Araneus ventriosus (Urquhart, 1891)

W. Framenau, Volker, 2019, Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions, Evolutionary Systematics 3 (1), pp. 1-27 : 17

Araneus ventriosus (Urquhart, 1891)

Epeira ventriosa Urquhart, 1891: 237-239.

Aranea ventriosa (Urquhart). Roewer 1942: 835.

Type material.

Holotype of Epeira ventriosa Urquhart, 1891: female, Tasmania [no exact locality, AUSTRALIA] (whereabouts unknown).

Remarks.

The holotype of Epeira ventriosa seems to be lost. The original description, in particular of the epigyne ( Urquhart 1891, p. 239: "long, tapering, flat, transversely rugose, hairy, yellowish scapus, curving backwards and upwards") suggests close affinities with E. biapicata or B. heroine . However, there are a number of very similar large araneids in south-eastern Australia and it is not possible to undoubtedly identify Epeira ventriosa from the description alone. Therefore, I consider this species-group name a nomen dubium.