Karaops dalmanyi, Crews, 2023

Crews, Sarah C., 2023, But wait, there's more! Descriptions of new species and undescribed sexes of flattie spiders (Araneae, Selenopidae, Karaops) from Australia, ZooKeys 1150, pp. 1-189 : 1

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1150.93760

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A38C5FB6-9F66-4F85-8788-AAA53D21704D

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/421A1161-15FF-4C1B-BAD1-48B429F74DB5

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:421A1161-15FF-4C1B-BAD1-48B429F74DB5

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Karaops dalmanyi
status

sp. nov.

Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov.

Figs 22D, E View Figure 22 , 23A-C View Figure 23 , 24A-C View Figure 24 , 25A-F View Figure 25 , 26A-C View Figure 26 , 27A, B, E, F View Figure 27 , Maps 1 View Map 1 , 7 View Map 7

Material examined.

Holotype: Western Australia • ♀; Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge), vic. Dulundi (Silent Grove) Campground , 8 km from Imintji Roadhouse ; 16°59'58.28"S, 125°12'25.33"E; ~ 319 m; 20 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; on rocks and a tree at night in gorge; sel_1236; (WAM T155612) GoogleMaps . Paratype: ♂ (reared in captivity); same data as previous; sel_1233; (WAM T155609) GoogleMaps . Other material examined: 2 ♂ (reared in captivity), 2 imm.; same data as previous; sel_1234-1235, 1237-1238; (WAM T155610-T155611, T155613-T155614) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

The female of Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov. (Figs 23C View Figure 23 , 24A View Figure 24 ) can be distinguished from the other species in the Kimberley group by the genitalia. In dorsal view, the atrium that leads to the copulatory ducts narrows, then widens, leading to the spermathecae and accessory bulbs. The atrium extends anteriorly beyond the accessory bulbs (Fig. 23A, B View Figure 23 ). In all other species, the sides of the atrium are straight or only widen, and the atrium does not extend anteriorly beyond the accessory bulbs.

The male can be distinguished from the other members of the group except for Karaops alanlongbottomi by the conductor (Fig. 26B View Figure 26 ). The tip is extended toward the retrolateral side of the palp, beyond the medial part of the conductor. In K. alanlongbottomi , the median apophysis is small, the tegular lobe is small and located at ~ 3-4 o’clock, and the embolus follows the edge of the cymbium. In K. dalmanyi sp. nov., the median apophysis is large, the tegular lobe is not small and is located at 5-6 o’clock, and the embolus is more toward the middle than the edge of the cymbium.

Description.

Female (holotype). Total length 7.01. Carapace: length 3.90, width 4.39. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two teeth. Eyes: AER slightly recurved, PER recurved; diameters AME 0.15, ALE 0.11, PME 0.21, PLE 0.32; interdistances AME-PME 0.05, PME-PLE 0.16, ALE-PLE 0.29, PME-PME 0.88, ALE-ALE 1.37, AME-AME 0.43, PLE-PLE 1.70. Sternum: length 2.20, width 2.10. Abdomen: length 3.11, width 3.36. Color (in life Figs 23C View Figure 23 , 24A, B View Figure 24 /preserved Fig. 23D View Figure 23 ): Carapace: golden brown with two dark patches medially on either side of fovea/tan to orange, dark patches more orangish, not as distinct as in live animal, with short, thick, sparse but evenly distributed, pale and darker colored slender setae, setae around eyes. Chelicerae: yellowish white, paturon with a longitudinal, curved, dark mark anteriorly, like a little mustache/mark faded. Maxillae: yellowish white. Labium: orangish, pale distally. Sternum: yellowish white, with pale setae laterally, darker toward anterior. Abdomen: dorsally golden tan with dark spots anteriorly and laterally, not dark in cardiac area, two dark patches medially, chevrons posteriorly/orange-brown with black spots; ventrally yellowish gray. Spinnerets: anterior orange-tan, without marks. Legs: yellow, Cx, Tr with dark marks prolaterally; Fm with dark flecks nearly connecting into full annulations, but not encircling entire leg, dark annulation at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with dark annulation at Pt-Ti joint, another distal to that, but not at joint, one at Ti-Mt joint, one at Mt-Ta joint; Ta tip dark; macrosetae orangish basally, darker distally; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg III missing; leg IV missing; measurements leg I 14.94 (4.24, 1.80, 4.29, 3.17, 1.43); leg II 17.14 (5.43, 1.93, 4.50, 3.86, 1.43); leg III missing; leg IV missing. Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-3; 3.73 (1.16, 0.75, 0.75, 1.07); claw with ~ 9 teeth. Epigyne: EP triangular; MF with sclerotized area medially, more broadly separated, then narrowed, with atrium; LLs with posterior suture, COs in atrium. Endogyne: At conspicuous in dorsal view, CDs short, wide, lead to ABs, S; ABs do not extend beyond anterior part of At; S + ABs allantoid; FDs directed anterolaterally; small pdf.

Male (paratype) (Fig. 22D View Figure 22 ). Total length 6.11. Carapace length 2.82, width 3.01. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER strongly recurved; diameters AME 0.16, ALE 0.07, PME 0.28, PLE 0.37; interdistances AME-PME 0.06, PME-ALE 0.20, ALE-PLE 0.29, PME-PME 0.94, ALE-ALE 1.30, AME-AME 0.48, PLE-PLE 1.67. Abdomen: length 3.29, width 2.68. Color (in life Figs 25A, C View Figure 25 , 26A View Figure 26 , 27A View Figure 27 , 28E View Figure 28 /preserved Fig. 22D, E View Figure 22 ): Carapace: tan with darker brown marks medially on either side of fovea, smaller brown patches laterally/in nature, spider grayer overall (Figs 23C View Figure 23 , 24A, B View Figure 24 )/yellowish white, darker markings barely visible; setae as in female. Chelicerae: yellowish orange, paturon with a longitudinal curved mark frontally, setae pale, sparse. Maxillae: yellowish white. Labium: dusky, pale distally. Sternum: yellowish white. Abdomen: dorsally golden tan with dark brown spots anteriorly, laterally, slightly dark in cardiac area, two dark patches medially, chevrons posteriorly/orange-red with black spots; ventrally yellowish white. Legs: yellow with black marks, Cx, Tr with dark spot prolaterally, Fm with dots, jagged lines that do not completely encircle legs, Pt with annulation at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with annulations at Pt-Ti joint and ~ midway toward Mt, Mt with dark annulations at Ti-Mt joint and Mt-Ta joint, Ta dark distally; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pl 1-1-0, Ti d 1-1-1, v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg III Fm d 1-1-1, rl 0-0-1, Ti v 2-2-2, Mt 2; leg IV Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1-1, v 0-1-1, Ti v 2-2, pr 0-1, rl 1-1, Mtpr 1; leg formula 3241; measurements leg I 12.62 (3.76, 1.40, 3.49, 2.40, 1.57); leg II 16.13 (5.00, 1.82, 4.38, 3.22, 1.71); leg III 16.85 (5.37, 1.67, 4.49, 3.71, 1.61); leg IV 14.52 (4.53, 1.35, 3.87, 3.13, 1.64). Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-2; 2.55 (0.7, 0.4, 0.65, 0.8); dark marks dorsally at Pt-Ti joint, one on Pt, one on Ti, Cy with dusky mark basally; dRTA with two apophyses, one furthest from Cy long, narrow, pointed, slightly curved ventrally, other small, triangular, not visible in ventral view, vRTA in ventral view long, rounded, slightly plicate; palpal Ti noticeably long; rbcp smallish; Cy triangular; C crescent shaped, distally narrowed, directed retrolaterally, with CS, mpc protruded, squared off, curved laterally, C extended ventrally at angle so anterior, distal-most part extends furthest (Figs 25E, F View Figure 25 , 27E, F View Figure 27 ); E hook shaped, arises from medium-sized TL with slightly ribbed part next to MA, begins at approximately 6 o’clock, ends at approximately 12 o'clock, most hidden by CS, between middle of bulb and edge of Cy; MA not very sclerotized, very long, thin, with slightly sclerotized flattened knob distally, projected ventrally.

Variation.

(n = 3) Rearing produced three adult males. The abdomen of sel_1234 is similar to the paratype, but the cardiac area is dark (Figs 25A View Figure 25 , 28E View Figure 28 ). Total length ranges from 4.40-6.11. The leg formula in sel_1237 is 2341; however, in groups where legs often come off and regenerate, leg formulae and spination vary. There is also some variation in the RTA (Figs 25B, D-F View Figure 25 , 26B View Figure 26 , 27B, E, F View Figure 27 ).

Etymology.

The species name is the Ungarinyin word for the type locality. Noun in apposition.

Distribution.

Known from only the type locality, Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge), in the Kimberley region, Western Australia (Fig. 24C View Figure 24 , Map 7 View Map 7 ).

Natural history.

Dalmanyi is located in the Pentecost subregion of the Central Kimberley bioregion. It is a mountainous area with a dry, hot tropical and sub-humid to semi-arid climate with summer rainfall and a total of 750-1000 mm/year. This subregion is largely sandstone. The vegetation is Triodia Brown spp. hummock grasses and savannah woodlands of eucalypts ( Graham 2001d). Adults seem to be common in the cooler, drier season.

Juveniles and four penultimate males and penultimate females were collected in May, a month when it is becoming drier and cooler. All adults matured in captivity from June-Sep., in the dry cool part of the year, the dry-getting warmer part of the year, and the dry, hot part of the year. None during what would be the wettest time of year. The female and a male lived for three months after maturity, whereas the other males died within a month of reaching maturity. Most specimens of this species were found on rock walls at night. This is one of the few localities where a spider (a single spider) from the Kimberley group was found on a tree rather than rocks (Suppl. material 2: tables S1, S8).

Discussion.

In the bioregion and subregion, rainforest patches are areas of endemism for some invertebrate taxa, with dry ones acting as refugia during the dry season. Sandstone can also act as refugia to protect organisms from fire. There have been no systematic faunal surveys in the region.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Selenopidae

Genus

Karaops