Phryganoporus davidleei, Gray, 2002

Gray, Michael R., 2002, The Taxonomy and Distribution of the Spider Genus Phryganoporus Simon (Araneae: Amaurobioidea: Desidae), Records of the Australian Museum 54 (3), pp. 275-292 : 286

Phryganoporus davidleei n.sp.

Figs. 4b , 6a–h

Type material. HOLOTYPE male, N1991365 ( SAM), Pinkawillinie Conservation Park, Eyre Peninsula , South Australia, 33°07'S 136°00'E, 19–20 May 1990, D. Hirst.

PARATYPES South Australia: 23, 1♀, N1991361–3 ( SAM), data as for holotype, 21 May 1990 . 13, KS45778, data as for holotype, 8–19 May 1990 . 1 ♀, N1991378 ( SAM), Bunyeroo Gorge, Heysen Range , 31°25'S 138°32'E, 16 May 1990 , DH & J.A. Forrest. 13, 1♀, KS45799, North Middleback Ranges , 33°04'S 137°08'E, June 1984 , BG; on Daviesia in mallee woodland. Western Australia: 1♀, KS17138, Nullarbor Plain, Roaches Rest 6N58, 31°32'S 127°18'E, 19 Apr 1987 , MRG; solitary retreat with egg sac on doline shrub.

Other material examined. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 23, N1991370–1 ( SAM), Lake Dam near Lake Frome, 30°44'S 139°34'E, 10 May 1989, DCL. 1♀, N1992143 ( SAM), S of Middleback Station, 32°57'S 137°23'E, June 1984, BG. 1♀, 1 j, N1991360 ( SAM), 20 km N of Cook, 30°27'S 130°19'E, 18 Aug 1980, G.J. Baker. 1♀, j, N1991366 ( SAM), Lake Gilles Conservation Park , 33°05'S 136°38'E, 24–25 Sep 1988, DH; nest & spiderlings. 1♀, 1 j, N1991367 ( SAM), locality as above, 2 Apr 1987, DCL, DH; in solitary silk nests on dead shrubs. 1♀, N1991368 ( SAM), Whyalla Sewerage pond, 33°04'S 137°33'E, 27 Jul 1975, P Hudson. 1♀, N1991369 ( SAM), 40 km N of Port Augusta, 32°08'S 137°52'E, 27 May 1986, H. Mincham. 23, 3♀, N1991372–6 ( SAM), Gammon Ranges towards Elephant Hill from Arcoona Ck, 30°25'S 139°05'E, 5 May 1989, DH. 1♀, N1991377 ( SAM), Bunyeroo Ck, ABC Range, 31°25'S 138°34'E, 14–15 May 1990, DH. 13, 1♀, N1992137–8 ( SAM), S of Middleback Station, 32°57'S 137°23'E, June 1984, BG; in web case on Muelenbechia cunninghamii . 13, 3♀, N1992139–42 ( SAM); from solitary nests. 1♀, N1992144 ( SAM), data as for N1992137/ 8. 1♀, N1992145 ( SAM), South Middleback Ranges , 33°11'S 137°06'E, 4 Jun 1984, BG. 1♀, 1 j, N1992148–50 ( SAM), Hughes, 30°43'S 129°31'E, Sep 1984, BG; with spiderlings, web on Atriplex . 1♀, N1992156 ( SAM), Roonka, 34°18'S 139°38'E, 12–14 Oct 1991, Strathalbyn Field Naturalists . VICTORIA: 23, 2♀, N1992178–81 ( SAM), south of Red Cliffs , 34°20'S 142°14'E, May 1979, DH .

Diagnosis. Cribellum entire. CL female 1.9–3.5, male 1.8– 3.1. Separated from P. nigrinus and melanopygus by the presence of free abdominal chevrons (pigmentation variable, moderate to weak).

Description

Male holotype. BL 4.28, CL 2.01, CW 1.38, LL 0.26, LW 0.37, SL 1.04, SW 0.83. Similar to female. Spination: leg I, femur d111, p01, tibia v012 p011, metatarsus v221 p11 r11; leg II, femur d111 p01, tibia v12 p11, metatarsus v221 p11 r11; leg III, femur d10 p01, tibia v02 p01 r01, metatarsus d02 v111 p11 r11; leg IV, femur d10, tibia v02 r01, metatarsus d02 v01 p111 r01. Central limb of “S” shaped embolus/conductor passing horizontally across palpal bulb; apical section of “S” relatively broad, more than threequarters width of basal section. Prolateral tegular bulge height often more than half cymbium length.

Female paratype (KS17138). BL 7.11, CL 3.19, CW 2.13, LL 0.49, LW 0.60, SL 1.54, SW 1.21. Carapace with numerous white hairs, overall colour varying from silvery grey to light brown. Abdomen light grey to brown with dense, recumbent white hair cover, dark brown erect hairs mostly confined to brown pigment flecks. Dorsal abdomen with a dark brown anterior stripe but posterior chevrons mostly lighter brown, occasionally poorly defined. Chevrons not fused. Legs light brown with dark brown pigment rings. Spination: leg I, femur d0110 p0011, tibia v010, metatarsus v222 p010 r0101; leg II, femur d0110 p0001 r0001, tibia v010 p0010, metatarsus v111 p011 r0101; leg III, femur d100 r001, tibia v001 r01, metatarsus v021 p012 r012; leg IV, femur d100, tibia v011 r01, metatarsus v102 p001 r002. Transverse epigynal ridge moderately procurved and narrow, longitudinal width less than one-fifth as wide as epigynal fossa. Fossa wider than long. Lateral teeth narrowly pointed. Internal genitalia Fig. 6g .

Distribution. Central southern Australia in open forest to shrubland ( Fig. 4b ).

Biology. Documented webs are solitary, consisting of small sheet webs built on shrubs, retreat structure poorly documented, but probably similar to P. candidus solitary webs.

Etymology. The specific epithet honours David Lee, former research acarologist and Curator of Arachnology & Helminths at the South Australian Museum.

Figures

Figure 4. a,b, species distributions based on material examined: a, • Phryganoporus candidus; b, ' P. nigrinus, O P. davidleei, • P. melanopygus, Δ P. vandiemeni.

Figure 6. a–h, Phryganoporus davidleei n.sp. a,b,g,h, females. a,g, Roaches Rest, WA: a, body, dorsal, g, internal genitalia. b,h, Bunyeroo Gorge, SA: b, body, ventral; h, epigynum. c–f, Pinkawillinie, SA, male: c, body, dorsal; d–f, palp, d, ventral, e, pro lateral, f, retrolateral. Scale lines: a–c: 1 mm; others 0.5 mm.