Medmassa christae, Raven, 2015

Medmassa christae View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 2c View FIGURE 2 , 11a–d View FIGURE 11 , 135 View FIGURE 135 . Map 2)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♀, Stephens Island, Torres Strait , 9°30'S, 143°33'E, open woodland, 25–27 Nov 1986, J. Gallon, QM S12449 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Differs from other known species of Medmassa in the crescentic external ridges and the dorsal plate on the female genitalia ( Fig. 11b View FIGURE 11 ) and from M. pulchra ( Thorell, 1881) in having seven pairs on spines on tibiae I, II ventrally, rather than only 4–5 pairs. Male unknown.

Etymology. In honour of Christa Deeleman, in small recognition for her studies of spiders, especially of southeast Asia.

Description holotype female QM S12449 View Materials

Carapace 3.36 long, 2.96 wide. Abdomen 3.44 long, 2.64 wide, Total length 6.9.

Colour: carapace (including eye region) orange brown with brown web-like edges to striae along margins and in front of fovea, chelicerae orange brown; legs yellow brown with darker smudges distally on femora; abdomen blue black dorsally and extending laterally in diagonal band, leaving large anterior yellow ovoid area ventrally. Sternum orange brown, coxae yellowish. Carapace: broad, strong arched caput, sloping gradually back from fovea, glabrous, smooth. Lateral profile of carapace ( Fig. 2c View FIGURE 2 ): high but more or less flat or slightly arched for its length; marginally highest point behind fovea at shallowly sloping posterior declivity; eyes set behind clypeus edge. Eyes ( Fig. 11a View FIGURE 11 ): AME large, ca. 2.5 x ALE = PME = PLE. Rows of similar width, front row straight, back procurved. Chelicerae ( Fig. 2c View FIGURE 2 ): robust, slightly geniculate, conical process bearing 5–6 thick black bristles in front of fang; dentition 5R, 2P, fang long, groove oblique; retrolateral face of large chelicerae smooth. Labium subquadrate, maxillae with basal mound; inner edges strongly concave, outer convex. Sternum: broadly cordate, widest at II, domed; lightly setose, with intercoxal triangles. Legs: strong coxal bases hardly modified. Trochanters not notched. Setation simple, no feathery hairs. Scopula absent. Spines: strong, especially strong paired and on mound on tibiae and metatarsi I, II. I, II: fe pv1p1d3; ti v2.2.2.2.2.2.2; me v2.2, all long. III: fe p3d3r3; pa 0; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p2r2v2.2.1. IV, missing. Palp: fe p1d2v3 erect; pa p2 1; ti p3d1; ta pv2 basal. Palp: claw small; brush of thick hair (not scopula) ventrally for distal 1/4 of tarsi. Abdomen ( Fig. 11a View FIGURE 11 ): small triangular scute on anterior face; genital scute weakly sclerotised; tracheal ridge broad, scute small, weak. Post-epigastric sclerites weak, U-shaped, around booklung outer edge. Epigyne: large ovoid, projecting back past genital groove with sclerotised tongue-shaped dorsal plate internally; from back, sloping down and forward with single medial hollow with lateral crescentic ridges; duct leads from base of each ridge to single widely ovoid receptacula.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from open forest on Stephens Island, Torres Strait.