Karaops madhawundu, Crews, 2023

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 madhawundu sp. nov.

Figs 40B, D-F, H , 41A, B , 41C-E , Maps 1 , 8

Material examined.

Holotype: Queensland • ♀; Forsayth, Gilberton Station; -19.225431, 143.644531; 19 Sep. 2017; S. Zozaya leg.; SMZ0955; (QMS 5430) . Paratypes: 3♀; Cobbold Gorge , west of Forsayth; -18.816908, 143.406830; 20 Sep. 2017; S. Zozaya leg.; SMZ0956; (QMS 5413) . Other material examined: 4 imm.; same data as holotype; (QMS 5425) • 1 imm.; same data as paratype; (QMS 5423) .

Diagnosis.

Females of Karaops madhawundu sp. nov. (Figs 40F, H , 41A, B ) are similar to those of K. markharveyi sp. nov. and K. mareeba sp. nov. by the large, round accessory bulbs (Figs 41D , 42E , 44C-F , 47E ), but the new species can be differentiated from these congeners by the distance between the accessory bulbs: The distance is small in K. markharveyi sp. nov. (except for one variant (Fig. 44F ), and that can be separated by the posterior separation of the lateral lobes) and K. mareeba sp. nov. but nearly one accessory bulb diameter apart in K. madhawundu sp. nov. Additionally, K. madhawundu sp. nov. is much larger than K. markharveyi sp. nov. (7.00-7.86 vs. 3.07-4.09).

Description.

Female (holotype) (Figs 40D , 41A ). Total length 7.00. Carapace: length 3.15, width 3.60. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, middle one largest, retromargin with two teeth. Eyes (Fig. 40D ): AER slightly recurved, PER recurved; diameters AME 0.18, ALE 0.12, PME 0.25, PLE 0.29; interdistances AME-PME 0.05, PME-ALE 0.17, ALE-PLE 0.18, PME-PME 1.18, ALE-ALE 1.62, AME-AME 0.54, PLE-PLE 1.44. Sternum: length 1.62, width 1.89. Abdomen: length 3.85, width 4.24. Color: Carapace: brownish yellow with pair of dark marks lateromedially, three dark marks each on lateral margins, dark area posteromedially, setose, with dark, slender setae, dispersed, dark, thick setae, patches of pale setae. Chelicerae: yellowish white, paturon with a longitudinal curved mark frontally, setae paler laterally, darker anteriorly. Maxillae: yellowish white. Labium: gray, pale distally. Sternum: yellowish. Abdomen: dorsal anterior third pale yellow-brown, pale cardiac area, dark lateral to cardiac area giving appearance of two vertical lines extended into first third, wide, dark chevron posterior to this area, extended from center to lateral margins, nearly to tip of abdomen, narrow, pale area near posterior, dark posteriorly and posterolaterally; ventrally grayish yellow. Spinnerets: with dusky markings laterally (Fig. 40B ). Legs: pale yellowish brown, ventral tufts of white, clavate setae (Fig. 40E ), Cx with prolateral dark mark, Tr with prolateral dark spot, Fm all with dusky area at Tr-Fm joint, Fm I with pair of dusky lines medially forming a dusky annulation, Pt dusky at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with dark annulations at Pt-Ti joint, and between that and Ti-Mt joint, Mt with dark annulation at both Ti-Mt joint and Mt-Ta joint, Ta dark at tip; spines dark basally, pale distally; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1-0, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg III Fm d 1-1-1; leg IV Fm d 1-1-1; leg formula 2431; measurements leg I 12.49 (3.60, 1.35, 3.49, 2.70, 1.35); leg II 14.54 (4.68, 1.71, 3.52, 3.44, 1.20); leg III 12.62 (3.85, 1.08, 3.23, 2.96, 1.50); leg IV 14.25 (5.23, 1.46, 3.83, 2.25, 1.49). Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-3; 3.24 (1.06, 0.68, 0.60, 0.90); claw with six teeth. Epigyne: EP triangular; MF with small, oval depression; LLs fused; COs inconspicuous, located at posterolateral margin of depression. Endogyne: CDs very short; ABs large, round; S smaller, more oval; FDs directed anterolaterally.

Male. Unknown.

Variation.

(n = 5) Length ranges from 7.00-7.86. The leg spination of one of the paratypes differs from the type as follows: leg I Fmpr 1-1-1 on L and R; leg II Fmpr 0-0-1; Mt v 2-2-2-2-2-2.

Etymology.

The name is from two words used to describe the Cobbold Gorge area in Wamin, Madha (mountain) and Wúndu (forest), spoken by the Ewamian people, the traditional owners of the Cobbold Gorge area (Fig. 41E ). Noun in apposition.

