Peeto rodmani, PLATNICK, 2002

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2002, A Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spiders Of The Families Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae, And Trochanteriidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (271), pp. 1-1 : 1-

Peeto rodmani , new species Figures 141–144 , Map 10

TYPE: Female holotype taken in pitfall trap on Mount Coolum, Fern Gully , 26 ° 34 ̍ S, 153 ° 05 ̍ E, Queensland (Jan. 1984; B. Jahnke), deposited in QMB ( S26830 ) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Dr. James Rodman, the founder of PEET.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can easily be recognized by the complex retrolateral tibial apophysis (fig. 142), females by the large, u­shaped median epigynal septum (fig. 143).

MALE: Total length 2.8. Carapace olive brown, lighter medially than laterally; abdomen dark gray with scattered small white spots; legs olive brown except metatarsi and tarsi pale yellow. Chelicerae not porrect or inclined, endites relatively short. Leg spination: femora I–IV d1­0­1; tibiae: I v2­1p­0; II v1p­2­0; III d0­1­0, p0­1­0, v1r­2­1p, r1­ 1­0; IV p0­1­1, v2­2­2; metatarsi: III v2­1r­ 2; IV p1­2­2. Tarsi III and IV cracked at about half their length. Retrolateral tibial apophysis with proximodorsal and two distal prongs (fig. 142); embolus closely associated with conductor (fig. 141).

FEMALE: Total length 4.3. Carapace coloration as in male, abdominal dorsum with larger, paired white spots, legs with only femora darker than more distal segments. Chelicerae inclined, endites relatively short. Leg spination typical for genus. Only tarsi IV cracked. Epigynum with u­shaped posterior margin and large median septum (fig. 143); spermathecae with rounded lateral and crenulated posterior lobes (fig. 144).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Queensland: Calliope Range, Kroombit Tops, 45 km SSW Calliope, 24 ° 22 ̍ S, 151 ° 01 ̍ E, Dec. 13–18, 1983, pitfall, open forest (G. Monteith, V. Davies, J. Gallon, G. Thompson, QMB S28254 ), 1♀ ; Cold Creek, via Imbil , 26 ° 28 ̍ S, 152 ° 41 ̍ E, Dec. 31, 1974 – Mar. 27, 1975, rainforest pitfall, elev. 122 m (G., S. Monteith, QMB S12102 ), 13 ; Finch Hatton Gorge, Eungella National Park , 21 ° 05 ̍ S, 148 ° 39 ̍ E, Nov. 9, 1991 – July 28, 1992, pitfall (P. Lawless, R. Raven, M. Shaw, QMB S24803 ), 1♀, July 28–Dec. 3, 1992, pitfall (R., Raven, P., E. Lawless, M. Shaw, QMB S24775 ), 13 ; Gap Creek Road, Brookfield , 27 ° 30 ̍ S, 152 ° 55 ̍ E, Sept. 10, 1982 (M. Walter, QMB), 1♀ ; Kroombit Tops , 24 ° 22 ̍ S, 151 ° 01 ̍ E, Feb. 23–25, 1982, pitfall, open forest with casuarina on sand (G. Monteith, R. Raven, G. Thompson, QMB S28259 ), 1♀ ; Lower Dry Creek, Kroombit Tops , 45 km SSW Calliope, 24 ° 24 ̍ S, 151 ° 01 ̍ E, Dec. 11– 18, 1983, pitfall, rainforest (G. Monteith, V. Davies, J. Gallon, G. Thompson, QMB S28254 , 28262 ), 13, 1♀ ; Mount Goonaneman, near Childers , 25 ° 26 ̍ S, 152 ° 08 ̍ E, Nov. 3–7, 1980, rainforest litter, elev. 670 m (V. Davies, R. Raven, QMB), 13, 3♀ ; Mount Molloy , 16 ° 44 ̍ S, 145 ° 19 ̍ E, summer 1992– 1993, pitfall, riparian woodland, elev. 400 m (S. Burnett, QMB S53326 ), 13 .

DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in eastern Queensland (map 10).

Questo , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Questo annuello , new species.

