Stephanopis barbipes Keyserling, 1890

Machado, Miguel, Teixeira, Renato Augusto & Milledge, Graham A., 2019, On the Australian Bark Crab Spider Genus Stephanopis: Taxonomic Review and Description of Seven New Species (Araneae: Thomisidae: Stephanopinae), Records of the Australian Museum 71 (6), pp. 217-276 : 233-237

Stephanopis barbipes Keyserling, 1890

Figs 10–12

Stephanopis barbipes Keyserling, 1890: 254 , pl. 23, fig. 6.

Neotype ♂ designated here, QM S110112 , Tallebudgera Valley , Queensland, Australia, 28°11'2.00"S 153°22'1.00"E, D. J. Cook, 1 January 1986.

Holotype ♂, Cape York , Queensland, Australia, originally deposited in Bradley’s collection—lost.

According to Keyserling (1890), the holotype of S. barbipes was originally deposited in Bradley’s collection, which is known to have been transferred and currently curated in the OUMNH. However, after several attempts to locate the type material in this and even other European institutions, the specimen was not found.

The original description and illustration of the male of S. barbipes shows a remarkable spider with a set of somatic features that is not observed in any other species of this group (e.g., the lamellar setae tufts on the first pair of tibiae), allowing its easy recognition. Nevertheless, we see the need to propose a neotype in order to secure the stability of the species name, providing sufficient data and a clearer description to ensure its recognition. As no paratypes, paralectotypes or syntypic series were found, the specimen elected to be the neotype of S. barbipes is more recent (from 1986) but collected as close as possible to the original type locality (northeastern Australia).

