Nyssus wendyae, Raven, 2015

Nyssus wendyae View in CoL sp. nov.

( Fig. 90a, b View FIGURE 90 . Map 49)

Material. Queensland: holotype, ♂, Lakefield National Park , Cape York, Old Laura Stn, 15°34'S, 144°27'E, 200m from Laura River , dry creek bed/lagoons, pitfall, 1–10 Jul 1991, J. Peters, QM S48375 View Materials . Paratype GoogleMaps : Queensland: ♂ ,

Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve, Cape York , 12°17'13”S, 142°20'31”E, open forest, vehicle vibration, 13 Sept 2013, B. Baehr, R GoogleMaps . Raven, QM S97457 View Materials .

Diagnosis. The males differ from those of N. paradoxus sp. nov. in the absence of the tibial apophysis ( Fig. 90a, b View FIGURE 90 ) and from N. emu sp. nov. by the short spines on the distal cymbium, strong spine-like bristles on the retrolateral edge of the palpal tibia, as well as the slightly smaller diameter of the embolic spiral.

Etymology. Named in honour of Wendy Hebron (née Rawlinson) who persisted in keeping the male before my eyes to ensure it was assessed and included.

Description. Holotype male QM S48375 View Materials

Carapace 3.35 long, 2.40 wide. Abdomen 3.65 long, 2.05 wide. Total length 7.1.

Colour: carapace and abdomen faded, red brown. Carapace with narrow discontinuous submarginal band from ALE to posterior corner and narrow band of hair along posterior striae; abdomen dorsally with full scute with three large pairs of white hairs for the length with terminal patch of white hair. Carapace: with fine pile of golden hairs. Eyes of anterior row smaller than posterior. Legs: I missing. Coxae and sternum pustulose. Femora III and IV with distinct subdistal constriction. Spines: I, absent. II: fe p1d3r2; pa 0; ti v2.2.0; me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; pa 0; ti p2r2v2.2.2; me p2r2v2.2.4. IV: like III but fe p1d3r1. Mid-ventral pair on metatarsi II and IV clearly longer than others. Abdomen: ventral scute narrows strongly to back; tracheal scute trianguloid. Palp: cymbium distally slightly twisted; paracymbial spine strong; tibial apophysis absent but cage of strong bristles in same position; embolus long broadly spiralled.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from Lakefield National Park, near Laura, and Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve, Cape York, northern Queensland, areas of open forest.

Remarks. The male palp of N. wendyae sp. nov. has a "cage" of long strong spine-like bristles at the same point as the megaspines and spur arise on the tibia of N. paradoxus sp. nov. The "cage" is considered the precursor of the tibial spur.