Araneopedis dargo, Mesibov, 2025

Araneopedis dargo sp. nov.

Figs 6 View Figure 6 , 15 A View Figure 15

Type material.

Holotype. Male, Dargo High Plains (Vic), King Spur Track, E of Dargo High Plains Road, site HS 11-O-L 2 , -37.1151, 147.1782 ± 25 m, 1525–1545 m, coll. Nicholas Porch, 2024-04 - 14, 1 m 2 litter sample from open shrubby subalpine grassland, NMV K 16492 GoogleMaps . Paratypes. 3 M, 7 F, details as for holotype, NMV K 16494 GoogleMaps ; 1 M in 95 % EtOH, same details, NMV K 16493 GoogleMaps ; 2 M, 16 F, same details but site HS 11-O-L 3 , -37.1162, 147.1788 ± 25 m, open grassy subalpine shrubland NMV K 16491 GoogleMaps .

Additional material.

None.

Diagnosis.

Adult males distinguished from A. buffalo sp. nov. by the posterior rings being of similar size to anterior rings vs enlarged; and from A. buffalo sp. nov. and other species of Araneopedis gen. nov. by the medial branch of the gonopod telopodite being much taller than the lateral branch.

Description.

As for the genus, with the following details. Male / female length ca 8.5 / 8.0 mm, maximum midbody width 0.75 / 0.7. 5 mm, midbody metatergite width ca 1.4 × prozonite width.

Telopodite base with upturned basal margin (Fig. 6 A, B View Figure 6 ), sparsely setose with long setae. Proximal portion of telopodite bulbous, expanded posteriorly. Lateral branch arising near telopodite base, extending distally as strap-like structure with near-constant width, tilted medially to stand just posterior to medial branch, the tip curving posteriorly and bluntly pointed. Medial branch similarly strap-like but thicker and longer than lateral branch, somewhat sinuous in outline, the apex bent laterally and tapering to blunt point distal to tip of lateral branch; subapically on anterolateral edge with blunt, spine-projection tightly curving posterodistally. Solenomere arising from top of bulbous telopodite section at ca 1 / 2 telopodite height, directed anteromedially, flattened, the truncate distal edge with short pointed tooth posteriorly and longer, spine-like extension curving distolaterally and terminating with opening of prostatic groove. Prostatic groove running along anterior edge of solenomere.

Name.

Noun in apposition, for the Dargo High Plains.

Distribution.

Collected on the Dargo High Plains in the Victorian mountains (Fig. 15 A View Figure 15 ), in subalpine grassland and shrubland from 1525 to 1545 m.