Nyssus luteofinis, Raven, 2015

Nyssus luteofinis View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 77a–e View FIGURE 77 , 79a View FIGURE 79 . Map 39)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♂, Crystal Cascades , 16°57'S, 145°40'E, pitfall, 23 Jul 1992 – 26 Nov 1992, R. Raven, P. & E. Lawless, M. Shaw, QM S24015 View Materials . Paratypes GoogleMaps : Queensland: 1♀, Buchan Point, 1 km NW, 16°44'S, 145°39'E, open forest, baited pitfall trap, 3–11 Feb 1999, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S50886 View Materials ; 1♀, Gordonvale, 17°11'S, 145°50'E, 23 Jan 1972, N. Clyde Coleman, QM S29417 View Materials ; 1♀, Davies Ck , 16°54'S, 145°32'E, 1 Nov 1972, N. Clyde Coleman, QM S29422 View Materials ; 1♂, Kuranda Range Rd , 0. 5 km up from Henry Ross Lookout, 16°50'S, 145°39'E, pitfall, 23 Jul–26 Nov 1992, R. Raven, P. Lawless, E. Lawless, M. Shaw, QM S21776 View Materials ; 3♂, Mt Cook , Quarantine Rd ( NQ21 ), 15°30'S, 145°13'E, pitfall, 20 Jul–28 Nov 1992, R. Raven, P. Lawless, E. Lawless, M. Shaw, QM S24407 View Materials ; 1♀, Mt Molloy , 17 km S, 16°49'S, 145°22'E, low open woodland, baited pitfall trap, 6–9 Feb 1998, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S50888 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of similar Nyssus species in having a digitiform (rather than triangular) paracymbial spine that is not on a process. Females differ from those of N. semifuscus sp. nov. by the smaller or similar size of the head of the spermathecae and the copulatory orifice that only has a vestigial lateral accessory lobe. Differs from N. avidus ( Thorell, 1881) in both sexes having only one lateral white patch on the abdomen and having broad zone of paler brown hairs medially on the scute; also by the wide bands of white hair along the dorsal femora with large white patches basally and distally on the femora and distally on patellae III and IV.

Etymology. The species epithet alludes to the golden “tail” or abdomen.

Description holotype male QM S24015 View Materials .

Carapace 2.92 long, 2.16 wide. Abdomen 3.19 long, 1.90 wide. Total, 6.5.

Colour: carapace dark red brown with narrow radial bands of white hairs anteriorly along caput, two pairs laterally and one pair posteriorly; abdomen with dark red brown dorsal scute for 3/4 length with several areas of white feathery hairs forming no discernible pattern (some are rubbed off); behind scute a yellowish crescent or triangle pointed back; ventral scute red brown. Coxae, legs and venter red brown with bands of white hair distally on femora-tibiae III and IV. Carapace: cuticle and margins smooth. Black feathery hairs in uniform cover; fovea short, set forward of slope. Legs: white feathery hairs on lateral femora. Femur IV with strong predistal constriction, weaker on III. Scopula on metatarsi (distal) and tarsi. Spines: very strong on III and IV, weak on I and II. I: fe p1d3; ti v2.2.2w; me v2.2. II: fe p1d3r1; ti v 1.1w; me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; pa r1; ti p2rd12v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.4. IV: fe p2d3r1; pa r1; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.4. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1; ti p1. Abdomen: petiolar collar absent, ventral scute long, narrows strongly posteriorly where a deeply indented trianguloid tracheal scute arises with long posterior cone; black bristles and white feathery hairs on scutes. Palp: femur viewed from below distally incrassate; cymbium slender, apex with cluster of thick black setae; paracymbial spine rounded, slender, digitiform, on small base; bulb with small subtegular lobe; constricts quickly from base to tightly spiralled pre-embolic coils with slightly curved embolus tip. Spermatic duct folds strongly axially.

Allotype female QM S29442 View Materials . As ♂ except:

Carapace 3.05 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 3.11 long, 2.07 wide. Total, 6.8.

Colour: carapace red brown with dense, single layer of large white feathery hairs almost obscuring cuticle; abdomen with dense cover of mustard-brown feathery hairs with lateral crescents of white hair; scute very short, not contrasting; legs red brown with light pile of white feathery hairs laterally on femora, even lighter cover on patellae and tibiae not forming bands; legs I and II with brown femora, otherwise orange-brown (like N. coloripes ); legs III and IV red brown; sternum red brown, genital scute brown, coxae ventrally brown with pallid centres; abdomen ventrally brown. Chelicerae: no enlarged fang setae. Legs: RCH a pinhole; short deep notch on trochanter IV, others shallow. Scopula on tarsi I–IV. Spines: weak on I and II. I: fe p2d3r1; ti v2.2; me v2.2. II: fe p2d3r1; ti v 0.2w; me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; pa d1w; ti p2rd12v2.2.1; me p3r3v2.2.3. IV: fe p1d3r1; pa r1; ti p2d1r2v2.2; me p3r3v2.2.1. Palp: fe p1d2; pa d1; ti p2d1; ta p2r1. Epigyne: a broad flat shield without paragenital brackets; fossae small deeply procurved. Internally with large spermathecal head with accessory. Abdomen: dorsal scute very short, just curving onto dorsum; tracheal scute semicircular with wide posterior ridge; distinct hirsute triangular colulus present. Post-epigastric sclerites very short.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from rainforest from Mt Cook to the Kuranda area of the Wet Tropics World heritage area, northeastern Queensland.