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

Aname bifaceta sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BEE8A10C-EA96-402D-A993-86743C2BC8F8

Figs 1 View Fig , 11 View Fig , 71–72 View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

Males of A. bifaceta sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. occivillosa sp. nov., A. scutitheca sp. nov., A. villosa , and A. warialda 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 is relatively straight, a short tibial megaspine (megaspine length / tibia length <0.2), and three or more spines on the prolateral patellae of the pedipalp and leg I ( Fig. 71A–Q View Fig ). Males of A. bifaceta can be distinguished from those of A. occivillosa and A. villosa by the presence of a longer embolus (embolus length / bulb length>2.5) and a longer asetose depression on the palp tibia (depression length / palp tibia length>0.6) ( Fig. 71 View Fig J-M; cf. Figs 74 View Fig , 78 View Fig ). Males of A. bifaceta can be distinguished from those of A. scutitheca by the presence of a tibia I that stays about the same width from the proximal end to the base of the tibial spur when in lateral view and a less spiny palp tibia ( Fig. 71J–K, N–P View Fig ; cf. Fig. 76 View Fig ). Males of A. bifaceta can be distinguished from those of A. warialda by the presence of a shorter asetose depression on the palp tibia (depression length / palp tibia length ~0.61), and the absence of a knuckle at the base of the tibial spur ( Fig. 71J–K, N–P View Fig ; cf. Fig. 81 View Fig ).

Females of A. bifaceta sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. scutitheca sp. nov. and A. warialda by the presence of spermathecae with a single elongate, undulating vesicle (lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width> 0.5) ( Fig. 72L View Fig ). Females of A. bifaceta can be distinguished from those of A. scutitheca by the absence of a large rounded extension of the posterior genital plate (“scute”) over the epigastric furrow ( Fig. 72D, L View Fig ; cf. Fig. 77 View Fig ). Females of A. bifaceta can be distinguished from those of A. warialda by the presence of smaller, shorter spermathecae (lateral vesicle length / genitalia width ~ 0.5; cf. ~ 0.8 in A. warialda ) ( Fig. 72L View Fig ; cf. Fig. 82 View Fig ).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ bifaceta ’ combines the Latin ‘ faceta ’, meaning ‘facet’, with the prefix ‘ bi -’, meaning ‘two’, in reference to the bicoloured nature of the species, which has a red carapace and darker legs, and also has lighter red radial stripes along the edge of the caput which contrast to the darker red colour on the rest of the carapace. The name also alludes to gemstones, referencing the distribution of the species near the ‘Gemfields’ region of central Queensland.

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Emerald ; 23°35′ S, 148°03′ E; 14 May 1999; E.P.A. Emerald leg.; QMB S49920 .

GoogleMaps

Paratype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Sapphire ; 23°28′ S, 147°43′ E; 2 Feb. 1991; L. Kempson leg.; QMB S18798 .

GoogleMaps

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 juv.; Jesmond Road , SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°08′ E; 368 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118354 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 juv.; Jesmond Road , SW of Charters Towers; 20°10′ S, 146°09′ E; 348 m a.s.l.; 16 May 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118348 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Carbine Creek, Capella-Rubyvale Road, near corner of Pine Creek Road ; 23°17′ S, 147°48′ E; 261 m a.s.l.; 18 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118282 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Capricorn Highway , E of Jericho; 23°37′ S, 146°19′ E; 431 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118286 View Materials GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Drummond Range, Lookout off Capricorn Highway ; 23°39′ S, 147°12′ E; 543 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 2023; J.D. Wilson and M.G. Rix leg.; excavated, open burrow on ground; QMB S118283 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Description

Male (holotype, QMB S49920)

