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Arachnida Araneae Hersiliidae

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Arachnida Araneae Hersiliidae I\ccords of Ille Westenl Austmlll711 MuseulII 19 1338 (]998). New species and new records of Hersiliidae from Australia (Arachnida: Araneae: Hersiliidae). Sixth supplement to the revision of the Australian Hersiliidae Barbara Baehr and Martin Baehr Zoologische Staatssammlung, MLlI1chhausenstr. 21, 0-81247 MLlI1chen, Germany Abstract - Eight new species of Hersiliidae from various parts of Australia are described: Herslha Infurcata sp. nov., H. weJlswebbcrac sp. novo (both far Northern Territory), H longbottol/lI sp nov, H lenlllfurcata sp. novo (both Kimberley Division, Western Australia), Tamopsls hirsti sp. novo (eastern central South Australia), T. kimbcrlcyanil sp. nov., T. minor sp. novo (both Kimberley Division, Western Australia), and T. wanaldac sp. novo (northern New South Wales). The hitherto unknown male of Tamopsis cdiacarae Baehr and Baehr, 1988 is described. According to new material from South Australia (including males and females from the same locality) and to new evidence, T. dlstlllgucllda Baehr and Baehr, 1992 IS synonymized wIth T. rccucsbyana Baehr and Baehr, 1987, T. triangularis Baehr and Baehr, 1993 is synonymized with T. faciahs Baehr and Baehr, 1993, and T. marn Baehr and Baehr, 1989 is synonymized with T. l3aehr and l3aehr, 1987. New records ~ontaining range extensIOns of several ra re or rarely recorded hersiliid species are presented. INTRODUCTION undescribed taxa of specific or subspecific rank, Recent field work by a number of collectors, as but still remain undescribed due to lack of well as examination of the Hersiliidae of the additional material. Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern The systematic sequence of taxa follows Baehr Territory, Darwin, has produced a surprisingly and Baehr (1987, 1989, 199321, 1993b). large amount of additional hersiliid specimens from Australia since the last supplement in the ongoing revision of the Australian Hersiliidae MATERIALS AND METHODS (Baehr and Baehr, 1995). Although much of this The abbreviations and format of the descriptions material comprises previously described species, in follow previous papers (e.g. Baehr and Baehr, 1987, some of these, range or even taxonomic status are 199321, 1993b, 1995); in the checklist the usual unsufficiently known, since few or even single abbreviations for the states of Australia are used, records were available, or one sex was unknown together with abbreviations like n: northern, e: until now. Hence, in the following, only those eastern, c: central, ete. The specimens examined in species are dealt with for which major taxonomic this paper are lodged in the following institutions: or chorological changes are to be made, and new Collection B. Baehr, Munchen (CBM); Museum and records for these species are given in full length, Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin whereas new records of the well known species (MNTD); South Australian Museum, Adelaide Tamopsis brisbanensis, T. eucaIJlpti, T. fickerti, T. (SAMA); Western Australian Museum, Perth fitzroyel/sis, T. occidel/talis, and T. perthensis are (WAM). omitted. Measurelnents were made under a stereo­ The discovery of four new species in each of microscope using an ocular micrometer with up to I1 ers it ia and Ta mo psis fu r ther revea Is t hat 160x magnification. knowledge of the Australian hersiliid fauna is still unsatisfactory. Including the species described and synonymized in this paper, the Australian hersiliid TERMINOLOGY fauna is now known to comprise 55 species, more Ternlinology in some parts has changed since our than half of which have been described since the last paper on Australian hersiliids. What we called original revision (Baehr and Baehr, 1987). "embolus" of I fcrsilia species in previous papers, However, there are still some specimens of we now call "embolar apparatus" that is composed uncertain relations that might represent additional of the "embolus" (E) proper and the "embolar 14 B. Baehr, M. Baehr apophysis" (EA), whereas the common base is the presence of two fairly small, widely separated RS "stipes" (S). The former "tegular apophysis" (TA) in the vulva. is now more exactly called "median tegular According to the shape of the female epigyne and apophyis" (MTA) (see Figures 1, 2). vulva, the group also covers H. mainae Baehr and In Tamopsis, where embolus and embolar Baehr, 1995, and perhaps also H. mimbi Baehr and apophysis commonly are less well differentiated, Baehr, 1993, although the male embolar apparatus we keep on calling "lateral apophysis" (LA) the of the latter species is not deeply furcate. combined "embolus" and "embolar apophysis", even though it is sometimes situated rather medially than laterally. Hersilia bifurcata sp. novo Figures 1, 2, 27 Material Examined Genus Hersilia Audouin Holotype Hersilia Audouin, 1826: 318. For further records see 0, Australia: Northern Territory: Robin Falls, ca. Roewer (1942), Brignoli (1983), Platnick (1989), 12 km S. of Adelaide River, M.V. light, 3.XII.1980, and Baehr and Baehr (1987, 1993a, b, 1995). M.B. Malipatil (MNTD). Hersilia australiensis group Other Material Examined This group is characterized by the simple, Australia: Northern Territory: 1 immature <jl medially hollowed MTA of the male palpus, the (MNTD) collected with the holotype is tentatively non-furcate embolar apparatus, the rather narrow, alluded to this species. trapezoidal scapus of the female epigyne, and the very large median RS of the vulva that is situated Diagnosis rather closely together. Very large and extremely long-legged species, In Australia, this group includes only H. further characterized by PLS longer than abdomen, australiensis Baehr and Baehr, 1987. The group is elongate male bulbus, deeply furcate, narrow also represented in New Guinea by H. madang embolar apparatus with elongate stipes. Baehr and Baehr, 1993 and H. novaeguineae Baehr and Baehr, 1993, the only Hersilia species known to Description occur in New Guinea, and perhaps also by the doubtful species H. pernix Kulczynski, 1911. Male holotype Measurements: Length: 9.3 mm; cephalothorax length: 3.5 mm; width: 3.7 mm; abdomen length: Hersilia australiensis Baehr and Baehr 5.8 mm; width: 3.3 mm. Legs: I: 62.22 mm; II: 57.81 Hersilia australiensis Baehr and Baehr, 1987: 354; mm; Ill: 17.10 mm; IV: 53.42 mm. Ratio: 1: 0.93: Baehr and Baehr, 1993a: 349; Baehr and Baehr, 0.27: 0.86. Ratio LB/LL: 0.15. PLS length: 6.5 mm; 1995: 109. bS: 1.0 mm; tS: 5.5 mm. Length ratio PLS/abd: 1.12. Diameter of eyes: AME: 0.33 mm; ALE: 0.14 mm; New Material Examined PME: 0.29 mm; PLE: 0.28 mm. Eye ratio: AME/ Australia: Northern Territory: 3 <jl, 4 immat., ALE 1: 0.42; AME/PME 1: 0.88; AME/PLE 1: 0.85. Litchfield Park-Aida Ck, 4 Sept 1992, Wells & Colour: Cephalothorax light yellow; border and Webber (MNTD); 1 0, Darwin, Stuart Park Vine radial stripes weakly mottled with dark. Sternum Forest, April 1993, Webber (MNTD). light yellow. Abdomen conspicuously mottled with dark, in anterior half with a dark median Remarks longitudinal stripe, laterally with some contrasting This systematically rather isolated species is light and dark areas, posterior half with several apparently restricted to the northernmost part of dark transverse bars. Ventral side light. Legs and the Northern Territory. So far, it is the single PLS yellow brown, legs almost unicolorous; PLS representative of the australiensis-group in broadly annulate. Australia. Cephalothorax: About circular, wider than abdomen. Carapace with median post-foveal depression. Eye area strongly raised, clypeus Hersilia bifurcata group visible from above, almost as high as eye area. The following four newly described species AME largest, PME and PLE subequal to AME. belong to the new bifurcata group that is mainly Distance AME/AME 0.14 mm, < than 1/2 characterized by the deeply furcate embolar diameter of AME, distance AME/ALE 0.22 mm, c. apparatus of the male palpus, the wide, 2/3 of diameter of AME. Distance PME/PME 0.13 subquadrate scapus of the female epigyne and the mm, c. 1/2 of diameter of PME, distance PME/ New species and records of Hersiliidae 15 2 Figures 1, 2 T{ers/ha bifllrcata sp. nov., right male palpus. 1, ventral view; 2, lateral view. Scale line: = 0.5 mm. PLE 0.20 mm, c. 2/3 of diameter of PLE. Chelicerae Seminal duct spirally coiled around MTA (MTA). c. 1.8 x as long as wide. Sternum heart-shaped, Embolus (E) and embolar apophysis (EA) form hirsute with fine long and short hairs. together a deeply furcate structure. Embolus free, Abdomen: Elongate, considerably longer than very elongate, narrow, rather straight. Embolar wide, narrower than cephalothorax. Surface apophysis long, at apex curved inwards with a covered with short hairs, upper surface also rather sharp, downcurved tip. Stipes (S) straight, as long densely covered with brown bristles, lateral and as embolus. Embolus considerably shorter than ventral surfaces with some elongate, light hairs. embolar apophysis (Figures 1, 2). Oorsally with five pairs of OMP. VMP in a narrow v-shaped arrangement. PLS slightly longer than Female abdomen, tS very elongate. Unknown. Legs: Very elongate, measurements see above. Metatarsus divided, distal part c. 1/2 as long as Etymology proximal part. The name alludes to the deeply furcate embolus. Palpus: Cymbium comparatively narrow and elongate, with 3 apical spinE>s. Bulbus perceptibly longer than wide. MTA medially hollowed, distally Distribution and Habits with a ridge reaching to retrolateral margin. Northern part of Northern Territory (Figure 27), Median margin (MM), retrolateral margin (RM) known only from type locality. IIolotype caught at and proximal margin (PM) sharply edged. M.V. light. Laterodistal border of MTA straight, near lateral angle convex. Proximal margin (PM) deeply Relationships hollowed, incision between MM and PM v-shaped. H. bilurcatll is a typical member of the /Jifilrcafll- 16 B. Baehr, M. Baehr 3 4 5 6 Figures 3-6 Hersilia wellswebberae sp.
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