Miturgopelma echidna, 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 : 41-44

Miturgopelma echidna sp. nov.

Figs 2d , 3d, e , 28–30

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of all other species by the large lateral lobe on the RTA and the shape of median apophysis ( Figs 29a , 30a ). Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition from the Australian monotreme with sharp spines on its back, like the spines dorsally on the male cymbium ( Figs 29b , 30b ).

Type material. Victoria: male holotype, 16.2 km SW of Hattah , 34°50’42”S 142°07’E, Site 36, Drift fence, A.L. Yen, pitfall trap, Oct 1985, MV K4792 .

Paratypes. 1 ma., 4.6 km E of Hattah , 34°45’S 142°19’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4498 ; 2 ma., 8 km SE of Hattah , 34°52’S 142°27’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4766 ; 1 ma., 16.4 km NE of Lascelles , 35°15’S 142°19’E, Oct 1985, A.L. Yen, MV K4800 ; 3 ma., 3.9 km NE of Hattah , 34°45’S 142°19’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4779 ; 1 ma., 22.7 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°34’S 141°02’E, Nov 1985, A.L. Yen, MV K4804 ; 3 ma., 17 km SW of Hattah , 34°50’S 142°07’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4790 ; 2 ma., 5.4 km NE of Hattah , 34°43’S 142°19’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4777 ; 2 ma., 9 km ESE of Hattah , 34°47’S 142°22’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4761 ; 2 ma., 7.2 km ESE of Meringur , 34°24’S 141°25’E, Nov 1985, A.L. Yen, MV K4815 ; 1 ma., 19.7 km NE of Lascelles , 35°13’S 142°19’E, Oct 1985, A.L. Yen, MV K4801 ; 1 ma., 20.4 km N of Millewa Sth Bore , 34°34’S 141°02’E, Oct 1986, A.L. Yen, MV K4807 ; 1 ma., 6 km SW of Murray Valley Hwy & Annuello Rd junction, 34°50’S 142°35’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4769 ; 1 ma., Birthday Tank , 34°54’S 141°36’E, 13–15 Dec 1983, J. Coventry, MV K4477 ; 1 ma., 10.8 km SW of Murray Valley Hwy & Annuello Rd junction, 34°50’S 142°30’E, Jan 1987, A.L. Yen, MV K4768 ; 4 ma., 15.4 km NE of Lascelles , 35°16’S 142°19’E, Oct 1985, A.L. Yen, MV K4798 ; 1 ma., 15.4 km S of Millewa South Bore , 34°38’S 141°03’E, Oct 1986, A.L. Yen, MV K4419 ; 1 ma., Birthday Tank , 34°54’S 141°36’E, 13–15 Dec 1983, J. Coventry, MV K4465 ; 2 ma., 17.5 km NE of Patchewollock , 35°15’S 142°19’E, Oct 1985, A.L. Yen, MV K4821 .

South Australia: 4 ma., Hiltaba Station , 32°11’S 135°06’E, 142 m, Casuarina , pitfalls, 12–22 Nov 2012, B. Baehr, SAM; 1 ma., Eyre Peninsula, OTC Station, N of Ceduna, 31°52’S, 133°49’E, 27 Sep 1998, D. Hirst, NN1998.428 .

