Miturgopelma rangerstaceyae, 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 : 60-62

Miturgopelma rangerstaceyae sp. nov.

Figs 47–48

Diagnosis. Most closely resembles the geographically remote Tasmanian Miturgopelma paruwi sp. nov. but differs by lacking a keel on the ventral palpal tibia, the more dominant tegulum and the trianguloid median apophysis. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is in honour of television presenter, Ranger Stacey Thomson, whose endless enthusiasm no doubt infected many children to pay attention to nature and was much appreciated by parents and teachers.

Type Material. Queensland: male holotype, Ayrshire Hills, Allen Range , NW of Winton, 22°35’9.4’S 142°56’14”E, 227m, pitfall traps, 29 Jun–7 Sep 2006, R . Raven, B. Baehr, A. Amey, QM S109279 .

Description. Male, holotype QM S109279

Carapace 2.83 long, 2.06 wide. Opisthosoma 2.00 long, 1.80 wide. Total, 4.8.

Colour in alcohol. Carapace fawn with dark broad scallops submarginally; opisthosoma contracted but pallid with dark flecking. Legs damaged, pallid.

Eyes. AME not enlarged; ca. 15–20% overlap of eyes in AER and PER.

Palp. Tibia without ventral keel. Cymbium with dorsal scopula. RTA ventrally a broadly rounded triangular lobe; dorsal lobe spine-like but apically truncate. Bulb with large shield-like tegulum over retrolateral length; embolus quickly tapers from prolaterad origin at distal half. Median apophysis basally fragmented with broad triangular tip with short, rounded tip.

Distribution & Habitat. Known only from almost tree-less plains at the Allen Range, northwest of Winton,

Queensland.

Figures

FIGURE 47. Miturgopelma rangerstaceyae sp. nov., male holotype, QM S109279: a, b, male palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a) and retrolateral (b) views; c, habitus, dorsal view.

FIGURE 48. Miturgopelma rangerstaceyae sp. nov., male holotype, QM S109279: a, b, male palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (a) and retrolateral (b) views.