Kochosa australia sp. nov.

(Figs 1G, H, 2H, 4A–F, 5A–E, 6)

“New Genus 1 sp”.— Murphy et al. 2006: 587, 590–592, table 1, figs 2, 3.

Holotype. Male, Danggali Conservation Park, 3 km N Tomahawk Dam, (33º19′39″S 140º42′50″E, South Australia, AUSTRALIA), D. Hirst, 26 November1996 (SAM NN13439).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the country where the species and genus are found, Australia.

Other material examined (50 males, 7females, 17juveniles). AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 male, 37km NE Lake Cargelligo, 33º27''S 146º24'E (AM KS.57436) ; 1 male, Round Hill Nature Reserve, 32º59'20''S 146º05'06''E (QM S52884) ; 1 male, Round Hill Nature Reserve, 32º59'08''S 146º03'14''E (QM S52603) . Queensland: Female, Altonvale State Forest, 40 mi W Westmar, 28º01'S 149º15'E (QM S71612) ; 1 male, Boomer Range, Mongrel Scrub, 23º12'06''S 149º46'20''E (QM S57851) ; 1 male, 1 female, Boomer Range, Python Scrub, 23º11′39″S 149º43′47″E (QM S57924) ; 3 males, Forty Mile Scrub National Park, 18º05'S 144º51'E (QM S52088) ; 4 males, Hurdle Gully, 14.8 km WSW Monto, 24º55'S 150º59'E (QM S44426) ; 2 males, Moranbah, 5 km S, 22º02'00''S 148º02'37''E (QM S60026) ; 1 male, same locality (QM S57029) . South Australia: 1 male, 10 km NE Gluepot Homestead, Gluepot Station, 33º42'18''S 140º12'05''E (SAM NN18901) ; 1 female, Gum Lagoon Conservation Park, 36º17'S 140º02'E (SAM NN13501) ; 1 female, same locality (SAM NN17161); 1 female, Gum Lagoon Conservation Park, northern boundary, 36º17'S 140º02'E (SAM NN13500) ; 1 female, Mt Rescue Conservation Park, Jimmy’s Well, 35º51'S 140º18'E (SAM NN13498) ; 1 female, Mt Rescue Conservation Park, E of, 14 km N Jimmy’s Well turnoff, 35º43'S 140º18'E (SAM NN13499) . Victoria: 1 male, Baileston Road, 0.35 km ENE from junction with Friesland Hill's Road, 36º45'50''S 144º59'04''E (MV K-9258) ; 1 male, same locality (MV K-9261); 1 male, 2 juv., Fergusons Track, 0.5 km N of Grubby Track, 36º44'49''S 144º50'13''E (MV K-9278) ; 1 male, 1 juv., same locality (MV K-9268); 2 males, Four-Mile Road, 1 km along from RW-20, then left 3.7 km, 36º46'01''S 144º54'29''E (MV K-9267) ; 1 male, 2 juv., same locality (MV K-9304); 1 male, same locality (MV K-9305); 1 male, 1 juv., same locality (MV K-9306); 2 males, Four Mile Road, 1.1 km SE from major junction with Cherry Tree Track & Boundary Track, 36º44'52''S 144º56'04''E (MV K-9257) ; 1 male, 3 juv., same locality (MV K-9303); 1 male, Mitchell Link Track, 200 m W Mitchell Track, 36º45'36''S 144º49'23''E (MV K-9256) ; 1 male, same locality (MV K-9269); 3 males, same locality (MV K-9280); 5 males, 1 juv., same locality (MV K-9283); 3 males, 2 juv., same locality (MV K-9284); 1 male, same locality (MV K-9285); 1 male, same locality (MV K-9286); 1 male, 3 juv., same locality (MV K-9287); 1 female, Redcastle State Forest, Mitchell Link Track, 200 m W of Mitchell Track, 36º45'36''S, 144º49'23''E (“ New Genus 1 sp. ” in Murphy et al. 2006) (WAM T56067) ; 1 male, Smiths Reef State Forest, 500 m SE along Spur Track from Gowar Road, 37º01'15''S 144º06'52''E (MV K-9251) ; 1 male, same locality (MV K-9252); 1 male, 1 female, 36º31'46”S, 141º24'08”E (MV K-14336) . Western Australia: 1 male, Fields Road, E of, SE of Lake King, 33º06'46''S 121º11'35''E (WAM T68263) ; 1 male, Lake Magenta Nature Reserve (N Central), South, 33º34'02''S 119º07'39''E (WAM T68262) ; 2 males, West Point and Cascades Road junction, W of Grass Patch, 33º20'54''S 120º52'21''E (WAM T68261, T101007) .

Diagnosis. Males of K. australia sp. nov. are most similar to those of K. confusa sp. nov., K. erratum sp. nov. and K. mendum sp. nov. due to the exposed, arched base of the embolus (Figs 4D, 10C, 12C, 15C). Unlike K. confusa sp. nov. and K. erratum sp. nov. (but similar to K. mendum sp. nov.), the sperm duct that is visible through the tegulum forms an open arch in K. australia sp. nov. (Fig. 4D) but is a closed loop in the other two species (Figs 10C, 12C). Male K. australia sp. nov. differ from K. mendum sp. nov. by details in the embolic division of the pedipalp bulb, specifically the presence of a central, apically pointing sclerotised apophysis that is accompanying the embolus apically (Fig. 4F) which is absent in K. mendum sp. nov. (Fig. 15E). Females of K. australia sp. nov. have a very simple epigyne plate that is most similar to that of K. mendum sp. nov.; however, the epigyne of the latter have anterior edges (Fig. 16C), which are absent in K. australia sp. nov. (Fig. 5C, E).

