Battalus Karsch, 1878

Battalus Karsch, 1878 View in CoL

Battalus Karsch, 1878: 816 View in CoL . Type species by monotypy, Battalus spinipes Karsch, 1878 View in CoL ; Simon, 1897a: 168. The gender is masculine.

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of all other genera in the combination of a paracymbial spine (e.g., Fig. 20e View FIGURE 20 , save for B. helenstarkae sp. nov. and B. boolathana sp. nov.) and large diagonal fangs ( Fig. 25d View FIGURE 25 ), and from those of Ticopa in that the pre-embolic lobe is often tubular ( Fig. 21c, e View FIGURE 21 ) but not scaly or lamellate; females differ from those of Leichhardteus in the large spines on the fang shield ( Figs 20f View FIGURE 20 , 24e View FIGURE 24 ) and from both Leichhardteus and Ticopa in the more convoluted spermathecae ( Fig. 24g View FIGURE 24 ).

Description. Carapace broad with distinct anterior constriction, posterior margin deeply indented; fovea short, deep. Cuticle of carapace and legs, especially femora, almost glabrous but finely rugose. White feathery hairs scattered over carapace. Lateral profile of carapace ( Fig. 2f View FIGURE 2 ): caput arched anteriorly, sloping through slight arch in shallow slope from fovea along posterior declivity; highest point just behind eye group; eyes set behind clypeus edge. Retrolateral face of large chelicerae smooth. Eight eyes ( Fig. 18a View FIGURE 18 ) in two rows: front recurved, back clearly procurved; AME clearly the largest, within a diameter of each other and above carapace margin, group about twice as wide as long; ALE set lower, front row on vertical face, back horizontal. Chelicerae robust with long fang, grossly thickened in males of B. diadens sp. nov., ( Fig. 25d View FIGURE 25 ); fang diagonal in resting position; furrow longitudinal with one small and one large tooth on promargin and two similar large on retromargin; all teeth set at ca. half furrow length; low cheliceral lobe with horizontal normal setae. Chelicerae of females with distinct fang shield with enlarged setae ( Figs 20f View FIGURE 20 , 22e View FIGURE 22 , 24e View FIGURE 24 , 27h View FIGURE 27 , 29e View FIGURE 29 ); in males of B. helenstarkae sp. nov., a large conical spinebearing process ( Fig. 30c View FIGURE 30 ) occurs near fang shield. Maxillae ( Fig. 31a View FIGURE 31 ): short with short wide basal central ridge; ectal margins distinctly concave; ental edge sloping; serrula long. Labium clearly wider than long. Sternum broad, shield-shaped, with intercoxal triangles on I and II. Coxae with distinct basal spur retrobasally on II–IV; RCH present or absent. Trochanters with shallow notches ca. 3–4 times wider than deep ( Fig. 22b View FIGURE 22 ). No feathery hairs on legs. Spines: tibiae I and II ventrally with 3 weak pairs plus 1 shorter distal pair; metatarsi I and II with longer stronger spines, v2.2; females with strong spines on ventral palpal femur ( Fig. 27i View FIGURE 27 ). Claw tufts dense, as high as claws, similar size on I and IV with about 5 small teeth. Light scopula on ventral tarsi I–IV. Abdomen (male) with small dorsal scute ( Fig. 20a View FIGURE 20 ) and weak genital scute without thickened anterior lip. Tracheal spiracle ( Fig. 29f View FIGURE 29 ) posteriorly with ridge ca. 2–3 times wider than long, with light sclerotisation in wide diamond. Male palp: cymbium with distinct ovoid retrobasal paracymbial spine ( Figs 17c View FIGURE 17 , 20e View FIGURE 20 , 21d View FIGURE 21 , 22g View FIGURE 22 , 26 c, d View FIGURE 26 ) and cluster of short hairs and small spines apically around distinct groove to tip, basally with 2 spines or paracymbial spine absent; bulb with scooped pre-haematodochal plate; parategular lobe small, tegulum with double-looped sperm duct and twisted short embolus with low predistal keel; tibia with proventral concavity. Epigyne: a pair of crescentic ridges (forming biconvex pair) "directed" posteriorly, i.e., ridge anterior. Fertilisation duct wide, diagonally backwards directed. Spermathecae transverse but short and folded several times back on itself.

Distribution and Habitat. The genus is known in all Australian states, save for the Northern Territory. Battalus species tend to be more widespread than those of other corinnid genera, e.g., Leichhardteus .

Conservation Issues. The limited reported distribution of some species primarily reflects limited sampling. Admission to Short Range Endemic status (see Harvey 2002) thus awaits better sampling for clarification.

Remarks. Battalus was long included in the Gnaphosidae ; Simon (1897a) questioned whether it was congeneric with Supunna ; Ovtsharenko (in litt.) saw similarities with Supunna .

Species Included: Battalus adamparsonsi sp. nov., B. baehrae sp. nov., B. bidgemia sp. nov., B. boolathana sp. nov., B. byrneae sp. nov., B. diadens sp. nov., B. helenstarkae sp. nov., B. microspinosus sp. nov., B. rugosus sp. nov., B. spinipes Karsch, 1878 , B. wallum sp. nov., B. zuytdorp sp. nov. and Medmassa semiflava Simon, 1896 .

