Phonognatha tanyodon, Kallal & Hormiga, 2018

PHONOGNATHA TANYODON View in CoL SP. NOV.

FIGS 23–26

Type material: Holotype (male): Australia: New South Wales, Budderoo National Park, Minnamurra Rainforest , −34.634, 150.724, 25–26.i. 2016, 510 m, G. Hormiga, R. J. Kallal, F. Álvarez-Padilla GoogleMaps . Paratype (female): Budderoo National Park , Minnamurra Rainforest, board walk, −34.635, 150.728, 15.iii. 2010, 134 m, G. Hormiga, N. Scharff, day and night, 1F ( AM) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis: Males of Phonognatha tanyodon sp. nov. have a very long palpal tibia, approximately three times the length of the cymbium, and long, robust chelicerae with a long apical tooth on the anterior margin ( Fig. 25B); both features are unique within the genus. Females have an epigynum with a pair of ventrally facing copulatory openings similar to P.neocaledonica , but can be separated by the lack of sclerotization found around the copulatory openings of P. neocaledonica and fewer twists of the copulatory duct within the capsule ( Fig. 24E–G).

Description

Female ( Figs 23A–D, 24) (from New South Wales, Budderoo National Park, GH2533): Total length 8.52. Carapace 3.30 long, 2.28 wide, 1.16 high, yellowish with relatively simple, ventral-facing, sclerotized copulatory openings; setae on outer side of copulatory openings crossing over openings; copulatory ducts relatively short with few twists before reaching spermathecae; fertilization ducts emerge from posterior region of spermathecae and extend dorsally. brown; sternum 1.42 long, 1.24 wide, of similar colour, with darker margins; green in colour as immatures. Eye rows slightly recurved, anterior row more so than posterior. AMEs on small prominence; lateral eyes juxtaposed, paired on a small prominences; AME diameter 0.20; AMEs interdistance c. ¾ AME diameter; AME–PME distance c. 1 AME diameter. Clypeus c. ½ AME diameter. Paturon reddish brown, with three prolateral and three retrolateral teeth; cheliceral fang curves mesally about a third of the way from paturon. Legs coloured as cephalothorax; femur I weakly sigmoid; formula 1243: femur I 3.83, patella I 1.19, tibia I 4.05, metatarsus I 4.75, tarsus I 1.18; femur II 2.98, patella II 0.80, tibia II 2.68, metatarsus II 3.23, tarsus II 1.01; femur III 1.91, patella III 0.46, tibia III 1.32, metatarsus III 1.46, tarsus III 0.67; femur VI 2.92, patella VI 0.80, tibia VI 2.34, metatarsus VI 2.76, tarsus VI 0.75. Abdomen 6.16 long, 4.35 wide, 4.51 high, light brown with pale guanine crystals; dorsum with triangular dorsolateral brown markings with lighter areas with guanoctye crystals between them; ventral face with area with guanocytes posterior to epigastric furrow, and three lines of guanocyes extending toward spinning field, two laterally and one centrally. Epigynum Male ( Figs 23E–I, 25) (from Queensland, Bulburin, KS0081): Total length 5.03. Carapace 2.89 long, 1.87 wide, 0.99 high, reddish brown, slightly darker on pars cephalica than pars thoracica, but green in colour as immatures; sternum 1.24 long, 1.16 wide, yellowish brown, with darker brown at edges. Eyes arranged as in female. AME diameter 0.18; AMEs interdistance c. 1 AME diameter; AME–PME distance c. 1 AME diameter. Clypeus c. ½ AME diameter. Chelicerae particularly long (often at least half the length of the carapace), yellowish brown to reddish brown, with three prolateral (including very long aprical tooth) and three retrolateral teeth; cheliceral fang bends mesally by almost 90°, then curving slightly again at approximately midpoint. Legs coloured as cephalothorax; femur I weakly sigmoid; formula 1243: femur I 4.43, patella I 1.32, tibia I 5.08, metatarsus I 5.60, tarsus I 1.24; femur II 3.03, patella II 1.04, tibia II 3.10, metatarsus II 3.15, tarsus II 0.81; femur III 1.91, patella III 0.65, tibia III 1.29, metatarsus III 1.59, tarsus III 0.60; femur IV 2.60, patella IV 0.91, tibia IV 2.26, metatarsus IV 2.74, tarsus IV 0.54. Abdomen 2.77 long, 1.91 wide, 1.80 high, with relatively numerous setae; light brown with few pale guanine crystals; 4–5 indistinct tan-brown markings on the dorsum, with stripes of guanine crystals on sides and rear; venter of abdomen relatively free of guanocytes. Pedipalp with tibia 2–3 times the length of the cymbium; mid-conductor process pointed, approximately half the length of the elongate part of cymbium.

