Ariadna ferrogrisea sp. nov.

Figs 15a–h, 16a–c, 17a–h, 18a–b, 19

http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/130e6123-e5d6-45c6-837f-bc82365c3450

Type material. Holotype ♂. AUSTRALIA: Tasmania: Mount Wellington summit, under stones, 42.90°S, 147.24°E, 9 February 1946, V. V. Hickman (AM KS.131053).

Paratype ♀. Same data as holotype (AM KS.131054) .

Other material examined. 1 ♂, three ♀, same data as holotype (AM KS.29167); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Mount Wellington, junction Organ Pipe Track and road, 42.90°S, 147.24°E, 19 May 1972, V . V . Hickman (AM KS.29181) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, Mount Wellington, 42.90°S, 147.24°E, 13 September 1951 V . V . Hickman (AM KS.29190) ; 3 ♀, Mount Wellington summit, 42.90°S, 147.24°E, 11 April 1939, V . V . Hickman (AM KS.31093) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin adjective, meaning ‘steel grey’ and refers to the dark grey colouration of the abdomen of the species.

Diagnosis. A. ferrogrisea sp. nov. is most similar to A. crypticola sp. nov., A. muscosa and A. subnubilum sp. nov., from which it can be distinguished by the greater density of macrosetae on tibia and metatarsus of Leg I (Fig. 15f–h cf. Figs 13f–h, 23f–h, 31a–h) and the number of macrosetae in the preening comb of leg IV; with 8 macrosetae in A. ferrogrisea sp. nov., five in A. crypticola sp. nov., and seven in A. muscosa and A. subnubilum sp. nov. (Figs 15e, 17e cf. Figs 13e, 24e, 31e). It is further differentiated from A. muscosa by the shape of the pedipalp cymbium, which has a more pronounced prolateral extension in A. ferrogrisea sp. nov. (Fig. 16c cf. Fig. 25c), and from A. subnubilum sp. nov. by the presence of transverse abdominal markings (Fig. 5a cf. Fig. 31a) and by the shape of the pedipalp bulb, which is pyramidal in A. ferrogrisea sp. nov., but is rounded oblong in A. subnubilum sp. nov. (Fig. 16a, b cf. Fig. 32a, b).

Description. ♂ (based on holotype; AM KS.131053). Total length 5.8.

Colour in ethanol: Carapace dark red brown, slightly lighter brown anterior to fovea; lateral edges dark brown; with sparse dark setae confined to lateral edges and anteriorly, denser anteriorly. Sternum dark orange brown, with sparse black setae; labium dark brown, maxillae orange brown; chelicerae dark red brown. Abdomen dorsally dark grey, with four narrow, faint, white striations posteriorly; ventrally dark grey, with faint, fine pale striations making the surface appear wrinkled. Legs golden brown and covered in dark setae (Fig. 15a–h).

Cephalothorax: 2.8 long, 1.9 wide, 1.3 high. Carapace oval, narrowing anteriorly, edges gently undulating, fovea a shallow indentation (Fig. 15a), from lateral view carapace gently domed, highest just anterior to fovea (Fig, 15c). Labium narrowed anteriorly, about ¾ length of maxillae; chelicerae with basal transverse ridge, retromargin with single tooth, promargin with three teeth; sternum elongated oval with precoxal triangles and with smaller, broadly triangular intercoxal extensions (Fig. 15b). Posterior eye row slightly recurved, eye group occupying 0.6 of carapace width (Fig. 15d).

Abdomen: 2.7 long; with sparse, moderately long setae (Fig. 15a).

