Nyssus loureedi, 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 : 155

Nyssus loureedi sp. nov.

( Figs 86a–e , 87a–d . Map 46)

Material. New South Wales: Lord Howe Island: holotype ♂, Valley of the Shadows , bird colony, 31°31'50"S, 159°04'36"E, 8–15 Dec 2000, H. Gibb, P. Harris, T . Moulds , AM KS82436 . Paratypes: Lord Howe Island : 1♀ (allotype), same data as holotype, AM KS82431 ; 1♂, Stephens Reserve, New Settlement , 31°31'33"S, 159°03'55"E, 4–14 Dec 2000, H. Gibb, P. Harris, T . Moulds , AM KS76269 ; 1♀, The Clear Place, 30m, sieved litter, G. Monteith, 22 Nov 1979, QM S43770 .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of N. yuggera sp. nov. by the short dorsal abdominal scute, narrower embolus tip ( Fig. 87c, d ) and the presence of spines on the palpal femur to tibia; females differ from those of N. yuggera sp. nov. by the smaller spiralled copulatory fossae and the enlarged head of the spermathecae ( Fig. 87a, b ).

Etymology. The species epithet is in honour of the late Lou Reed (March 2, 1942– 27 October 2013), American musician, singer and songwriter.

Description Holotype male AM KS82436

Carapace 3.25 long, 2.50 wide. Abdomen 3.13 long, 2.38 wide. Total length 6.5.

Carapace: glabrous. Cheliceral fang shield only with long setae. Sternum and femora pustulose. Legs: no feathery hairs. Leg IV slightly thicker and longer than I–II. Spines: strong, none on patellae I–IV; I: fe p1d3r1. II: fe p1d3r1. III: me p2r3v2.2.dw4. IV: fe p1–2d3r1; p2r2v2.2.2; me p1r1v2.2.dw4. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1; ti p2. Abdomen: dorsal scute for about three-quarters of length. Tracheal scute conical on broad sclerotised mound. Palp: pre-distal edge of dorsal tibia with rounded ridge demarcating distal groove; paracymbial spine absent. Embolus with long low ridge from basal on bulb with narrow curled embolus.

Allotype Female AM KS82431

Carapace 4.81 long, 3.38 wide. Abdomen 5.63 long, 3.94 wide. Total length 10.4.

Colour: carapace, legs and dorsal scute dark red brown; abdomen dark brown with white foliate pattern centrally; dorsal scute posteriorly indented, extends only for ca. 0.1 of dorsal length. Carapace: anterior lateral corner bulges out over cheliceral boss. Carapace, sternum and coxae rugose. Chelicerae: slightly porrect; fangs slightly diagonal; dentition: 2R, 3P. Legs: precoxal sclerites present; RCH distinct. Femora III and IV with distinct distal constriction. Femora I–IV similar in size. Scopula on metatarsi and tarsi I–III. No feathery hairs evident. Spines: I and II: fe p1d3r1; pa 0; ti v2.2.2 (all short); me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; pa 0; ti v2.2.2 (all strong); me v2.2. IV: fe p2d3r1; pa 0; p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p2r2v2.2 + distal whorl of 4. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1 d1(apical); pv1 long p1d2; ta p2r1 plus group of 5–7 spine-like bristles distally. Abdomen: tracheal scute a sclerotised ridge. Pedicel short. Spinnerets: two large spigots on PLS; triad on PMS. Epigyne: with paragenital brackets. Copulatory fossae small, spiralled and large spherical head of spermathecae externally evident.

Distribution. Known only from Lord Howe Island.

Figures

FIGURE 86. Nyssus loureedi sp. nov.: a, d, e, holotype male, AM KS82436, a, habitus, d, palpal tibia, bulb and cymbium, ventral view; e, embolus tip, retrolateral view; b, c, allotype female, AM KS82431: b, epigyne, external; c, habitus.

FIGURE 87. Nyssus loureedi sp. nov.: a, b, allotype female, AM KS82431, epigyne: a, external; b, internal; c, d, holotype male, AM KS82436, embolus tip, ventral (c) and retrolateral (d) views. e, f, Nyssus insularis (L. Koch, 1871), female QM S97460: epigyne, external (e), and internal (f).