Miturgopelma woz, 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 : 71-73

Miturgopelma woz sp. nov.

Figs 56–57

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of Miturgopelma echinoides sp. nov. in the more distal origin of the embolus, the longer median apophysis, and the absence of the extensive unsclerotised area forming the shelf. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is an arbitrary combination of letters based on the state of the type locality.

Type Material. Western Australia: male holotype, Eneabba , 29°50`S 115°15’E, 12 Dec 1987, R . P. McMillan, WAM T33481 .

Paratypes. 3 ma., 39 km. E. of Laverton , 28°28’S 122°50’E, 22–24 Nov 1990, E. R . Pianka , pit trap, WAM 97 / 247; 1 ma., Mt Cooke , 32°25’S 116°18’E, 19 Sep–28 Nov 1991, J. Waldock, C. Car, pitfall trap, WAM T33248 (97/264) ; Kellerberrin , 31°34’S, 117°39’E, 25 Nov 1987, G. Smith, WAM T33494 (=97/260).

Description. Male, holotype WAM T33481

Carapace 3.08 long, 2.44 wide. Opisthosoma 3.21 long, 1.71 wide. Total, 6.3.

I: 3.20, 1.20, 2.74, 2.67, 1.67, 11.48. II: 3.07, 1.20, 2.80, 2.67, 1.87, 11.61. III: 2.86, 1.20, 2.47, 2.74, 1.54, 10.81. IV: 4.07, 1.20, 3.20, 4.27, 2.13, 14.87. Palp, 1.15, 0.46, 0.54, -, 1.15, 3.30.

Colour. Carapace yellow brown with brown paramedial bands from PLE to caput edge posteriorly, edges of striae distally darker.

Opisthosoma dorsally yellow brown with brown stripe full length medially edged by darker brown, stripe widens posteriorly and breaks up slightly with narrow transverse chevrons; venter pallid with 20–30 small dark spots and dark band around spinnerets. Femora yellow brown with irregular darker markings.

Carapace: Lightly pilose, subcephalic ridge with long bristles, white hairs on margin medially and on edge band, dark hairs in dark bands. Eyes: Eight in 2 recurved rows; front edge of ALE in base of back edge of AME, likewise in back row. ALE smallest, other eyes of similar size. Chelicerae: promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2. Sternum lightly hirsute with slight shadow around border. Trochanter notches ca. x2 twice as wide as deep. Claws with 4 long teeth. Scopula thin for 2/3–3/4 of metatarsi I–IV; denser but still thin on tarsi I–IV, divided by setal band 1–4 wide on III, IV. Spines: I: fe pv1p1d3r4; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2 me p1.2r1.1v2. II: fe pv1p3d3r4; pa 0; ti p2d2r2v2.2.2; me p1.2r1.1v2. III: fe pv1p3d3r4; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.2.1r2.1.1v2.1.1. IV: fe pv1p4d3r3; pa 0; ti p2d2.1r2v2.2.2; me p1.1.1.2r2.1.1.2v2.1.1.1. Palp: fe p1d1.1.2r1; pa p1d1.1 (including 1 apical); ti p2d1r2; cymbium with 2 thick long bristles basally and many smaller. Spinnerets: Both PLS and ALS cylindrical; PLS about 1/2 diameter of ALS apical segment short domed; PMS smaller cylinders.

Palp: Tibia short; RTA from below a broad rounded triangular lobe separated from narrow knife-like dorsal process by small distal unsclerotised area; dorsal process a recurved hook with bifid tip. Cymbium light but distinct scopula for distal half, otherwise hairs intermixed with long thick bristles uniformly scattered, dorsobasal retrocorner glabrous not excavate. Margins narrow, retro-edge concealed by tegulum; promargin with thick bristles on edge from basal 1.2.1.1 apical cone pointed but very short. Median apophysis distal converging quickly to short simple retrolaterally curved hook. Embolus distal central origin, prolateral edge of base continuous with median apophysis, recurved gradually beside median apophysis to small apical conductor. Tegulum large gourd shaped for full length of retrolateral half. Subtegulum large thick L- or C- shaped, only apically concealed by embolus.

Distribution. Known only from Western Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 56. Miturgopelma woz sp. nov., male holotype, WAM 98/247: a, habitus, dorsal view; b–e, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia; b, ventral view; c, e, RTA, two slightly different dorsal views; d, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 57. Miturgopelma woz sp. nov., male, WAM 98/247, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia, scanning electron micrographs: a, ventral view; b, median apophysis, ventral view.