Nanometa tetracaena, Álvarez-Padilla & Kallal & Hormiga, 2020

Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, Kallal, Robert J. & Hormiga, Gustavo, 2020, Taxonomy And Phylogenetics Of Nanometinae And Other Australasian Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneae: Tetragnathidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2020 (438), pp. 1-107 : 1-107

Nanometa tetracaena , sp. nov.

Figures 18–19 , 37

TYPE MATERIAL: Male holotype and female allotype from Australia, Victoria, Strzelecki Ranges, Gunyah-Toora Rd. , 2 km SSW of Gunyah, -38.541, 146.317, G. Milledge, 5 March 1995 ( NMV K-6309) ; both types deposited at NMVM.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of N. tetracaena are most likely to be confused with N. dutrorum . The CEMP of N. tetracaena (figs. 18D, 19C) does not bear the conspicuous spine found in N. dutrorum (figs. 31C, 33C), its conductor lacks the serrated denticles found in N. dutrorum (fig. 33A–C), and the embolic process is more sclerotized than that of N. dutrorum (fig. 31A, E). The CEBP of N. tetracaena has four apophyses, whereas N. dutrorum has three. The epigynum of N. tetracaena has a small carina separating the copulatory openings (figs. 18E, 19D), which is readily distinguishable from the shallow, M-shaped ridge on the epigynum of N. dutrorum .

DESCRIPTION: Female (NMV K-6295) total length 3.14. Cephalothorax length 1.09, width 0.85. Clypeus height 1.0 AME diameter. Cephalothorax background pale yellow, with light gray concentrated over ocular area, carapace lateral edges, and near margin of pars cephalica and pars thoracica (fig. 18A). Endites and sternum grayish yellow (fig. 18C). Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with three and two teeth, respectively, cheliceral denticles present. Abdomen dorsum background pale brown, silvery guanine patches covering all abdomen dorsal surface, except a medial line that extends the entire abdomen length (fig. 18A), lateral surface covered with guanine patches over dorsal half, ventral half with brown lines (fig. 18A, C), ventral surface brown intercalated with silvery guanine patches and with a central rectangle flanked by two lines (fig. 18C). Booklung stridulatory organ, tracheae and epigynum not observed with SEM. Femur I length 1.7.

Male (NMV K-6305) same as female except as noted. Total length 2.75. Cephalothorax length 1.15 width 0.94. Clypeus 1.5 AME diameter. Cephalothorax and abdomen coloration slightly darker than in female, silvery guanine patches less conspicuous and reduced into longitudinal stripes. Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with three and two teeth respectively. Cheliceral denticles present, stridulatory organ and coxa IV retrolateral surface not observed with SEM. Femur I length 2.6. Palp with conspicuous CEMP and CEBP with four pointed apophyses.

VARIATION: Females (N = 3) total length 2.82– 3.27, cephalothorax length 1.13–1.27, width 0.84–0.94. Males (N = 3) total length 2.41–2.82, cephalothorax length 0.99–1.30, width 0.82–1.08.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is from the Greek tetra (four) and acaena (spikes or thorns), referring to the four points on the CEBP.

