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

Aname mulgana sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CA4B69C0-64CD-4DCC-9F61-AC2C8B309D2C

Figs 1 View Fig , 7 View Fig , 44–45 View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

Males of A. mulgana sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. aurensis sp. nov., A. briggsi sp. nov., A. eddieorum sp. nov., A. hughenden sp. nov., A. longitheca , A. rupicola sp. nov., and A. warrego sp. nov. by a moderate to large body size (carapace length> 4.0 mm), the presence of a long embolus (embolus length / bulb length>1.5) that has a relatively wide basal section tapering into an attenuate, sinuous distal section after about 0.4 of length, and the absence of a prominent sharp heel on metatarsus I (as in the pallida -complex) ( Fig. 44L–M View Fig ). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. eddieorum , A. longitheca , and A. warrego by the presence of a tibia I that widens from the proximal end to the base of the tibial spur when in lateral view ( Fig. 44P View Fig ; cf. Figs 39 View Fig , 42 View Fig , 48 View Fig ). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. aurensis and A. rupicola by the presence of a longer embolus (embolus length /bulb length>2.5) ( Fig. 44L–M View Fig ; cf. Figs 34 View Fig , 46 View Fig ). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. hughenden by the presence of a more strongly curving embolus ( Fig. 44L–M View Fig ; cf. Fig. 41 View Fig ). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. briggsi by the presence of a shorter distal pad and longer proximal excavation on metatarsus I (excavation length / metatarsus length ~0.43; cf. ~ 0.36 in A. briggsi ) ( Fig. 44Q View Fig ; cf. Fig. 36 View Fig ).

Females of A. mulgana sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. aurensis sp. nov., A. briggsi sp. nov., A. camara , A. dingo sp. nov., A. eddieorum sp. nov., A. longitheca , and A. rupicola 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 medially or posteromedially, before undulating anteriorly ( Fig. 45L View Fig ). Females of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. aurensis , A. briggsi , A. dingo , A. longitheca , and A. rupicola by the presence of spermathecae with lateral vesicles terminating in relatively wide ends ( Fig. 45L View Fig ; cf. Figs 35 View Fig , 37 View Fig , 38 View Fig , 43 View Fig , 47 View Fig ). Females of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. camara by the presence of a darker body colouration and spermathecae with longer vesicles (lateral vesicle length /genitalia width>0.35) with less widely-spaced crowns (distance between crowns less than length of lateral vesicles) ( Fig. 45A–L View Fig ; cf. Fig. 107 View Fig ). Females of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. eddieorum by the absence of bald patches on the sternum, lateral of the sigilla, and the presence of thorn-like setae around the anterior edges of the sternum, and more angular medio-ventral corners of the coxae ( Fig. 45G–I View Fig ; cf. Fig. 40 View Fig ).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ mulgana ’ is an adjective formed from ‘Mulga’, the common name of Acacia aneura , and the suffix ‘-ana’ signifying an association, referencing its occurrence in the Mulga Lands bioregion of central-southern Queensland and north-western New South Wales.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Charleville ; 26°23′ S, 146°08′ E; Oct. 1978; R.C. Turnbull leg.; QMB S9769 View Materials .

GoogleMaps

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Morven , “Ovida”; 26°29′ S, 146°49′ E; 21 Dec. 1991; M.N. Goodyear leg.; QMB S20267 • 1 ♂; Dunkeld, via Mitchell ; 27°10′ S, 147°44′ E; 2 Nov. 1991; A. Sutton leg.; QMB S25559 GoogleMaps .

GoogleMaps

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♀; Thrushton National Park , near Thrushton Homestead camping area; 27°44′ S, 147°42′ E; 219 m a.s.l.; 19 Oct. 2021; E.J. Briggs leg.; QMB S118217 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Markarene Station , 30 miles N of Cunnamulla / Bollon Road ; 27°46′ S, 146°31′ E; 6 Oct. 1984; C. Hembrow leg.; open dry eucalypt at base of sand ridge; QMB S9474 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Saint George, Wagoo Road ; 27°54′ S, 148°38′ E; 10 Nov. 2001; D. Jenkins leg.; QMB S60387 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Dirranbandi ; 28°16′ S, 147°29′ E; 18 Oct. 1982; S. Ferguson leg.; QMB S9399 View Materials GoogleMaps . – New South Wales • 1 ♂; Angledool ; 29°07′ S, 147°54′ E; 23 Nov. 2001; hand collected, under fibro sheet; AMS KS77357 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Wilganea Station , 90 km NE of Bourke; 29°21′ S, 146°17′ E; L. Gibson leg.; AMS KS37161 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Beleuah Station , 90 km NE of Bourke; 29°21′ S, 146°14′ E; 14 Oct. 1993; L. Gibson leg.; pitfall trap; AMS KS37162 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Collarenebri , on farmland; 29°25′ S, 148°15′ E; 29 Nov.–3 Dec. 2013; R.C. Santana, I. Armiach and K. Bock leg.; QMB S29116 GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Lightning Ridge ; 29°26′ S, 147°59′ E; 16 Dec. 1991; M. Taylor leg.; AMS KS30687 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Walgett, “ Morendah ”; 29°31′ S, 147°34′ E; 17 Oct. 1982; T. Remond leg.; AMS KS10434 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Walgett, “ Barfield ”; 29°48′ S, 147°38′ E; 15 Oct. 1985; T.S. Willis leg.; AMS KS16028 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Walgett, “ Remington ”; 29°52′ S, 147°32′ E; Mar. 1982; B. Forster leg.; AMS KS8919 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Walgett ; 29°59′ S, 148°04′ E; AMS KS45847 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Walgett ; 30°01′ S, 148°07′ E; 23 Nov. 1988; S. Remond leg.; AMS KS19939 GoogleMaps .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S9769)