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name is an arbitrary combination of letters considered masculine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this genus resemble those of Peeto in having cheliceral teeth, but can be distinguished by the simple, rectangular retrolateral tibial apophysis of males (fig. 146) and the small, rectangular epigynal septum of females (fig. 147).

DESCRIPTION: Medium­sized spiders, total length of males and females 4.0–4.4. Carapace glabrous, without tubercles, with sparsely scattered, short, erect, dark setae and longer, erect setae on clypeus; thoracic groove long, longitudinal, not expanded anteriorly. Eight eyes in two rows, anterior medians smallest, circular, dark, posterior medians irregularly rectangular, flattened, laterals subequal in size, oval; from above, both eye rows slightly recurved, from front, both rows procurved; anterior medians separated by about their radius, closer to anterior laterals than to each other; posterior medians separated by twice their diameter from each other and from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in back than in front and than long. Chelicerae porrect, anterior surface with few scattered, strong setae; chilum unipartite, triangular, fused to clypeus, accompanied by second, elongated, posterior chilum (extremely narrow, I­shaped sclerite separating bases of chelicerae poste­ riorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, promargin with series of short setae originating in line along base of fang plus one much longer seta originating near base of fang, extending far from base before bending toward midline; promargin with six large, subequally spaced teeth, retromargin bare. Labium wide, very short, extending only about one­fourth length of endites, bipartite, posterior portion short, flat, anterior portion steeply inclined; posterolateral corners heavily sclerotized, anterior margin invaginated at middle. Endites with weak oblique depression, without median groove, serrula present, apex bearing narrow patch of long, stiff, dark setae. Sternum flat, with weak lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with small extensions between coxae; surface smooth, with few long setae. One weakly sclerotized epimeric sclerite on each side, with heavily sclerotized strips above coxae I, II but not extending between them, not fused to carapace. Pedicel composed of two narrow dorsal sclerites and weak, inverted y­shaped ventral sclerite, reaching almost to posterior tip of sternum.

Abdomen without dorsal scutum; cuticle with weak, recumbent setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, that of males with posteriorly produced margin at middle, with very narrow spiracles at sides, without postepigastric sclerites; colulus represented by setae; posterior spiracle wide, anterior of colular setae. Anterior lateral spinnerets small, widely separated at base, with two articles; posterior median spinnerets of males cylindrical, of females triangular, posterior portion with at least three large cylindrical gland spigots, arranged in triangle; posterior lateral spinnerets with two articles, those of females with at least one large cylindrical gland spigot.

Leg formula 4123; leg spination not greatly reduced, typical leg spination pattern (only surface bearing spines listed): femora I, II d1­1­0; III d1­1­1, p0­0­1, r0­0­1; tibiae: II v0­1p­0; III d1­0­0, p0­1­1, v2­2­2, r1­1­1, IV d1­1­0, p1­1­1, v2­2­2, r1­1­1; metatarsi: II v1p­0­0; III d0­1­0, p0­1­2, v2­0­1p, r0­1­ 2; IV d1­0­0, p2­1­2, v2­2­1p, r1­2­2; most surfaces with normal, long setae; coxae and trochanters without dorsal tubercles; anterior coxae without protuberant posterolateral cor­ ners; trochanters unnotched; metatarsi and tarsi I, II with weak, undivided scopulae; posterior metatarsi without distal preening brushes; tarsi with two basally dentate claws, no claw tufts; all tarsi with cuticular cracks at about two­thirds of their length; trichobothria present, in two rows, on tarsi, metatarsi, and tibiae. Female palpal tibia with weak dorsal spines; female palpal tarsus with long dentate claw and scattered spines.

Male palp with simple, rectangular retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface only slightly excavated at base, opposite tibial apophysis; tegulum rounded, with distally originating, gradually narrowing embolus closely associated with heavily sclerotized conductor, median apophysis absent. External epigynum with narrow, rectangular anteromedian septum; spermathecae bipartite, posterior portion highly crenulated.

Figures

Map 10. Records of Oreo kidman, new species (star), O. bushbay, new species (diamonds), Peeto rodmani, new species (circles), and Questo annuello, new species (squares).

Figs. 141–144. Peeto rodmani, new species. 141. Left male palp, ventral view. 142. Same, retrolateral view. 143. Epigynum, ventral view. 144. Same, dorsal view.