wider dark bands from behind PLE more or less straight until they converge slightly at posterior declivity; eye region black. Abdomen dorsally pallid with narrow “V anteromedially breaking up into 3 irregular spots in posterior third; lateral of “V broader, irregular longitudinal bands. Legs concolorous with carapace, no bands. Sternum, maxillae and labium pallid; abdomen ventrally pallid with light black mottling strong laterally and posteriorly but weakening centrally. Carapace. Long black hairs on margins; short fine on carapace; long setae between AME; clypeus rounded distinct. Eyes. AME: ALE: PME: PLE, 10: 11: 10: 11. ALE much closer to AME than AME apart; PME as far apart as from PLE, ALE slightly larger and lower (in anterior view) than AME–all directed to front and side. Anterior row clearly recurved; posterior row strongly recurved or in two rows, with PLE directed to side and up. Chelicerae. Small, porrect; dentition 3P, 2R. Fangs short, transverse. Boss small but distinct. Maxillae rounded rectangular with triangular, shallow depression diagonally from corner to distal edge. Labium short, shield-shaped. Sternum ( Fig 14 h) cordate; setal patterns fine radial, inwardly directed setae. Legs. Coxal bases with slight triangular projections entally, 20–30 short thorn-like spines ventrally on retroventral half of coxae I–IV, more numerous on IV ( Figs 14 f, h). Trichobothria in ca. 2 rows each of 8–10 for length of tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi. Trochanteral notches shallow, symetrical, as wide as deep on IV. I: 3.23, 1.38, 3.00, 2.54, 2.00, 12.15. II: 3.00, 1.38, 2.46, 2.15, 1.77, 10.75. III: 2.61, 1.15, 2.00, 1.92, 1.38, 9.06. IV: 3.61, 1.31, 3.31, 3.15, 1.54, 12.92. Palp: 1.54, 0.77, 0.69, –, 1.31, 4.31. Scopula . Tarsi I–II entire, hairs long, not dense, not obscuring cuticle; IV with line of emergent setae. Metatarsi I–II weak, in 2 lateral bands for distal two-thirds and also ventral for distal quarter; weak on distal quarter on III, IV and tibiae. Spines. I: fe pv1p1d3r1; pa 0; ti p2r 2v 2.2.2; me p1r 1v 2.2. II: fe pv1p2d3r2; pa 0; ti p2d1 r 2v 2.2.2; me p1r 1v 2.2. III: fe p4d3r4; pa p1; ti p2d2.1r 2v 2.2.2; me p1.2.1r2.1.1 v2.2.1. IV: fe p4d3r2; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r 2v 2.2.2; me p2.2.1r2.2.2v2.2.1.1. Palp: fe p1d1.2; pa p1; ti p3. Claws. Long, with 3 long and one short basal teeth; tufts ( Fig. 14 i) strong but small, paired and conical. Abdomen. Tracheal spiracle small, near spinnerets. ALS short with domed tips. PMS cylindrical. PLS small with slightly elongated apical segment, orange with large spigot. Palp ( Figs. 14 b–e, 15). Tibia short with long triangular prong on prolateral corner, dorsal depression across to large bifid process on retrolateral edge; RTA a large cone with unsclerotised distal face transversed by two keels and slender sinuous prong dorsally off face of median process ( Fig 14 e); retroventral collar of tibia sclerotised with distinct erect cone and narrow notch beside base of RTA. Subtegulum prolateral and roughly triangular rounded ridge distally with sclerotised collariform conductor. Median apophysis subapico-central, flat, shield-like, with small medial process distally and vertical claw-like process retrolateral of it. Embolus origin small, basal; embolus tapers quickly runs clockwise arising retrodistally. Cymbium asymetrical with short rounded apex and distinct wide sclerotised groove retrolaterally and with strong comb of curved setae ectally ( Figs. 14 c, d).

Female (allotype, QM S31423 )

Carapace 3.92 long, 3.04 wide. Abdomen 5.36 long, 3.20 wide. Colour. Pattern like male but darker, stronger. Carapace margin with irregular "intrusions" and with narrow grey medial band through eyes and fovea. Abdomen dorsally dark with irregular pallid “V breaking up into dots posteriorly. Legs dark brown with orange brown metatarsi and tarsi. Eyes. AME:ALE:PME:PLE, 7:11:11:13. Posterior row recurved. Chelicerae. Like male but stout, same dentition with pallid region anteriorly above fang. Legs. Coxae ventrally without thorn-like spines. Claws. Tufts like male; palpal claws with 3 teeth but no tuft. I: 2.69, 1.23, 2.46, 1.92, 1.38, 9.68. II: 2.54, 1.23, 2.61, 2.00, 1.54, 9.92. III: 2.54, 1.00, 1.92, 1.85, 1.23, 8.54. IV: 3.23, 1.31, 3.15, 3.46, 1.54, 12.69. Palp: 1.00, 0.61, 0.69, 1.00, 3.30. Spines. I: fe pv1p1d2; pa0; ti v2.2.2w; me v2 basal. II: fe p2d2r1; pa0; ti v1.2.2w; me v2 basal. III: fe p4d3r2; pa0; ti p2d2r 2v 2.2.2; me p2.1r1.2.1v2.1. IV: fe p2d3r1; pa0; ti p2d2.1r 2v 3.2.2; me p1.2.2r1.2.2v2.2.1. Palp: fe p1d1.2; pa p1; ti p3d2; ta p3r 3v 2. Scopula . Dense, almost obscures cuticle on tarsi I–IV, entire on I–III, divided by 1–2 lines of setae on IV. Metatarsi I–II full, dense, entire, except for space around spines; III, IV divided into 3 parts. Scopula of short hairs also in distal half of tibiae I, II, in 3 bands on III, and few scattered setae on IV. Epigyne ( Figs 16 a, b). Narrow anterior medial ridge and wide septum posteriorly.

Distribution and habitat ( Fig. 25 a). Known only from Cape River, west of Charters Towers, northeast Queensland, and near Adelaide, South Australia. At Cape River, the spiders were taken in litter around the bases of grasses in open eucalypt forest.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Mitzoruga elapines sp. nov., male: a, carapace, dorsal view; inset shows grate-shaped tapetum of PME of WAM 98 / 1693; b, palpal tibia and bulb, ventral view; c, tips of enlarged cymbial setae; d, shafts of enlarged cymbial setae; e, palpal tibia and bulb, retrolateral view; f, coxae III, IV, showing " thorns ", ventral view; g, abdomen, dorsal view; h, sternum, maxillae and coxae, ventral view; I, claws and claw tufts; j, patella and tibia I, prolateral view, showing long bristles apically and distally on patella. Scale line: 2 mm for a, g (same scale); 0.5 mm for b, e (same scale); 2 mm for h, 1 mm for f, j.

FIGURE 15. Mitzoruga elapines sp. nov., palpal tibia and cymbium, scanning electron micrographs: a, bulb, ventral view; b, cymbium and tibia, retrolateral view; c, RTA, retrolateral view; d, median apophysis, ventral view.

FIGURE 16. Mitzoruga elapines sp. nov., female WAM 98 / 1697: a, b. epigyne, external (a) and internal (b) views.

FIGURE 25. Distribution records of Miturgidae in Australia: a, Diaprograpta, Eupograpta, Mitzoruga and Nuliodon; b, all records of Miturgidae for Australia.