Misgolas taiti, 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 : 61-62

Misgolas taiti n.sp.

Figs 10A–F , 24C

Not Misgolas hubbardi Wishart, 1992 .–Wishart & Rowell, 1997; removed from inclusion under M. hubbardi in the present work.

Type material. HOLOTYPE?, AM KS5209 , Lochinvar (32°42'S 151°27'E), 12 May 1980, Bell (collector) . PARATYPE?, AM KS3518 , Oakhampton (32°42'S 151°34'E), 13 Aug. 1979, Learmouth (collector). Both type specimens brittle as if preserved some time post death .

Diagnosis. In male: large dark tan spiders, carapace length c. 8.6–9.3; retrodorsal surface of metatarsi IV without spines or with weak spinules ( Fig. 10D ); spines absent on all tarsi ( Fig. 10E ); venter with pattern of brown speckles most concentrated in median longitudinal band ( Fig. 10F ). Palpal bulb ( Fig. 10B,C ) retrolateral embolic flange with c. 10 folds; embolic apophysis placed c. one-third of way from embolus tip towards embolic flange and bent over 90° appearing retrolaterally placed, apex flat, not thornlike. Conformation of palp as figured ( Fig. 10A ). Female not known.

Description

Male holotype ( Fig. 10A–F ). Size. Carapace length 8.63, width 7.35. Abdomen length 10.61, width 6.27. Colour. In alcohol carapace, legs, palps and chelicerae dark tan. Dark brown smudges absent from lateral limb surfaces. Fine grey hairs on carapace anterior to fovea and proximal limb segments. Abdomen dorsum dark brown with pattern of pallid bands in bilateral series of six. Venter ( Fig. 10F ) pallid with brown speckles most concentrated in median longitudinal band. Carapace. Edge fringed with black bristles that encroach onto posterior third of post foveal surface. Line of c. 6 median bristles on caput arch. Group of 5 broken bristles between PME; 7 posteriorly inclined bristles on clypeus; group of c. 10 smaller setae on weakly chitinous area extending onto pleuron membrane below clypeus. Fovea width 1.70, slightly recurved, edges recurved, posterior wall centrally divided by pitted intrusion. Eyes. Raised on mound, area immediately adjacent to eyes black excepting PME; anterior width 1.43, posterior width 1.31, length 0.90, width/length ratio 1.59. Line joining posterior edges of ALE bisects AME. Posterior row procurved in front, recurved behind. Chelicerae. Rastellum row of 4(6) spines on anteroental edge. Several more retreating behind. Fang groove teeth & intercheliceral tumescence detail not visible without damaging chelicerae. Labium. Bulbous, length 1.07, width 1.36. Labio-sternal suture broad, continuous. Maxillae c. 70(68) short blunt anteroental cuspules. Sternum. Bulbous. Length 5.58, width 3.82. Sigilla all round, equal size; anterior pair close to margin, mid pair their own diameter from margin, posterior pair twice their diameter from margin. Legs. Tibia I with distal bifid apophysis; distal process with 2(2) short straight spines, proximal process with 5(4) long compact spines arising from base of apophysis process.

palp I II III IV femur 5.22 9.60 7.74 6.20 8.04 patella 2.39 4.31 3.92 3.13 4.02 tibia 4.97 6.08 5.49 3.87 7.25 metatarsus — 6.17 5.78 5.40 7.35 tarsus 2.45 3.43 3.33 3.38 3.82 total 15.03 29.59 26.26 21.98 30.48

Palp ( Fig. 10A ). Cymbium with c. 90 short (longer on lateral edges of group), blunt spines anteriorly inclined c. 45° to cymbium axis and distributed over distal third of d surface. RTA d surface swollen midway, covered with squat pointed d spines which continue onto rv edge of tibial excavation; rv edge of excavation with extended brush of c. 26 long spines. DTA hooked, devoid of long spines. TEM prominent, pallid, adjacent to RTA. TET distinct on pl base of TEM. Bulb. ( Fig. 10B,C ) Embolic rl flange with c. 10 fine folds, margin straight. Embolus narrow, apophysis placed c. third of way from embolus tip towards embolic flange, bent over 90° appearing rl placed on embolus; apophysis apex flat, not thornlike. Scopula. Dense and complete on all tarsi; dense on distal three-quarters of metatarsi I, distal half of metatarsi II, thin on distal third of metatarsi III, a remnant only on metatarsi IV. Trichobothria. Palp: tarsi 9, tibia pd 6, rd 8. Leg I: tarsi 14, metatarsi 13, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg II: tarsi 14, metatarsi 13, tibia pd 8, rd 7. Leg III: tarsi 12, metatarsi 14, tibia pd 7, rd 8. Leg IV: tarsi 15, metatarsi 16, tibia pd 8, rd 7. Leg spination. ( Fig. 10D,E ) Spines absent on all tarsi. Leg I: metatarsi v 012, pl 010; tibia v 011112. Leg II: metatarsi v 012, pl 010; tibia v 7 scattered, pd 0110. Leg III: metatarsi v and bilateral c. 22 scattered, d 002220; tibia v 0123, pl 0110; patella pd 11. Leg IV: metatarsi v 11 scattered. Abdomen. Separated. Dorsum covered with long brown weak bristles. Shorter prostrate weak bristles cover venter.

Etymology. The species is named in recognition of Dr Noel Tait whose work over many years has contributed greatly to our understanding of Australian invertebrate wildlife.

Distribution and natural history. ( Fig. 24C ) This species is known only from the type localities, the neighbouring towns of Lochinvar and Oakhampton, N.S.W. The burrow is unknown.

Figures

Fig. 10. Misgolas taiti n.sp. A–F?, holotype AM KS5209: (A) right palp retrolateral. (B,C), right bulb: B, dorsal; C, prolateral. (D), right leg IV retrolateral. (E), right tarsus I ventral. (F), venter.

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).