Poecilipta ruthae Santana & Raven, 2015

Poecilipta ruthae Santana & Raven View in CoL , sp. nov.

( Figs 111c View FIGURE 111 , 114a–d View FIGURE 114 . Map 72)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♂, Mazeppa National Park , S end, 22°16'S, 147°16'E, brigalow, pitfall, 18 Dec 2000 – 26 Mar 2001, D. Cook, G. Monteith, QM S59767 . Paratypes GoogleMaps : Queensland: 1♂ 1♀, same data but 24 Oct–18 Dec 2000, QM S59758 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Both males and females differ from those of P. metallica sp. nov. in that in that the carapace and abdomen are iridescent green not brown; males differ from those of P. kohouti sp. nov. in the relatively longer embolus with straighter distal portion ( Fig. 114a, b View FIGURE 114 ) and females in the relatively shorter spermathecae ( Fig. 114d View FIGURE 114 ).

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Ruth Pimenta de Castro, mother of Renan Castro Santana, the first author of this species.

Description Holotype male QM S59767

Carapace 2.34 long, 1.36 wide. Abdomen 2.30 long, 1.20 wide. Total length, 5.0.

Colour: carapace and dorsal abdominal scute iridescent dark green; carapace also with large white scales. Femora and metatarsi orange brown to brown, other leg segments paler; sternum red brown and abdominal venter orange brown to brown. Carapace: with over 150 white scales including foveal area, but not on caput and around and between eyes; margins deeply serrate, serration points ca. from 0.5–2 times height apart. Sternum margins sharply sloped; middle gentle domed; cuticle pustulose; numerous hairs inwardly directed; with ventral coxae cuticle sparsely rugose; long triangular V intercoxal band on I/II/III/IV. Pedicel ventrally deep. Legs: white scales sparse on femora; subdistal femora III and IV with distinct constriction. Spines: weak, short on tibiae I and II. Coxae with small black punctations, most on dorsal. I: femur p1d2; tibia v2.2; metatarsus v2.2. II: femur d2; pa 0; tibia v2; metatarsus v2.2. III: femur p1d2; pa d1; tibia p2v2.+1; metatarsus p2r2v2.2. IV: fe d2; tibia p2r2v2; metatarsus p1d3r1dv2.2. Palp: femur d2; tibia r2. Abdomen: dorsal scute iridescent dark green and gold surface and transverse median constriction with few white scales; scute extends to half of lateral surface; anteriorly contiguous with genital scute with deep collar, incised dorsally and rugose with thick anterior edge ventrally; ventral scute extends back to include tracheal scute. Palp: tibia short with ventral excavation and retrolateral ledge distally; cymbium twisted, apical groove wide, entire; paracymbial spine a short curved hook or small raised process; bulb large with deeply folded spermatic ducts, pre-embolic ridge broad; embolus origin broad remaining wide to near scooped tip.

Allotype female QM S59758

Carapace 2.47 long, 1.36 wide. Abdomen 2.47 long, 1.36 wide. Total length 5.1.

Colour: carapace and dorsal abdomen scute orange and iridescent green and gold; legs as in ♂; abdomen dorsally with iridescent green, orange and gold scute in anterior half, posterior half black with two transverse series of white hairs, anterior lateral half white and posterior lateral half black; ventrally scute brown on epigyne, brown spot near to spinnerets, pallid behind epigynal groove. Otherwise like ♂ except: Spines. I: femur p1d1; tibia v2.2.1; metatarsus v2.2. II: femur d2; tibia p2v2; metatarsus v2.2. III: femur p1d1; tibia p2r1v2.2.2; metatarsus p3r1v2.2.1. IV: femur p1dl.1; tibia p2r1v4; metatarsus p1d2r1v5. Palp: fe d2v4; pa 0; ti p2d1; ta 0. Line of 2 long erect spines on ventral palpal femora. Spines on tibiae and metatarsi I–II strong. Chelicerae: cluster of thick, black, ornate fang setae. Abdomen: dorsal scute rough, orange peel sculpturing, with anterior constriction followed by large dome and full transverse constriction at half length marks end of scute. Epigyne: two ovoid copulatory fossae laterally; large duct passes forward, recurves quickly to join elongate sinuous spermathecae.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from a vine thicket at Mazeppa National Park, north of Clermont, central Queensland.