Karaops banyjima 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 banyjima Crews, 2013

Figs 64B , 65C-F , 66B, E , 67A , 68A, C, E, F , Maps 1 , 9A, B

Karaops banyjima Crews, 2013: 466, figs 33, 34 (♀, examined).

Material examined.

Western Australia • 1♂, 1 imm.; ~ 1.5 km from Hamersley Gorge , on side of road; 22°14'5.86"S, 117°58'8.46"E; ~ 571 m; 13 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rocks in dry creek bed; sel_1173-1174; SCC16_029; (WAM T155549, 155550) • 1♂ (reared in captivity), 7 imm.; Karijini National Park, Dale’s Gorge, along trail to Circular Pool by Fortescue Falls sign at bottom of trail to gorge; 22°28'41.18"S, 118°33'43.55"E; ~ 594 m; 14 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rocks, abundant; sel_1183-1190; SCC16_031; (WAM T155559-155566) • 8 imm.; Great Northern Highway ( Newman-Port Hedland Road ); 23°9'6.73"S, 119°19'46.11"E; ~ 702 m; 15 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rocks on side of road; sel_1198-1205; SCC16_034; (WAM T155574-155581) .

New records.

Western Australia • 1♂; Yandi (Marillana Creek), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°43'22.2"S, 118°58'30.2"E; 8 Sep. 2014; S. Callan, C. Brooks leg.; foraging; under rocks; (WAM T134063) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Creek), ~ 98 km NW. of Newman; 22°44'46.1"S, 119°00'30.1"E; 8 Sep. 2014; S. Callan, C. Brooks leg.; foraging; under rocks; (WAM T134072) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Creek), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°43'33.23"S, 118°59'02.47"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan leg.; foraging; drainage/ridge-outcrop; (WAM T130404) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°42'39.70"S, 119°00'50.36"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop; (WAM T130400) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°42'33.08"S, 119°00'15.33"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop/veg. grove; (WAM T130402) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Creek), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°42'33.08"S, 119°00'15.33"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg. foraging; ridge-outcrop/ veg. grove; (WAM T130403) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°44'23.42"S, 119°00'13.28"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; drainage/ridge-outcrop; (WAM T130405) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°46'27.87"S, 119°07'43.67"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop/ gully; (WAM T130406) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°46'27.87"S, 119°07'43.67"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env., leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop/gully; (WAM T130407) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°46'28.48"S, 119°07'24.24"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env., leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop/gully; (WAM T130409) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°46'33.74"S, 119°07'16.60"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop/gully; (WAM T130410) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°43'49.65"S, 119°02'49.81"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; gully/minor outcrop; (WAM T130411) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°43'49.65"S, 119°02'49.81"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; gully/minor outcrop; (WAM T130412) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°43'55.81"S, 119°03'00.10"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; drainage/ridge-outcrop; (WAM T130413) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°44'29.32"S, 118°59'34.47"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop/drainage; (WAM T130415) • 1 imm.; Yandi (Marillana Ck), ~ 98 km NW of Newman; 22°42'50.61"S, 119°01'13.15"E; 14 May 2013; S. Callan, Biologic Env. leg.; foraging; ridge-outcrop; (WAM T130416) • 1♀; Area C, 87.3 km NW of Newman; 22°53'43"S, 119°02'42"E; 17 Feb. 2010; M. Greenham leg.; gully, in soil; (WAM T101159) • 1♀; Karijini National Park, Dales Gorge; 22°28'41"S, 118°33'44"E; 12 Mar. 2015; M.S. Harvey leg.; under rock; (WAM T135465) • 1♀; Karijini National Park, Dales Gorge; 22°28'41"S, 118°33'44"E; 15 Mar. 2015; M.S. Harvey et al. leg.; under rock; (WAM T135466).

Diagnosis.

The female (Fig. 66E ) is somewhat similar to Karaops burbidgei by the location of the copulatory openings and the general shape of the structures of the endogyne ( Crews and Harvey 2011: figs 37, 38). In K. banyjima , however, the copulatory openings are located in a depression that is m-shaped along the top margin and w-shaped along the bottom margin ( Crews 2013: fig. 33), the ducts connecting the spermathecae and the accessory bulbs are not twisted, and the spermathecae and accessory bulbs are highly sclerotized ( Crews 2013: fig. 34).

