Atrax adelaidensis

Gray, Michael R., 2010, A Revision of the Australian Funnel-web Spiders (Hexathelidae: Atracinae), Records of the Australian Museum 62 (3), pp. 285-392 : 386-387

adelaidensis species group

Description (Figs. 103–104; Tables 32–33). Small atracinae (CL 5.4–6.9). Burrow entrance without triplines, with sidechamber closed by a trap-door. Carapace broad, strongly raised. Labium and sternum wide. Serrula absent. Cheliceral groove narrow with long central tooth row. STC teeth few (8–9). Male femora I, II with dorsal spines or bristles. Males without leg II apophyses; leg I modified (incrassate tibia and metatarsus) or unmodified. Male palpal tibia bulbous basally; patella wider than femur.

Included species. Hadronyche adelaidensis (Gray) , H. flindersi (Gray) , H. eyrei (Gray) .

Distribution. Limited to the Gulf Ranges region of South Australia.

adelaidensis ( black squares) and A. eyrei (closed circles). side chamber with a robust soil door and a simple collapsible, collar-like silk entrance opening in or under lear litter in open forest and woodland habitats (Main, 1976; Gray, 1984). The Types. Holotype female: AMS KS983 , Mt. Remarkable (lower slopes),

3km north of Melrose, Flinders Range , South Australia, 32°47'S 138°04'E, burrows lack surface triplines. Interestingly, juveniles of

23 April 1973, M. and G. Gray. Paratype male:AMS KS980, same data as H. adelaidensis make burrows that lack side chambers but holotype, 25 April 1973. have well-formed, flap-like surface trapdoors (Gray, 1984). These spiders are separated from the main eastern Diagnosis. CL 5.4–6.9 (male and female). Small atracine distribution of the Atracinae by the dry shrublands/ spiders Males differ from H. adelaidensis by row of strong woodlands of the southern Murray Basin ( Fig. 2 ). They may dorsal spines (8–9) on femur I; and tibia I, II with 6–9 originally have been isolated as a western atracine population spines. Male palp with straight, slender embolus. and 12–16 during a Tertiary marine incursion into the Murray Basin. spines on patella. Male tarsi III, IV weakly swollen. Females with moderately slender spermathecae with a subapical

Hadronyche flindersi (Gray) constriction; few prolateral spines on tibia III (8–9).

Figures 103–105; Table 32

Atrax flindersi Gray, 1984: 446 .

Hadronyche flindersi .–Gray, 1988: 114.

Distribution. The southern end of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia ( Fig. 105 ).

Comments. Female burrow with juvenile spiders in side passage closed by trapdoor in April, 1973.

Hadronyche adelaidensis (Gray) tibia I, II (0–2), and absence of dorsal spines (bristles only) on femur I. Male palp with short, broad embolus. Females Figures 105 –107; Table 33 are distinguished by strongly dilated spermathecae; and numerous prolateral spines on patella III (18–26).

Atrax adelaidensis . Gray, 1984: 442. Distribution. Mount Lofty Ranges and the Adelaide region,

Hadronyche adelaidensis .–Gray, 1988: 114. South Australia ( Fig. 105 ).

Types. Holotype female: N1979146 ( SAM). Hackney , Adelaide, South Comments. Williams & Goode (1978) found evidence that Australia, 34°54'S 138°37'E, 16 November 1973, J. Batt . Paratype male:

N1979145 (SAM). St. Peters C.G.S. Adelaide, South Australia, 3 June the Miocene Murray River in South Australia may have run 1971, D. Edwards. west into the Spencer Gulf south of Port Pirie, before its flow was diverted southward near Morgan. The progenitor Diagnosis. CL 5.5–6.8 (male and female). Small atracine populations of H. adelaidensis and H. flindersi may have spiders. Males differ from H. flindersi by presence of speciated on either side of a barrier formed by the ancient incrassate tibia I and metatarsus I, reduced spination on Murray River in South Australia.

Figures

Figure 2. Distribution of atracine spiders in easternAustralia arrow Colour. Atracine spiders are typically glossy black on points to locality of Hadronyche anzses). the carapace and mat black, often with a plum tinge, on the dorsolateral abdomen. They rarely possess distinctive

Figure 105. Collection records for Atrax flindersi (open circles), A. Comments. Burrows of adult and subadult spiders have a