Nucastia culburra, Raven, 2015

Nucastia culburra View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 66a–d View FIGURE 66 , 67 a–d View FIGURE 67 . Map 33)

Material. South Australia: holotype ♂, Culburra , 35°49'S, 139°58'E, pitfall, 8 Dec 1981 – 20 Jan 1982, P. Allen, QM S39281 View Materials GoogleMaps . Paratypes: taken with holotype: 1♀ (allotype), QM S39282 View Materials ; 1♂, 1♀, QM S32630 View Materials ; 3♀, QM S39283 View Materials .

Diagnosis. Differs from N. virewoods by the less extensive dorsal scute in males and the weaker spination of the retrobasal cheliceral ridge; the embolus also has a less distinct basal ridge; females differ from those of N. muncoonie sp. nov. in the absence of large spots dorsally on the abdomen.

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition from the type-locality.

Description holotype male QM S39281 View Materials

Carapace 3.84 long, 2.24 wide. Abdomen 4.24 long, 2.40 wide. Total length 8.1.

Colour: carapace orange brown with dark smudges on posterior corners, strial ridges and anterior medial ridge slightly darker; abdomen dark brown, darker scute offset by band of paler spots for 2/3 of length, widening distally, venter brown with two pallid parallel bands delimiting weak scute; sternum, maxillae, labium and chelicerae red brown; coxae yellowish; femora I and II paler than carapace, patellae & tarsi I and II paler again; femora III and IV and tibia IV dark brown laterally with pallid dorsal and ventral band; otherwise leg III orange brown, IV darker. Chelicerae: margin short, diagonal, two teeth on retromargin, promargin with one large tooth flanked by one smaller on each side; fang shield indistinct, retrobasal ridge distinct with short setae. Legs: trochanters with shallow (3x wider than deep) notches. No spines ventrally on tibiae I–III; only erect bristlesl; very weak scopula on tarsi I and II. Spines: I: fe pv1p1d3; ti 0; me v1 basal. II: fe p1d3; ti 0; me v1 basal. III: fe p2d3; pa d1 apical ti p2d1r2v0; me p3r3v2.2.3. IV: fe p2d3; pa d1 apical; ti p2r2v1.2.2; me p3r3v1.1.1.1.3. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1d1; rest 0. Abdomen: narrow, oval, dorsal scute for half length; only genital scute ventrally; tracheal spiracle not offset, raised or sclerotised. Distinct triangular colulus. Suprapulmonary sigilla long, oval. Palp: embolus with distinct basal ridge.

Allotype Female QM S32630 View Materials . Like ♂ except:

Carapace 4.08 long, 2.24 wide. Abdomen 5.76 long, 3.52 wide. Total length 9.8.

Colour: carapace deep red brown; coxae and femur I dark brown, femora II and III lighter; femur IV basally yellow brown, distal half brown; abdomen: light brown with faded areas laterally of midline; another ♀ paratype has two large paired spots just before centre and two centrally in posterior third of dorsal abdomen; small prodorsal scute brown, venter pallid brown. Chelicerae: fang shield small, rounded with brown curved bristles. Legs: few small pallid feathery hairs on femora III and IV. Distinct but weak scopula on tarsi I and II. Spines: I: fe pv1p1d3; me v2 basal. II: fe p2d3; me v2 basal. III: fe p2d3r1; pa apical bristles; ti p2d1r2v2.2.0 weak; me p3r3v2.2.3. IV: fe p2d3r1; pa apical bristle ti p2d1r2v1.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.3. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1; ti p1; ta p2r1v2 apical. Claws: palp apically curved with two teeth. Epigyne: broadly triangular with two small fossae off centre. Abdomen: with small triangular scute confined to anterior face of abdomen.

Distribution. Known only from Culburra, South Australia.

Burrow. Hirst (pers. comm.) reports these spiders make a short burrow in the ground ca. 30 mm deep and a palisade of small twigs above ground for about 10 mm, similar to the palisade made by Storena ( Zodariidae ).