Battalus boolathana, Raven, 2015

Battalus boolathana View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 1a View FIGURE 1 , 28c, d View FIGURE 28 , 29a–f View FIGURE 29 , 30j–l View FIGURE 30 . Map 11)

Material. Western Australia: holotype ♂, Boolathana Station (BO2), 24°24'47.2"S, 113°40'30.0'E, dry traps, 28 May–2 Jun 1995, J.M. Waldock et al., WAM 98 About WAM /1663. Paratypes : Western Australia: 1♀, same data as holotype, WAM 98 About WAM /1663 ; 3♂, 20 km NE Newdegate , mallee, 8 Apr 1993, G. Harold, WAM 98 About WAM /1665 ; 1♂, Bush Bay ( BB4 ) , 25°06'49.0"S, 113°43'51.8"E, 4 Apr–23 May 1995, wet pits, P. West et al., WAM 98 About WAM /1664 GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Nanga Station (NA1), 26°28'40.2"S, 114°04'33.6"E, 19 Jan–11 May 1995, wet pits, A. Sampey et al., WAM 98 About WAM /1666 GoogleMaps ; 1♀, Meedo Station ( MD4 ) , 25°40'49.1"S, 114°37'19.8"E, 18 May–22 Aug 1995, wet pits, N. Hall, WAM 98 About WAM /1667. All taken on WAM / CALM Carnarvon Survey GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of B. helenstarkae sp. nov. in that the anterior face lacks a large conical spine and from B. rugosus sp. nov. in the embolic tip and in the nubbin-like paracymbial spine on the cymbium; females differ from that of B. helenstarkae sp. nov. in the absence of the accessory lobe on the head of the spermathecae ( Fig. 30l View FIGURE 30 ).

Etymology. A noun in apposition from the type locality.

Description. Holotype male WAM 98/1663

Carapace 3.76 long, 2.32 wide. Abdomen 4.48 long, 2.40 wide. Total length 8.2.

Colour: carapace fawn with fine brown lines in striae; light brown flecking on interstrial ridges and on caput; eye region black with pallid intrusions between eyes of back row; abdomen dorsally brown with two large white spots in anterior third; laterally extensively pallid; dorsal scute narrow almost for half length; abdomen ventrally pallid; chelicerae, fangs, maxillae and labium red brown; sternum, coxae and legs yellowish; femora with brown spots around bases of distal spines; subdistally with wide brown lateral band and band also subbasally on tibiae and metatarsi; otherwise legs fawn. Carapace: white feathery hairs grouped lateral of eyes; otherwise almost glabrous; fovea short, deep; posterior slope gradual for distal third; distinct pre-foveal saddle. Eyes: ALE clearly the smallest, ca. 1/2 of AME. Chelicerae not large; anterior process a rounded glabrous flange; strong horizontal spine in upper quarter anteriorly; fangs moderately long, diagonal; furrow long; dentition 2R, 2P; rows not opposed but teeth alternate. Maxillae rhomboidal with long groove along ental edge. Sternum broadly cordate but narrowing moderately strongly from coxae I; almost flat, indented behind labium; no intercoxal process. Legs: lightly hirsute; RCH absent. Spines: on prolateral metatarsus I; none retrolaterally on tibiae or metatarsi I and II. I: fe pv1p1d3r1; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me p2v2.2. II: fe pv1p2d3; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me p2v2.2. III: fe p2d3r1; ti p2d1r2v2.2.1; me p3r3v2.2.2. IV: fe p2d3r1; pa0; ti p2r2v1.2.2; me p3r3v1.1.2.3. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1d2w; ti p2. 4 strong bristles on ventral femur of palp. Scopula: distinct for length of tarsi I–IV; sparse on metatarsi I and II. Claw tufts project forward and above claws. Palp: tibia with proventral glabrous saddle; cymbium fusilliform with nubbin-like paracymbial spine; apically truncate with narrow scopula dorsally for distal third; b; bulb simple, pyriform, without parategular indentations; pre-distal keel; embolus short, straight, tube-like. Abdomen: scutes: dorsal, a wide rectangle with smooth margin, almost for anterior third; genital, weak; no post-epigastric sclerites; tracheal, a raised semicircle with long posterior ridge, weakly sclerotised, with many short thorn setae forming short bands distally.

Allotype ♀ WAM 98 About WAM /1667, as for ♂ except:

Carapace 3.76 long, 2.32 wide. Abdomen 4.48 long, 2.40 wide. Total length 8.24.

Colour: carapace darker more distinctly radial; abdomen (pattern formed by dark feathery hairs many rubbed off already) dorsally fawn with pallid spots formed by dark hair. Carapace and eyes like ♂, with ovoid PME. Chelicerae stout, vertical, with pronounced fang shield with six long curved serrate black setae in short line. Legs: trochanters with very shallow notches. RCH absent. Spines: long, strong, overlapping on tibiae I and II. I: regenerated, fe pv1 long p2d3r1; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me p2v2.2. II: fe pv1p2d3r1/r0; ti p2v2.2.2.2; me p2v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; ti p2d1r2v1.2.1; me p3r3v2.2.3. IV: fe p2d3r1; ti p2d1r2v1.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.3. Palp: fe p1d2v 4 in line; pa p1d1 apical; ti p2 (basal) d1; ta p1. Palp: tarsus long, distinctly subdistally incrassate, with slender finely dentate claw with cluster of short thick setae and hairs predistally on dorsal mound. Abdomen: with small triangular scute dorsally just over anterior shoulder ca. for 1/8th length; genital scute lightly sclerotised; paragenital brackets evident. Tracheal ridge wide, low, in wide ovoid area with line of thorn setae across ridge and anteriorly. Epigyne: laterally with two small round fossae from which the duct sweep long and diagonal to the very folded head of spermathecae, folding further before discharging through fertilisation ducts.

Distribution. Known only from Western Australia in the Carnarvon region.