Nyssus jaredwardeni, Raven, 2015

Nyssus jaredwardeni View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 16c View FIGURE 16 , 75a–e View FIGURE 75 , 76a, b View FIGURE 76 . Map 38)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♂, Ipswich, Redbank Plains , 27°39'S, 152°51'E, eucalypt woodland, 7 Apr 2001, J. Warden, QM S55392 . Paratype GoogleMaps : Queensland: 1♀ (allotype), Middle Ridge, Toowoomba , 27°36'S, 151°57'E, 27 Apr 1998, J. Warden, in bark on tree in park, QM S42063 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of N. semifuscus sp. nov. in that, viewed ventrally, the embolus base is a straight diagonal ridge ( Fig. 75e View FIGURE 75 ); females differ from those of N. insularis (L. Koch, 1873) in that the head of the spermathecae is relatively smaller with a curved spermathecal stalk ( Fig. 76b View FIGURE 76 ). Males and females differ from all other Nyssus species, except for the very distinctive N. coloripes , in that there is no distal constriction on femora III, IV ( Fig. 75b View FIGURE 75 ).

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Mr Jared Warden, an avid spider enthusiast who collected and donated the types.

Description Holotype male QM S55392

Carapace 4.10 long, 2.70 wide. Abdomen 3.90, 2.25wide. Total length 8.0.

Colour: carapace dark brown with uniform cover of fine silver hairs; abdomen dark brown with dark brown dorsal scute (also with fine hairs) for 0.8 of length with procurved pallid stripes behind scute, abdomen laterally and ventrally brown with fine pallid longitudinal striations; ventral scute long, barrel-shaped; all femora dark brown, patellae and tibiae I and II orange brown, metatarsi light brown, tarsi yellowish; legs III, IV brown to black. Sternum dark brown, coxae lighter. Carapace: slender, widest between coxae II/III; caput low. Eyes of similar size, AER recurved, PER procurved; AME on low anterior mound.. Chelicerae: 2P 2R. Sternum and coxae slightly rugose; sternum narrow with slight points on anterior corners. RCH absent. Spines: none on patellae, reduced on ventral tibiae I and II. I: fe p1d2; ti v2.2.0; me v2.2. II: as I but ti v.2.0.0. III: fe p2d3r2; ti p2r2v2.2.2; me p2r2v2.2.4. IV: as III but fe p2d3r1. Palp: fe p1d2. Legs: femur III and IV distally unmodified. Palp: cymbium slender; large paracymbial spine; embolus a slow wide spiral.

Allotype Female QM S42063 View Materials , like male except:

Carapace 4.69 long, 3.50 wide. Abdomen 5.63 long, 3.13 wide. Total length 10.3.

Colour: abdomen dorsally dark brown with small dorsal scute only on anterior face, with pallid bands of white hair medially and posteriorly across abdomen; all femora dark brown, patellae and tibiae I and II and distolateral femora yellowish, otherwise legs brown. Chelicerae: fang shield low, only with long fine hairs. Tracheal spiracle a broad curved mound. Spines: none on patellae, reduced on ventral tibiae I and II; I: fe pv1p2d3wr1–2; ti v1.1.2.1; me v2.2. II as I but: fe (all weak) p2d3r1, ti v0.0.2.2. III: fe p3d3r3; as male. IV: as III but fe p2d3r1. Palp: fe p1d2. Epigyne: paragenital brackets present; externally, a pair of very widely small C-shaped ridges; internally, a broad copulatory duct leads to large pear-shaped head tapering gradually posteriorly.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from open eucalypt forest at Ipswich and Toowoomba, just west of Brisbane, Queensland.