Nyssus insularis (L. Koch, 1873 ), 2015

Nyssus insularis (L. Koch, 1873) View in CoL , new combination

( Figs 83a–d View FIGURE 83 , 87e, f View FIGURE 87 . Map 44)

Agroeca insularis L. Koch, 1873: 437 .

Supunna insularis : Simon, 1897: 168.

Material. Fiji: holotype, subadult ♀, faded, ZMH .

Non-type Material. Solomon Islands: ♀, Guadalcanal, Mt Austen , 17 Feb 1964, P. Greenslade, QM S97460 View Materials .

Diagnosis. The female differs from those of N. avidus in the spermathecae having a very large head and the distal stalk being very short ( Fig. 87f View FIGURE 87 ). Male unknown.

Description Female QM S97460 View Materials

Carapace 3.35 long, 2.15 wide. Abdomen 2.85 long, 1.65 wide. Total length 6.5.

Colour: carapace red brown with ca. 40 patches of small white feathery hairs: broken anteromedial line, 2–3 pairs on each stria, ridge patches lateral of eyes and behind and between AME and PLE. Coxae dorsally pallid with brown flecking densest on IV. Femora–metatarsi brown, tibiae and metatarsi I and II paler than III and IV; distal patellae and tibiae IV with irregular ovoid yellow area pro- and retrolaterally. Tarsi yellowish; abdomen dorsally brown with small trianguloid scute in anterior fifth; two spots of white hair lateral of scute; four narrow bands of white hair behind scute; anterior most broadest, broken medially; next two shorter joined lunate patches, then narrow band, followed by wide long band of dense white hair, and two pallid spots terminally; laterally a large trianguloid white patch beside scute, narrow band medially, and at ca. 0.8 of length, brown, centrally yellowish with red brown sternum; abdomen with lateral bands reaching to pallid brown medial rectangle. Metatarsi III and IV pallid dorsally in distal half; white feathery hairs laterally and in distal ring on femora. Carapace finely pustulose with uniform light cover of fine black hairs as well as white patches; fovea long, above slope; margin smooth. Eyes: all of similar size but PME and AME slightly the larger; rows of similar width; front recurved, back procurved with front edge of PME cut centres of PLE. Chelicerae: fang setae not enlarged but in cluster; fang moderately long with short groove; dentition: 2R, 3P. Maxillae: with groove along inner edge; labium subquadrate. Sternum cordate, lightly hirsute, without anteromedial or lateral notches; no intercoxal extensions. Legs: coxal bases without strong basal projections, trochanters IV with short deep notch, others very weakly notched. Scopula weak but distinct on metatarsi I and II for distal two-thirds; stronger on tarsi I and II, absent elsewhere; femur IV and to lesser extent III with slight distal constriction. Pair of preening combs on distal ventral metatarsi III and IV. Claw tufts short, dense, as high as claws. RCH small, high. Spines: all strong. I: fe pv1p1d3r1; ti v1.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe p2d3r1; ti v2.2; me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2.3. IV: fe p2d3r1; ti p2d1r2v1.1.1; me p3r3v2.2.3. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1d2w; ti p2d1; ta p2 basal pair. Palpal tarsus predistally incrassate. Abdomen: genital scute with paragenital brackets; petiolar collar absent. Tracheal spiracle marked by small papule in semicircular scute. Distinct triangular hirsute ‘colular’ lobe present. Spinnerets all short. Epigyne: a broad shield with wide median septum flanked by broad open conical pits.

Distribution. Known only from Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

Remarks. The holotype of Agroeca insularis is a pallid subadult Nyssus from Fiji. After examining all material placed in Supunna in the Australian museums and in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honululu, no close match for the species could be found; nor has material of it been taken in collections from Fiji or nearby island, including Samoa. Material described here was the closest match to the type both in geography and morphology, and since the type is a juvenile it is very unlikely that a better match will be possible. The material described here hearkens to the faded pattern on the holotype. For the sake of stability, the material described here from the Solomon Islands is taken to be conspecific with the type.

Nyssus yuggera sp. nov.

