Artoria slatyeri, Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018

Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018, The wolf spider genus Artoria in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae), Evolutionary Systematics 2 (2), pp. 169-241 : 169

Artoria slatyeri sp. n. Figs 36A-D, 37, 48E Slatyer’s Forest Runner

Material examined.

Holotype male, Bondi State Forest, woodlot 2 (37°07'S, 149°08'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 3 February 1980, G. Gowing et al., pitfall trap (AM KS127752). Paratypes: 1 male, same data as holotype (AM KS71596); 2 males, Bondi State Forest, woodlot 3 (37°08'S, 149°09'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 29 December 1980, G. Gowing et al., pitfall trap (AM KS116619);

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 male, Wadbilliga National Park, 9.6 km N on Bumberry Creek Fire Trail, 36°14 ’20” S, 149°34 ’00” E (AM KS64400).

Etymology.

Species name is a patronym in honour of Dr Cameron Slatyer, Head of Natural Science Collections and Branch Manager of Life Sciences at the Australian Museum, who contributed significantly to Australian biodiversity knowledge of conservation reserves through the foundation of Bush Blitz.

Diagnosis.

The shape of the tegular apophysis in males of A. slatyeri sp. n. is distinctive within Artoria (Fig. 36C), most closely resembling that of A. grahammilledgei sp. n. (Fig. 22E); however, it is much more elongated than the tegular apophysis of that species. The basoembolic apophysis is much narrower and longer in A. slatyeri sp. n. than in A. grahammilledgei sp. n.

Description.

Male (based on holotype AM KS127752, palea AM KS116619.

Total length 5.1.

Prosoma. Length 2.7, width 2.0; carapace yellow-brown dusted with grey and indistinct dark radial pattern; with pale yellow lateral broad margin and central band, broader in cephalic area constricted just behind PLE (Fig. 36A); sternum dark brown, dusted dark grey (Fig. 36B).

Eyes. Diameter of AME: 0.10; ALE: 0.11; PME: 0.28; PLE: 0.21.

Anterior eye row. Straight, evenly spaced.

Chelicerae. Dark brown.

Labium. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 36B).

Pedipalp coxae. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 36B).

Legs. Yellow brown with darker annulations; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi darker, less annulated (Fig. 36A).

Opisthosoma. Length 2.4, width 1.6; yellow-brown with light yellow-brown anterior cardiac mark and dark grey irregular pattern (Fig. 36A). Venter yellow-brown with darker pattern (Fig. 36B); spinnerets dark grey.

Pedipalps. Tibia globular, as long as broad; cymbium tip with 4-5 short macrosetae (Fig. 36C, D); dorsal scopula patch present; tegular apophysis distally widely scooped, rectangular, basally narrowed to 1/4, retrolateral tip short rounded, reaching margin of cymbium (Fig. 36D); palea about twice as long as wide; basoembolic apophysis short, rounded; embolus elongated, nearly rectangular, reaching beyond terminal apophysis; terminal apophysis short, tip triangular (Fig. 48E).

Female unknown.

Life history and habitat preferences.

Artoria slatyeri sp. n. is apparently a forest species, the type material being found in a forest reserve. Mature males were found in pitfall traps in December and February suggesting the species is summer-mature.

Distribution.

Artoria slatyeri sp. n. is currently known only from the Bondi State Forest and Wadbilliga National Park in southern NSW in the South Eastern Highlands (SEH) IBRA region (Fig. 37).