The male is most similar to Karaops nyangumarta , but the two species can be differentiated by the tegular lobe, the median apophysis, the conductor, and the dRTA. In K. banyjima , the narrowing of the tegular lobe to the embolus is nearly midway from the basal and distal portions of the bulb (Fig. 69A, B ). In K. nyangumarta , this point is in the basal third of the bulb (Fig. 63C ). The median apophysis of K. banyjima has no spinules (Fig. 69A, B ), and the median apophysis of K. nyangumarta has a dense array of spinules (Fig. 63C ). The conductor of K. banyjima does not reach the retrolateral edge of the bulb, and the tip is directed laterally (Fig. 69A, B ), whereas in K. nyangumarta , the conductor reaches the retrolateral side of the bulb, and the tip of the conductor is directed ventrally (Fig. 63C ). The dRTA of K. banyjima is rather short and stout (but not like a little teapot) (Fig. 69A, B ), whereas that of K. nyangumarta is longer, narrower, and curved slightly ventrally (Fig. 63C, D ). It is somewhat difficult to distinguish the two in life by the abdominal pattern, but K. nyangumarta males have more mottling dorsally on the abdomen.

Description.

Male (sel_1174, WAM T155550). Total length 4.77. Carapace: length 2.56, width 3.16. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, the two closest to the fang are very close together, smallest closest to fang, other two larger, same retromargin with two teeth (1-0-1). Eyes: AER nearly recurved; PER strongly recurved; diameters AME 0.19, ALE 0.12, PME 0.23, PLE 0.37; interdistances AME-PME 0.04, PME-ALE 0.13, ALE-PLE 0.20, ALE-ALE 1.33, AME-AME 0.44, PLE-PLE 1.6. Sternum: length 1.24, width 1.67. Abdomen: length 2.21, width 2.10. Color (in life Figs 67A, B , 68A , 70A /preserved Figs 64B, D , 65F , 66B ): Carapace: dusky markings on tan background, in nature, pale yellowish brown with darker markings, orange around eye area/markings mostly faded, still visible laterally and just behind eyes, yellowish white. Chelicerae: yellowish white with a small spot below clypeus, paturon with curved, dark mark frontally (Fig. 66B ), with more setae anteriorly than laterally, especially inner margin. Maxillae: whitish. Labium: dusky, pale distally. Sternum: yellowish white. Abdomen: dorsally setose, dark tan to brown, paler medially until posterior third, anteriorly with pale spot on either side of paler median area, dark horizontal band near posterior of abdomen, posterior of dark band with pale setae making somewhat w-shaped mark; in nature, at least in juveniles, anterior pale spots and w-shaped mark are easily discernable (Fig. 68A )/most paler areas very pale to white, darker areas very dark, with no particular pattern or shape visible, orangish setae around margin; ventrally yellowish white. Spinnerets: with dusky markings. Legs: pale yellowish to tan, dusky ventrally, Cx, Tr with dark prolateral spot, Fm with marks that do not encircle the legs, unpigmented centrally, Pt with dark annulation basally, Ti with two annulations, one basal and the other distal though not at joint with Mt, Mt with two annulations, one basal, one distal, Ta tip dark/markings quite faded; juveniles with Fm setal tufts of flat, white setae; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pl 1-1-1, rl 0-0-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, rl 1-1, pr 1-1, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, pr 0-0-1, rl 0-0-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2-2, pr 0-1, rl 0-1, Mt v 2-2-2-2, pr 0-1-0; leg III Fm d 1-1-1, pr 0-0-1, rl 0-1-1, Ti v 2-2, Mt v 2-2; leg IV Fm d 1-1-1, pr 0-1-1, rl 0-1-1, Ti v 2-2, pr 1-1, rl 1-1, Mt v 2-1; leg formula 3421; measurements leg I 11.10 (3.08, 1.33, 3.10, 2.22, 1.37); leg II 12.43 (3.26, 1.47, 3.55, 2.69, 1.46); leg III 14.23 (3.81, 1.18, 3.80, 3.40, 2.04); leg IV 12.54 (3.76, 1.08, 3.19, 3.02, 1.49). Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-2; 2.60 (0.63, 0.46, 0.51, 1.00); Ti dark dorsally, with marking extended to both pro- and retrolateral sides, basal half of Cy with dark marks dorsally (Figs 64D , 65D, E , 69A-C ) both vRTA and dRTA short, striae present on dRTA; rbcp large; Cy round triangular, extended retrobasally (Fig. 69C ); C large but mostly restricted to medioapical part of bulb, TS covering part of C, CS covering ~ 1/2 of E, medially unsclerotized, sclerotized more distally, tip very sclerotized, ventrally projecting arch at point where unsclerotized area comes into contact with more sclerotized area, sclerotized projection directed retrolaterally, narrowed to flattened, pointed tip directed ventrally, groove along extended distal part; E short, arising from very large TL at ~ 9 o’clock, hooked, ending at ~ 1 o’clock; MA broad throughout, only slightly narrowing distally, not very sclerotized, distal portion gently curled.

