Misgolas weigelorum, Wishart & Rowell, 2008

Wishart, Graham & Rowell, David M., 2008, Trapdoor Spiders of the Genus Misgolas (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) from Eastern New South Wales, With Notes on Genetic Variation, Records of the Australian Museum 60 (1), pp. 45-86 : 60-61

Misgolas weigelorum n.sp.

Figs 9A–F , 24C

Type material. HOLOTYPE?, AM KS10406 , Gosford (33°26'S 151°20'E), 10 Jan. 1982, Ramon Mascord.

Diagnosis. In male: medium sized brown spider, carapace length c. 6.44; retrodorsal surface of metatarsi IV with at least one spine ( Fig. 9E ); venter with dark brown pattern as figured ( Fig. 9F ). Palpal bulb ( Fig. 9B,C ) with retrolateral embolic flange edge gently curved, with 5 prominent folds and 2–3 minor folds; embolus tip with slight prolateral bend; erect dorsal apophysis placed about midway on embolus. Palpal tibia as figured ( Fig. 9A ); cymbium distal dorsal surface with weak pallid skewer-like bristles, spines absent ( Fig. 9D ). Female not known.

Description

Male holotype ( Fig. 9A–F ). Size. Carapace length 6.44, width 5.22. Abdomen length 6.08, width 4.17. Colour. In alcohol chelicerae, prosoma and limbs mid tan. Weak dark brown smudges perceptible on lateral surfaces of patella and tibia. Abdomen dorsum dark brown bearing 6 pallid transverse chevrons. Venter pallid with pattern of dark brown blotches most concentrated on posterior third ( Fig. 9F ). Carapace. Edge with fringe of long black bristles which encroach onto and cover posterior third of post foveal surface. Remains of line of c. 12 median setae on caput arch and remains of c. 8 setae between PME; 12 bristles on clypeus together with fine pallid setae; weakly chitinous pleuron membrane below clypeus with 3 bristles and few pallid setae. Fine golden hairs concentrated along side edge of anterior half of carapace. Fovea width 1.17, slightly recurved; posterior wall centrally divided by pitted intrusion. Eyes. Raised on mound. Area immediately adjacent to eyes black. Anterior width 1.07, posterior width 1.02, length 0.74, width/length ratio 1.45. Line joining posterior edges of ALE transects anterior quarter of AME. Posterior row straight in front, recurved behind. Chelicerae. Rastellum single row of 7(7) spines. Intercheliceral tumescence detail not visible without damaging chelicerae. Fang groove with 8(8) promarginal teeth and 12(10) smaller retromarginal/intermediate row teeth. Labium. Length 0.67, width 1.00. Labio-sternal suture continuous, narrow, broadening laterally. Maxillae c. 53(50) anteroental elongate pointed cuspules, many terminated by a hair. Sternum. Length 3.68, width 2.58. Sigilla all round: Anterior pairs small, first pair own diameter from margin, second pair twice diameter from margin, posterior pair larger & three diameters from margin. Legs. Tibia I with apical bifid apophysis. Distal process surmounted by 2(2) short pointed spines. Proximal process surmounted by 2(2) long pointed spines, right process basally supporting long erect spine appearing as a megaspine.

palp I II III IV femur 3.67 6.20 5.71 4.61 6.14 patella 1.66 3.07 2.82 2.21 2.82 tibia 3.71 4.85 4.24 2.76 5.34 metatarsus — 5.28 4.45 3.96 5.65 tarsus 1.62 3.13 2.82 2.52 3.07 total 10.66 22.53 20.04 16.06 23.02

Palp ( Fig. 9A,D ). Many weak, long, pallid, skewer-like bristles point forward from cymbium distal d surface; spines absent. RTA without swelling, d and rd surfaces covered with short pointed spines. Brush of c.16 longer spines suspended from rv edge of tibial excavation. DTA hooked, with c. 15 short v spines. TEM large, pallid, hemispherical, contiguous with RTA; TET distinct on pl side of TEM. Bulb. ( Fig. 9B,C ) Embolic rl flange gently curved, with 5 major and c. 1–2 miner folds. Embolus straight, tip with slight pl bend. Embolic d apophysis erect, placed c. midway on embolus. Scopula. Complete on all tarsi, weak and incomplete on all metatarsi. Trichobothria. Palp: tarsi 11, tibia pd 6, rd 5. Leg I: tarsi 12, metatarsi 12, tibia pd 6, rd 5. Leg II: tarsi 12, metatarsi 11, tibia pd 6, rd 5. Leg III: tarsi 10, metatarsi 10, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg IV: tarsi 11, metatarsi 12, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg spination. Spines absent on all tarsi. Leg I: metatarsi v 010; tibia v 01112. Leg II: metatarsi v 011; tibia v 0113. Leg III: metatarsi v 013, pd 001110, rd 0001010; tibia v 0113, pd 0110, rd 0110; patella pd 7. Leg IV ( Fig. 9E ), metatarsi v 8, rd 010; tibia v 7, pd 00110, rd 010. Abdomen. Dorsum with cover of long brown bristles. Venter covered with shorter brown hairs.

dorsal; C, prolateral. (D), right cymbium dorsal. (E), right tarsus and metatarsus IV retrolateral. (F), venter.

Etymology. The species is named in recognition of Mr and Mrs John Weigel, proprietors of the Australian Reptile Park, Gosford, Australia and the source of countless spider specimens given to the Australian Museum, Sydney.

Distribution and natural history. ( Fig. 24C ) This species is known only from the type locality, the town of Gosford, N.S.W. The burrow is unknown.

Figures

Fig. 9. Misgolas weigelorum n.sp. A–F?, holotype AM KS10406: (A), right palp retrolateral. (B,C), right bulb: B,

Fig. 24. A–D. Distribution of Misgolas species in the New South Wales Central Coast (eastern Australia) based on material examined (Inset [Fig. 24A] with catchment area).