Xeromiturga pilbara, 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 : 97-98

Xeromiturga pilbara sp. nov.

Fig. 78

Diagnosis. Differs from males of Xer. gumbardo sp. nov. in lacking patellar processes on the palp, and from Xer. bidgemia in the embolus being directed transversely retrolaterad, not diagonal to base ( Fig. 78a ). Female unknown.

Type Material. Western Australia: male holotype, Pilbara region , ca. 8 km W of Newman, 23°24’S 119°37’E, 14 Mar–20 May 2010, pitfall trap, J. Gollan, AM KS120129 .

Description. Male, holotype AM KS120129

Carapace 2.43 long, 1.80 wide. Opisthosoma 2.75 long, 1.70 wide. Total length, 5.18.

I: 2.33, 0.94, 2.10, 1.97, 0.99, 8.33. II: missing. III: 2.10, 0.54, 1.34, 2.10, 1.25, 7.34. IV: 1.84, 0.94, 1.88, 2.24, 1.34, 8.24. Palp: 0.99, 0.42, 0.46, -, 2.71, 3.26.

Colour. Carapace pallid with roughly paired darked spots submarginally and on margins. Opisthosoma pallid, faded. Venter entirely pallid. Eyes. ALE noticeably smaller than other eyes; AME, PME & PLE similar sized. Sternal setae all similar. Weak scopula on metatarsi & tarsi I–IV.

Palp. Patella without process. Tibia short; RTA long trianguloid without distinct distal lobe, dorsal lobe short spiniform. Cymbium aspinose, with distinct retrolateral groove almost for length; tegulum reniform, transverse; embolus base smaller, gourd-shaped, directed transversely retrolaterad, embolus very long; median apophysis large with large triangular process near base of embolus, large, flared areas constricting to a ridged fold with simple short acuminate tip.

Distribution. Known only from Pilbara, Western Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 78. Xeromiturga pilbara sp. nov., male holotype, AM KS120129: a, c, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia: a, ventral view; b, habitus, dorsal view; c, retrodorsal view.