GENERAL ( Fig. 71A–Q View Fig ). Body length 20.70, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 71A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 8.75, width 7.51, length/width 1.17, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.69, caput width/carapace width 0.63, carapace red-brown, caput slightly darker than thorax, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 ( Fig. 71A, F View Fig ); chelicerae red, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.40 ( Fig. 71A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.94, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 71E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 71B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 8.46, grey, dorsal pattern absent, with full covering of reflective setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 71C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 71H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 110, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length ( Fig. 71C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 71C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.11, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges ( Fig. 71G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.24, posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.16 ( Fig. 71G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small and lateral, medial sigilla semi-elongate, anterior sigilla round ( Fig. 71G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 71N–Q View Fig ). Leg I orange-brown, femur length 6.73, patella length 4.26, tibia length 5.01, metatarsus length 4.64, tarsus length 2.92, total length 23.56, leg I length/carapace length 2.69 ( Fig. 71N– O View Fig ); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus ( Fig. 71N–O View Fig ); spine count Fe D 5, Fe PL 2, Pa PL 3, Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 ( Fig. 71N–O View Fig ); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.31, even width along length, spur present, intermediate triangular/digitiform, knuckle absent, megaspine angled at 20 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.52, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.58, megaspine length/tibia length 0.16 ( Fig. 71N–P View Fig ); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.46, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 3.83 ( Fig. 71N–O, Q View Fig ).

PEDIPALP ( Fig. 71J–M View Fig ). Tibia length 3.38, width 1.33, length/width [PTL/PTD] 2.54, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.61, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with patch of spines on distal half, disto-medial spine present ( Fig. 71J–K View Fig ); patella prolateral face with 3 spines ( Fig. 71J–K View Fig ); cymbium with scopulae present distally ( Fig. 71J–K View Fig ); copulatory organ total length 2.38, length/palp tibia length 0.70 ( Fig. 71L–M View Fig ); bulb length/width 0.82 ( Fig. 71L–M View Fig ); embolus demarcated and roughly perpendicular to bulb, attenuate, long and straight with slightly swollen base, width at base/ bulb width 0.25, embolus length/bulb length 2.84 ( Fig. 71L–M View Fig ).

Female (QMB S118282)

GENERAL ( Fig. 72A–L View Fig ). Body length 21.32, in good condition.

DORSAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 72A, E–F View Fig ). Carapace length 7.63, width 6.71, length/width 1.14, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.71, caput width/carapace width 0.73, carapace orange-brown, with distinct lighter bands radiating from fovea along sides of caput, reflective setae absent or inconspicuous, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.17 ( Fig. 72A, F View Fig ); chelicerae orange, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.58 ( Fig. 72A View Fig ); eye group rectangular, width/length 1.8, eye tubercle present ( Fig. 72E View Fig ).

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 72B, D View Fig ). Abdomen length 9.00, dark brown, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.

VENTRAL PROSOMA ( Fig. 72C, G–I View Fig ). Labium cuspules absent ( Fig. 72H View Fig ); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 148, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length ( Fig. 72C, I View Fig ); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present ( Fig. 72C, I View Fig ); sternum length/width 1.06, central sternum with consistent covering of short setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, setae at higher density around anterior edges ( Fig. 72G–H View Fig ); posterior sigilla semi-elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.27, posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.17 ( Fig. 72G–H View Fig ); other sigilla small, round and lateral ( Fig. 72G–H View Fig ).

LEG I ( Fig. 72J–K View Fig ). Leg I pallid, darker on patella and tibia, femur length 5.59, patella length 3.64, tibia length 3.73, metatarsus length 3.40, tarsus length 2.20, total length 18.56, leg I length/carapace length 2.43; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 0, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 3 (proximal two rubbed off), Ti PL 2 (weak), Ti RL 4 (weak), Me PL 3, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 2.85.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 72D, L View Fig ). Epigastric furrow unmodified ( Fig. 72D View Fig ); spermathecae with one vesicle each ( Fig. 72L View Fig ); lateral vesicle undulating, with several distinct bends, length 0.74, lateral vesicle length/ genitalia width 0.51, length/width at base 4.88, crown slightly wider than stem ( Fig. 72L View Fig ).

Distribution and natural history

Aname bifaceta sp. nov. has a wide distribution in central Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt North bioregion, from the town of Emerald west at least to Alpha. Juvenile specimens collected much further north from near Charters Towers have been tentatively linked to this species based on morphology and molecular data, presumably representing the northern limit of its distribution ( Fig. 11 View Fig ). It constructs an open, silk-lined burrow with silk spilling out from the entrance, sometimes with a built-up mound of soil around the entrance. The burrow has a short, hidden ‘wishbone’ entrance, which, when excavated, is revealed to terminate in a distinctly thick, white sheath of silk ( Fig. 11 View Fig ).