Leichhardteus conopalpis Baehr & Raven, 2013

Raven, Robert J., 2015, & lt; strong & gt; A revision of ant-mimicking spiders of the family Corinnidae (Araneae) in the Western Pacific & lt; / strong & gt;, Zootaxa 3958 (1), pp. 1-258 : 104-105

Leichhardteus conopalpis Baehr & Raven, 2013

( Fig. 53a–e )

Leichhardteus conopalpis Baehr & Raven, 2013: 351 , figs 1, 2A, 3A–K, 11.

New Material. New South Wales: 1♂, Koorawatha National Park , 34°03'12"S, 148°35'28"E, Nov 2010, B. Baehr, AM KS11467 ; 1♀, Coolah Tops , 31.73°S, 149.983°E, 1000 m, 21 Nov 2008 – 16 Jun 2009, G. Monteith, F. Turco, QM S36206 .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of all other species by the long conical or triangular process ( Fig. 53c ), much higher than wide basally, on the ventral femur of the ♂ palp, paracymbial spine absent. Females differ from those of L. garretti by the posterolaterally oriented copulatory opening ( Fig. 53d ).

Supplementary description male QM S31529 . Carapace 3.76 long, 2.60 wide. Total length 8.6. Sternum: shield-shaped without precoxal sclerites and not continuous with pedicel. Legs: coxae entally rounded with slight retrobasal process. RCH small. Trochanters symmetrically notched about twice as wide as deep, similar on all legs. No feathery hairs on legs; covered mostly by bristles, not hairs. Tarsi cylindrical. Trichobothria: Tarsi & metatarsi with few (2–4 evident) short distally. Tibia with cluster of trichae basally. Spines: I: fe p1d3; ti v2.2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe p2d3; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me v2.2. III: fe p3d3r3; ti p2d2r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. IV: fe p2d3r1; ti p2d3r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1; ti p2. Scopula: fringe of short scopuliform hairs on ventral tarsi I–IV and for distal half (I and II) to one quarter (III and IV) of metatarsi. Abdomen: directly just above outer edge of booklung slit a small sclerotised spindle-like sigilla; also in ♀. Palp: femur with prominent cuticular thorn ventrally, just distal of midpoint. Tibia cylindrical but with distinct glabrous saddle distoventrally for half of prolateral edge where a small process interlocks with ovoid depression on opposed cymbial edge; cymbium with sinuous retrolateral margin and conical apical cone; paracymbial spine absent. Typical simple Castianeirine bulb with enlarged basal part of tegulum. Sperm duct folds back strongly toward embolus then reflexes back sharply. Sclerotised collar round base of short embolus with reflexed flattened apex.

Allotype female MV K4394 . Carapace 4.18 long, 2.89 wide. Total length 8.2.

Like ♂ but: legs: tuft of dark hair around distal metatarsi III and IV. Spines: I: fe p1d2; ti v2.2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe p2d2; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; ti p2d2r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. IV: fe p2d3r1; ti p2d2r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1; ti p2; ta pv2. Palpal tarsus: bowed slightly, wider pre-apically with cluster of hairs dorsally; claw short, curved, bare. Abdomen: only with small oval scute dorsally. Epigyne: externally a domed plate, longer than wide with lateral subdistal crescentic hoods open posteriorly, from which copulatory duct sweeps behind large dumbbell lobes of spermathecae.

Distribution and Habitat. Known from chenopod scrubland near Renmark, South Australia and adjacent areas in Victoria and New South Wales.

Figures

FIGURE 53. Leichhardteus conopalpis Baehr & Raven, 2013, scanning electron micrographs. Male, a–c: palpal bulb, ventral view; embolus tip, ventral view, palpal femur, prolateral view. Female: epigyne, external (d), and internal (e).