Miturgopelma kinchega, 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 : 52

Miturgopelma kinchega sp. nov.

Figs 37–38

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of Miturgopelma buckaringa sp. nov. in lacking sternal spines, and from those of M. australiensis in the heavier MA hook and the triangular ventral lobe of the RTA with a distal lobe. Female unknown.

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

Type Material. New South Wales: male holotype, Kinchega National Park, nr Menindee , 32°29’S, 142°21’E, 10–18 Dec 1982, P. Dostine, QM S39449 .

Paratypes. 8 ma., same data as holotype, QM S39449 .

Description. Male, holotype QM S39449

Carapace 5.00 long, 4.06 wide. Opisthosoma 4.81 long, 2.50 wide. Total, 10.0. Legs damaged.

Colour: Carapace pallid with slightly darker brackets at posterior corners formed by brown bristles and light pigment; opisthosoma, dorsally pallid with small paired darker areas medially, brown chevrons posteriorly; ventrally none, pallid. Eyes: All similar, small; ALE clearly smallest. Legs very long.

Palp: cymbial setae all similar, and pair of long spines basodorsally; retrobasally with unmodified, narrow edge; apex of ventral lobe hooked; ventral lobe short, triangular; almost entirely sclerotised; ventral lobe short, triangular, apically hooked; dorsal lobe a short triangular scoop with single subapical barb; RTA distal; short, directed laterally; two plates sandwiching unsclerotised zone; almost entirely sclerotised; ventral lobe short, triangular, apically hooked; dorsal lobe a short triangular scoop with single subapical barb; embolus central, directed transversely prolateral.

Distribution. Known only from Kinchega National Park, western New South Wales.

Figures

FIGURE 37. Miturgopelma kinchega sp. nov., male palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, holotype QM S39449: a, b, d, ventral views; b, median apophysis; c–e RTA, retrolateral (c), ventral (d) and dorsal (e) views.

FIGURE 38. Miturgopelma kinchega sp. nov., male holotype, QM S39449: a, median apophysis showing fluted tip, retrolateral view; b, c, RTA, ventral (b) and retrolateral (c) views.