Aname flexicaudula, Wilson & Harvey & Simmons & Rix, 2025

Aname flexicaudula sp. nov.

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Figs 13 View Fig , 102 View Fig

Diagnosis

Males of A. flexicaudula sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. broadwater sp. nov. by a small body size (carapace length <4.0 mm), and the presence of a long embolus (embolus length / bulb length>1.5) that is reflexed relative to the bulb and relatively straight ( Fig. 102K–P View Fig ). Males of A. flexicaudula can be distinguished from those of A. broadwater by presence of a thicker tibia I (tibia length/ width ~3.5; cf. ~ 3.1 in A. broadwater ) with a proximally-positioned tibial spur (length to spur/ tibia length ~ 0.4; cf. ~ 0.5 in A. broadwater ) ( Fig. 102P View Fig ; cf. Fig. 101 View Fig ).

Females of A. flexicaudula sp. nov. are unknown.

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ flexicaudula ’ is an adjective formed from the Latin ‘ flexus ’, meaning ‘bent’, and ‘ cauda ’ meaning ‘tail’ or ‘appendage’, and the diminutive suffix ‘- ula ’. Combined, the epithet references the small size of the species, and its distinctive, long, reflexed embolus.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Carnarvon National Park , Mount Moffatt Section; 25°01′ S, 147°54′ E; 720 m a.s.l.; 26 Sep.–2 Nov. 2012; N. Starick, C. Lambkin, S. Wright and B. Keith leg.; pitfall trap; QMB S27992 .

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Description

Male (holotype, QMB S27992)

GENERAL ( Fig. 102A–Q View Fig ). Body length 7.41, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 102A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 3.07, width 2.45, length/width 1.25, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.65, caput width/carapace width 0.66, carapace red-brown, caput slighty darker than thorax, reflective setae absent or inconspicuous, fovea straight, fovea width/carapace length 0.12 ( Fig. 102A, F View Fig ); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum present, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.55 ( Fig. 102A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.1, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 102E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 102B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 2.62, charcoal dorsally, pallid laterally, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 102C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 102H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 92, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 60% of maxillae length ( Fig. 102C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 102C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.35, central sternum with consistent covering of very short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges ( Fig. 102G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 102N–Q View Fig ). Leg I pallid, darker on distal femur and patella, femur length 2.59, patella length 1.52, tibia length 1.74, metatarsus length 1.83, tarsus length 1.28, total length 8.96, leg I length/carapace length 2.92 ( Fig. 102N–O View Fig ); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus ( Fig. 102N–O View Fig ); spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 ( Fig. 102N–O View Fig ); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.11, even width along length, spur present, digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 22 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.42, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.64, megaspine length/tibia length 0.38 ( Fig. 102N–P View Fig ); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation straight with inconspicuous heel, heel rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.48, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.16 ( Fig. 102N–O, Q View Fig ).

PEDIPALP ( Fig. 102J–M View Fig ). Tibia length 1.53, width 0.54, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.81, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.67, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventrabl face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent ( Fig. 102J–K View Fig ); patella prolateral face with 0 spines ( Fig. 102J–K View Fig ); cymbium with scopulae present distally ( Fig. 102J–K View Fig ); copulatory organ total length 1.09, length/palp tibia length 0.71 ( Fig. 102L–M View Fig ); bulb length/width 1.02 ( Fig. 102L–M View Fig ); embolus strongly reflexed, attenuate, long and relatively straight, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.19, embolus length/bulb length 2.26 ( Fig. 102L–M View Fig ).

Distribution and natural history

Aname flexicaudula sp. nov. occurs in central Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt South bioregion, in the Mount Moffatt region of Carnarvon National Park ( Fig. 13 View Fig ). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown.