Venomius tomhardyi, Rossi & Castanheira & Baptista & Framenau, 2023

Rossi, Giullia de F., Castanheira, Pedro de S., Baptista, Renner L. C. & Framenau, Volker W., 2023, Venomius, a new monotypic genus of Australian orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae), Evolutionary Systematics 7 (2), pp. 285-292 : 285

Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov.

Type specimen.

Holotype male, Launceston, Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area, Stolen Spice Trail, 41°26'33.58"S, 147°05'56.26"E, 10.i.2023, R. Baptista coll. (QVM:2023:13:0100).

Other material examined.

Australia: South Australia: 1 female, Coorong, Sandpiper Campground , 36°08'31.17"S, 139°38'24.15"E (HBI N30487 -7) ; 1 male, Coorong, saltpan near Sandpiper Campground , 36°08'39.09"S, 139°38'22.92"E (HBI N30488 -22) ; 12 females, 15 juveniles, same data (HBI N30488 -12) . Tasmania: 1 female, Bakers Beach , 41°08'35.55"S, 146°36'29.75"E, (QVM:2023:13:0102) ; 1 female, Launceston, Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area, Stolen Spice Trail , 41°26'33.58"S, 147°05'56.26"E (QVM:2023:13:0101) ; 1 male, 1 juvenile, Forth Falls , 41°23'S, 146°13'E (AM KS28876) . Victoria: 2 females, 1 male, Churchill , 38°18'S, 146°25'E (SAM) . Western Australia: 1 female, Hamersley Inlet Campground , 33°57'29.22"S, 119°54'59.28"E (HBI N30976 -32) ; 1 male, 12 females, same data (HBI N30976 -7) ; 1 male, Meelup Beach , 33°34'23.1"S, 115°05'13.6"E (WAM T73682 ) ; 1 male, 1 female, Yangebup Lake , 32°07'S, 115°49'E (WAM T85284 ) .

Etymology.

The species epithet is a patronym in reference to the English actor Edward Thomas “Tom” Hardy, who plays the character Eddie Brock and his alter-ego Venom in the super-hero films of the same name.

Diagnosis.

As for genus; Venomius gen. nov. is monotypic.

Description.

Male (based on holotype QVM:2023:13:0100): Total length 5.5. Carapace 2.5 long, 1.9 wide, orange-brown, with cephalic area and fovea mottled dark (Fig. 1A ). Row of eyes: AME 0.43, PME 0.37, PLE 0.82. Chelicerae orange-brown (Fig. 1B ). Leg femora orange-brown, distally darker; all other segments dorsally and ventrally black (Fig. 1A, B ); length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 2.2 + 0.5 + 2.0 + 1.8 +1.0 = 7.5, II - 1.2 + 0.8 + 1.4 + 1.0 + 0.9 = 5.3, III - 1.2 + 0.6 + 0.7 + 0.7 + 0.6 = 3.8, IV - 1.7 + 0.7 + 1.0 + 0.8 + 0.4 = 4.6. Labium 0.10 long, 0.40 wide, dark brown, maxillae orange-brown, both anteriorly pale (Fig. 1B ). Sternum 1.4 long, 0.8 wide, orange-brown mottled dark (Fig. 1B ). Abdomen 3.0 long, 2.5 wide, slightly narrower anteriorly, dorsally with pale yellow background and three large longitudinal black streaks that expand posteriorly to a large black patch, three pairs of small sigillae (Fig. 1A ); venter dark brown with a pair of two central pale spots; pale yellow mottled posterior of spinnerets (Fig. 1B ). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + cymbium = total length): 0.5 + 0.3 + 0.2 + 1.0 = 2.0; description as for genus (Figs 1C-E , 2A-D ).

Female (based on HBI N30976-7; except for internal genitalia which is QVM:2023:13:0101): Total length 9.1. Carapace 3.4 long, 2.6 wide; entirely black (Fig. 3A ). Row of eyes: AME 0.62, PME 0.55, PLE 1.53. Chelicerae black (Fig. 3B ). Leg femora dorsally and ventrally yellow; patellae, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi dorsally and ventrally black in legs I and II, tibiae II slightly lighter; patellae III and IV dorsally dark brown and ventrally yellow; tibiae III and IV dorsally and ventrally yellow; metatarsi III and IV and tarsi III and IV orange brown (Fig. 3A, B ). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total length): 1.0 + 0.4 + 0.8 + 1.0 = 3.2. Leg formula I> II> IV> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 3.0 + 1.4 + 2.8 + 3.0 + 1.1 = 11.3, II - 2.0 + 0.9 + 2.5 + 1.8 + 1.2 = 8.4, III - 1.2 + 0.5 + 0.7 + 1.0 + 0.6 = 4.0, IV - 1.8 + 1.0 + 1.6 + 1.1 + 0.7 = 6.2. Labium 0.50 long, 0.90 wide, very dark brown, maxillae black, both anteriorly pale (Fig. 3B ). Sternum 2.0 long, 1.2 wide, black (Fig. 3B ). Abdomen 5.7 long, 4.1 wide, dorsally with pale yellow background and dark punctuations, combining into a large black patch posteriorly; three pairs of small black sigillae (Fig. 3A ), venter olive-grey, laterally orange-brown, centrally with a pair of pale spots (Fig. 3B ). Epigyne and spermathecae descriptions as for genus (Figs 3C-E , 4A, B ).

Variation.

Total length males 5.5-6.4 (n = 3). Total length females 9.1-11.7 (n = 5). Colour varies slightly among specimens, particularly females, with the carapace varying from dark brown to black and the abdominal posterior black field varying in size.

Life history and habitat preferences.

There is no clear phenological pattern in the collection data of V. tomhardyi gen. nov. et sp. nov. with mature males and females found in October, December, January, April and June.

Most specimens were found in vertical orb-webs at about 1 to 2 m height in bushland or forest habitat, often near the coast. Webs were found at night, most of them on exposed branches of trees, especially on dead branches or fallen trees, but sometimes also near the trunks inside the leaf cover. The webs usually had a signal line connecting its hub to the branches supporting them, sometimes also connected to silk-lined holes in the branches, especially in the case of females and big juveniles. When disturbed, the spiders quickly followed the signal line and disappeared into the holes. During the day, spiders were found hiding inside the holes or on tree branches after they absorbed the web. Males were spotted at the silk scaffolding of female webs at night (RLCB pers. obs., John Douglas pers. comm.).

Distribution.

As for the genus, which is monotypic (Fig. 5 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov., male holotype (QVM: 2023: 13: 0100). A dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C-E left pedipalp: C retrolateral view D dorsal view E mesal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C-E). Arrow in D points to the setal socket of the patellar macroseta.

Figure 2. Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov., male, expanded left pedipalp (HBI N 30488 - 22). A ventral view B retrolateral view C dorsal view D apical view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 3. Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov., female (HBI N 30976 - 32). A dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C epigyne, ventral view D epigyne, lateral view E epigyne, posterior view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C-E).

Figure 4. Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov., female internal genitalia (QVM: 2023: 13: 0101). A ventral view B dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 5. Distribution records of Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov.