Nyssus paradoxus, Raven, 2015

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 : 158-159

Nyssus paradoxus sp. nov.

( Figs 88a–e ; 99a–c . Map 47)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♂, North Stradbroke Is., Dunwich , 27°35'S, 153°27'E, pitfall, 28 Oct–8 Dec 1997, N. Scott, QM S44435 . Paratypes : Queensland: 1♀ (allotype), Cobbs Hill (Site 2), 26°02'S, 151°53'E, pitfall & intercept traps, 19 Dec 1992 – Mar 1993, S. Hamlet, QM S27408 ; 1♂, same data as holotype, QM S39539 ; 1♂, same data as holotype, QM S44436 ; 1♂, Running Ck, near Innothot Springs ( NQ28 ), 17°18'S, 145°18'E, woodland, pitfall, 25 Jul–30 Nov 1992, R. Raven, P. & E. Lawless, M. Shaw, QM S24297 ; 1♀, Eight Mile Ck ( NQ 31 /1), 18°41'S, 144°42'E, eucalypt woodland, pitfall, 6 Nov 1991 – 26 Jul 1992, P. Lawless, R. Raven, M. Shaw, QM S21852 ; 1♂, Gregory & Herveys Range Development Road crossing, 19°31'S, 145°44'E, open forest, pitfall, 17 Dec 2006 – 15 Feb 2007, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S76601 ; 1♂, Marsupial Ck, via Croydon, 18°16'S, 142°41'E, pitfall, Mar 96– Mar 97, J. Hasenpusch, QM S37673 ; 1♂, Mount Isa, 7 km E, 20°43'S, 139°34'E, woodland, pitfall, 7–11 Feb 2007, D. Cook, QM S76945 ; 1♀, Mount Tregaskis , 3 km NNE, 19°15'S, 145°29'E, open forest, pitfall, 17 Dec 2006 – 15 Feb 2007, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S76631 ; 1♂ 1♀, Normanton, 40 km SW at radio tower, 17°56'S, 140°54'E, open forest, pitfall, 4 Jul–12 Sep 2006, R. Raven, B. Baehr, A. Amey, QM S77201 ; 1♂, Proserpine, Airport Drive, site XY12, 20°29'S, 148°34'E, closed woodland, pitfall, 13 Feb–12 Mar 2008, R. J. Raven, QM S85392 ; 1♂, Rose Bay , Bowen ( NQ 33 ), 20°00'S, 148°16'E, vine thicket, pitfall, 7 Nov 1991 – 27 Jul 1992, R. Raven, P. Lawless, M. Shaw, QM S24100 ; 1♀, S of Clarke R xing, 19°14'S, 145°28'E, open forest, pitfall, 27 Sep–17 Dec 2006, R. Raven, A. Amey, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S79094 ; 1♂, Three Ways, Wills Developmental Rd, just NW, 19°13'S, 140°20'E, open forest, pitfall, 2 Jul–11 Sep 2006, R. Raven, B. Baehr, A. Amey, QM S77182 ; 1♂, Toomba Station , S of Lolworth Ck bridge, 19°58'S, 145°36'E, open forest, pitfall, 15 Feb 2006 – 8 May 2007, R. J. Raven, QM S79197 ; 1♂, Tower at Perry Range Xing on rd, 19°20'S, 145°35'E, open forest, pitfall, 17 Dec 2006 – 13 Feb 2007, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S76743 ; 1♀, W of Myola Stn on ridge, 20°04'S, 145°28'E, Lancewood and Fig bushland, open forest, pitfall, 28 Sep–17 Dec 2006, R. Raven, A. Amey, B. Baehr, QM S79042 ; 1♂, same data but 17 Dec 2006 – 13 Feb 2007, R. Raven, B. Baehr, QM S79179 .

Diagnosis. Males differ from all other Australian Castianeirinae in the strongly spinose RTA and opposed wing-like paracymbial spines ( Fig. 88b ); females differ from those of N. robertsi sp. nov. in that the median epigynal groove does not extend to the epigastric ridge ( Fig. 89a, b ).