New South Wales: 1 ma., Broken Hill, Sth. Ita sandhill, 1 Jan 1975, QM S28782 . Gubatta, pitfall, D. Driscoll: 1 ma., (site 2G), 33°38’S, 146°33’E, spinifex, pitfall, 6–14 Dec 1999, D. Driscoll, QM S53871 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 4G), 33°32’S, 146°31’E, QM S52887 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 8G), 33°35’S, 146°36’E, open forest, QM S53936 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 9G), 33°34’S, 146°32’E, spinifex, QM S54315 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 4P), 33°59’S, 146°04’E, QM S53662 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 9G), 33°34’S, 146°32’E, QM S52974 . Pulletop , pitfall, 3–8 Nov 1999, D. Driscoll: 1 ma., (site 10P), 33°56’S, 146°06’E, woodland, QM S53807 ; 1 ma., (site 1P), 33°58’S, 146°06’E, spinifex, QM S53728 ; 3 ma., (site 2P), 33°58’S, 146°04’E, spinifex, QM S53825 , S52474 ; 1 ma., (site 3P), 34°01’S, 146°04’E, QM S53743 ; 1 ma., (site 4P), 33°59’S, 146°04’E, spinifex, QM S53963 ; 3 ma., (site 5P), 34°00’S, 146°05’E, QM S53900 ; 1 ma., (site 6P), 33°58’S, 146°03’E, spinifex, QM S53879 ; 2 ma., SDB (site 2P), 33°58’S, 146°04’E, spinifex, 12–18 Oct 1999, QM S53151 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 6P), QM S53674 . Round Hill Nature Reserve , mallee, pitfall, 2–8 Nov 1999, D. Driscoll: 2 ma., (site 1 R), 33°03’S, 146°13’E, QM S52908 , S52849 ; 1 ma., (site 2 R), 33°03’S, 146°13’E, QM S54304 ; 6 ma., (site 3 R), QM S53955 , S70309 , S52634 ; 3 ma., (site 4 R), 32°59’S, 146°05’E, QM S52706 ; 3 ma., (site 5 R), QM S52491 ; 2 ma., (site 1 R), QM S52933 ; 2 ma., (site 2 R), QM S52690 , S52999 ; 1 ma., (site 3 R), 32°59’S, 146°66’E, QM S52838 , QM S52698 ; 4 ma., (site 5 R), 32°59’S, 146°04’E, QM S52520 , S52638 ; 5 ma., (site 6 R), 32°59’S, 146°03’E, QM S52646 , S52721 . Taleeban, pitfall, D. Driscoll: 3 ma., (site 1 T), 33°55’S, 146°28’E, 3–8 Nov 1999, QM S53928 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 1 T), 12–18 Oct 1999, D. Driscoll, QM S53261 ; 1 ma., SDB (site 3 T), 33°58’S, 146°26’E, heath plain, QM S53185 ; 2 ma., SDB, 3–8 Nov 1999, QM S53629 ; 1 ma., (site 4 T), 33°57’S, 146°27’E, spinifex, 3–8 Nov 1999, QM S52730 ; 1 ma., SDB 12–18 Oct 1999, QM S53103 ; 2 ma., (site 8 T), 33°53’S, 146°28’E, road verge, pitfall, 3–10 Nov 1999, D. Driscoll, QM S52662 .

Queensland: 1 ma., Ethabuka Stn , 23°46’S, 138°28’E, desert, 4–6 Mar 1999, R . Raven, B. Baehr, QM S57207 .

South Australia: 7 ma., Renmark , 14k WNW, 34°07’S, 140°37’E, mallee on dune, pitfall & intercept traps, 13 Dec 1995 – 25 Jan 1996, K. R. Pullen , QM S70304 ; 1 fem., SDB 2 May–7 Jun 1995, QM S41780 ; 7 ma., Renmark , 14k WNW, 34°07’S, 140°37’E, mallee on dune, pitfall & intercept traps, 7 Nov–13 Dec 1995, K. R. Pullen , QM S35765 ; 3 ma., Renmark , 14k WNW of, 34°07’S, 140°37’E, mallee on dune, pitfall, 7–23 Nov 1995, A. Lambie, K. R. Pullen , QM S35767 ; 4 ma., SDB mallee, 7–23 Nov 1995, A. Lambie, K. R. Pullen , QM S35766 ; 7 ma., Renmark , 32 km N, 33°53’S, 140°44’E, pitfall & intercept traps, 12 Dec 1995 – 25 Jan 1996, K. R. Pullen , QM S70311 ; 1 ma., SDB 9–22 Nov 1995, A. Lambie, K. R. Pullen , QM S39096 ; 1 ma., Renmark , 79k NNW, 33°31’S, 140°24’E, Casuarina woodland, pitfall & intercept traps, 8 Nov–12 Dec 1995, K. R. Pullen , QM S35764 ; 7 ma., 1 fem., Renmark , 32 km N, 33°52’59.988”S 140°43’59.88”E, Flight Intercept & Pitfall Trap, 9 Nov–12 Dec 1995, QM S67864 .

Western Australia: 1 ma., Buningonia Spring , 31°20`30”S 123°37`00”E [= -31.3416 123.6167], 14–19 Aug 1980, W.F. Humphreys, et al., pitfall trap, red sand dune, spinifex, WAM T33472 ; 2 ma., Buningonia Spring , BSR 7, red sand dune, spinifex, 31°20’30”S, 123°37’00”E, pitfall traps, 14–19 August 1980, W.F. Humphrieys et al., WA Goldfields Survey, WAM97 /238–239 ; 1 ma., Queen Victoria Springs (1 km N of site 2), 30°28’S 123°41’E, A. Chapman, pitfall traps, 16–17 Oct 1995, WAM 97 /277 .

Description. Male, holotype MV K4792

Carapace 3.06 long, 2.44 wide. Opisthosoma 4.06 long, 2.78 wide. Total, 7.1.

I: 4.54, 1.47, 3.54, 4.54, 2.20, 16.29. II: 3.47, 1.40, 2.80, 2.80, 2.00, 12.47. III: 3.40, 1.27, 2.60, 3.14, 1.87, 12.28. IV: 4.40, 1.47, 3.54, 4.74, 2.34, 16.49. Palp: 1.27, 0.67, 0.60, 0.00, 1.54, 4.08.

