Leichhardteus albofasciatus 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 : 106-108

Leichhardteus albofasciatus Baehr & Raven, 2013

( Figs 2b , 55a–h , 56a–d )

Leichhardteus albofasciatus Baehr & Raven, 2013: 353 , figs 2F, 4A–K, 11.

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of L. conopalpis in the smaller femoral mound ( Fig. 55f, g ) and embolus tip and from the sympatric Copa kabana sp. nov. in the abdominal and leg patterns. Females differ from those of all other species in the pallid medial stripe on the dorsal abdomen brown ( Fig. 55a ) and from L. reinhardi in the small relatively widely spaced copulatory openings ( Fig. 56c ).

Supplementary description holotype male and QM S31537 . Carapace 3.29 long, 2.51 wide. Total length 6.3. Colour: abdomen dorsally brown with pallid medial band widening from anterior face to highest point, then at ca. 2/3 abdomen length it widens with a series of paired laterally triangular extensions (five), each one smaller than one in front; ventrally with brown central zone from booklung to spinnerets, that flanked by irregular white zone rising above booklungs anteriorly; leg IV darker than others; no bands or dark marks evident on any legs; carapace with dark narrow border. Carapace: light cover of fine feathery hairs, especially near eyes, and fine black bristles. Eyes: AME clearly the largest. Chelicerae: vertical, rounded; fang shield distinct, low with bush of long curved brown bristles. Sternum broadly cordate, indented behind labium, with small intercoxal projections. Pedicel (from below) separate from sternum a triangular collar. Legs: coxae I–III with distinct anterior and posterior basal processes; trochanters with shallow but distinct notches; feathery hairs (fine dark) lateral on femora, ventral and lateral on patella to metatarsi. Tarsi I–III with weak scopula ventrally. Claws: ca. five teeth set behind tufts; tufts all similar in size. Spines, long, strong: I: fe pv1p1d2; pa 0; ti v2.2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe pv1p2d2r1; pa 0; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me v2.2. III: fe pv1p2d4r4; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. IV: fe p3d3r3; pa r1/0; ti p3d1r3v2.2.2; me p3r4v2.2.2. Palp: fe p1d1; pa p1; ti p2. Abdomen: covered with dark feathery hairs; dorsal scute absent; genital scute confined laterally to edge of booklungs, no anterior collar; tracheal spiracle a low sclerotised nipple. Spinnerets: PLS small, no bigger than PMS but two-segmented; only one enlarged spigot on inner ALS; no enlarged spigots on PMS or PLS. Palp: femur with large mound on retrolateral distal corner; tibia with deep subdistal proventral saddle forming ridge of distal tibial margin; prolaterally with low process inserting into cavity on opposed cymbial edge; bulb (both sides) expanded; cymbium with prolateral thickening; apical cone asymmetrically grooved; retrodorsal corner with shallow saddle with basal ridge forming cymbial edge; distal of saddle a small erect paracymbial spine on low mound, with wide basal and narrow lateral margins; apical cone grooved to tip with short subapical spine on prolateral edge, slight cluster of hairs dorsally on cymbium tip; bulb with large scooped sclerotised plate in basal haematodocha; subtegulum disc-like, extending to prolateral edge and indenting slightly into tegulum on retrolateral edge; sperm duct folds deeply twice over tegulum and sinuous up to embolus; embolus a short low spiralled ridge twisting tightly to grooved tip.

Female Allotype. Carapace 3.84 long, 2.87 wide. Total length 9.6.Chelicerae: line of 8–10 long, strong serrate bristles on fang mound. Spines: I: fe p1d2; pa, 0; ti v2.2, me v2.2. II as for I but fe p1d3. Tracheal scute a conical papule.

Distribution and habitat. Widespread in rainforests through southern Queensland: known from Conondale Range, Kroombit Tops, Lamington National Park, Brookfield, Gold Creek Reservoir, and Mt Tamborine.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Castianeirinae with Medmassa, comparative lateral carapace: a, Nyssus coloripes Walckenaer, 1805, female, QM S32651; b, Leichhardteus albofasciatus Baehr & Raven, 2013, male QM S25002; c, Medmassa christae sp. nov., holotype female, QM S44071; d. Kolora cushingae sp. nov., female, QM S39286; e, Ozcopa monteithi sp. nov., female, QM S41071; f, Ticopa australis sp. nov., female, QM S31513.

FIGURE 55. Leichhardteus albofasciatus Baehr & Raven, 2013: a, habitus female; b–h, male, palpal tibia, bulb and cymbium, dorsal (b), retrolateral (c), retroventral (d), and prodorsal (e) views; femur, patella & tibia, prolateral view (f), ventral view (g) with bulb; h, bulb tip, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 56. Leichhardteus albofasciatus Baehr & Raven, 2013: male, QM S31537: palpal tibia, bulb and cymbium, ventral (a) and retrolateral (b) view, both mirrored. Female, QM S76352: epigyne, external (c), and internal (d).