Misgolas sydjordanae, 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 : 62-64

Misgolas sydjordanae n.sp.

Figs 11A–H , 24C

Type material. HOLOTYPE?, AM KS16132 , Kerewong State Forest , nr Lorne, (31°36'S 152°34'E), 7 Nov.–10 Dec. 1978, pit fall trap field No. 1559, D. Milledge. Specimen, possibly first preserved in formalin, brittle & easily damaged.

Diagnosis. In male: large dark brown spider, carapace length c. 8.13; retrodorsal surface of metatarsi IV usually without spines ( Fig. 11D ); venter entirely dark brown ( Fig. 11F ). All tarsi & metatarsi I & II without spines ( Fig. 11G,H ). Palpal bulb ( Fig. 11B,C ) retrolateral embolic flange with c. 7 fine major folds, c. 3 minor folds; embolus straight with subdistal dorsal apophysis. Distal tibial apophysis long, straight, horizontal ( Fig. 11A ); cymbium dorsal surface almost entirely covered with numerous short spines as figured ( Fig. 11E ). Female not known.

Description

Male holotype ( Fig. 11A–H ). Size. Carapace length 8.13, width 7.16. Abdomen length 9.02, width 5.78. Colour. In alcohol chelicerae, carapace, abdomen & all femora dark brown; distal limb segments lighter. Dark brown smudges absent from lateral limb surfaces. Abdomen dorsum with 4 inconspicuous pale transverse chevrons. Fine pallid reflective hairs bedeck carapace & proximal limb segments. Venter entirely dark brown. Carapace. Edge fringed with long black bristles which encroach onto posterior third of post foveal surface. Posterior edge truncate. Line of c. 17 median bristles on caput arch (some rubbed off); group of 4 between PME, 15 on clypeus. Weakly chitinous area below clypeus on pleuron membrane with c. 8 setae. Fovea width 1.89, slightly procurved, deep; posterior wall not pitted. Eyes. Raised on mound. Area immediately adjacent to eyes black; anterior width 1.54, posterior width 1.28, width/ length ratio 1.86. Posterior row recurved in front & behind. Chelicerae. Rastellum row of 6(7) spines, c. 5(5) disordered behind. Fang groove, teeth & intercheliceral tumescence detail not visible without damaging chelicerae. Labium. Low, length 0.72, width 1.25. Labio-sternal suture deep, narrow, continuous. Maxillae c. 64(72) short, blunt, anteroentally widespread cuspules. Sternum. Bulbous, length 4.79, width 3.62. Sigilla all small, round; anterior pair 1 diameter from margin, mid-pair 2 diameters from margin, posterior pair three diameters from margin. Legs. Tibia I with distal bifid apophysis. Distal process with 2 long blunt spines separated by 1 short blunt spine; proximal process with 3(3) long pointed spines.

palp I II III IV femur 4.61 6.86 5.98 5.22 7.25 patella 2.21 3.82 3.43 2.82 3.63 tibia 3.43 4.51 3.92 2.70 6.08 metatarsus — 4.00 4.31 3.87 5.88 tarsus 1.84 2.84 2.65 2.39 2.84 total 12.09 22.03 20.29 17.00 25.68

Palp ( Fig. 11A,E ). Cymbium with c. 100 short, mucronate spines anteriorly inclined c. 45° to cymbium axis & distributed over distal five-sixths of d surface. RTA d & rd surfaces covered with squat pointed spines; tibial excavation rv edge & long straight horizontal DTA suspends continuous band of numerous longer spines. TEM prominent, adjacent to RTA, pl face weakly chitinous bearing prominent TET. Bulb. ( Fig. 11B,C ) Embolic rl flange with c. 7 fine major folds and c. 3 minor folds; margin straight. Embolus straight with subdistal d thorn shaped apophysis. Scopula. Complete on all tarsi. Weaker & complete on metatarsi I, II and III. Weak & incomplete on metatarsi IV. Trichobothria. Palp: tarsi 7, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg I: tarsi 15, metatarsi 16, tibia pd 7, rd 6. Leg II: tarsi 10, metatarsi 12, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg III: tarsi 9, metatarsi 8, pd 5, rd 6. Leg IV: tarsi 11, metatarsi 13, tibia pd 8, rd 6. Leg spination. ( Fig. 11D,G,H ) Spines absent on all tarsi & metatarsi I & II. Leg I: tibia v 0110. Leg II: tibia v 0111. Leg III: metatarsi pd 011010, rd 001110, pl 001000; tibia v 011, pd 01010, rd 00010; patella pd 8. Leg IV: metatarsi v 0100101, rd evidence of lost spine c. midway (absent on left metatarsi), tibia v 21112. Abdomen. Dorsum covered with long brown bristles with underlying prostrate pallid hairs. Venter covered with shorter, weaker bristles.

Etymology. The species is named in recognition of Dr Sydney Jordan, innovative trapdoor spider behaviour specialist.

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

Figures

Fig. 11. Misgolas sydjordanae n.sp. A–H?, holotype AM KS16132: (A), right palp retrolateral. (B,C), right bulb: B, dorsal; C, prolateral. (D), right tarsus and metatarsus IV retrolateral. (E), right cymbium dorsal. (F), venter. (G), right tarsus and metatarsus I retrolateral. (H), right tarsus and metatarsus II retrolateral.

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).