Description. Male (based on holotype, SAM NN13439).

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown; distinct broad median light band; broad lateral light bands that do not continue into cephalic area, broadly but sparsely covered with white setae (Fig. 4A); clypeus slightly higher than the diameter of AME (Fig. 4C); sternum dark brown, somewhat lighter posteriorly (Fig. 4B).

Abdomen. Dorsally olive greyish-brown, with lighter markings on cardiac area (Fig. 4A); venter beige, olive brown anterior of epigastric furrow and anterior of spinnerets; spinnerets beige (Fig. 4B).

Pedipalps (Fig. 4D–F). Patella with distinct white setae dorsally; embolus long and basally arched; basoembolic apophysis forms wide lobe; tegular apophysis broad, semi-transparent; trough-shaped structure supports the middle of embolus (Fig. 4F).

Legs:Yellow-brown with indistinct darker annulations; femora of legs I and II dark grey; spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal (apical one small), 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral.

Measurements. TL 3.35, CL 1.78, CW 1.16. Eyes: AME 0.08, ALE 0.05, PME 0.20, PLE 0.20. Row of eyes: AE 0.34, PME 0.59, PLE 0.64. Sternum (length/width) 0.89/0.66. Labium (length/width) 0.23/0.30. AL 1.73, AW 0.96. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.68+0.57+- +0.61=1.86, I 1.28+1.62+0.99+0.71=4.60, II 1.19+1.39+0.96+0.71=4.25, III 1.19+1.19+1.05+0.65=4.08, IV 1.71 +2.02+1.90+0.84=6.47.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.30–4.21, 3.80 ± 0.32; CL 1.76–2.45, 2.09 ± 0.22; CW 1.10–1.95, 1.39 ± 0.24, n = 10. Males are often darker than the holotype illustrated here. Live specimens show a brown cephalic area, and dark and light shades contrast more than in preserved specimens (Fig. 1H).

Female (based on SAM NN13499).

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown, somewhat lighter medially, broad lateral light bands not reaching into cephalic area; white setae particularly dense in lateral bands (Fig. 5A); sternum dark brown (Fig. 5B).

Abdomen. Dorsally dark olive-grey, cardiac mark dissolve into two light spots surrounded by black setae (Fig. 5A); ventrally uniformly olive-grey (Fig. 5B).

Epigyne. Ventral view: broader than long, largely undifferentiated plate posteriorly with two indistinct lobes or broadly truncated (Fig. 5C, E); dorsal view: spermathecal head ovoid; spermathecal stalk slightly S-shaped, diagonal, vulval chamber convoluted S-shaped (Fig. 5D).

Legs. spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal (apical one small), 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs and 1 apicoventral, 1 prolateral.

Measurements. TL 4.52, CL 2.35, CW 1.42. Eyes: AME 0.10, ALE 0.07, PME 0.21, PLE 0.19. Row of eyes: AE 0.47, PME 0.64, PLE 0.77. Sternum (length/width) 1.14/0.87. Labium (length/width) 0.28/0.37. AL 2.32, AW 1.49. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.76+0.75+- +0.62=2.13, I 1.51+1.86+1.08+0.71=5.16, II 1.45+1.68+1.02+0.71=4.86, III 1.33+1.42+1.22+0.68=4.65, IV 1.85 +2.30+2.10+0.96=7.21.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.85–4.52, 4.19 ± 0.30; CL 2.07–2.35, 2.26 ± 0.12; CW 1.42–1.98, 1.71 ± 0.25, n = 4. There is little colour variation in females in preserved specimens. Live spiders (Fig. 1G) show more distinct contrasts between dark and light shades than preserved specimens.

Life history and habitat preferences. Mature males and females of K. australia sp. nov. have mainly been found in November and December but may occur somewhat earlier and later. The species appears to prefer open forests and woodlands; habitat descriptions include “Brigalow”, “Box-Ironbark forest”, “lagoon edge”, “mallee”, “open forest”, “open Whipstick mallee with Triodia understorey”, “rainforest”, and “semi-evergreen vine thicket”.

Distribution. Kochosa australia sp. nov. is the most wide-spread species of the genus in Australia and has so far been found in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and south-western Western Australia. In south-eastern Australia, it has only been found north-west of the Great Dividing Range (Fig. 6).

Remarks. Kochosa australia sp. nov. is here designated as the type species of the new genus Kochosa . A female specimen of this species from Redcastle State Forest, Victoria (WAM T56067) was included in a molecular phylogeny of wolf spiders as “New Genus 1 sp. ” (Murphy et al. 2006; GenBank accession no. DQ019675 (NADH1), DQ019718 (28S), DQ019815 (12S)).