Variation: Females’ (N = 4) total length 7.48–9.56; carapace length 3.30–3.84, width 2.26–2.46, height 1.08–1.21; abdomen length 4.67–6.48, width 3.16–4.47, height 3.10–4.61; sternum length 1.42–1.61, width 1.24– 1.31. Males’ (N = 4) total length 4.16–6.10; carapace length 2.13–3.32, width 1.46–2.11, height 0.70–1.12; abdomen length 2.20–3.23, width 1.62–1.98, height 1.64–1.87; sternum length 1.00–1.44, width 0.96–1.38.

Natural history: This species exhibits several behaviours found in other Phonognatha . It builds a leaf retreat at the hub of the web. Juveniles build a leaf retreat from a leaf still attached to the twig at its hub. Cheiracanthium sp. were observed preying on juveniles. Adult males were found cohabiting with immature females in January and February, suggesting a similar behaviour as found in P. graeffei ( Fahey & Elgar, 1997) .

Distribution: Known from the eastern regions of Queensland and New South Wales ( Fig. 26).

Etymology: The species’ epithet, from Greek tany - (long) and - odon (tooth), refers to this species’ extremely long paturon, cheliceral fangs and apical cheliceral teeth.

Additional material examined: Australia: New South Wales, Budderoo National Park, Minnamurra Rainforest, −34.634, 150.724, 25–26.i. 2016, 510 m, G. Hormiga, R. J. Kallal, F. Álvarez-Padilla, 5MM, 17Juv; Barrington Tops National Park, Jerusalem Creek Track, −32.246, 151.729, 29.i. 2016, 388 m, G. Hormiga, R. J. Kallal, F. Álvarez-Padilla, 1M, 1Juv; Tooloom Scrub, −28.557, 152.469 *, 4.ii.1983, J. Gallon, 1M (QM S56820 View Materials ); Port Macquarie, Sea Acres, −31.462, 152.912 *, 14–26.ii.1999, 10 m, G. Williams, malaise trap, subtropical rainforest, 1M (AM KS59072); Scalloway, Willowvale, nr. Gerringong, −34.746, 150.811 *, 3.v.1988, M. Gray, low remnant forest, fine orb web with central hole, no leaf retreat, 1M, 1F (AM KS18476); Budderoo National Park, Minnamurra Rainforest, board walk, −34.635, 150.728, 15.iii. 2010, 134 m, G. Hormiga, N. Scharff, day and night, FF; Budderoo National Park, Minnamurra Rainforest, board walk, −34.635, 150.728, 15.iii. 2010, 134 m, G. Hormiga, N. Scharff, day and night, FF; Jamberoo Mountain, −34.650, 150.767, 20.iv.2002, J. Noble, 1F, eggsac (AM KS79776); Bundjalung National Park, Woody Head, NPWS accommodation area, −29.368, 153.37, 17.ii.2011, G. Milledge, H. Smith, night collecting, 2FF, 1M (AM KS114645); Queensland, Noosa National Park, −27.392, 153.111, 7.iv.2002, 30 m, M. Kuntner, F. Álvarez, M. Rix, 1M (USNM); Noosa National Park, −27.392, 153.111, 7.iv.2002, 30 m, M. Kuntner, F. Álvarez, M. Rix, 1M (USNM);Noosa National Park, −27.392, 153.111, 7.iv.2002, 30 m, M. Kuntner, F. Álvarez, M. Rix, 1M (USNM); Noosa National Park, −27.392, 153.111, 7.iv.2002, 30 m, M. Kuntner, F. Álvarez, M. Rix, 1M, 1F (USNM); Noosa National Park, −27.392, 153.111, 7.iv.2002, 30 m, M. Kuntner, F. Álvarez, M. Rix, 1M (USNM); Cooloola National Park, −25.045, 153.210 *, 1.v.1982, D. Sinclair, in rainforest, 4FF (QM S51232 View Materials ); Cooloola, −26.052, 152.974 *, 7.iv.1987, K. Sadler, 2FF (QM S33443 View Materials ); Brisbane Forest Park, −27.418, 152.830, 1–6.iii.1998, N. Power, malaise trap 1, 1M (AM KS69485); Brisbane Forest Park, −27.418, 152.830, 8–13.ii.1998, N. Power, malaise trap 1, 1M (AM KS69693); Bulburin, NW of Bundaberg, −24.517, 151.350 *, iii.1975, M. Gray, C. Horseman, 1M (AM KS12766); Brisbane Forest Park, −27.418, 152.830, 15–20.iii.1998, N. Power, malaise trap 3, 1M (AM KS69458); Bulburin forestry nursery, NW of Bundaberg, −24.517, 151.350, iii. 1975, 580 m, M. Gray, C. Horseman, rainforest site 3A, 3FF, 3MM (AM KS0081); Mount Glorious, −27.333, 152.767, 12.iii.1998, trap 3, 1M (AM KS119461).