Taxonomy, systematics and biology of the Australian halotolerant wolf spider genus Tetralycosa (Araneae: Lycosidae: Artoriinae) Author Framenau, Volker W. Author Hudson, Peter South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia. & Email: Peter. Hudson @ samuseum. sa. gov. au udson@samuseum.sa.gov.au text European Journal of Taxonomy 2017 2017-07-06 335 1 72 journal article 22068 10.5852/ejt.2017.335 f3382433-ea2c-4ec8-b1fe-44320ac0893b 2118-9773 3832422 EFCD2BD0-D70E-4A9B-8EEA-FE86EDC66F57 Tetralycosa floundersi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8E26D710-05D2-4A60-A0A4-E1753048B0CB Figs 18 A–D; 19A–C; 21 Diagnosis This species is most closely related to T. alteripa , T. baudinettei sp. nov. and T. rebecca sp. nov. , but the tegular apophysis in males of T. floundersi sp. nov. is much slimmer than in any of these species and the epigyne of females has a distinct and unique posterior rim that widens laterally. Etymology The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of the late Ben Flounders, prominent natural historian in Whyalla ( South Australia ), and who first introduced the junior author (P.H.) to salt lakes. Type material Holotype AUSTRALIA : , Western Australia , Lake Moore , 29°25′44″ S , 117°47′49″ E , 10 Mar. 2002 , P. Hudson leg. ( SAM NN21900 ). Paratype AUSTRALIA : , data as holotype ( SAM NN21901). Description MEASUREMENTS. holotype , SAM NN21900 ( paratype , SAM NN21901): TL 9.31 (9.68), CL 5.36 (4.89), CW 3.95 (3.48). Eyes: AME 0.29 (0.28), ALE 0.24 (0.24), PME 0.67 (0.63), PLE 0.57 (0.57). Row of eyes: AE 1.36 (1.46), PME 1.74 (1.69), PLE 2.40 (2.40). Sternum length/width: 2.26/1.97 (2.16/1.79). Labium (length/width) 0.70/0.74 (0.68/0.76). AL 4.23 (4.61), AW 3.01 (3.67). Legs: Lengths of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 2.44+2.72+ – +1.83 = 6.99, I 4.61+4.98+4.61+1.88 = 16.08, II 4.79+4.89+5.26+1.97 = 16.91, III 4.61+4.79+5.73+2.07 = 17.20, IV 5.36+5.55+6.96+2.35 = 20.22 (Pedipalp 1.88+1.97+ – +1.32 = 5.17, I missing, II femur 3.76 (all other segments missing), III 3.57+3.85+4.14+1.79 = 13.35, IV 4.32+4.70+4.98+2.07 = 16.07). VARIATION. Only known from holotype male and paratype female. Male (based on holotype , SAM NN21900) CARAPACE ( Fig. 18A ). Cephalic area highest in lateral view and steep vertical slopes in frontal view; brown with indistinct broad and light lateral bands; indistinct darker radial pattern; black in eye region; covered with brown setae but with white setae in lateral bands in eye region and few anteriorly of fovea; brown bristles mainly around PME and some posteromedially of PLE; eight long bristles below AE; one long bristle between AME. EYES. Row of AE shorter than row of PME; row of AE strongly procurved; ocular trapeze wider than long. CHELICERAE. Light brown; covered with white setae; three promarginal teeth with the median one largest; three widespread retromarginal teeth of similar size. STERNUM ( Fig. 18B ). Light yellow-brown with dense grey pigmentation; covered with brown setae, which are longer towards margins. LABIUM. Brown, basally and laterally darker; front end truncate and white. PEDIPALPS (Fig. 19A–B). Tegular apophysis curved, forming a long and thin hook (Fig. 19A); terminal apophysis not dissected as only known from single male. ABDOMEN. Light yellow-brown, anterior half with dark grey mottled pattern that dissolves laterally; yellow-grey lanceolate heart mark in anterior half; covered with white setae, brown setae in darker areas ( Fig. 18A ). Venter yellow-brown, medially with grey pigmentation. Spinnerets light yellow-brown ( Fig. 18B ). LEGS. Leg formula IV>III>II>I; coxae and femora dark grey, in particular ventrally; other segments brown and metatarsi and tarsi somewhat darker; hair-like setae on metatarsi II (and few on I). Spination of leg I: femur: three dorsal, two apicoprolateral, four retrolateral; patella: one prolateral, one retrolateral; tibia: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral; metatarsus: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral, one apicoventral, one apicoprolateral, one apicoretrolateral. Fig. 18. Tetralycosa Roewer, 1960 , microscopic photographs showing dorsal and ventral views. A–B . T. floundersi sp. nov. , ♂, holotype (SAM NN21900). C–D . T. floundersi sp. nov. , ♀, paratype (SAM NN21901). E–F . T. rebecca sp. nov. , ♂, holotype (SAM NN21913). G–H. T. rebecca sp. nov. , ♀, paratype (SAM NN21914). Scale bars: A–H = 2.00 mm. Female (based on paratype , SAM NN21901) CARAPACE ( Fig. 18C ). As male, slightly lighter. EYES. As male. CHELICERAE. Brown, white setae; dentition as male. STERNUM AND LABIUM ( Fig. 18D ). As male. ABDOMEN. As male, but the ventral grey pattern consists only of two longitudinal stripes. Spinnerets yellow-brown ( Fig. 18 C–D). EPIGYNE. Ventral view (Fig. 19C): wider than long, distinct posterior ridge that widens laterally. Dorsal view: not examined, only known from single female. LEGS. Leg formula unknown (only legs III and IV complete). Femora and tibiae light brown, dorsally with indistinct grey annulation. Spination of leg I: unknown (legs I missing). Life history and habitat preferences The male and female types of T. floundersi sp. nov. were found on the surface of a salt lake in March. Fig. 19A–C. Tetralycosa floundersi sp. nov. , , holotype (SAM NN21900) and , paratype (SAM NN21901). A–B . Left male pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view. C . Female epigyne, ventral view. Scale bar: A–B = 1.55 mm ; C = 0.87 mm . Distribution Only known from Lake Moore in southern Western Australia ( Fig. 21 ).