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

Aname serpentina sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3A29CF45-A90F-45E1-99B1-B4EB3A29CF50

Figs 1 View Fig , 14 View Fig , 118–119 View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

Males of A. serpentina sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known by a moderate to large body size (carapace length>4.0 mm), and the presence of a long embolus (embolus length / bulb length>1.5) that is flattened, highly reflexed, and the shape of a broad corkscrew ( Fig. 118L–M View Fig ).

Females of A. serpentina sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known by the presence of spermathecae with two extremely elongate vesicles (lateral vesicle length / width ~ 13.7), with the lateral vesicles projecting laterally before extending towards the anterior, and the medial vesicles extending medially before extending towards the anterior, and the presence of distinctive groups of bristle-like setae around the edges of the sternum, between the sigilla ( Fig. 119 View Fig ).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ serpentina ’ is a Latin adjective meaning ‘serpent-like’, in reference to the highly elongate, sinuous spermathecae and embolus of this species.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Alpha ; 23°39′ S, 146°38′ E; 10 Jan. 2022; S. Thorn leg.; QMB S118221 View Materials .

GoogleMaps

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Jericho ; 23°35′ S, 146°05′ E; 5 Feb. 1987; J. McDonald leg.; QMB S96506 • 1 ♀; Alpha, off Star Downs Road, near junction of Tambo Road ; 23°39′ S, 146°39′ E; 359 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118284 . GoogleMaps

GoogleMaps

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 juv.; Capricorn Highway , E of Jericho; 23°36′ S, 146°14′ E; 403 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118288 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S118221)

GENERAL ( Fig. 118A–Q View Fig ). Body length 18.16, in good condition but with dehydrated tissue.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 118A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 7.91, width 6.50, length/width 1.22, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.70, caput width/carapace width 0.71, carapace dark red-brown, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.14 ( Fig. 118A, F View Fig ); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.45 ( Fig. 118A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.01, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 118E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 118B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 6.69, grey, dorsal pattern absent, with reflective setae on anterior portion.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 118C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 118H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 86, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 30% of maxillae length ( Fig. 118C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 118C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.35, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, distinct bristle-like setae in small groups around anterior edge of sternum ( Fig. 118G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.20, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.19 ( Fig. 118G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small, round and lateral ( Fig. 118G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 118N–Q View Fig ). Leg I very dark red-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 6.22, patella length 3.80, tibia length 4.56, metatarsus length 4.40, tarsus length 2.93, total length 21.91, leg I length/carapace length 2.77 ( Fig. 118N–O View Fig ); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus ( Fig. 118N– 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. 118N–O View Fig ); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.14, even width along length, spur present, intermediate triangular/digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 22 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.54, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.66, megaspine length/tibia length 0.22 ( Fig. 118N–P View Fig ); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel semi-sharp, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.49, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 3.70 ( Fig. 118N–O, Q View Fig ).

PEDIPALP ( Fig. 118J–M View Fig ). Tibia length 3.39, width 1.65, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.06, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.57, retrolateral face with patch of long setae proximally of asetose depression, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent ( Fig. 118J–K View Fig ); patella prolateral face with 2 spines ( Fig. 118J–K View Fig ); cymbium with scopulae present distally ( Fig. 118J– K View Fig ); copulatory organ total length 1.99, length/palp tibia length 0.59 ( Fig. 118L–M View Fig ); bulb length/width 0.92 ( Fig. 118L–M View Fig ); embolus significantly reflexed, attenuate, flattened, corkscrew-shaped, protruding distally from bulb, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.29, embolus length/bulb length 2.19 ( Fig. 118L–M View Fig ).

Female (paratype, QMB S118284)

GENERAL ( Fig. 119A–L View Fig ). Body length 20.91, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 119A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 8.00, width 6.71, length/width 1.19, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.79, carapace orange-brown, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 ( Fig. 119A, F View Fig ); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.54 ( Fig. 119A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.79, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 119E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 119B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 8.77, brown, darker dorsally and lighter laterally, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 119C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules present, count =6 ( Fig. 119H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 88, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length ( Fig. 119C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 119C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.18, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges ( Fig. 119G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.19, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.22 ( Fig. 119G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small and lateral, medial sigilla semi-elongate, anterior sigilla round ( Fig. 119G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 119J–K View Fig ). Leg I red-brown, femur length 6.26, patella length 4.02, tibia length 4.31, metatarsus length 3.91, tarsus length 2.35, total length 20.85, leg I length/carapace length 2.61; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 2, Ti RL 4, Me PL 2, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 2.86.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 119D, L View Fig ). Epigastric furrow extending significantly, posterior edge with squared shape ( Fig. 119D View Fig ); spermathecae with two vesicles each ( Fig. 119L View Fig ); lateral vesicle extremely elongate, angled laterally before right-angled anterior turn, and medial turn before tip, length 2.36, lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width 0.79, length/width at base 13.74, crown un-demarcated ( Fig. 119L View Fig ); medial vesicle projecting from medial part of lateral vesicle, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.96, length/width 10.46, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 1.21 ( Fig. 119L View Fig ).

Distribution and natural history

Aname serpentina sp. nov. occurs in central Queensland, in the Desert Uplands bioregion and the edge of the Brigalow Belt North bioregion. It is only known from around the town of Alpha ( Fig. 14 View Fig ). It constructs an open, silk-lined burrow without silk outside of the entrance, often on an angle, and with a hidden secondary ‘wishbone’ entrance ( Fig. 14 View Fig ).