DISTRIBUTION: Nanometa tetracaena can be found in Tasmania, Victoria and southern New South Wales (fig. 37D).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: N = 88. AUSTRALIA, Victoria: Central Highlands, Acheron Gap , 6 km NE of Mt. Donna Buang, 37° 41′ 20.4″ S, 145° 44′ 20.4″ E, G. Milledge, 28 December 1995, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, intercept trap, 3 males, 7 females, NMV K-6297 ; Central Highlands, Acheron Gap , 6 km NE of Mount Donna Buang, 37° 41′ 20.4″ S, 145° 44′ 20.4″ E, G. Milledge, 20 February 1996, direct search, 2 males, NMV K-6317 ; Central Highlands, Acheron Gap, 6 km NE of Mt. Donna Buang, 37° 41′ 20.4″ S, 145° 44′ 20.4″ E, G. Milledge, 28 December 1995 – 21 February 1996, direct search, 1 male, 3 females, NMV K-6298. Central Highlands , The Big Culvert , 2.5 km ENE of Mt. Observation , 37° 33′ 36″ S, 145° 52′ 15.6″ E, G. Milledge, 19 February 1996, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, direct search, 2 males, 3 females, NMV K-6302 ; Mount Donna Buang, A. Neboiss, 5 February 1995, 1 male, 1 female, NMV ; Great Otway National Park, Triplet Falls track, 38° 40′ 12″ S, 143° 29′ 52.80″ E, G. Hormiga & N. Scharff, 312 m, 16 April 2014, sifted litter, GWU ( GH1697 ) ; Otway Ranges, Aire Crossing Track, 0.5 km N of Aire R. Crossing , 38° 42′ 0″ S, 143° 28′ 58.8″ E, P. Lillywhite, 31 January 1995, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, sweep net, 2 males, 3 females, NMV K-6293 ; Otway Ranges, Beauchamp Falls , 38° 38′ 60″ S, 143° 35′ 60″ E, G. Milledge, 15 November 1994 – 31 January 1995, intercept trap, 1 male, 2 females, NMV K-6830 ; Otway Ranges, Beauchamp Falls , 38° 38′ 60″ S, 143° 35′ 60″ E, G. Milledge, 31 January 1995 – 11 April 1995, 1 male, 2 females, NMV K-6294 ; Otway Ranges, Young’s Creek Rd, 0.4 km NW of Triplet Falls, 38° 40′ 1.2″ S, 143° 22′ 58.8 E, G. Milledge, 31 January 1995, Eucalyptus sp. forest, intercept trap, 3 males, NMV K-6826 ; Otway Ranges, Young’s Creek Rd,. 0.4 km NW of Triplet Falls, 38° 40′ 1.2″ S, 143° 22′ 58.8 E, G. Milledge, 31 January 1995, Eucalyptus sp. forest, direct search, 3 females, NMV K-6823 ; Otway Ranges, Young’s Creek Rd,. 0.4 km NW of Triplet Falls, 38° 40′ 1.2″ S, 143° 22′ 58.8 E, P. Lilywhite, 5 females, NMV K-6295 ; Phillips Track, Young’s Creek crossing, 0.5 km N of Triplet Falls, G. Milledge, 20 February 1992, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, direct search, 2 females, 3 males, NMV ; Strzelecki Ranges, Gunyah-Toora Rd. , 2 km SSW of Gunyah, 38° 32′ 31.2″ S, 146° 19′ 1.2″ E, G. Milledge, 5 March 1995, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, intercept trap, 1 male, 1 female, NMV K-6386 ; Strzelecki Ranges, Gunyah-Toora Rd. , 2 km SSW of Gunyah, 38° 32′ 31.2″ S, 146° 19′ 1.2″ E, G. Milledge, 5 March 1995, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, intercept trap, 1 male, 1 female, NMV K-6308 ; Strzelecki Ranges, Gunyah-Toora Rd. , 2 km SSW of Gunyah, 38° 32′ 31.2″ S, 146° 19′ 1.2″ E, G. Milledge, 5 March 1995, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, intercept trap, 2 males, 12 females, NMV K-6309 ; Strzelecki Ranges, Gunyah-Toora Rd. , 2 km SSW of Gunyah, 38° 32′ 31.2″ S, 146° 19′ 1.2″ E, G. Milledge, 5 March 1995, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, intercept trap, 3 males, NMV K-6305 ; Strzelecki Ranges, Tarra-Bulga National Park, 0.5 km NNE of Tarra Valley Picnic Area, 38° 26′ 38.4″ S. 146° 32′ 31.2″ E, G. Milledge, 10 January 1996 – 5 March 1996, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, intercept trap, 2 females, NMV K-6314. Tasmania: Mt. Michael , rainforest between Mt. Michael and Little Mt. Michael , 41° 10′ 58.8″ S, 148° 0′ 0.0″, R. Coy, P. Lillywhite, & A.L. Yen, 20 February 1990, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, 2 males, 3 females, NMV ; Pirates Rd., 2.5 km SW of Eaglehawk Neck, 43° 3′ 10.8″ S, 147° 54′ 18″ E, R. Coy, P. Lillywhite, & A.L. Yen, 13 February 1990, Nothofagus cunninghami forest, 2 males, 3 females, NMV. New South Wales: Blue Mountains National Park, Mt. Wilson , 33° 29’ 55.75″ S, 150° 24’ 53.063″ E, 955 m, G. Hormiga & N. Scharff, 3 April 2014, 1 male, 1 female ( GH1662 ), GWU ; Jamberoo Mountain, 1 January 1993, J. Noble, 1F, KS 54234. Mt. St. Leonard , 37° 33′ 59.76″ S, 145° 31′ 59.88″ E, M.S. Harvey & M.E. Blosfelds, June 4 1991, 1 male, WAM T23237 ; Jamberoo Mountain, 1 January 1993, J. Noble, 1F, KS 54234. Mt. St. Leonard , 37° 33′ 59.76″ S, 145° 31′ 59.88″ E, M.S. Harvey & M.E. Blosfelds, June 4 1991, many females, WAM T23193 ; Coranderrk Reserve, Healesville, -37.7166, 145.5500, P.J. Gullan, 1 male, WAM T24693. Strathgordon , 42° 46′ 1.2″ S, 146° 3′ 0.0″ E, 6 January 1998, L.J. Boutin, 2MM, 2FF, QVM 13:43581 ; Mt. Wedge Track , 42° 52′ 58.8″ S, 146° 18′ 0.0″ E, 7 January 1998, L.J. Boutin, 1FF, 1M, QVM 13: 24035 ; Maggs Mountain , Eucalyptus foliage, 9 December 1975, R.H. Green, 3FF, QVM 13: 44509 ; Maggs Mountain , 1979, R.H. Green, 1M, KS 52097 ; Strahan, rainforest nr. Hogarth Falls , 42° 8′ 60″ S, 145° 19′ 1.2″ E, 12 November 1997, L.J. Boutin, sweeping, 4MM, 1F, QVM 13:24059 ; Edgar Dam Campground, nr. Lake Peddar , 43° 1′ 58.8″ S, 146° 20′ 60″ E, 5 January 1998, L.J. Boutin, from sweeping, 2MM, 2FF, QVM 13:43593 ; Frenchmans Cap track, 42° 4′ 58.8″ S, 145° 55′ 58.80″ E, 24 December 1997, L.J. Boutin, mixed forest, sweeping, 2FF, 3MM, QVM 13:24066 .

Figures

FIGURE 18. Nanometa tetracaena (female: NMV K-6295; male: NMV K-6305) A. Female, dorsal habitus. B. Pedipalp, ventral. C. Female, ventral habitus. D. Pedipalp, dorsal cleared. E. Epigynum, ventral. F. Pedipalp, mesal. G. Pedipalp, apical. H. Pedipalp, ectal. Scale bars: A, C, 0.5; B, D, F–H, 0.2; C, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 19. Nanometa tetracaena (NMV K-6297). A. Pedipalp, ventral. B. Pedipalp, ectal. C. Pedipalp, dorsal. D. Epigynum, ventral. E. Epigynum, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 37. Distribution of Nanometa in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea. A. Map of region with areas of importance indicated. B. Western Australia. C. Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia. D. Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. E. New Zealand.