Legs: Leg length ratio: II>I>IV>III. Leg I femur 2.3, patella 0.9, tibia 1.9, metatarsus 1.9, tarsus 0.8; Leg II femur 2.3, patella 0.9, tibia 2.0, metatarsus 1.9, tarsus 0.8; Leg III femur 1.8, patella 0.6, tibia 1.0, metatarsus 1.3, tarsus 0.6; Leg IV femur 1.9, patella 0.5, tibia 1.0, metatarsus 1.4, tarsus 0.7. Femur I bowed in dorsal view. Macrosetae: Leg I femur d1-1-1-1ap, dp1ap; tibia p1-1-1-1, pv1-1-1-1-1-1ap, rv1-1-1-1-1ap, r1-1-1-1; metatarsus p1-1-1-1-1-1, r1-1-1(broken)-1(broken)-1ap. Leg II femur d1/0-1-1-1, dp1ap; tibia r1, rv1-1-1ap, pv1ap, p1-1-1; metatarsus p1, pv1-1-1-1-1ap, rv1-1-1-1ap, r1. Leg IV femur d1-1-1; tibia p1-1-1ap, r1; metatarsus r1-1-1ap, v1. Retrolateral distal preening comb with 8 spines (Fig. 15e). STC I, II with 6 teeth, ITC with small tooth. Tarsi with distal ventral scopulose setae.

Pedipalp: Tibia short, just greater than length of the cymbium; cymbium rounded square shape, with anterior prolateral extension; bulb pyramidal in lateral view; embolus long, thin and hooked apically (Fig. 16a–c).

Description. ♀ (based on paratype; AM KS.131054). Total length 6.41.

Colour in ethanol: Carapace dark, red brown, darker around edges with a pale area centrally demarking the raised caput, beginning anteriorly of fovea, and bordered by darker red brown. Carapace with sparse scattered setae, denser anteriorly. Sternum orange brown, darker near edges, with moderately long black setae; labium darker brown; maxillae orange brown, paler apically; chelicerae dark brown with dense, long, brown setae. Abdomen dorsally dark grey, with three narrow, faint, paler striations posteriorly, ventrally dark grey, with two broad paler patches laterally, with faint, fine pale striations making the surface appear wrinkled. Legs red brown, with dense setae (Fig. 17a–h).

Cephalothorax: 3.1 long, 2.0 wide, 1.6 high. Carapace rounded rectangular, with broad, square ‘neck’ anteriorly, anterior edge straight (Fig. 17a), lateral profile domed, highest just posterior to eye group (Fig. 17c). Labium narrowed anteriorly, about ¾ length of maxillae; chelicerae robust with basal transverse ridge, retromargin with single tooth, promargin with three teeth; sternum elongated oval with precoxal triangles and with smaller, rounded intercoxal extensions (Fig. 17b). Posterior eye row slightly recurved, eyes occupying about 1/3 of carapace width (Fig. 17d).

Abdomen: 3.3 long; with moderate length sparse setae (Fig. 17a, c).

Legs: Leg length ratio I>II>IV>III. Leg I femur 2.1, patella 1.0, tibia 1.6, metatarsus 1.3, tarsus 0.6; Leg II femur 2.1, patella 0.8, tibia 1.7, metatarsus 1.0, tarsus 0.6. Leg III; femur 1.4, patella 0.7, tibia 1.3, metatarsus 0.8, tarsus 0.4. Leg IV femur 2.0, patella 0.9, tibia 1.5, metatarsus 1.0, tarsus 0.4. Femur I bowed in dorsal view. Macrosetae: Leg I Femur dp2ap; tibia pv1-1-1-1-1-1ap, rv1-1-1-1-1-1ap; metatarsus 2-2-2-2-2-2-2. Leg II femur dp1ap; tibia p1-1-1ap, v1-1-1-1-1ap; metatarsus 2-2-2-2-2-2-2. Leg IV femur d1-1/0; tibia p1ap, v1-1; metatarsus rv1-1- 1-1/0-1ap. Retrolateral distal preening comb with 8 spines (Fig. 17e). STC I, II with 7 teeth, ITC with small tooth. Tarsi with distal ventral scopulose setae.

Pedipalp: with dense setae, dense macrosetae clustered prolaterally on tibia and tarsus, pedipalp claw bare.

Genitalia: Anterior receptaculum bilobed, slightly sinuous in ventral view (Fig. 18a–b).

Variation. Specimens examined showed variation in the number of macrosetae dorsally on the femur (3–5 macrosetae); and on the number on tibia and metatarsus I (range 16–19 macrosetae). There was no variation exhibited in the preening comb on metatarsus IV. Macrosetae of other legs were more variable. Specimens showed little variation in colour, or in size.

Distribution. Known only from Kunanyi / Mount Wellington, south west Tasmania (Fig. 19).