Ticopa australis, 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 : 224-225

Ticopa australis sp. nov.

( Figs 2f , 126a–i . Map 84)

Material. South Australia: holotype ♂, Renmark, 32 km N, 33°53'S, 140°44'E, chenopod scrubland, malaise trap, 2–29 Mar 1995, K. Pullen, QM S31512 .

Paratypes: South Australia: allotype 1♀, 2–29 Mar 1995, QM S31513 ; 1♀, malaise trap, 1–29 Mar 1995, QM S39284 ; 1♂, Calperum Homestead , 65 km NNW, 33°31'S, 140°24'E, pitfall & intercept traps, 1–29 Mar 1995, K. Pullen, QM S77467 . Renmark , 32 km N, 33°53'S, 140°44'E, mallee, malaise trap, K. Pullen : 1♀, 7 Jun–6 Jul 1995, QM S31607 ; 1♂ 1♀, 2–29 Mar 1995, QM S31514 ; 1♀, 29 km south of Moonarie Homestead, Yardea Station , 32°13'20"S, 135°49'20"E, 3–4 Oct 1988, D. Hirst, SAMA NN8161 . Western Australia: 1♂, Woodleigh Station ( WO5 ), 26°11'45.3'S, 114°25'23.6"E, 12 Jan–17 May 1995, wet pitfalls, P. West et al., WAM T74028 ; 1♀, Trayning , 31°07'S, 117°48'E, Dec 1988 – Jan 1989, A. Dugand, WAM T74027 . New South Wales: 1♀, White Cliffs , 30°51'S, 143°05'E, on seat in caravan park, 4 May 1992, A.F. Longbottom, WAM T74029 . Queensland: 1♀, Windermere, near Glenmorgan , 27°17'S, 149°45'E, pitfall, Dec 90– Sep 91, R . Raven, D. Smyth, QM S32636 .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of all other species by the embolus tip which appears folded ( Fig. 126a ) and females differ from that of T. hudsoni sp. nov. in the smaller, almost indistinct accessory lobe on the spermathecal head ( Fig. 126d ).

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the southern distribution of the species.

Description holotype QM S31512

Carapace 3.35 long, 2.40 wide. Abdomen 2.91 long, 1.85 wide. Total, 6.4.

Colour: carapace brown orange with bold blotching along lateral submargin and even darker brown areas paramedially and behind fovea, chelicerae red brown, legs yellow with 20–30 large brown spots on ventral femora; two brown bands on tibiae, all brown; metatarsi and yellowish tarsi; abdomen with triangUlar orange brown scute over central brown band flanked by two large pallid areas and mottled brown laterally, venter fawn; chelicerae, maxillae and labium red brown, sternum and coxae brownish yellow. Carapace: cover of fine translucent scaly hair, three long black bristles behind eyes. Eyes: AME ca. 2x ALE, ca. 1.5 x PME and PLE. From in front, silver ALE set lower than AME. Chelicerae: robust, distal lobe indistinct; fang groove long; dentition 2P, 2R. Legs: tibial spines (I and II) short not overlapping, longer on metatarsi; all trochanters with shallow notches; erect scopuliform hairs on tarsi I–IV divided by two lines of strong setae on III and IV. Spines: I: fe pv1 long p2d2r1; pa 0; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe pv1p2d3r1; pa 0; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me p2v2.2. III: fe p2d3r3; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.3. IV: fe p3d3r1; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2; me p3r3v1.1.1.1.3. Palp: fe p1d2 (no ventral); pa p1d2 (all weak); ti p2 basal d1. Claws: tufts higher than enclosed claw. Abdomen: scutes: dorsal, with small oval scute in apical 0.2; genital, sclerotised; tracheal, a wide hirsute ridge. Palp: tibia about as wide as long, with two long probasal spines; cymbium long with narrow basal margin; retromargin retreats dorsally; apical cone short; retrolateral cymbial process like a strong wing; bulb, sperm duct prolateral to base then folds upward (inward and back down in depth transverse); embolus broad with folded tip and transverse collar.

Female allotype QM S31513 . Like ♂ except as follows :

Carapace 3.70 long, 2.64 wide. Abdomen 3.89 long, 2.33 wide. Total, 7.9.

Chelicerae: low fang mound with long curved bristles from fang base. Spines: metatarsus II ventrally with 2–3 pairs long spines; palp, tarsus p2 (basal) d1, 3 small thorn-like ventrally near claw. Claws: with 3–4 teeth; palpal claw long gently curved bare. Abdomen: scutes absent. Spinnerets: PMS with two long cylindrical spigots each, PLS with three. Epigyne: large; two large semicircular hoods basally, each surrounds depression with distinct gonopore in inner anterior corner.

Distribution and Habitat. Known from desert and sparely vegetated areas in Western Australia, Renmark,

South Australia, Western New South Wales and south western Queensland.

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 126. Ticopa australis sp. nov.: holotype male, QM S31514, a–c: a, b, palpal cymbium and bulb, ventral (a, c) and retroventral (b) views; c, embolus tip, ventral view; d–e, allotype female, QM S31513, epigyne, external (d), internal (e); female, f, habitus, g–i, g, palpal bulb and cymbium, scanning electron micrographs, ventral view; h, embolus tip showing "scales", ventral view; i, paracymbial spine, retrobasally, ventral view.