Artoria victoriensis Framenau, Gotch & Austin, 2006

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 victoriensis Framenau, Gotch & Austin, 2006 Figs 43 A–H, 44, 46I Victorian Artoria

Artoria victoriensis Framenau, Gotch & Austin, 2006: 28-32, figs 63-70.

Material examined.

Holotype male, Melbourne (37°49'S, 144°58'E, Victoria, AUSTRALIA), 8 October 1956, A Neboiss (NMV K7742). Paratype: 1 female, Kilsyth, 37°48'S 145°19'E, Victoria, AUSTRALIA), 11 October 1981, on fence, M. E. Roberts (NMV K7741) (both examined).

Other material examined.

91 males, 59 females and 8 juveniles in 79 records (all NSW). AUSTRALLIA: New South Wales: 1 male, 'Ashleigh Park’ Farm, 21 km S of Berrigan, 35°51 ’12” S, 145°49 ’17” E (AM KS84510); 18 males, 14.5 km NW of Corowa, 35°54 ’33” S, 146°16 ’11” E (AM KS84456, KS84462); 1 male, 14.5 km NW of Corowa, 35°54 ’33” S, 146°16 ’11” E (AM KS84391); 3 males, 23 km NW of Mulwala, 35°49 ’22” S, 146°9 ’02” E (AM KS84165, KS84941, KS85045); 1 male, 26 km NW of Mulwala, 35°46 ’22” S, 146°05 ’52” E (AM KS84194); 1 female, Blue Mountains National Park, Binnawee Drive, 33°40 ’15” S, 150°27 ’55” E (AM KS53789); 1 female, Coleambally irrigation area, 34°42 ’10” S, 146°02 ’55” E (AM KS67764); 1 female, Coleambally irrigation area, 34°53 ’00” S, 144°59 ’24” E (AM KS58090); 1 female, Coleambally irrigation area, 34°54 ’00” S, 146°03 ’44” E (AM KS58311); 2 females, Coleambally irrigation area, 34°54 ’27” S, 146°00 ’10” E (AM KS67342); 1 male, 3 females, Coleambally irrigation area, 34°54 ’27” S, 146°00 ’14” E (AM KS67152, KS67684, KS71271); 6 males, 8 females, 1 juv. Coleambally irrigation area, 34°55 ’03” S, 145°51 ’37” E (AM KS58164, KS67076, KS67506, KS68662); 13 males, 2 females, Coleambally irrigation area, 34°58 ’00” S, 146°00 ’50” E (AM KS67348, KS67354, KS67412, KS67678); 9 male, 5 females, Coleambally irrigation area, 34°59 ’35” S, 146°00 ’44” E (AM KS58127, KS58183, KS58235, KS67674); 1 male, 5 females, Coleambally irrigation area, 35°01 ’59” S, 145°55 ’04” E (AM KS68649, KS68654); 2 males, Crown residency, corner of New England Highway and Old Tamworth Road, 31°04 ’30” S, 151°01 ’40” E (AM KS82846, KS82854); 1 male, 'Cullen Hill’ Farm, 24 km NE of Mulwala, 35°35 ’46” S, 146°03 ’12” E (AM KS85008); 1 male, 'Cullen Hill’ Farm, 24 km NE of Mulwala, 35°46 ’58” S, 146°03 ’12” E (AM KS84682); 1 female, Eden, 37°03'S, 149°54'E (WAM T62638); 2 males, ‘Fairfield’ Farm, 29 km NE of Mulwala, 35°47 ’47” S, 146°13 ’17” E (AM KS84484, KS84791); 1 male, ‘Fairfield’ Farm, 30.5 km NE of Mulwala, 35°47 ’36” S, 146°14 ’46” E (AM KS84512); 1 male, 2 females, Gilgandra, 39 km NNW, turnoff to Warrumbungle National Park, 31°25 ’9” S, 148°31 ’19” E (AM KS76597-8, KS76600); 1 female, Gin Gin, 2.5 km NW, on road to Riverview Station, 31°54 ’13” S, 148°03 ’41” E (AM KS76601); 1 female, Gubatta, 33°34 ’05” S, 146°35 ’36” E (QM S53583); 2 females, Humbug Creek, 8 km SW West Wyalong, 33°59'S, 147°10'E (QM S46699); 2 females, 7 juv., Kanangra-Boyd National Park, Blood Filly Creek near Jenolan Caves, 33°51'S, 150°03'E (AM KS29969-70); 3 males, ‘Kildonan’ Farm, 19 km S of Berrigan, 35°50 ’11” S, 145°49 ’47” E (AM KS84608, KS84612, KS84630); 3 males, 3 females, ‘Kilyana’ Station, 21.5 km SE of Berrigan, 35°48 ’00” S, 145°58 ’09” E (AM KS84744, KS84991, KS84999); 1 male, ‘Kilyana’ Station,19.5 km NW of Mulwala, 35°49 ’01” S, 