Miturgopelma australiensis ( Hickman, 1944 ) Raven & Hebron & Williams, 2023

Raven, Robert J., Hebron, Wendy & Williams, Kylie, 2023, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders VI: five new stripe-less miturgid genera and 48 new species (Miturgidae: Miturginae), Zootaxa 5358 (1), pp. 1-117 : 19-21

Miturgopelma australiensis ( Hickman, 1944) comb. nov.

Figs 8–9

Odo australiensis Hickman, 1944: 40 , plate 3, figs 31–34; Davies, 1985: 125.

Type material. Northern Territory: Syntypes: male lectotype (here designated), centre of Simpson Desert , 24.57501°S 135.723611°E, AM KS6629 ; female paralectotype, 24°34’30”S, 135°43’24”E 11 miles E of Hale R, Simpson Desert, AM KS 6628 . Type locality data Source: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/landscape/ exploration/display/109428-simpson-desert-expedition-memorial.

Other material examined. Northern Territory: 1 ma., Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP, 25°22’S 131°11’E, Oct 1994, Mus. Vic. Horn Expedition Centenary Survey, R. Raven, QM S52378 ; 12 ma., Finke Gorge NP, 11.3 km S of Hermannsburg, 24°03’S 132°44’E, Oct 1994, Mus. Vic. Horn Expedition Centenary Survey, MV K4445 ; 7 ma., Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP, 25°22’S 131°11’E, Oct 1994, MV Horn Expedition Centenary Survey, MV K4448 .

Queensland: Ethabuka Stn , 23°46’S, 138°28’E, desert: 3 ma., 4–6 Mar 1999, R. Raven, B. Baehr , QM S42910 , S68880 ; 1 fem., 1 ma., Ethabuka Stn , 23°46’S, 138°28’E, 2 Aug 1992, J. Henschel, QM S33461 , S35630 .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of Miturgopelma watarrka sp. nov. only by having the median apophysis continuously tapering to a blunt point ( Fig. 9a ), whereas in Miturgopelma watarrka sp. nov. it has a lateral flare, also the ventral lobe of the RTA is blunt rather than pointed as in Miturgopelma watarrka sp. nov. Males differ from those of Miturgopelma ferruginea comb. nov. in the broader median apophysis both basally and for its length; both males and females have strongly patterned carapace and dorsum of opisthosoma (as in Fig. 10d ), rather than the pallid hardly marked carapace and opisthosoma of M. ferruginea comb. nov. ( Fig. 33c ).

Description. Male, lectotype AM KS6629.

Palp. Patella without process. Tibia short, ventrally smooth; RTA, ventral lobe rounded triangular with distal process but not a lobe; dorsal lobe a simple short blunt prong. Cymbium without retrobasal thickening; no spines or scopula on cymbium. Tegulum long, ovoid, sperm duct form long J-shape; basal subtegulum small ovoid, distal portion not evident. Embolus originates prolaterally just distal of mid-length. MA basally broad, folded with short simple apical hook.

Distribution. Known only from South Australia, Northern Territory and adjacent areas of south-western Queensland.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Miturgopelma australiensis (Hickman, 1944) comb. nov., male lectotype, AM KS6628: a, b, male palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a) and retrolateral (b) views; c, RTA, retrodorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Miturgopelma australiensis (Hickman, 1944) comb. nov., male lectotype, AM KS6628: a, b, male palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a) and dorsal (b) views; female paralectotype, AM KS6629: c, epigyne, ventral view; d, female internal genitalia, dorsal view.

FIGURE 10. Miturgopelma baehrae sp. nov., male holotype, WAM T138016: a–c, male palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a, arrow shows embolus origin); and retrolateral (b, c) views (c, arrow shows unsclerotised basal zone of RTA); d, habitus, dorsal view. Images of palp by B. Baehr.

FIGURE 33. Miturgopelma ferruginea (L. Koch, 1873), comb. nov., male: a–e, QM S98250. a, e, palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a) and retrolateral (e) views; b, median apophysis, ventral view; c, d, habitus, dorsal (c) and ventral (d) views; e, retrolateral view; f, male holotype, RMS, RTA, retrolateral view showing bifurcate tip. Images of palp by B. Baehr.