Carepalxis furcifera (Keyserling, 1886) Keyserling, 1886

W. Framenau, Volker, 2019, Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions, Evolutionary Systematics 3 (1), pp. 1-27 : 4

Carepalxis furcifera (Keyserling, 1886) comb. n.

Epeira furcifera Keyserling, 1886: 144-145, plate 12, figs 1, 1a.

Verrucosa furcifera (Keyserling). Archer 1951a: 20.

Types material.

Holotype of Epeira furcifera Keyserling, 1886: male, Rockhampton [23°22'S, 150°30'E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA], Museum Godeffroy (ZMH Rack (1961) -catalog 239) (examined).

Remarks.

The holotype male of Epeira furcifera clearly shows the somatic characters of Carepalxis as described by Levi (1991b), namely a domed carapace and two macrosetae on the tibia of the first leg. Unfortunately, the holotype is in poor condition and the pedipalps are missing, making a detailed evaluation of the genitalia impossible. However, the original description of the species by Keyserling (1886) clearly shows the typical, large C-shaped median apophysis of Carepalxis males as examined in many Australian specimens (unpublished data). Due to the lack of genitalia, it may not be possible to accurately identify this species pending a revision of Carepalxis for Australia. This will depend on a detailed evaluation of somatic characters in the genus and its diversity in the Rockhampton area, the type locality of E. furcifera . Based on the distinctive somatic features as listed above, I here transfer the species to Carepalxis , Carepalxis furcifera (Keyserling, 1886), comb. n.