Miturgopelma bungabiddy, 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 : 35-36

Miturgopelma bungabiddy sp. nov.

Fig. 23

Diagnosis. males of this small species differ from those of Miturgopelma brachychiton sp. nov. in the large, rounded ventral lobe of the RTA and the scythe-like median apophysis ( Fig. 23a, d ). Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition from the type locality.

Type material. Western Australia: male holotype, Bungabiddy Rockhole, 24°39”S 128°45”E, 15–16 Jan 1990, M.S. Harvey, T . F. Houston, WAM T74059 .

Paratypes. South Australia: 1 ma., 7 km NE Mt Woodroffe , 26°17’S, 131°48’E, 12–17 Oct 1994, Pitjantjatjara Lands Survey, D. Hirst, SAM NN1998.362 ; 1 ma., Mt Kintore , 8.5 km NW, 26°30’09”S, 130°25’43”E, 9 May 1993, Pitjantjatjara Lands Survey, SAM NN1998.324 ; 1 ma., Central Ra., Mt Cooperinna , 19.5 km NE, 26°14’49”S, 130°06’44”E, 7 May 1994, Pitjantjatjara Lands Survey, SAM NN1998.333 .

Description. Male, holotype WAM T74059

Carapace 3.27 long, 2.48 wide. Opisthosoma 3.23 long, 1.82 wide. Total length, 6.5.

I: 3.92; 1.60; 3.28; 3.20; 1.84; 13.84. II: 3.76; 1.68; 2.96; 3.28; 1.84; 13.52. III: 3.68; 1.44; 2.96; 3.60; 2.08; 13.76. IV: 4.72; 1.52; 4.00; 3.92; 2.32; 16.48. Palp: 1.28; 0.72; 0.48; -, 1.68; 4.16.

Colour: Carapace pattern: dark lateral bands form wide pallid median band enhanced by long silver hairs, posteriorly bifurcated by dark median triangular area; opisthosoma, dorsally dark, mottled with long ovoid paired pallid regions flanking poorly defined medial dark band; ventrally mottled lightly but uniformly. Eyes: all similar, small; ALE clearly smallest. Legs moderately long.

Palp: Tibia and patella similar sized; cymbial hairs all similar, but with small ovoid scopula for distal third; retrobasally with unmodified, narrow edge. RTA: apex of large fleshy ventral lobe short, rounded; dorsal lobe sclerotised, broadly trianguloid without barb or bifurcation. Embolus origin at mid-length, base curves sharply. MA longer than wide with broad unsclerotised basally on rounded shelf; hook turns sharply and folds.

Distribution. Known only Western Australia and South Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Miturgopelma bungabiddy sp. nov., male holotype, WAM T74059 (=98/1000): a, palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral view; b, RTA, dorsal view; c, habitus, dorsal view; d, median apophysis, tip, ventral view.