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

Aname intermedia sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7603502B-B1E2-4B9E-BFD0-73C6822041C3

Figs 1 View Fig , 6 View Fig , 29 View Fig , 30 View Fig

Diagnosis

Males of A. intermedia sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. attenuata , A. blackdownensis , A. convoluta sp. nov., A. ferruginea sp. nov., A. giraulti , A. pallida , and A. vigilata sp. nov. 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), a proximal excavation less than or equal to half the length of metatarsus I, and a prominent and sharp heel on metatarsus I ( Fig. 29Q View Fig ). Males of A. intermedia can be distinguished from those of A. attenuata , A. blackdownensis , A. convoluta , A. ferruginea , A. giraulti , A. pallida , and A. vigilata by the presence of a relatively wide basal section on the embolus, which then tapers to an attenuate, sinuous distal section after about 0.4 of length (similar to eddieorum -complex species) ( Fig. 29L–M View Fig ; cf. Figs 15 View Fig , 18 View Fig , 21 View Fig , 23 View Fig , 25 View Fig , 27 View Fig , 33 View Fig ).

Females of A. intermedia sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known by the presence of spermathecae with relatively short and wide lateral vesicles (lateral vesicle length / width ~1) and large, banana-shaped medial vesicles curving from a medial to lateral angle (medial vesicle length /lateral vesicle length ~2.6) ( Fig. 30L View Fig ).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ intermedia ’ is a Latin adjective referencing the intermediate morphology of this species between species of the pallida - and eddieorum -complexes.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Townsville, Condon ; 19°20′ S, 146°42′ E; 12 Nov. 1979; V. Cataldo leg.; QMB S22502.

GoogleMaps

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 juv.; Granitevale Road , Alice River , SW of Townsville; 19°21′ S, 146°37′ E; 44 m a.s.l.; 17 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on bank (full of ant remains); QMB S118357 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Jesmond Road , SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°08′ E; 364 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated; QMB S118353 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 juv.; Jesmond Road , SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°09′ E; 367 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated; QMB S118352 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 juv.; Jesmond Road , SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°09′ E; 340 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; open burrow on ground; QMB S118350 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S22502)

GENERAL ( Fig. 29A–Q View Fig ). Body length 16.75, in moderate condition, leg I megaspines broken off, colour presumably faded.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 29A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 7.14, width 5.78, length/width 1.24, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.63, carapace red-orange, caput slighty darker than thorax, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.13 ( Fig. 29A, F View Fig ); chelicerae red, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.47 ( Fig. 29A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.95, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 29E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 29B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 6.19, brown, dorsal pattern absent, with reflective setae on anterior portion.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 29C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 29H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 78, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length ( Fig. 29C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 29C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.35, some posterior setae rubbed off, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges ( Fig. 29G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.21, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.14 ( Fig. 29G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small, round and lateral ( Fig. 29G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 29N–Q View Fig ). Leg I orange-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, reflective setae on dorsal femur, femur length 5.68, patella length 3.64, tibia length 4.35, metatarsus length 3.84, tarsus length 2.39, total length 19.90, leg I length/carapace length 2.79 ( Fig. 29N–O View Fig ); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus ( Fig. 29N–O View Fig ); spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1 (rubbed off), Pa PL 2 (distal rubbed off), Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 ( Fig. 29N–O View Fig ); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.51, even width along length, spur present, intermediate triangular/digitiform, knuckle absent, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.44, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.61 ( Fig. 29N–P View Fig ); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel sharp, excavation length/ metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.47, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 3.49 ( Fig. 29N–O, Q View Fig ).

PEDIPALP ( Fig. 29J–M View Fig ). Tibia length 2.80, width 1.23, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.28, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.63, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent ( Fig. 29J–K View Fig ); patella prolateral face with 2 (distal rubbed off) spines ( Fig. 29J–K View Fig ); cymbium with scopulae present distally ( Fig. 29J–K View Fig ); copulatory organ total length 1.73, length/palp tibia length 0.62 ( Fig. 29L–M View Fig ); bulb length/width 0.87 ( Fig. 29L–M View Fig ); embolus slightly reflexed, attenuate, with wide base tapering about halfway along into attenuate apical section, one slight bend, at about 0.4 of length, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.28, embolus length/bulb length 2.25 ( Fig. 29L–M View Fig ).

Female (QMB S118353)

GENERAL ( Fig. 30A–L View Fig ). Body length 23.00, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 30A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 9.19, width 7.13, length/width 1.29, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.73, carapace red-brown, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.13 ( Fig. 30A, F View Fig ); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.46 ( Fig. 30A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.88, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 30E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 30B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 9.43, dark brown, dorsal pattern absent, with full covering of reflective setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 30C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 30H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 100, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 45% of maxillae length ( Fig. 30C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 30C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.22, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges ( Fig. 30G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla ovoid, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.22, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.16 ( Fig. 30G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small, round and lateral ( Fig. 30G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 30J–K View Fig ). Leg I red-brown, lighter on tarsus, femur length 6.47, patella length 4.37, tibia length 4.38, metatarsus length 3.96, tarsus length 2.48, total length 21.65, leg I length/carapace length 2.36; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 2, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 2, Ti RL 4 (2nd from proximal rubbed off), Me PL 2, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.00.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 30D, L View Fig ). Epigastric furrow unmodified ( Fig. 30D View Fig ); spermathecae with two vesicles each ( Fig. 30L View Fig ); lateral vesicle relatively straight, length 0.57, lateral vesicle length/genitalia width 0.19, length/width at base 0.95, crown un-demarcated ( Fig. 30L View Fig ); medial vesicle long, broad and curving from medial to lateral angle, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.49, length/width 5.82, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 2.6 ( Fig. 30L View Fig ).

Distribution and natural history

Aname intermedia sp. nov. occurs in north-eastern Queensland, near the boundaries of the Einsleigh Uplands, Desert Uplands, and Brigalow Belt North bioregions. It is known from two general localities, one in western Townsville and the other just west of Charters Towers ( Fig. 6 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. 6 View Fig ).