Araneus hamiltoni (Rainbow, 1893)

W. Framenau, Volker, 2019, Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions, Evolutionary Systematics 3 (1), pp. 1-27 : 16

Araneus hamiltoni (Rainbow, 1893)

Epeira hamiltoni Rainbow, 1893: 21-23, plate 3, figs 7, 7a.

Araneus hamiltoni (Rainbow). Rainbow 1911: 186; Bonnet 1955: 516.

Aranea hamiltoni (Rainbow). Roewer 1942: 828.

Type material.

Holotype of Epeira hamiltoni Rainbow, 1893: female, Guntawang, near Mudgee [32°23'S, 149°29'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA], A.G. Hamilton (whereabouts unknown).

Remarks.

The holotype female of Epeira hamiltoni is not present in the Australian Museum and must be considered lost. The original stylised description of the epigyne suggests close affinities with Araneus lodicula (Keyserling, 1887), Araneus brisbanae (L. Koch, 1867) or Araneus lutulentus (Keyserling, 1886), none of which are true Araneus (see Scharff et al. in press). With the presumed loss of the type it is not possible to accurately identify this species and I consider it a nomen dubium.