Female. The description of the female can be found in Crews (2013).

Variation.

Additional males were measured and size ranges from 4.01-4.77. Specimen sel_1187 was smaller overall, with smaller features in general and also darker than sel_1174.

Distribution.

Known from only the Hamersley subregion of the Pilbara, Western Australia (Fig. 68C, E, F , Map 9A, B ).

Natural history.

Males have matured in captivity and in nature in September and October, a dry time, transitioning from cool to hot. Females have been collected in February and March, a hot, wet time of the year (Suppl. material 2: tables S1, S21).

Discussion.

The palps of sel_1198 (WAM T155574) were stuck in the exuvia when molting, but the species could be determined by the RTA and molecular data (Fig. 65C-E ). The distribution overlaps that of Karaops nyangumarta , is close to that of K. martamarta , and perhaps overlaps with K. morganoconnelli sp. nov. However, none of the different species examined are known to have ever been taken from the same place at the same time.

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 64. Karaops spp. from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops sp. Harding Dam B Karaops banyjima, adult male, palps not fully developed, Newman-Port Hedland Road (sel _ 1198, WAM T 155574) C Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., holotype male, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range National Park (sel _ 1136, WAM T 155512) D Karaops banyjima, adult male, Dale's Gorge, Karijini National Park (sel _ 1187, WAM T 155563). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figure 65. Karaops durrantorum sp. nov. and Karaops banyjima from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., holotype male, palp ventral, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range National Park (sel _ 1136; WAM T 155512); TS = Tegular sheath, CS = Conductor sheath B same, retrolateral C Karaops banyjima, adult male, palp, ventral, palps not fully developed, Newman-Port Hedland Road (sel _ 1198, WAM T 155574) D same, retrolateral E same, dorsal F Karaops banyjima, adult male, ~ 1.5 km from Hamersley Gorge on side of road (sel _ 1174, WAM T 155550). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C-E); 2 mm (F).

Figure 66. Karaops spp. from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., holotype male, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range National Park (sel _ 1136, WAM T 155512) B Karaops banyjima, adult male, face, palps not fully developed, Newman-Port Hedland Road (sel _ 1198, WAM T 155574) C Mandu Mandu Gorge, habitat of Karaops durrantorum sp. nov. D Karaops yurlburr, holotype female, Python Pool, Millstream-Chichester National Park (WAM T 79403) E Karaops banyjima, holotype female, NW of Newman (WAM T 101159) F Karaops yurlburr, holotype male, Python Pool, Millstream-Chichester National Park (WAM T 79403) G Karaops ngarluma, holotype male, SW of Roebourne (WAM T 79396). Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 67. Karaops banyjima A adult male, ~ 1.5 km from Hamersley Gorge on side of road (sel _ 1174, WAM T 155550) B adult male, Dale's Gorge, Karijini National Park (sel _ 1187, WAM T 155563).

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).