Poecilipta samueli, Raven, 2015

Poecilipta samueli View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 98d View FIGURE 98 , 103a–c View FIGURE 103 . Map 60)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♂, Mt Isa, east, Sunset , 20°42'S, 139°30'E, grassland, pitfall, 18–20 Apr 1996, R GoogleMaps . J. Raven, QM S25083 View Materials .

Diagnosis. The male shares with P. wallacei sp. nov. the scales on the carapace ( Fig. 98d View FIGURE 98 ) and differs in the shorter embolus, in which the basal spiral is transverse rather than diagonal ( Fig. 103b View FIGURE 103 ).

Etymology. The species epithet is in honour of my son, Samuel.

Description Holotype male QM S25083 View Materials

Carapace 2.34 long, 1.41 wide. Abdomen 2.62 long, 1.19 wide. Total length, 5.3.

Colour: carapace brown with light uniform pile of white feathery hairs. Femora II–IV and tibiae III and IV yellowish with dark longitudinal bands dorsally (narrow) and laterally (wide); femur I brown for basal three-quarters, patellae–tarsi I and II yellowish; metatarsi and tarsi III and IV brown; abdomen dorsally red brown with transverse bands of white feathery hairs anteriorly and at medial constriction, paler crescent around posterior edge scute, otherwise dark brown; ventrally scute red brown with lighter medial areas. Carapace and abdomen lack iridescence and bloom. Carapace: cuticle slightly rugose, with distinct wide striae; margins with spaced serrations (teeth about their height apart) posteriorly, becoming indistinct anteriorly. Sternum: long posterior tip and shallow slope, all other margins steeper with flat central plateau and few long, black bristles; with distinct intercoxal triangles. Legs: fine black feathery hairs evident only on femora; white also on tibiae and patellae III and IV. Femur IV distally unmodified. Spines: I: fe p1d2; ti v2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe d2; ti v2.2.2; me v2.2. III: fe p1d1; pa d1; ti p2r2v2.2; me p2r2v2.2.3. IV: fe d1r1; pa d1; ti p2r2v2.2; me p3r3v2.2.3. Palp: fe d2v0; pa p1; ti p1. Abdomen. Scutes: dorsal for three-quarters of length with medial saddle and anteriorly joined to genital scute, forming long collar; ventral bulbous, widens predistally includes tracheal scute. Palp: tibia short with ventral excavation; retrodorsally a diagonal setose ledge; cymbium slightly twisted apically; paracymbial spine short, curved, coniform; apical groove broad, separate, indistinct; bulb large; spermatic duct base fold extends width of bulb; subtegulum and retrolateral excavation large; embolus strap-like, tapering quickly to filament with same coils as P. yambuna but with shorter tip.

Distribution and habitat. Known only from Mt Isa, a very arid region in northwestern Queensland.