Miturgopelma archeri, Raven & Hebron & Williams, 2023

Raven, Robert J., Hebron, Wendy & Williams, Kylie, 2023, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders VI: five new stripe-less miturgid genera and 48 new species (Miturgidae: Miturginae), Zootaxa 5358 (1), pp. 1-117 : 17-19

Miturgopelma archeri sp. nov.

Fig. 7

Diagnosis. Differs from males of Miturgopelma kinchega sp. nov. in the short, not trianguloid vRTA and the ridge like median apophysis making it appear truncate in ventral view ( Fig. 7a ). Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is a patronym in honour of Professor Michael Archer, who, while at the Queensland Museum, recognised the significance of the Riversleigh fossil site, the type locality.

Type material. Queensland: male holotype, Riversleigh , site D, lagoon, 18°52’12.108”S 139°05’17.88”E, 123 m, 10 Jul–24 Sep 2006, R . Raven, B. Baehr, A. Amey, Pitfall Trap, QM S77092 .

Paratype. 1 male, same data as holotype, QM S77085 .

Description. Male, holotype QM S77092

Carapace 2.92 long, 2.27 wide. Opisthosoma 2.39 long, 1.91 wide. Total 4.3. Legs damaged.

Colour in alcohol. Carapace yellowish with faintly discernible dark lateral scallops; opisthosoma dorsally pallid with black thread like lines forming faint ostiate pattern; legs pallid.

Eyes. PME slightly biggest. AER just form two rows; PER with 15% overlap.

Palp. RTA with blunt vRTA with folded tip, dRTA a short twisted triangular process with shallowly bifid tip. Cymbium with very narrow retrolateral groove in basal third. Bulb with large shield-like tegulum retrolaterally; embolus arising mid-prolaterad, tapers quickly. Median apophysis broad, short, with short, pointed apex aligned to appear blunt from below.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from the famous fossil site in northwestern Queensland, Riversleigh, a rocky area of sparse dry vegetation.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Miturgopelma archeri sp. nov., male holotype, QM S77092, palpal bulb, cymbium and tibia: a, ventral view; b, c, median apophysis, two slightly different retrolateral views; d, RTA, dorsal view; e, habitus, dorsal view.