Key to species of Battalus View in CoL

Males (males of B. semiflavus View in CoL unknown)

1. Paracymbial spine present ( Figs 17c View FIGURE 17 , 20e View FIGURE 20 , 21d View FIGURE 21 , 22g View FIGURE 22 , 26 c, d View FIGURE 26 , 32b View FIGURE 32 )................................................ 2 Paracymbial spine absent ( Figs 28c, d View FIGURE 28 , 30a, b View FIGURE 30 ).............................................................. 10

2(1). Coxae I and II rugose ventrally ( Fig. 31a, e View FIGURE 31 )........................................................ B. rugosus View in CoL Coxae I and II smooth ventrally ( Fig. 31d View FIGURE 31 ).................................................................. 3

3(2). Black spine-like setae ventrally on tarsi II–IV ( Fig. 31b View FIGURE 31 ).......................................... B. microspinosus No View in CoL such setae on tarsi II–IV............................................................................. 4

4(3). Paracymbial spine sinuous in retrolateral view ( Fig. 33a, e View FIGURE 33 )............................................ B. zuytdorp Paracymbial View in CoL spine low, almost domed, not sinuous in retrolateral view ( Fig. 28b View FIGURE 28 )................................... 5

5(4). Cymbium with distodorsal setae forming transverse lines ( Fig. 31c View FIGURE 31 ); embolus tip long ( Fig. 28a, b View FIGURE 28 )............ B. bidgemia Cymbial View in CoL setae not in transverse bands..................................................................... 6

6(5). Paracymbial spine as wide apically as basally or at least not coniform ( Fig. 17c View FIGURE 17 ).................................... 7 Paracymbial spine coniform ( Fig. 26c–e View FIGURE 26 )............................................................ B. wallum View in CoL

7(6). Paracymbial spine very low, not anvil-shaped ( Fig. 23e View FIGURE 23 )....................................................... 8 Paracymbial spine anvil-shaped ( Fig. 21d View FIGURE 21 )..................................................... B. adamparsonsi View in CoL

8(7). Thoracic region of carapace with dark scallop marks centrally ( Fig. 17a View FIGURE 17 ).................................. B. spinipes View in CoL Ocular region of carapace black ( Fig. 25a–c View FIGURE 25 )................................................................ 9

9(8). Carapace all black ( Fig. 22a View FIGURE 22 )..................................................................... B. byrneae View in CoL Carapace only dark anteriorly, if at all ( Fig. 25a–c View FIGURE 25 )................................................... B. diadens View in CoL

10(1). Cheliceral shield mound absent................................................................. B. boolathana Cheliceral View in CoL shield mound conical with spine ( Fig. 30c View FIGURE 30 )............................................. B. helenstarkae View in CoL

Females (females of B. baehrae View in CoL , B. bidgemia View in CoL , and B. zuytdorp View in CoL unknown)

1. Coxae I rugose ventrally ( Fig. 31a, e View FIGURE 31 ).............................................................. B. rugosus View in CoL Coxae I smooth ventrally ( Fig. 31d View FIGURE 31 )....................................................................... 2

2(1). Black spine-like setae ventrally on tarsi II–IV ( Fig. 31b View FIGURE 31 ).......................................... B. microspinosus No View in CoL such setae present on tarsi II–IV....................................................................... 3

3(2). Ventral spines on palpal femur absent...................................................................... 4 Strong ventral spines on palpal femur...................................................................... 9

4(3). Tibia II with 1–2 prolateral spines......................................................................... 5 Tibia II without prolateral spines............................................................ B. adamparsonsi View in CoL

5(4). Spermathecal head very small ( Fig. 18d View FIGURE 18 )........................................................... B. spinipes Spermathecal View in CoL head larger (e.g., Figs 23b View FIGURE 23 , 24g View FIGURE 24 )............................................................... 6

6(5). Spermathecal portion anterior to fossae short, at most the same distance as from anterior edge of fossae to epigastric furrow ( Fig. 23b View FIGURE 23 )............................................................................................ 7 Spermathecal portion anterior to fossae long, about 1.5 times distance of anterior fossae to epigastric furrow ( Fig. 26f View FIGURE 26 )..... 8

7(6). Carapace all black ( Fig. 22a View FIGURE 22 )..................................................................... B. byrneae View in CoL Carapace only dark anteriorly, if at all ( Fig. 25a–c View FIGURE 25 )................................................... B. diadens View in CoL

8(6). Fossae close to epigastric furrow ( Fig. 30j View FIGURE 30 )....................................................... B. boolathana Fossae View in CoL almost their length from epigastric furrow ( Fig. 26f View FIGURE 26 )............................................. B. wallum View in CoL

9(3). Fossae close to epigastric furrow ( Fig. 30d View FIGURE 30 ), broadly ovoid and only about two diameters apart............ B. helenstarkae Fossae View in CoL more than their length from epigastric furrow ( Fig. 34a View FIGURE 34 ), narrowly ovoid and at least five diameters apart B. semiflavus View in CoL