Karaops nyiyaparli Crews, 2013

Crews, Sarah C., 2023, But wait, there's more! Descriptions of new species and undescribed sexes of flattie spiders (Araneae, Selenopidae, Karaops) from Australia, ZooKeys 1150, pp. 1-189 : 1

Karaops nyiyaparli Crews, 2013

Figs 63B , 68B, D, G , 69D-F , 70B , 71A-F , 72A-C, E , 73A-D , Maps 1 , 9A, B

Karaops nyiyaparli Crews, 2013: 450, figs 5, 6 (♀, examined).

Karaops yindjibarndi Crews, 2013: 458, figs 19-20. syn. nov.

New records.

Western Australia • 1 imm.; 113 km NNW of Newman; -22.335190, 119.653100; 23 Mar.-29 Apr. 2011; E.S. Volschenk leg.; foraging on ridgetop; (WAM T112018) • 1 imm.; 115 km N of Newman; -22.313470, 119.788600; 25 Mar.-29 Apr. 2011; E.S. Volschenk leg.; litter sifting; (WAM T112019) • 1 imm.; ~ 3 km W of Wodgina Mine Site, site H2; -21.178970, 118.646300; 3 Mar. 2011; A. Rakimov leg.; hand collected; Ficus on ridge; (WAM T113414) • 1 imm.; Karratha to Millstream-Chichester National Park; -21.208000, 117.045100; 19-27 Jun. 2011; S. White, F. Bokhari leg.; foraged on rocks; (WAM T114678) • 1 imm.; ~ 60 km SW of Marble Bar; -21.611060, 119.031900; 29 Feb.-29 Mar. 2012; A. Slabber leg.; target searching on granite outcrop; (WAM T122639) • 1 imm.; BHP Main Rail, 208 km SSE of Port Hedland; -22.204850, 119.029900; 23 Apr. 2012; S. Catomore leg.; foraging on South-facing aspect of BIF gully/gorge; (WAM T123594) • 1 imm.; BHP Main Rail, 190 km SSE of Port Hedland; -22.052140, 118.987100; 23 Apr. 2012; S. Catomore leg.; foraging on South-facing aspect (overhang) of rocky gulley; (WAM T123595) • 1 imm.; BHP Main Rail, 190 km SSE of Port Hedland; -22.026480, 119.002900; 23-04 Apr. 2012; S. Callan leg.; litter sift on ridge slope, large rocks and cracks; (WAM T123596) • 1 imm.; BHP Main Rail, 190 km SSE of Port Hedland; -22.01464, 119.0058; 23 Apr 2012; S. Callan leg.; ridge slope, large rocks and cracks; (WAM T123597) • 1 imm.; ~ 106 km S of Port Hedland; -21.345170, 118.748600; 13-15 Apr. 2013; N. Dight leg.; foraging on footslope; (WAM T128002) • same as prev.; -21.345, 118.749; (WAM T128003) • same as prev.; ~ 95 km S of Port Hedland; -21.243, 118.668; (WAM T128008) • same as prev.; ~ 82 km S of Port Hedland; -21.117, 118.657; (WAM T128009) • same as prev.; (WAM T128010) • same as prev.; ~ 115 km S of Port Hedland; -21.430, 118.783; (WAM T128011) • 1 imm.; Mt. Webber, ~ 200 km SE of Port Hedland; 7-24 Mar. 2014; A. Slabber leg.; targeted searching, riverine; (WAM T128795) • 1 imm.; ~ 78 km NE of Wittenoom; -21.829, 118.951; 15 Apr. 2014; N. Dight leg.; foraging; (WAM T135298) • 1 imm.; 80 km S of Whim Creek; -21.580, 117.882; 3-8 Jun. 2014; N. Dight leg.; foraging; (WAM T135301) • 2 imm.; 50 km S of Whim Creek; -21.262, 117.936; 3-8 Jun. 2014; N. Dight leg.; foraging; (WAM