145°58 ’28” E (AM KS84473); 1 male, ‘Kilpa’ Farm, 17.5 km SE of Berrigan, 35°45 ’51” S, 145°57 ’15” E (AM KS84635); 1 male, Kwiambal National Park, east side, 150 m S of road, 29°10 ’46” S, 151°00 ’18” E (AM KS82858); 1 male, 1 female, McIntyre River, 2.8 km South of Boggabilla on Bruxner Highway, 28°37 ’41” S, 150°22 ’30” E (AM KS76603, KS76605); 1 female, Moree, 29°27'S, 149°50'E (AM KS32588); 9 males, 'Namron Park’ Farm, 12 km NNW of Mulwala, 35°53 ’01” S, 145°57 ’40” E (AM KS84363, KS84383, KS84546); 2 females, New England National Park, opposite Tom’s Cabin, 30°29 ’55” S, 152°23 ’51” E (AM KS91019); 2 males, ‘Oakbank’ Farm, 24 km NE of Mulwala, 35°47 ’57” S, 146°07 ’08” E (AM KS84136); 1 male, 1 female, Pulletop, 34°01 ’49” S, 146°04 ’20” E (QM S53058); 1 male, Pulletop, 34°00 ’59” S, 146°04 ’15” E (QM S53690); 1 female, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, Apsley River, below Yarrowitch River, 30°52 ’50” S, 152°01 ’12” E (AM KS124562); 1 male, 1 female, Quarantine Bay, 37°03'S, 149°52'E (WAM T70670); 2 males, Redlands Hill Reserve, 10 km NNW of Corowa, 35°55 ’16” S, 146°19 ’22” E (AM KS84191); 1 male, ‘Savernake’ Station, 23.5 km N of Mulwala, 35°46 ’59” S, 146°01 ’46” E (AM KS84936); 1 female, Shoalhaven River at Bombay Bridge, 35°25 ’42” S, 149°42 ’57” E (AM KS125947); 1 female, Wahgunyah State Forest 15.5 km N of Mulwala, 35°51 ’12” S, 145°59 ’05” E (AM KS84450); 1 male, 6 females, Wambianna Station, 7.5 km NW Gin Gin, 31°52 ’27” S, 148°01 ’36” E (AM KS76599, KS76602, KS76604, KS76606, KS76704); 1 female, Weemelah, South of, 150 m North of bridge over Gingham Watercourse, 29°13 ’30” S, 149°16 ’04” E (AM KS76706); 1 male, ‘Womboyne’ Farm, 19 km S of Berrigan, 35°49 ’35” S, 145°47 ’03” E (AM KS84767).

Diagnosis

(after Framenau et al. 2006). Males of A. victoriensis can be distinguished from all other Australian Artoria by the shape of the median apophysis which resembles an upside-down sock in ventral view. The female epigyne is distinctively oval, with a white center and a sclerotized posterior rim reaching medially into this center.

The specimens illustrated here vary somewhat from those originally described, in particular with respect to the internal female genitalia. It is possible, that A. victoriensis may include more than one species pending a more detailed evaluation of its intraspecific variation across its wider range.

Description.

Artoria victoriensis has been described in detail ( Framenau et al. 2006). A diagnosis and diagnostic images (Figs 43 A–H, 46I) are provided here to facilitate identification.

Life history and habitat preferences.

Artoria victoriensis can typically be found in open, moderately moist habitats, including suburban garden and parks.

Males of the species were predominantly found from October to December, with a single record from April. Female activity is similar, although mature females are not uncommon in the later summer months.

Distribution.

In NSW, A. victoriensis has been found mainly east of the Great Dividing Range where it occurs into the Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Cobar Peneplain (COP) and Riverina (RIV) IBRA regions (Fig. 44). The species has also been found throughout South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania and into south-eastern Queensland ( Framenau et al. 2006; Framenau unpublished data).