Distribution.

Known from Northeast Queensland (Map 8 ).

Natural history.

Karaops madhawundu sp. nov. is found in the Kidston subregion of the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion. This bioregion consists of savanna and woodland on a plateau ( Bastin 2008). The wet season occurs from December-March. Adult females, immatures, and a penultimate male were all collected in mid-September, when the climate is drier and slightly cooler than other times of year (Suppl. material 2: table S1).

Discussion.

The Einasleigh Uplands are home to many unique habitats, including gorges and caves, that are home to many endemic species of plants and animals ( Bastin 2008). Little is known of the terrestrial arthropod fauna with the exception of a few wetland insect species. It is likely that arthropods will mirror the endemism of other organisms found in the area.

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 8. Species that are not currently placed in a species group. Diamonds (juveniles): blue = Little Mertens, red = Ruby Plains, pink = Nackeroo Lookout; Circles: yellow = Karaops yumbubaarnji sp. nov., green = Karaops markharveyi sp. nov., purple = Karaops kennerleyorum sp. nov., blue = Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., red = Karaops mareeba sp. nov. Juveniles are treated as distinct species based on molecular data.

Figure 40. Karaops kennerleyorum sp. nov. and Karaops madhawundu sp. nov. A Karaops kennerleyorum sp. nov. habitat, Southern Lost City, Limmen National Park, Northern Territory B Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., holotype female, spinnerets, Gilberton Station, Forsayth, Queensland (QMS 5430) C habitat of Karaops kennerleyorum sp. nov., Southern Lost City, Limmen National Park, Northern Territory D Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., holotype female, eyes, Gilberton Station, Forsayth, Queensland (QMS 5430) E same, femur showing claviform white setae F Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., paratype female, face, Cobbold Gorge, Queensland (QMS 5413) G Karaops kennerleyorum sp. nov., camouflaged against sandstone, Southern Lost City, Limmen National Park, Northern Territory H Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., paratype female, Cobbold Gorge, Queensland (QMS 5413). Scale bar: 5 mm.

Figure 41. Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., Cobbold Gorge and Gilberton, Queensland A Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., holotype female, Cobbold Gorge (QMS 5430) B Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., paratype female, Gilberton Station (QMS 5413) C Karaops madhawundu sp. nov., holotype female, Cobbold Gorge (QMS 5430) D same, endogyne E Cobbold Gorge, Queensland, habitat of Karaops madhawundu sp. nov. (Photo: J. DeJong). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (C, D); 2 mm (A, B).

Figure 42. Karaops mareeba sp. nov. and Karaops markharveyi sp. nov. A Karaops mareeba sp. nov., paratype female, Desailly Range, Queensland (QMS 120908) B Karaops mareeba sp. nov., holotype female, Desailly Range, Queensland (QMS 110872) C same, epigyne D Karaops markharveyi sp. nov., 4.6 km from Drysdale River Road, Gibb River Road, Western Australia, holotype female (sel _ 1249, WAM T 155625) E Karaops mareeba sp. nov., holotype female, endogyne, Desailly Range, Queensland (QMS 110872) F sandstone ridge habitat of Karaops markharveyi sp. nov. G Karaops mareeba sp. nov., holotype female, epigyne, caudal, Desailly Range, Queensland (QMS 110872). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (C, E, G); 2 mm (A, B, D).

Figure 44. Karaops markharveyi sp. nov. A paratype male, 4.6 km from Drysdale River Road, Gibb River Road, Western Australia (sel _ 1250, WAM T 155626) B adult male, Judbarra National Park, Northern Territory (sel _ 1329, MAGNT A 004885) C holotype female, epigyne, ~ 4.6 km from Drysdale River Road, Gibb River Road, Western Australia (sel _ 1249, WAM T 155625) D same, endogyne E paratype female, epigyne, Gibb River Road, Western Australia (sel _ 1253, WAM T 155629) F same, endogyne G adult male, Judbarra National Park, Northern Territory (sel _ 1330, MAGNT A 004886) H adult female, Judbarra National Park, Northern Territory (sel _ 1332, MAGNT A 004888). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (C-F); 1 mm (B, G, H).

Figure 47. Karaops markharveyi sp. nov. A holotype female, Gibb River Road, ~ 4.6 km from Drysdale River Road, Western Australia (sel _ 1249, WAM T 155625) B habitat, Judbarra National Park, Northern Territory C holotype female, Gibb River Road, ~ 4.6 km from Drysdale River Road, Western Australia (sel _ 1249, WAM T 155625) D epigyne, Judbarra National Park, Northern Territory (sel _ 1332, MAGNT A 004888) E same, endogyne. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.