Misgolas linklateri, 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 : 80-81

Misgolas linklateri n.sp.

Figs 22A–G , 24D

Type material. HOLOTYPE?, AM KS5460 , Kerewong State Forest , nr Lorne, site 108(2) (31°36'S 152°34'E), 15 July 1979, pit fall trap field No. 1597, litter, set 30 May 1979, collected 1 Sep. 1979, D. Milledge . PARATYPE?, AM KS5383 , Lorne State Forest , nr Lorne, site 86(3) (31°35'S 152°37'E), 15 July 1979, pit fall trap field No. 1593, litter, set 30 May 1979, collected 1 Sep. 1979, D. Milledge. Type specimens, possibly first preserved in formalin, brittle and easily damaged .

Diagnosis. In male: medium sized dark tan spider, carapace length c. 7.25–7.8; retrodorsal surface of metatarsi IV without spines ( Fig. 22D ); venter as figured ( Fig. 22F,G ). Spines absent on all tarsi. Palpal bulb ( Fig. 22B,C ) retrolateral embolic flange as figured with c. 6 folds plus c. 3 minor folds; embolus with prolateral curve, apophysis absent. Palp as figured ( Fig. 22A,E ); retrolateral tibial apophysis short, stout; distal tibial apophysis small, digitate. Cymbium dorsal surface with dense cover of short blunt sub-erect spines.

Description

Male holotype ( Fig. 22A–G ). Size. Carapace length 7.25, width 6.08. Abdomen length 7.18, width 4.36. Colour. In alcohol chelicerae, carapace and all femora dark tan; distal limb segments lighter, dark brown smudges absent. Pallid hairs on caput; sparse cover on inter stria and proximal limb segments. Abdomen dorsum dark brown with 6 inconspicuous pallid transverse chevrons. Venter pallid with many dense, evenly distributed dark brown small speckles ( Fig. 22F ), tending to be most dense along median band and central transverse band (refer paratype AM KS5383 , [ Fig. 22G ]) . Carapace. Edge fringed with black bristles which encroach onto posterior half of post foveal surface. Line of c. 18 weak median bristles on caput arch (some rubbed off); group of c. 12 between PME, 9 longer bristles and some weak setae on clypeus; c. 12 fine setae on weakly chitinous pleuron membrane below clypeus. Fovea width 1.41, straight, deep; posterior wall basally centrally divided by small pitted intrusion. Eyes. Raised on mound.Area immediately adjacent to eyes black; anterior width 1.34, posterior width 1.18, length 0.70, width/length ratio 1.91. Line joining posterior edges of ALE bisects AME. Posterior row straight in front, recurved behind. Chelicerae. Rastellum row of 7(7) spines, 6(6) smaller spines behind. Fang groove teeth and intercheliceral tumescence detail not visible without damaging chelicerae. Labium. Low. Length 0.87, width 3.19. Labio-sternal suture broad, narrowed centrally, continuous. Maxillae c. 28(28) small anteroental cuspules all surmounted by a fine hair. Sternum. Length 3.99, width 3.19. Sigilla round: anterior and mid pairs small, one diameter from margin; posterior pair larger, two diameters from margin. Legs. Tibia I with distal bifid apophysis. Distal process with 2(3) short spines, proximal process with 2(2) longer spines .

palp I II III IV femur 4.48 7.12 6.14 4.79 6.93 patella 2.29 3.50 3.25 2.52 3.38 tibia 3.51 5.28 4.48 2.76 6.08 metatarsus — 5.28 4.54 3.99 6.02 tarsus 1.94 3.07 2.82 2.52 3.01 total 12.22 24.25 21.23 16.58 25.42

Palp ( Fig. 22A,E ). Cymbium with bilateral brushes of long, pallid setae; c. 200 short blunt sub-erect spines distributed over distal five-sixths of d surface. Short, stout RTA, rd surface covered with squat pointed spines continuing along rv edge of tibial excavation onto DTA. DTA digitate, directed almost vertically downwards. TEM swollen, not pointed, contiguous with RTA, pl face chitinous bearing prominent TET. Bulb ( Fig. 22B,C ). Embolic rl flange with c. 6 folds plus c. 3 minor folds, margin gently curved, distally folded under pl curved embolus. Embolic apophysis absent, embolus tip complex. Scopula. Complete on all tarsi. Progressively weaker and reduced from metatarsi I to metatarsi IV. Trichobothria. Palp: tarsi 8, tibia pd 6, rd 5. Leg I: tarsi 12, metatarsi 12, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg II: tarsi 11, metatarsi 12, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg III: tarsi 10, metatarsi 8, tibia pd 6, rd 6. Leg IV: tarsi 12, metatarsi 11, tibia pd 6, rd 7. Leg spination. Absent on all tarsi. Leg I: tibia v 0111111. Leg II: metatarsi v 010; tibia v 0112. Leg III: metatarsi pd 0111110, rd 000110; tibia v 0113, pl 001110, rl 011; patella pd 10. Leg IV: ( Fig. 22D ) metatarsi v 010111; tibia v 012. Abdomen. Dorsum covered with long dark bristles with underlying prostrate pallid hairs. Venter covered with shorter weaker brown bristles.

Etymology. The species is named in recognition of neighbour and mentor, Dr Peter Linklater of Gerringong, NSW.

Distribution and natural history. ( Fig. 24D ) This spider is known only from the type localities, the Kerewong and Lorne State Forests near the town of Lorne, NSW. The burrow is unknown.

Misgolas chisholmi (Hickman, 1933) identity uncertain

This spider is known only from the type locality, described as the town of “Comboyne, New South Wales ” (31°35'S 152°28'E), a locality within the geographical bounds of this work ( Fig. 24B ). Because the type material is female with attendant character poor morphology it presently is not assigned an identity ( Wishart, 2006) .

Figures

Fig.22.Misgolas linklateri n.sp. A,E,G?, paratypeAM KS5383:(A), right palp retrolateral.(E), right cymbium dorsal.(G), venter.B,C,D,F?, holotype AM KS5460: (B,C), right bulb: B, dorsal; C, prolateral. (D), right tarsus and metatarsus IV retrolateral. (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).