Etymology. The species epithet conveys the paradox posed by the apomorphic character (RTA) which is plesiomorphically absent in the subfamily.

Description holotype male QM S44435

Carapace 3.84 long, 2.88 wide. Abdomen 4.16 long, 2.64 wide. Total length 8.1.

Colour: carapace dark red brown with patches of white feathery hairs along margins and paramedially; abdomen dorsally with three pairs of large white patches, most posterior apostrophe-shaped, and white spot on end of abdomen, mid-laterally in some specimens with large ovoid spot; legs dark brown with spots of white feathery hairs laterally on femora and patellae. Spines: I: fe p1d3; pa0; ti v 2.2w; me v2.2.0. II: fe p1d3; pa 0; ti v1.1; me v2.2. III: fe p1d3r2; pa 0; ti p2r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.3 midlateral spine very long. IV: fe p1d2r1; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1; ti p1; cymbium p2 basal. Legs: weak but distinct scopula on tarsi and distal half of metatarsi I and II. Palp: tibia with large RTA bearing at least four long tapering spines and, at rest, closely approaching large slightly scooped paracymbial spine; cymbium apically with pallid weak zone with 4–6 short thick bristles. Abdomen with dorsal scute for two-thirds length and partially down flanks; genital scute with short collar and distinct post-epigastric sclerites; ventral scute wide, extends back to large triangular tracheal scute but separate from it.

Allotype Female QM S27408

Carapace 4.08 long, 2.96 wide. Abdomen 4.48 long, 3.12 wide. Total length 8.5.

Colour: carapace and chelicerae dark red brown with narrow broken paramedial bands of white hair, narrow pre-fovea band and a band from fovea along each posterior strial ridge; abdomen dorsally with large trianguloid scute in anterior one-fifth; lateral edges of scute with narrow band of white hairs with enlarged posterior apex, middle patches ovoid, posterior patches each barbel-shaped, laterally dark with weak mottling close to venter. Legs dark brown with paler tips to femora. Eyes: PME less than one diameter from PLE and just over one diameter apart. Chelicerae: with shield of thick black hair over anterior fang edge. Dentition: R2, P3. Legs: RCH a pinhead. Trochanter IV distinctly notched but shallow, indistinct on I–III. Scopula: on all leg tarsi and weak in distal two-thirds of metatarsi I and II. Spines: I: fe p1d3; pa 0; ti v 2.2w; me v2.1.0. II: fe p1d3; pa 0; ti v 1.1w; me v2.2.0. III: fe p2d3r2; pa 0; ti p2r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.3. IV: fe p1d3r1; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1d2; ti p2d2; ta p2d1. Epigyne: genital scute with paragenital brackets. Genital plate broad, flat with two lateral pits, each with thick diagonal septum presumably locked by RTA and paracymbial spine. Abdomen: ventral scute absent but tracheal scute a raised teat. Colulus absent.

Distribution and Habitat. Known from open forest and heath from north Queensland to a regenerated sandmining site ("Yarraman") on North Stradbroke Island, southeastern Queensland.

Figures

FIGURE 88. Nyssus paradoxus sp. nov.: a–c, holotype male, QM S44435, palpal tibia, bulb and cymbium, ventral view (a); paracymbial spine and tibial apophysis, dorsal (b) and retrolateral (c) views; d, e, female: habitus (d) and abdomen (e), ventral view.

FIGURE 89. Nyssus sp. nov., epigyne: a–c, N. paradoxus sp. nov., female, a, scanning electron micrograph, external; b, c, allotype female QM S27408, external (b), internal (c). d, e, N. robertsi sp. nov., holotype female QM S39545, external (d), internal (e).

FIGURE 99. Poecilipta species, habitus, females: a, P. wallacei sp. nov.; b, P. gloverae sp. nov., QM S45588; c, P. janthina Simon, 1896. Photos, a, c: Trevor Jinks; b, Jeff Wright, QM.