Kochosa fleurae, Framenau & Castanheira & Yoo, 2023

Framenau, Volker W., Castanheira, Pedro De S. & Yoo, Jung-Sun, 2023, The artoriine wolf spiders of Australia: the new genus Kochosa and a key to genera (Araneae: Lycosidae), Zootaxa 5239 (3), pp. 301-357 : 325-326

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5239.3.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BF1FF837-56D5-4829-8D46-E821D9D31AB3
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7634829
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/193AC81C-001A-FFE3-FF3C-FA671CE2659F
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Kochosa fleurae
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Kochosa fleurae sp. nov.

( Figs 13 View FIGURE 13 , 14A–E View FIGURE 14 )

Holotype. Male , Skylark Road , Whipstick (36º37'30''S 144º16'00″E, Victoria, AUSTRALIA), J. Shield, 10–17 December 1998, Whipstick Forest Survey MS # 138 ( MV K-8672). GoogleMaps

Etymology. The specific epithet is a matronym for a very good friend of the senior author, Fleur de Crespigny (currently Head, Dementia Unit at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra).

Other material examined. 2 males, Skylark Road, Whipstick, 36º37'30''S 144º16'00″E ( MV K-7728) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Males of K. fleurae sp. nov. are separated from those of all other species of the genus by their unique long and sharp basoembolic apophyses and flat and broad embolus ( Fig. 14E View FIGURE 14 ). They are most similar to K. asterix sp. nov. but differ from those due to the ventrally folded basoembolic apophysis ( Fig. 14E View FIGURE 14 ). The female of K. fleurae sp. nov. is unknown.

Description.

Male ( based on holotype, MV K-8672) .

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown; median light band slightly narrowing posteriorly, covered with white setae; lateral light bands broad and covered with white setae ( Fig. 14A View FIGURE 14 ). Sternum dark brown ( Fig. 14B View FIGURE 14 ).

Abdomen. Dorsally light olive grey; cardiac mark continuous bordered by indistinct dark brown discolourations in posterior half ( Fig. 14A View FIGURE 14 ). Venter brown ( Fig. 14B View FIGURE 14 ).

Pedipalps ( Fig. 14C–E View FIGURE 14 ). Embolus broad and flat and tapering to apex; basoembolic apophysis distinct, long and pointing retrolaterally; tegular apophysis forms a small round lobe situated apically on tegulum.

Legs. Light brown with irregular darker discolourations; spination of leg I: femur: 4 dorsal, 2 retrolateral (very small); tibia: 4 ventral pairs (apical pair small), 2 prolateral, 1 retrolateral; metatarsus: 4 ventral pairs (apical pair small and closer), 2 prolateral; 1 apicoprolateral, 1 retrolateral.

Measurements. TL 4.39, CL 2.49, CW 1.64. Eyes: AME 0.10, ALE 0.10, PME 0.31, PLE 0.30. Row of eyes: AE 0.48, PME 0.65, PLE 0.79. Sternum (length/width) 0.99/0.92. Labium (length/width) 0.28/0.34. AL 1.99, AW 1.35. Legs: Length of segments: Pedipalp 0.84+0.28+0.36+0.88 = 2.36, I 1.42+1.83+1.17+0.85=5.27; II 1.42+1.78 +1.17+0.89=5.26, III 1.35+1.49+1.24+0.74=4.82; IV 1.85+2.24+2.14+1.07=7.30.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 4.39 – 5.82 , 4.93 ± 0.75; CL 2.49 – 3.18 , 2.78 ± 0.35; CW 1.64–1.91, 1.75 ± 0.14, n = 3. Both other males are of similar colouration as the holotype.

Female. Unknown.

Life history and habitat preferences. The three males of K. fleurae sp. nov. were found in Whipstick Westringia ( Westringia crassifolia ) shrub and forest between October and December. Westringia crassifolia is listed as Endangered in Victoria and Australia and this conservation rating may also be applied to K. fleurae sp. nov. if the species is a habitat specialist relying on this species.

Distribution. Only known from and around the type locality, Whipstick (Victoria) ( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13 ).