Miturgopelma caitlinae, 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 : 36-37

Miturgopelma caitlinae sp. nov.

Fig. 24

Diagnosis. Males most closely resemble those of Miturgopelma woz sp. nov. but differ in that the neck of the median apophysis is much longer ( Fig. 24a ), the embolus originates at half bulb length and the RTA, which is triangular, not an elongate lobe, in ventral view. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is in honour of Caitlin Henderson, accomplished photographer and media presenter of arachnids, and also the collector of the holotype.

Type material. Northern Territory : male holotype, near Soudan Station [20°03’5”S 137°01’06”E], C. Henderson, 2019, MAGNT A005730 .

Description. Male, holotype MAGNT A005730

Carapace 3.53 long, 2.91 wide. Opisthosoma 3.02 long, 1.70 wide. Total length, 6.54. Legs damaged.

Colour. Carapace and legs faded white, carapace with submarginal irregular dark edges Opisthosoma broad ostiate region anteriorly. Palp. RTA short, lower lobe trianguloid; dorsal lobe small with vane on triangular process. Median apophysis an elongate central groove with short apical hook. Embolus origin midlength on prolaterad.

Distribution. Known only from the area of Soudan Station, Northern Territory.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Miturgopelma caitlinae sp. nov., male holotype, MAGNT A005730: a, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia, ventral view; b, habitus, image C. Henderson; c, RTA, dorsal view.