Colour: carapace yellow brown with 2 dark brown sashes from and including PLE to caput edge for length of carapace; margins with dark borders widest on posterior corner. Opisthosoma dorsally dark brown with 2 large subcircular patches anteriorly and 2 predistally; centrally a dark zigzag band with 2 small pallid areas laterally then breaking into wide chevrons separated by thin white bands; venter pallid with uniform brown flecking of 30–40 small spots. Femora yellow brown lightly mottled and with dark hair. Carapace: Uniform dense cover of black hairs in sash and pale brown hairs in intervening zone.

Eyes: Eight in 2 recurved rows; front edge of ALE in base of back edge of AME, back row +-2 rows. PME>AME=PLE>ALE. Group front width: back width: length, 40:49:34. Eye sizes: AME, 11; ALE, 7; PME 9; PLE 10. Interspaces: AME–AME 5; AME–ALE 1, PME–PME 5, PME–PLE 8. Chelicerae: Promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2. Sternum: centrally directed hairs from submargin weak and not dense.

Legs. Trochanteral notches ca. x 1.5 wider than deep. STC with 3 long wide teeth. Scopula: Thin in 2 lateral bands for 3/4 of metatarsi I–IV; denser but still thin on tarsi I–IV, all divided by band of 2–4 setae; pseudotufts small.

Spines: I: fe pv1p1d2r1; pa 0; ti p2v2.2.2 me p1r1v2.1. II: fe pv1p2d3r3; pa 0; ti p2v2.2.2; me p2.1v2.1. III: fe pv1p3d3r4; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.2.1r2.2.1v2.1.1.1. IV: fe p3d3r2; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.1.1.2r2. 1.1.2v2.1.1.1.1. Palp: fe p1d1.1.2; pa p1d1.1 (including 1 apical); ti p1d1r1.

Spinnerets: PLS and ALS long cylindrical; PLS ca. 0.5 x diameter of ALS and slightly longer with conical apical article; PMS smaller cylinders.

Palp: Tibia short. RTA bipartite; ventrally with deep thick V- shaped retrolateral process longer than tibia, outer lobe lightly sclerotised, glabrous thick with broad rounded upturned apex, inner lobe more sclerotised conical; dorsal of two lobes a crescentic process, inner edge rounded, outer sharply pointed sclerotised the two parts joined by trough, a narrow sclerotised fold on distal edge unsclerotised deep on ectal edge. Cymbium with light ovoid scopulate area in distal third; light hairs mixed with many thick spine-like bristles longest basally. Apical cone short pointed with 10–15 short thick bristles apically. Lateral margins all narrow. Median apophysis a short claw-like hook with low longitudinal ridge off prolateral edge and fold retrolaterally joining with long base fitting notch in tegulum; fused prolaterally to embolus. Embolus with narrow central origin widening quickly and recurving back to median apophysis where small conical conductor cradles its tip. Tegulum gourd-shaped for full length retrolaterally. Subtegulum large G-shaped with basal lobe.

Distribution. Known from Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Miturginae. a, Knotodo gracilis (Hickman, 1950), female, habitus, image Mark Newton; b, Xistera coventryi sp. nov., female, left leg I, showing pseudoscopula hairs parallel to long axis, image, M. Ramírez; c, Miturgopelma spinisternis sp. nov., male, showing inward facing cymbium and bulb; d, Miturgopelma echidna sp. nov., eyes, showing relatively small AME and grate-shaped tapetum in PME; e, f, Xistera coventryi sp. nov., female, tarsal trichobothrium (e), dorsal leg I showing brighter trichobothria (f); g, Miturgopelma echinoides sp. nov., showing relatively large AME.

FIGURE 3. Miturginae spinnerets, females: a–c, Xistera coventryi sp. nov., a, ALS; b, PMS, c, PLS: images, M. Ramírez; d, e, Miturgopelma echidna sp. nov., female, lateral (d), and ventral (e) views; f, Miturgiella vulgaris sp. nov., male, showing large ALS. Unlike in Miturga, the apical segment of the PLS is short and domed or triangular. g, h, Miturga lineata Thorell, 1870, female, g, habitus, h, spinnerets showing long digitiform apical segment of PLS.

FIGURE 28. Miturgopelma echidna sp. nov., male QM S52690: a, carapace; b. opisthosoma; dorsal views.

FIGURE 29. Miturgopelma echidna sp. nov., male, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia, scanning electron micrographs: a, bulb, ventral view; b, cymbium, dorsal view; c, d, RTA, ventral (c) and dorsal (d) views.

FIGURE 30. Miturgopelma echidna sp. nov., male, QM S77105: a, b, palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a) and dorsal (b) views.