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

Aname platensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:85689b9e-96a4-4f80-bd28-ebe532cfa7b9

Figs 6 View Fig , 31–32 View Fig View Fig

Aname barrema Raven, 1985 – Raven 1985: fig. 72 (illustrated female paratype QMB S1243 [Girraween National Park] assigned to A. barrema Raven, 1985 , here identified as A. platensis sp. nov.).

Diagnosis

Males of A. platensis 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), the presence of a long embolus (embolus length / bulb length>1.5), a narrow sternum (sternum length / width>1.3), and a thick metatarsus I with a rounded heel (metatarsus I length /width ~3.5) ( Fig. 31A–Q View Fig ).

Females of A. platensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. attenuata , A. blackdownensis , and A. convoluta sp. nov. by the presence of spermathecae with two vesicles, with relatively long and straight lateral vesicles (lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width>0.25), and long medial vesicles (medial vesicle length/ lateral vesicle length>1) that project at an antero-medial angle ( Fig. 32L View Fig ). Females of A. platensis can be distinguished from those of A. convoluta by the presence of spermathecae with less elongate medial vesicles (medial vesicle length / genitalia width <0.5) ( Fig. 32L View Fig ; cf. Fig. 24 View Fig ). Females of A. platensis can be distinguished from those of A. blackdownensis by the absence of bristle-like setae covering the posterior part of the abdomen ( Fig. 32B, D View Fig ; cf. Fig. 22 View Fig ). Females of A. platensis can be distinguished from those of A. attenuata by the presence of spermathecae with thicker, straighter medial vesicles (medial vesicle length / width ~ 3.3; cf. ~ 4.1 in A. attenuata ) ( Fig. 32L View Fig ; cf. Figs 19–20 View Fig View Fig ).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ platensis ’ is an adjective formed from the Latin ‘ platus ’ signifying a flat or broad surface, and the suffix ‘- ensis ’, which signifies a connection to a location, in reference to the distribution of this species in the highlands or ‘plateau’ around Stanthorpe, Queensland, which represents the northern extent of the New England Tableland bioregion.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; 10 km W of Stanthorpe, Texas Road ; 28°39′ S, 151°48′ E; 18 Mar. 1994; L. Smith leg.; QMB S40807 View Materials .

GoogleMaps

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Liston ; 28°36′ S, 152°03′ E; Jul. 1980; M. Smith leg.; QMB S96473 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Nundubbermere Falls , 25 km SW of Stanthorpe; 28°47′ S, 151°41′ E; 1–4 Apr. 1988; G.B. Monteith leg.; QMB S4192 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Girraween National Park , near Girraween Day Use Area off Pyramids Road ; 28°50′ S, 151°56′ E; 879 m a.s.l.; 18 Feb. 2023; M.G. Rix, J.D. Wilson and M.S. Harvey leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground, sclerophyll woodland; QMB S118225 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Girraween National Park , near Girraween Day Use Area off Pyramids Road ; 28°50′ S, 151°56′ E; 884 m a.s.l.; 18 Feb. 2023; M.G. Rix, J.D. Wilson and M.S. Harvey leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground, sclerophyll woodland; QMB S118226 View Materials GoogleMaps .

GoogleMaps

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♀; near Girraween National Park ; 28°50′ S, 151°56′ E; 22 Feb. 1973; R.J. Raven leg.; QMB S1243 View Materials (paratype of Aname barrema Raven, 1985 ) GoogleMaps .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S40807)

GENERAL ( Fig. 31A–Q View Fig ). Body length 17.26, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 31A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 7.35, width 6.05, length/width 1.22, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.68, caput width/carapace width 0.73, carapace red-brown, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, light on thorax, fovea straight, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 ( Fig. 31A, F View Fig ); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.52 ( Fig. 31A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.2, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 31E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 31B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 6.45, brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 31C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 31H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 63, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 20% of maxillae length ( Fig. 31C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 31C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.36, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges ( Fig. 31G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla circular, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.26, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.13 ( Fig. 31G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small, round and lateral ( Fig. 31G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 31N–Q View Fig ). Leg I red-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 5.89, patella length 3.67, tibia length 4.27, metatarsus length 4.09, tarsus length 2.79, total length 20.70, leg I length/ carapace length 2.82 ( Fig. 31N–O View Fig ); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus ( Fig. 31N–O View Fig ); spine count Fe D 0, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 0, Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 ( Fig. 31N–O View Fig ); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 2.99, even width along length, spur present, intermediate triangular/digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 23 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.53, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.43, megaspine length/tibia length 0.15 ( Fig. 31N–P View Fig ); metatarsus relatively straight, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel semi-sharp, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.45, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 3.49 ( Fig. 31N–O, Q View Fig ).

PEDIPALP ( Fig. 31J–M View Fig ). Tibia length 3.14, width 1.27, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.48, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.53, retrolateral face with short, thorn-like setae along retrolateral edge of depression, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent ( Fig. 31J–K View Fig ); patella prolateral face with 0 spines ( Fig. 31J–K View Fig ); cymbium with scopulae present distally ( Fig. 31J–K View Fig ); copulatory organ total length 1.68, length/palp tibia length 0.54 ( Fig. 31L–M View Fig ); bulb length/width 0.88 ( Fig. 31L–M View Fig ); embolus demarcated and roughly perpendicular to bulb, attenuate, tapering and curving relatively evenly to point, one slight bend, at about 0.4 of length, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.26, embolus length/bulb length 1.94 ( Fig. 31L–M View Fig ).

Female (paratype, QMB S118225)

GENERAL ( Fig. 32A–L View Fig ). Body length 21.38, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 32A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 7.30, width 6.11, length/width 1.19, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.66, caput width/carapace width 0.77, carapace dark red-brown, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, heavy on thorax, fovea straight, fovea width/carapace length 0.18 ( Fig. 32A, F View Fig ); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.55 ( Fig. 32A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.18, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 32E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 32B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 10.21, dark grey, dorsal pattern absent, with reflective setae on anterior portion.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 32C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 32H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 105, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 45% of maxillae length ( Fig. 32C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 32C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.34, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges ( Fig. 32G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla circular, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.26, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.12 ( Fig. 32G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small, round and lateral ( Fig. 32G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 32J–K View Fig ). Leg I dark red-brown, femur length 4.95, patella length 3.29, tibia length 3.34, metatarsus length 3.26, tarsus length 2.40, total length 17.24, leg I length/carapace length 2.36; 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] 2.61.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 32D, L View Fig ). Epigastric furrow unmodified ( Fig. 32D View Fig ); spermathecae with two vesicles each ( Fig. 32L View Fig ); lateral vesicle relatively straight, length 0.49, lateral vesicle length/genitalia width 0.34, length/width at base 1.59, crown un-demarcated ( Fig. 32L View Fig ); medial vesicle undulating anteriorly, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.33, length/width 3.28, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 0.97 ( Fig. 32L View Fig ).

Distribution and natural history

Aname platensis sp. nov. occurs in south-eastern Queensland (and potentially north-eastern New South Wales), in the New England Tablelands and Nandewar bioregions, extending from around Liston in the north to the Girraween National Park in the south ( 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 ).