T135303) • 4 imm.; 95 km S of Whim Creek; -21.688, 117.872; 3-8 Jun. 2014; N. Dight leg.; foraging; (WAM T135304) • 1 imm.; 75 km S of Whim Creek; -21.512, 117.940; 3-8 Jun. 2014; N. Dight leg.; foraging; (WAM T135305) • 1 imm.; 41 km S of Whim Creek; -21.180, 117.951; 14-20 Jul. 2014; N. Dight leg.; foraging; (WAM T135306) • same as prev.; (WAM T135307) • 1 penultimate ♀; Millstream-Chichester National Park, along Karratha Tom Price Road; 20°58.595'S, 117°06.158'E; 12 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rock; sel_1159; SCC16_024; (WAM T155535) • 3 imm.; Millstream-Chichester National Park, near Python Pool, N side of Roebourne-Wittenoom Road; 21°19.4968'S, 117°13.1746'E; ~ 349 m; 12 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under flat rocks on hillside; sel_1163-1165; SCC16_026; (WAM T155539- T155541) • 3 imm.; Millstream-Chichester National Park, Python Pool, hillside along trail; 21°20.4783'S 117°11.3150'E; 12 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rock; sel_1160-1162; SCC16_025; (WAM T155536-T155538) • 2♀ (one reared in captivity); Millstream-Chichester National Park, Water District Road, water tanks; 21°32'24.67"S, 117°03'16.61"E; ~ 331 m; 13 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rock; sel_1166-1167; SCC16_027; (WAM T155542-T155543) • 1♂(reared in captivity), 4 imm.; Coolawanyah Station, 4.8 km NNE of homestead, hill, S side of Roebourne-Wittenoom Road; 21°45'57.29"S, 117°49'34.25"E; 13 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rocks on hillside; sel_1168-1172; SCC16_028; (WAM T155544-T155548) • 1 imm.; Bonney Downs Station, Roy Hill Railway line, ~ 14 km SW of Bonney Downs homestead; 22°17'54.36"S, 119°52'20.78"E; 16 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rock; sel_1212; SCC16_037; (WAM T155588) • 1♀, 4 imm. (reared in captivity); Bonney Downs Station, Roy Hill Railway line, ~ 14 km SW of Bonney Downs homestead; 22°17'48.28"S, 119°52'31.54"E; ~ 497 m; 16 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; sel_1213-1217; SCC16_038; (WAM T155589-T155593) • 4 imm.; Bonney Downs Station, Roy Hill Railway line, ~ 13 km SW of Bonney Downs homestead; 22°17'14.61"S, 119°53'06.05"E; ~ 522 m; 16 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; sel_1218-1221; SCC16_039; (WAM T155594-T155597) • 1♀, 3 imm. (reared in captivity); beside BHP Rail Line, ~ 59 km SSW of Mt. Webber; 22°08'13.36"S, 119°01'28.02"E; ~ 475 m; 17 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; lots of egg sacs; sel_1228-1231; SCC16_042; (WAM T155604-T155607); • 1 imm.; Kanagan Station, ~ 6 km NW of Mt. Tinstone [mine]; 21°08'50.19"S, 118°39'39.58"E; 17 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rock; sel_1232; SCC16_044; (WAM T155608).