Other material examined. Queensland: AMS KS.108673, 2♂♂, Kuranda , 16°49'S 145°38'E, N. Coleman & R. Mascord , 2 February 1975 ; QM S110079 , 1♂, Kirrama Range (via Kennedy ), 18°9'13.28"S 145°49'25.78"E, G. Monteith, 2 October 1980 ; QM S110077 , 1♂, Kroombit Tops NP, 24°27'22.12"S 150°52'43.80"E , V. E. Davies & J. Gallon, 9–19 December 1983 ; QM S110078 , 1♂, Kroombit Tops NP ( Beauty spot 98), 24°27'41.21"S 150°53'59.33"E ; QM S110082 , 1♂, Brisbane (Fig Tree Pocket, Roedean street), 27°23'56.22"S 152°58'47.57"E , V. E. Davies , 14 November 1973 ; QM S110083 , 1♂, Brisbane ( Mount Coot-tha ), 27°28'7.57"S 152°56'33.91"E , R. R. Jackson & J. Grimshaw, 14 December 1979 ; QM S110084 , 1♂, Brisbane (Fig Tree Pocket, Jesmond road), 27°31'5.99"S 152°57'53.94"E, K. Stodart, December 1983 . New South Wales: AMS KS.108677, 3♂♂, Brooklana , 30°16'12"S 152°51'19"E, W. Heron, June 1929 ; AMS KS.9648, 1♂, Wilsons Peak Flora Reserve , 31°18'S 152°29'E ; AMS KS.126523, 2♂♂, Copeland Tops State Conservation Area , 31°59'16"S 151°48'42"E, G. Milledge & H. Smith, 28 November 2016 ; AMS KS.126499, 1♂, old Copeland road, 32°00'08"S 151°49'56"E, G. Milledge & H. Smith, 27 November 1966 ; QM S110080 , 4♂♂, Turner’s Dip , 33°0'8.15"S 151°24'4.15"E , R. Raven , 22–23 November 1978 ; QM S110081 , 2♂♂ , R. Raven et al .; AMS KS.61764, 1♂, 3 km southwest of Mangrove , 33°22'28"S 151°15'39"E, M. Gray, G. Milledge & H. Smith, 15 November 1999 ; AMS KS.32166, 1♂, Terrigal , 33°27'25"S 151°27'04"E, D. J. Bickel, 23 June 1986 ; AMS KS.108675, 1♂, Pittwater , 33°38'S 151°18'E , R. Mascord , 17 April 1966 ; AMS KS.108711, 1♀, Mona Vale ( Pittwater ), 33°38'S 151°18'E , R. E. Mascord , 12 March 1966 ; AMS KS.32200, 1♂, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, 33°39'S 151°13'E, D. Bickel, 28 November 1985 ; AMS KS.111692, 1♂, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, 33°39'S 151°13'E, G. Milledge & H. Smith, 11 April 2009 ; AMS KS.76757, 1♂, Beecroft , 33°45'S 151°04'E, J. Noble, 3 December 2001 ; AMS KS.10484, 1♂, Gordon , 33°45'S 151°10'E, C. Horseman & D. Jones, 8 December 1982 ; AMS KS.108678, 1♂, Eastwood , 33°47'S 151°06'E, H. Rowe, December 1955 ; AMS KS.51190, 1♂, Roseville , 33°47'26.00"S 151°10'8.63"E, J. Noble, 28 November 1997 ; AMS KS.108676, 1♂, Royal NP, 34°07'54"S 151°03' 04"E , R. E. Mascord , 10 December 1966 ; AMS KS.45293, 1♂, Mount Ousley (near Wollongong ), 34°24'S 150°53'E, F. Anderson, 15 March 1996 ; AMS KS.81361, 1♂, Foxground (near Gerrigong ), 34°43'S 150°46'E, M. Zabka & M. Gray, 29 October 2002 ; AMS KS.119721, 1♂, Bournda NP, 36°44'17"S 149°58'52"E, G. Milledge & H. Smith, 25 December 2012 . Western Australia: WAM T111251 , 1♂, Glenbourne Farm (south of Gracetown ), 33°54'32"S 115°00'24"E, J. M. Waldock, 26 October 2003 ; WAM T111192 , 1♀, Glenbourne Farm (south of Gracetown ), 33°54'35"S 115°00'15"E, L. Marsh et al., 29–31 October 2005 ; WAM T111251 , 1♂, J. M. Waldock, 26 October 2003 ; WAM T132403 , 2♂♂, 1♀, Stirling Range NP, 34°22'52"S 118°17'21"E, M.L. Moir & K. Brennan . Victoria: AMS KS.36783, 1♀, Melbourne ( Belgrave ), 37°55'S 145°21'E, C. Oke, January 1944 . Tasmania: MACN-Ar 12008, 1♀, Weldborough Pass , 41°13'0.00"S 147°56'18.50"E, M. Ramírez et al., 6–7 March 2006 ; MACN-Ar 11224, 1♀, St. Helens , 41°13'4.20"S 147°59'6.60"E, M. Ramírez et al., 7 March 2003 ; AMS KS.31359, 1♀, Punch Bowl , 41°27'S 147°10'E , V. V. Hickman , 17 May 1928 ; AMS KS.31356, 3♀♀, Tarraleah , 42°18'S 146°26'E , V. V. Hickman, May 1952 ; MACN-Ar 11149, 1♀, Queenstown ( Kelly Basin ), 42°18'37.10"S 145°36'58.30"E, M. Ramírez et al., 10 March 2006 ; AMS KS.31357, 1♀, Risdon , 42°49'S 147°21'E , V. V. Hickman , 10 September 1963 ; AMS KS.31409, 1♂, Lenah Valley , 42°52'S 147°17'E , V. V. Hickman , 9 February 1934 ; AMS KS.31514, 1♂, 25 April 1933 ; AMS KS.31512, 1♂, New Town , 42°53'S 147°19'E , V. V. Hickman , 2 January 1945 ; AMS KS.31408, 1♂, New Town , 42°53'S 147°19'E , V. V. Hickman , 25 December 1933 ; AMS KS31360 , 1♀, Ridgeway , 42°56'S 147°17'E , V. V. Hickman , 14 May 1948 .

