Xistera serpentine, 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 : 114

Xistera serpentine sp. nov.

Fig. 88

Diagnosis. Males most closely resemble those of Xis. auriphila sp. nov. but differ in the relatively shorter RTA ( Fig. 88b ) and the presence of a long, shallow groove on the retromargin of the cymbium ( Fig. 88c ). Xis. serpentine can be distinguished from those of Xis. jandateae sp. nov. in the two basal lobes of the RTA forming a collar rather than a simple lobe ( Fig. 88d ). Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition from one of the localities of the species.

Type Material. South Australia: male holotype, Central Ra., Mt Kintore, 8.5 km NW, 26°30’09”S, 130°25’43”E, 10 May 1994, Pitjantjatjara Lands Survey , SAM NN1998.339 .

Paratypes. 1 ma., Serpentine Lakes at base of cliff, 28°30’S 129°00’E., D. Hirst, 17Apr 1994, SAM NN1998.81 – 83 ; 1 ma., Serpentine Lakes near cliff, 28°30’S 129°00’E., D. Hirst, 18 Apr 1994, SAM NN1998.354 ; 1 ma., 10 km SSE Coongie, 27°16’15”S 140°10’20”E, 11 Feb 1987, J. Reid / Coongie Lake survey, SAM NN1998.361 .

Description. Male, holotype SAM NN1998.339

Carapace 3.29 long, 2.36 wide. Opisthosoma 3.85 long, 2.39 wide. Total, 7.1 long.

I: 2.64; 1.43; 2.71; 2.67; 1.86; 11.31. II: 3.06; 1.40; 2.25; 2.62; 1.93; 11.26. III: 3.17; 1.21; 2.30; 2.33; 1.55; 10.56. IV: 4.38; 1.29; 2.79; 4.75; 1.98; 15.19. Palp: 1.39; 0.56; 0.68; -; 0.68; 3.32.

Colour in alcohol. Carapace dark brown, centrally with pallid bulb shaped area; irregular dark narrow submarginal bands forming scallops and dark anterior striae. Opisthosoma dorsally brown with darker ostiae region forming 4 faintly discernible lighter paired ovoid patches; ventrally pallid. Legs with irregular dark bands on femora to metatarsi. Eyes in two recurved rows, PER makes two rows; AME not enlarged.

Palp. RTA: basal lobes clearly subequal; distal process with long narrow groove extending only to basal quarter of cymbium. Cymbium with shallow but distinct retrolateral groove for ca. 5/6 length of cymbium, forming wide flare distally. Embolus origin retrobasal, with prolateral flare; embolus directed at 4–5 o’clock, tapering quickly. Tegulum with prolateral tongue-like origin with mound at base of median apophysis itself basally flared but medially unsclerotised to short, curved hook. Subtegulum prolateral reniform; separate from flared sclerotised distal portion with unsclerotised curved area terminating in small unsclerotised conductor.

Distribution. Known only from Central Range and Serpentine Lakes, South Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 88. Xistera serpentine sp. nov., male holotype, SAM NN1998.339: a, habitus, dorsal view; b–d, palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral (b), retroventral (c) and retrolateral (d) views.