Diagnosis.

The female is most similar to Karaops kariyarra in that the copulatory ducts are located in a depression of the median field of the epigyne, and the lateral lobes are easy to distinguish ( Crews 2013: figs 5, 7). The endogynes are also similar in that the spermathecae are dumbbell shaped, and the accessory bulbs (erroneously labeled as spermathecae in Crews (2013)) are long and thin. They can be differentiated by the shape of the depression on the endogyne. In K. nyiyaparli , it is oval and in K. kariyarra it is heart shaped. The lateral lobes of K. kariyarra are pointed at the basomedial margin, and they are not in K. nyiyaparli . The accessory bulbs are extremely tiny in K. kariyarra ( Crews 2013: figs 6, 8).

The male can be distinguished from other species in the Pilbara by the dRTA and vRTA of equal length in lateral view. The embolus is hooked and does not follow the perimeter of the bulb ( Crews 2013: figs 19, 20).

Addenda to original description.

Color (in life Figs 70B-E , 71D, F , 72A, B, E , 73A /preserved Figs 63B , 68B, D, G, H ): in nature, on red rocks, appears much more reddish (Fig. 73A ), but pale and dark areas mentioned below are still applicable. Carapace: golden brown to brown, three pairs of dark marks on lateral edges, dark spots between edges and middle; highly setose, reddish setae around eyes, posterior to eyes, row of whitish setae following curve of eye area, mixture of dark brown, whitish, pale brown, orangish setae. Abdomen: dorsally extremely setose, row of pale setae along anterior margin, posterior to that, orangish brown and whitish, two dark marks surrounded by pale setae, either side of center, not touching, followed by two dark dots, surrounded by pale setae, separated from anterior by paler brown setae, horizontal dark bands from center to lateral edges, surrounded by pale setae, just posterior to pale setae, horizontal dark mark, does not extend to lateral edges, surrounded by pale setae, pale brown orangish setae with dark flecks to end; darkest parts on carapace and abdomen from pigmentation, other colors from setae, the setae are soft, slender but very dense. Legs: yellowish to golden brown, dark spot prolaterally on Cx and Tr, Fm with markings that do not completely encircle leg, markings not pigmented in center, Pt with dark annulation basally, some specimens with dark mark prolaterally on Pt, two annulations on Ti, centers darker than those markings on Fm but not completely pigmented, two annulations on Mt, basal, distal, Ta dark at tip.

Male. The description of the male can be found in Crews (2013: sub Karaops yindjibarndi ).

Variation.

Additional specimens were measured, and the sizes range from 5.78-8.31 (holotype 6.49, sel_1166 8.31, sel_1213 5.781, sel_1230 5.879).

Distribution.

Primarily found throughout the Chichester region of the Pilbara, Western Australia (Figs 69D, F , 71B , 72B, D , 73B, C , Map 9A, B ).

Natural history.

Karaops nyiyaparli is found in the Chichester subregion of the Pilbara bioregion. This subregion harbors myriad Karaops species, at least eight. The climate of the Pilbara is arid-tropical and generally hottest from October-April and wettest from January-March. Adult females have been collected in March and/or April (collected in a pitfall trap left out for a month, so precise month unknown) and May, and egg sacs (Fig. 71C, E ) are present in May. March-May is a time of transition from the hottest, wettest time to the coolest, driest time in the region. A male was reared in captivity, reaching adulthood in March, which is during the hottest and wettest period. An adult female (sel_1166) made an egg sac shortly after collection in May, with ~ 30 eggs; however, not all of them were viable. The females (Fig. 69B, D, E ) continued to eat and died at different times (it is unknown how long they had been adults when collected), one living an additional seven months from collection, all feeding until death. In captivity, maturity overlapped that found in nature (Suppl. material 2: table S19).

Discussion.

The male was described as Karaops yindjibarndi ( Crews 2013). Molecular data indicate that K. yindjibarndi and K. nyiyaparli are the same species. Thus, K. yindjibarndi is syn. nov. In this subregion, the type localities of all of the species collected previously were re-visited. Some of the juveniles that were collected may be some of these previously-described species or new species. At almost every site in the area, K. nyiyaparli was collected and no other species. The only probable undescribed species are juveniles, and those were only to the north and east of collections of K. nyiyaparli . This species has been collected via litter sifting and hand collecting, under rocks, on rocks, targeted on granite outcrops, ridge slopes, and cracks.

Based on locality data and molecular data, sel_1171 is considered to be an adult although the palps are not fully formed. The spider tore its palps off during molting. Typically, when this happens, all of the parts are there, but a bit deformed from being trapped in the exuvia; however, the spiders can often still be identified as the more sclerotized RTA is not damaged. With this specimen, the palps were not fully formed, and there were no structures visible.

The author was bitten on the back of her hand by one of the specimens (sel_1172) on 2 March 2016 at 6:45pm. The spider was sitting on her hand to be fed sugar water (a dietary supplement if they were not eating enough). It had been sitting perfectly still for several minutes. The author then felt the fangs and pinching of the strong chelicerae and could feel the venom entering, moderately painful for such a small animal. At first, it felt a bit like after coming into contact with a nettle, then it stopped for ~ 30 s, then it began again, dissipating within a few hours. The next day there was a small, slightly raised area. There was no pain by 4 March, but the small area had become redder. By 6 March, it was swollen into a small, red bump, a few mm in diameter. It neither hurt nor itched and remained the same after one week. After a few more days, it was completely gone.

This is one of the more widespread species in the Chichester subregion, overlapping with most of the species there: Karaops nyamal , K. kariyarra Crews, 2013, K. yurlburr , K. feedtime Crews, 2013, and K. forteyi Crews, 2013. Two of these species, K. yurlburr and K. forteyi , were collected in pitfall traps set for> 1 year; thus, when adults are present cannot be pinpointed. These are also the only ones of the five for which both sexes have been collected. The other three species were collected in pitfall traps that were set from March-April or March-May. It is known that females of K. nyiyaparli are found during these months, indicating that there is no temporal barrier to adults of different species co-existing. After extensive collecting at or near the type localities of each of these species, only K. nyiyaparli was collected. Because these six species were collected in pitfall traps, they are in fairly poor condition (Fig. 73D-I ). It is unknown how they look in life, and the poor preservation has destroyed many features. The collecting efforts made here allowed the documentation of how K. nyiyaparli looks in nature (Figs 71F , 71A , 72A, C ), in life in captivity, and freshly preserved. Assuming that none of these six species look exactly like K. nyiyaparli , it is now possible to determine if one has found K. nyiyaparli in the field. Knowing this allows collectors to spend more time and effort in a particular locality if K. nyiyaparli is not the species for which they are searching.

Figures

Map 1. Map of Australia showing areas that are expanded in subsequent figures. CD = Central Desert group, D = Karaops dawara group, F = Karaops francesae group, K = Kimberley group, UA = species that are not assigned to a group, PG = Pilbara-Gascoyne group.

Map 9. Species of the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A diamonds (juveniles): blue = Erawandoo Hill, orange = Mt. Augustus, red = Nammuldi, yellow = Hillside-Corunna-Glenn Herring, black = Marble Bar-Glacier Valley, pink = Orebody 19, 31, teal = Wheelara North, orange with thick outline = Harding Dam (maybe Karaops ngarluma, see text); Circles: dark blue = Karaops julianneae, dark green = Karaops badgeradda, red = Karaops joehaeneri sp. nov., teal = Karaops karrawarla, blue = Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., brown = Karaops burbidgei, green = Karaops martamarta, purple = Karaops nyangumarta, black = Karaops banyjima, yellow = Karaops morganoconnelli sp. nov., gray = Karaops nyiyaparli, red-brown = Karaops feedtime, bright pink = Karaops nyamal (probably, see text), white = Karaops kariyarra, bright green = Karaops yurlburr, orange = Karaops ngarluma, tan = Karaops jaburrara, peach = Karaops forteyi, teal = new species yet undescribed; small white diamonds are unidentifiable immatures for which no molecular data are available B boxed area expanded for clarity.

Figure 63. Karaops nyangumarta and Karaops nyiyaparli from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A adult male Karaops nyangumarta, Mt. Nameless (sel _ 1197, T 155573) B Karaops nyiyaparli, ex Karaops yindjibarndi, syn. nov., holotype male, 6 km N of Millstream (WAM T 79405) C Karaops nyangumarta, palp, ventral (sel _ 1179, WAM T 155555) D same, retrolateral. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 68. Karaops banyjima and Karaops nyiyaparli from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops banyjima, Dale's Gorge, Karijini National Park B Karaops nyiyaparli, adult female, Roy Hill Mine Rail, Bonney Downs (sel _ 1213, WAM T 155589) C habitat of Karaops banyjima, Dale's Gorge, Karijini National Park D Karaops nyiyaparli, adult female, Millstream-Chichester National Park (sel _ 1166, WAM T 155542) E Hamersley Gorge, habitat of Karaops banyjima F Karaops banyjima habitat along Port Hedland-Newman Road G Karaops nyiyaparli, holotype female, 113 km NNW Newman (WAM T 111455) H Karaops nyiyaparli, paratype female, NW of Mt. Florance Homestead (WAM T 125601). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figure 69. Karaops banyjima and Karaops nyiyaparli from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops banyjima, palp, ventral, Dale's Gorge, Karijini National Park (sel _ 1187, WAM T 155563); pink = conductor; yellow = MA; light gray-blue = tegulum; light purple = tegular lobe; blue-violet = embolus; blue = spermophor; dark green = subtegulum; salmon = retrobasal cymbial process; green = vRTA; orange = dRTA B same, ventral C same, retrolateral D habitat of Karaops nyiyaparli, Millstream-Chichester, Tom Price-Karratha Road E Karaops nyiyaparli, epigyne, caudal, Millstream-Chichester National Park (sel _ 1166, WAM T 155542) F habitat of Karaops nyiyaparli, Coolawanyah Station. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A-C); 0.5 mm (E).

Figure 70. Karaops banyjima and Karaops nyiyaparli from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops banyjima, adult male, Dale's Gorge, Karijini National Park (sel _ 1187, WAM T 155563) B Karaops nyiyaparli adult male (tore palps off when molting), Coolawanyah Station (sel _ 1171, T 155547) C Karaops nyiyaparli, adult female, Roy Hill Mine Rail, Bonney Downs (sel _ 1213, WAM T 155589) D Karaops nyiyaparli, adult male (tore palps off when molting), Coolawanyah Station (sel _ 1171, T 155547) E Karaops nyiyaparli, adult female, Millstream-Chichester National Park (sel _ 1166, WAM T 155542).

Figure 71. Karaops nyiyaparli A camouflaged on a rock, BHP Rail Line B habitat, Coolawanyah Station C egg sac, Roy Hill Mine Rail, Bonney Downs D adult female, Roy Hill Mine Rail, Bonney Downs (sel _ 1213, WAM T 155589) E egg sac with spiderlings, Millstream-Chichester National Park (from sel _ 1166, WAM T 155542) F adult female, Millstream-Chichester National Park.

Figure 72. Karaops nyiyaparli and Karaops yurlburr from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops nyiyaparli, BHP Rail Line B habitat of Karaops nyiyaparli, Bonney Downs Station C Karaops nyiyaparli, BHP Rail Line (Photo: J. DeJong) D habitat of Karaops yurlburr, Python Pool, Millstream-Chichester National Park E Karaops nyiyaparli, BHP Rail Line (sel _ 1230, WAM T 155606).

Figure 73. Members of the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops nyiyaparli, BHP Rail Line (sel _ 1230, WAM T 155606) (Photo: J. DeJong) B habitat of Karaops nyiyaparli, Millstream-Chichester National Park C habitat of Karaops nyiyaparli along BHP Rail Line D Karaops nyiyaparli, holotype female (WAM T 111455) E Karaops kariyarra, holotype female, Wodgina Mine (WAM T 105208) F Karaops kariyarra, adult female, 55 km S of Port Hedland (WAM T 106657) G Karaops feedtime, holotype female, NNW Newman (WAM T 111456) H Karaops forteyi, holotype female, Cowra Line Camp (WAM T 79407) I same, paratype male, Cowra Line Camp (WAM T 79408).