Diagnosis. Females of S. barbipes are easily distinguished from their congeneric species by their reduced body size (it is the smallest species of the genus) and opisthosoma being trapezoid with a pair of acute posterior-lateral projections ( Figs 10A , 12C and D ). They can be also recognized by the triad of spiny macrosetae on the ventral surface of their femur I and hook-shaped CO obliquely positioned, forming a V-shaped atrium on the epigynal plate ( Fig. 10C ). The males of S. barbipes , like those of S. arenata sp. nov., S. cambridgei , S. longimana , S. similis sp. nov. and S. spiralis sp. nov., possess modified setae on their first pair of legs ( Fig. 11A ). However, unlike these species, in S. barbipes the setae are confined to tibiae I, are not filiform but lamellar, thicker and more aggregated, giving a tufted, a “bearded” appearance to their first pair of legs ( Fig. 12A and B ), hence the specific epithet.Also, in contrast to the above-mentioned species, the male palp of S. barbipes bears a bifid RTA and an embolus shape and resting position (apical) that is more similar to that observed in S. altifrons and S. nigra ( Fig. 11C ).

Description. Female (AMS KS.31359): Eyes arranged in two recurved rows (posterior one slightly recurved, almost straight) ( Fig. 10A and B ), prosoma and anterior legs predominantly dark-yellow with no significant markings except for the brown areas on the sides and the median area of the posterior slope of the thoracic region. Posterior legs dark-yellow, lighter on the femora; opisthosoma whitish, darker around the heart fovea ( Fig. 10A ). Spermathecae peanut-shaped, with no pseudo-segmentation and preceded by a pair of hyaline chambers ( Fig. 10D ).

Measurements: eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0.06, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.11, MOQ length 0.21, width 0.20; leg formula: 1-2-4-3: leg I—femur 1.53/ patella 0.74/ tibia 1.33/ metatarsus 0.84/ tarsus 0.44/ total 4.88; II—1.37/ 0.61/ 1.06/ 0.68/ 0.39 4.11; III—0.65/ 0.44/ 0.62/ 0.38/ 0.33/ 2.42; IV—1.05/ 0.43/ 0.68/ 0.38/ 0.31/ 2.85. Total body length 3.82; prosoma length 1.56, width 1.42; opisthosoma length 2.26; clypeus height 0.15; sternum length 0.70, width 0.67; gnathocoxae length 0.33, width 0.19; labium length 0.17, width 0.24.

Male (QM S 110112): Prosoma and anterior legs (I and II) entirely brown, darker than the female; eye arrangement as in female ( Fig. 11A and B ). Posterior femora (III and IV) are yellow on their proximal half. Opisthosoma whitish-yellow with a brown median taint, covered by sparse needle-shaped setae; trapezoid and with anal region projected backwards ( Fig. 11A ). Tegular ridge apical, helicoidal and nesting the flexible and thin tip of the embolus ( Fig. 11C ); Pcym stout and rounded such as both branches of the RTA ( Fig 11D ).

Measurements: eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.11, MOQ length 0.25, width 0.17; leg formula: 1-2-4-3: leg I—femur 1.45/ patella 0.57/ tibia 1.31/ metatarsus 0.94/ tarsus 0.59/ total 4.86; II—1.30/ 0.55/ 1.09/ 0.79/ 0.55/ 4.28; III—0.72/ 0.37/ 0.50/ 0.39/ 0.32/ 2.30; IV—1.05/ 0.39/ 0.63/ 0.40/ 0.32/ 2.79. Total body length 2.77; prosoma length 1.35, width 1.23; opisthosoma length 1.42; clypeus height 0.14; sternum length 0.60, width 0.62; gnathocoxae length 0.29, width 0.18; labium length 0.17, width 0.20.

Distribution. Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania, Australia ( Fig. 13 ).

Figures

Figure 10. Stephanopis barbipes Keyserling, 1890, female (AMS KS.31359). (A) dorsal habitus; (B) front; (C) epigynal plate, ventral view; (D) epigynal plate/spermathecae.

Figure 11. Stephanopis barbipes Keyserling, 1890, male (QM S110112). (A) dorsal habitus; (B) front; (C) ventral view of the left palp; (D) left palp, retro lateral view.

Figure 12. Stephanopis barbipes (A–B) males and (C–D) female. Photos by Nicholas Fisher.

Figure 13. Distribution records of Stephanopis altifrons, S. angulata, S. arenata sp. nov., S. armata and S. barbipes.