( Figs 1c View FIGURE 1 , 84a–e View FIGURE 84 , 85a–d View FIGURE 85 . Map 45)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♂, Colvin Scrub, Canungra , 28°04'S, 153°07'E, 20 Feb 1977, G. Monteith, QM S29578 View Materials GoogleMaps . Paratypes: Queensland: (allotype) 1♀, same data, QM S39557 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Bahrs Scrub, Beenleigh , 27°45'S, 153°10'E, rainforest, intercept flight trap, 21 Jan 1992 – 9 Mar 1992, D. Cook, QM S25177 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Bally Knob , summit, 17°39'S, 145°29'E, open forest, pitfall, 6 Dec 1998 – 6 Feb 1999, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S57171 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♀, Bellthorpe , 26°50'S, 152°41'E, rainforest, pitfall, 9 Mar–15 May 1997, G. Monteith, QM S37678 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, same data but, 18 Dec 1996 – 20 Jan 1997, QM S39565 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂ 1♀, same data but, 20 Jan–9 Mar 1997, G. Monteith, QM S38059 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Casey Ck, via Imbil , 26°28'S, 152°41'E, rainforest, pitfall, 31 Dec 1974 – 27 Mar 1975, G. & S. Monteith, QM S39564 GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Cold Ck, via Imbil , 26°28'S, 152°41'E, rainforest, pitfall, 31 Dec 1974 – 27 Mar 1975, G. & S. Monteith, QM S29516 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Dagun Slip , 16 km N of Imbil, 26°19'S, 152°39'E, complex notophyll vine forest, 15 Feb 1999, D. Wells, QM S63863 View Materials GoogleMaps . Ewan Maddock Dam , 26°48'S, 152°59'E, closed forest, pitfall, M. Glover: 1♂, 20 Nov 1993 – 22 Mar 1994, M. Glover, QM S39556 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 2♀, 22 Feb–23 Jun 1993, QM S22101 View Materials ; QM S22102 View Materials ; 1♂, same data but, 21 Nov 1992 – 22 Feb 1993, QM S32296 View Materials ; 1♂, 4♀, same data but, 20 Nov 1993 – 22 Mar 1994, M. Glover, QM S39560 View Materials , QM S39563 View Materials , QM S32643 View Materials , QM S28510 View Materials , QM S39562 View Materials ; 1♀, same data but, 30 Jan 1993 – 3 May 1993, QM S22113 View Materials . 1♀, Karawatha Forest ( BCC6 View Materials ) , 27°37'S, 153°05'E, dry eucalypt forest, pitfall, 31 Mar–29 Apr 2004, QMP, QM S54965 GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Little Yabba Ck , 26°37'S, 152°41'E, rainforest, pitfall, 29 Dec 1974 – 27 Mar 1975, G. & S. Monteith, QM S40716 GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Mapleton Falls NP, 26°38'S 152°51'E, rainforest, pitfall, 8 Jan 1992 – 3 Mar 1992, D. Cook, QM S43393 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♀, same data but, 3 Mar–17 Apr 1992, D. Cook, QM S39561 GoogleMaps ; 1♂, same data but, intercept flight trap, 8 Jan–3 Mar 1992, D. Cook, QM S25188 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♀, Millstream CP, 17°32'S, 145°29'E, open forest, pitfall, 6 Dec 1998 – 4 Feb 1999, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S57635 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 2♀, Mt Deongwar , 27°13'S, 152°17'E, 18 Nov 2000, R GoogleMaps . Raven , QM S45740 View Materials ; 1♂, Ravenshoe , 7 km NE, 17°33'S, 145°31'E, road verge, pitfall, 6 Dec 1998 – 5 Feb 1999, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S57644 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Taroom district, Boggomoss #12, Nathan Gorge , 25°27'S, 150°08'E, baited flight trap, 13 Nov 1996 - Jan 97, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S36262 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♀, Wetheron , 3 km SW, 25°34'S, 151°41'E, semi-evergreen vine thicket, flight intercept trap, 27Jan–7 Jun 1999, G. Monteith, G. Thompson, QM S79285 GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Tully Falls , 2 km SW, 17°47'S, 145°32'E, open forest, pitfall, 5 Dec 1998 – 4 Feb 1999, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S57186 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Webster Road, Evelyn , 17°26'S, 145°27'E, open forest, pitfall, 30 Nov 1997 – 5 Feb 1998, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S54532 GoogleMaps . New South Wales: 1♂, Broken Head (high), via Byron Bay , 28°43'S, 153°37'E, rainforest, pitfall, 6 Mar–13 Jun 1976, G. & S. Monteith, QM S16747 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♂, Rotary Pk, Lismore , 28°49'S, 153°16'E, rainforest, pitfall, 26 Dec 1974 – 23 Mar 1975, G. & S. Monteith, QM S39558 View Materials GoogleMaps ; 1♀, Victoria Pk, via Alstonville , 28°53'S, 153°23'E, rainforest, pitfall, 23 Mar–3 Aug 1975, G. & S. Monteith, QM S39559 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of all other species by the cork-screw embolus tip ( Fig. 85a View FIGURE 85 ), as in Leichhardteus , from which they differ in the presence of a ventral scute ( Fig. 84e View FIGURE 84 ). Males further differ from those of N. avidus and N. luteofinis sp. nov. in the absence of a spine retrolaterally on patellae III and IV and of enlarged setae on the apical cymbium. Females are easily recognised externally by the slender form of the spermathecal head, in combination with the large circular copulatory fossae ( Fig. 85c, d View FIGURE 85 ). Males with minute paracymbial spine ( Fig. 85b View FIGURE 85 ), with dorsal and ventral scute, palpal femur with slight distal bulge, chelicerae with basal conical process near fang; palpal femur with subtle distal thickening.

