Kangaraneus gen. nov.

Type species.

Epeira arenacea Keyserling, 1886 (designated here).

Etymology.

The genus-group name is a compound noun composed of ' Kang -' in reference to the Kangaroo, genus Macropus Shaw, 1790, the renowned Australian marsupial, and '- araneus ', a genus-group name for orb-weaving spiders. The gender of the genus-group name Kangaraneus is masculine.

Diagnosis.

Within the backobourkiines as circumscribed by Scharff et al. (2020; see also Table 1), the male genitalia of Kangaraneus gen. nov. are most similar to those of Quokkaraneus, due to a similar C-shaped median apophysis with a drawn-out, acute tip and the conductor having a basal protrusion (e.g., Castanheira and Framenau 2022; fig. 1C, D). However, Kangaraneus gen. nov. males differ distinctly by the presence of prominent humeral humps on the abdomen (lacking in Quokkaraneus) and the lack of white colouration on the carapace and legs (e.g., Castanheira and Framenau 2022; fig. 1A). Females of Kangaraneus gen. nov. differ from those of Quokkaraneus in somatic characters as described for males above, but also in the general shape of the epigyne scape, which is much wider basally in Quokkaraneus (Castanheira and Framenau 2022; fig. 3C), but not in Kangaraneus gen. nov. Due to the prominent humeral humps on the abdomen, Kangaraneus gen. nov. species are somatically similar to species of Novakiella but have a vastly different genital morphology; specifically, the male pedipalp lacks the greatly enlarged conductor lobe of Novakiella (e.g., Framenau et al. 2021b; figs 1C, 2A).

Description.

Medium-sized orb-weaving spiders, with males (ca. TL 3.2-6.7) on average smaller than females (ca. TL 6.3-10.4). Carapace longer than wide with cephalic region slightly narrower in males than in females, light or dark brown (e.g., Figs 1A, 3A, 5A, 6A). Fovea longitudinal in males and transverse in females (e.g., Figs 1A, 3A). AME largest in males, row of posterior eyes recurved, lateral eyes almost touching; posterior lateral eyes largest in females and separated from PME by less than their diameter; AME slightly protruding from the carapace in both sexes (e.g., Figs 1A, 3A). Sternum slightly longer than wide, brown to beige and sometimes with dusky borders (e.g., Figs 1B, 3B). Labium wider than long, with anterior glabrous pale edge (e.g., Figs 6B, 8B). Maxillae with glabrous lighter antero-mesal section (e.g., Figs 6B, 8B). Chelicerae with four promarginal teeth and three retromarginal teeth (reduced to three and two respectively in K. farhani sp. nov.). Leg formula I> II> IV> III; tibiae II in males stronger than tibiae I and with strong prolateral spines (e.g., Figs 1A, 5A). Abdomen sub-triangular, generally wider than long, with two conspicuous humeral humps, but without specialized setae, condyles or other structures; colour dorsally varying from beige to olive-grey and black, sometimes with distinct folium pattern and large pale spot (e.g., Figs 1A, 3A, 5A). Venter brown or grey with irregular black setae, sometimes with two pale spots (e.g., Figs 1B, 3B, 5B, 9B).

Male pedipalp patella with a single macroseta (e.g., Figs 1C, 6C-E, 7A-D); paracymbium hook-shaped (e.g., Figs 1D, 6D, 7A-C, 9D); median apophysis C-shaped, basally strongest and tapering to an acute tip, at ca. half to ¾ length with a prominent bulge ('central protrusion’), base forming an arch over radix (e.g., Figs 1C-E, 7A-D); radix prominent (e.g., Figs 1C, 2A, 10A); terminal apophysis elongate, membranous, bubble-shaped or lanceolate, with a basal lobe and a pointed tip (e.g., Figs 1C, 2A-D, 10A-D); basal conductor lobe inconspicuous, terminally spatulate (e.g., Figs 1C, 2A, 6C, 10A); conductor prominent, laterally broad, apically with a protuberance and basally with an elongate protrusion tapering to a bifid tip (e.g., Figs 1C-E, 7A-D, 9C-E); embolus strong, basally elongate, rectangular, heavily sclerotised, with a curved, uncapped tip (e.g., Figs 1C, 2A-D, 9C). Epigyne wider than long, with very wide lateral borders encircling a wide and convex atrium (Figs 3E, 8C, 11C); central division narrow (Figs 3E, 8E, 11F); scape basally broadest, either tapering (Figs 3C, 8C) or truncated (Fig. 11D); spermathecae around half or more than half atrium length, ovoid, copulatory ducts curved, somewhat in a lyre-formation and heavily sclerotised (Fig. 4A-F).

Distribution.

All Australian mainland states and Tasmania, excluding Northern Territory. (Fig. 12).

Included species.

Kangaraneus arenaceus (Keyserling, 1886) comb. nov. (type-species), K. amblycyphus (Simon, 1908) comb. nov., and K. farhani sp. nov.