GENERAL ( Fig. 44A–Q View Fig ). Body length 22.81, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 44A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 7.78, width 7.13, length/width 1.09, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.70, caput width/carapace width 0.72, carapace red, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 ( Fig. 44A, F View Fig ); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.74 ( Fig. 44A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.11, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 44E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 44B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 8.75, grey-brown, dorsal pattern absent, with some evidence of reflective setae on anterior portion.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 44C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 44H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 80, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 25% of maxillae length ( Fig. 44C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 44C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.21, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, some shorter thorn-like setae around anterior edges ( Fig. 44G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.18, posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.19 ( Fig. 44G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small and lateral, medial sigilla semi-elongate, anterior sigilla round ( Fig. 44G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 44N–Q View Fig ). Leg I orange-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 7.36, patella length 4.55, tibia length 4.86, metatarsus length 4.84, tarsus length 3.05, total length 24.66, leg I length/carapace length 3.17 ( Fig. 44N–O View Fig ); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus ( Fig. 44N–O View Fig ); spine count Fe D 0, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 ( Fig. 44N–O View Fig ); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 2.75, widening from proximal end to spur before narrowing again towards distal end, spur present, digitiform, knuckle present, megaspine angled at 8 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.41, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.47, megaspine length/tibia length 0.21 ( Fig. 44N–P View Fig ); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel broadly rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.43, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.34 ( Fig. 44N–O, Q View Fig ).

PEDIPALP ( Fig. 44J–M View Fig ). Tibia length 3.94, width 1.28, length/width [PTL/PTD] 3.09, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.60, 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. 44J–K View Fig ); patella prolateral face with 2 spines ( Fig. 44J–K View Fig ); cymbium with scopulae present distally ( Fig. 44J–K View Fig ); copulatory organ total length 2.33, length/palp tibia length 0.59 ( Fig. 44L–M View Fig ); bulb length/width 0.80 ( Fig. 44L–M View Fig ); embolus tapering from bulb, 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 0.29, embolus length/ bulb length 2.68 ( Fig. 44L–M View Fig ).

Female (QMB S118217)

GENERAL ( Fig. 45A–L View Fig ). Body length 21.77, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 45A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 9.52, width 7.52, length/width 1.27, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.72, caput width/carapace width 0.79, carapace orange, caput slightly darker than thorax and clypeus darker again, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 ( Fig. 45A, F View Fig ); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.40 ( Fig. 45A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/ length 1.86, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 45E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 45B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 8.84, dark grey, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 45C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules present, count =1 ( Fig. 45H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count = about 173, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length ( Fig. 45C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 45C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.24, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, some shorter thorn-like setae around anterior edges ( Fig. 45G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.21, posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.23 ( Fig. 45G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small and lateral, medial sigilla semi-elongate, anterior sigilla round ( Fig. 45G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 45J–K View Fig ). Leg I orange, darker on metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 6.87, patella length 4.45, tibia length 4.77, metatarsus length 4.46, tarsus length 2.77, total length 23.32, leg I length/carapace length 2.45; 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] 3.15.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 45D, L View Fig ). Epigastric furrow unmodified ( Fig. 45D View Fig ); spermathecae with two vesicles each ( Fig. 45L View Fig ); lateral vesicle relatively straight, length 0.97, lateral vesicle length/genitalia width 0.39, length/width at base 1.74, crown un-demarcated ( Fig. 45L View Fig ); medial vesicle with distinct basal section angled medially, before undulating towards anterior, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.54, length/ width 5.25, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 1.37 ( Fig. 45L View Fig ).

Distribution and natural history

Aname mulgana sp. nov. has a widespread distribution in central-southern Queensland and central-northern New South Wales, in the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains bioregions. It extends from Walgett in the south to Charleville in the north, and from Charleville in the west to St George in the east ( Fig. 7 View Fig ). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown, but is likely to be similar to that of other eddieorum -complex species ( Fig. 7 View Fig ).