Etymology. The species epithet is the name of the one of aboriginal tribes of south-eastern Queensland, where the species is widespread.

Description holotype male QM S29578 View Materials

Carapace 3.04 long, 2.32 wide. Abdomen 3.04 long, 2.00 wide. Total length, 6.1.

Colour: carapace, sternum, coxae and dorsal abdomen dark red brown, legs paler. Carapace: uniformly pustulose; fovea short, just in front of steep posterior slope. Uniform cover of fine hair. Margin smooth. Eyes: all of similar size, back row wider, slightly procurved. Chelicerae: small lobe at outer base of fang; dentition: 2R, 2P. Sternum cordate, pustulose. Legs: almost glabrous; RCH small, dorsal; femoral constriction more distinct on III than IV. Spines: strong. I: fe p1d2; ti v2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe p1d2; ti v2.2.2; me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; ti p2r2v2.2.2; me p2r3v2.2.3. IV: fe d3; ti p1r1 (both distal) v1.2; me p3r3v1.3. Palp: 0. Abdomen: full dorsal scute extending laterally; genital scute strong, post-epigastric sclerites short, rounded; ventral scute narrow, laterally convex, distally irregularly separated from broad transverse tracheal scute produced in central concealed ridge. Palp: femur with slight distal bulge; tibia with deep saddle ventrally; cymbium with minute paracymbial spine; bulb tapers gradually to narrow pre-embolic ridge, embolus screw-like.

Allotype female QM S39557 View Materials , as for male except:

Carapace 3.13 long, 2.31 wide. Abdomen 3.44 long, 2.44 wide. Total length, 7.56.

Colour: carapace dark red brown with narrow lines of white hair, long from PME to fovea, on each side, three lines along lateral strial ridges stopping well back from fovea and fourth in long narrow but wider band from posterior corners up to fovea, and light pile of pale hairs on lateral caput and along carapace margin; abdomen dorsally with small dark brown anterior scute, generally dark brown with medial pallid zone like a wood shaving, narrow apically, narrowing, then widening again; two pairs of dark brown sigilla just anterior to centre; ventrally brown with pair of long narrow pallid bands at edge of central light brown quadrangle with two curving paramedial pallid lines; genital scute dark brown with paler epigyne and pallid unsclerotised epigynal lateral edges. Chelicerae: with several thick, black, curved fang setae. Legs: femora dark brown with pale spine bases and paler patella to tarsi. Legs and spines as ♂ but tibia IV much more hirsute than III and also one dorsal spine. Abdomen: dorsal scute ovoid, small, extending down front face and along dorsal only for ca. 0.1 of length. Genital scute with paragenital brackets laterally, ventral scute weak, tracheal scute almost conical with ca. eight thick black setae. Colulus triangular, hirsute. Spinnerets: ALS and PLS similar in size. Three large cylindrical gland spigots on PMS and two on PLS evident; PMS short, domed; others large, domed. Epigyne: externally two procurved ridges laterally with sausage-shaped ducts internally visible; permathecal head not enlarged.

Distribution and Habitat. Known from rainforest, open forest and heathland areas from Taroom, west of Gladstone, through the Conondale Range and lowland areas to the east, in south-eastern Queensland to Byron Bay and Lismore, north-eastern New South Wales.

Biogeography. As with N. loureedi sp. nov., the affinities of N. yuggera sp. nov. are challenging. The widespread distribution of N. yuggera sp. nov. is unusual, save for N. coloripes and N. albopunctatus , in the Australian Castianeirinae . Clearly, N. loureedi sp. nov. and N. yuggera sp. nov. are sister groups and yet the sexual differences are clear. The two species are geographically well separated, with the former known only from Lord Howe Island, thus indicating that the island has been above sea long enough for these species to diverge.