Kochosa westralia, 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 : 352-354

Kochosa westralia sp. nov.

( Figs 27 , 31A–E , 32A–D )

Holotype. 1 male, Dalyup Road , W of Scaddan (33º23'09''S 121º34'56''E, Western Australia, AUSTRLIA), P. van Heurck et al., 15 October 1999 – 1 November 2000, pitfall traps, CALM Salinity Action Plan site GP8 ( WAM T67840 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is an adjective in apposition, combined from Western Australia, the state where this species is found.

Other material examined (33 males, 3 females). AUSTRALIA: Western Australia : 1 male, Backmans Road, near Burdett Road junction, E of Mt Burdett , 33º29'05''S 122º14'27''E ( WAM T67838 ) ; 3 males, Burdett Road, near junction with Wittenoom Road , 33º27'30''S 122º08'26''E ( WAM T67837 ) ; 2 males, Chinocup Lake Nature Reserve , 33º32'31''S 118º25'15''E ( WAM T67830 ) ; 1 male, Edwards Road, N of, SE of Lake King , 33º22'01''S 120º59'43''E ( WAM T67842 ) ; 1 male, Fields Road, E of, SE of Lake King , 33º06'46''S 121º11'35''E ( WAM T67843 ) ; 3 males, same data ( WAM T67832 ) ; 1 male, 1 female, Grass Patch, “Sieda”, Fitzgerald Locality 41, 33º14'S 121º43'E ( WAM 98 /2157–8) ; 10 males, 1 female, Lake King-Norseman Road , 33º04'54''S 119º59'53''E ( WAM T67833 ) ; 5 males, 1 female, Lake Magenta Nature Reserve (E Central), South , 33º40'37''S 119º04'52''E ( WAM T67836 ) ; 1 male, McDougal Nature Reserve , 33º27'08''S 118º06'57''E ( WAM T67841 ) ; 1 male, Nindilbillup Road, SE of Lake King , 33º17'16''S 120º06'18''E ( WAM T67834 ) ; 1 male, Ravensthorpe, 26.4 km E, 33º35'19”S 120º19'48”E ( WAM T76466 ) ; 1 male, Vermin Proof Fence, E of, E of Lake King , 33º02'31''S 119º59'28''E ( WAM T67835 ) ; 2 males, Wittenoom Hill Nature Reserve, Norwoods Road , 33º28'29''S 122º07'17''E ( WAM T67831 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of K. westralia sp. nov. are most similar to those of K. timwintoni sp. nov. due to similar colouration and the broad embolus. Both species differ considerably in their genital morphology, specifically the shape of the basoembolic apophysis which is broad and round in K. westralia sp. nov. ( Fig. 31E ), but triangular and pointing retrolaterally in K. timwintoni sp. nov. ( Fig. 28E ). Females of K. westralia sp. nov. are most similar to those of K. obelix sp. nov. due to the shape of the median septum; however, its profile is more raised in K. westralia sp. nov. ( Figs 32C vs 19C, D). In addition, the spermathecal stalks are comparatively smaller in K. westralia sp. nov. than in K. obelix sp. nov. and the spermathecal stalks attach more dorsally, not posteriorly ( Figs 32D vs 19E).

Description.

Male ( based on holotype, WAM T67840 ) .

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown; distinct median light band narrowing posteriorly ( Fig. 31A ); light lateral bands broad; white setae particularly in median and lateral bands ( Fig. 31A ). Sternum brown ( Fig. 31B ).

Abdomen. Light olive-brown; cardiac mark indistinct, continuous ( Fig. 31A ). Venter light olive-brown ( Fig.31B ).

Pedipalps ( Fig. 31C–D ). Cymbium comparatively broad; embolic division almost entirely exposed; tegular apophysis reduced to a small semi-translucent lobe; basoembolic apophysis broad and round with basal teeth; embolus strong and slightly curved.

Legs. Brown, with light annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal, 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs, 1 prolateral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral, 2 prolateral, 1 apicoprolateral, 1 retrolateral, 1 apicoretrolateral.

Measurements. TL 4.10, CL 2.65, CW 2.04. Eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.09, PME 0.27, PLE 0.24. Row of eyes: AE 0.63, PME 0.86, PLE 1.08. Sternum (length/width) 1.29/0.91. Labium (length/width) 0.47/0.54. AL 1.92, AW 1.63. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.91+0.78+- +0.78=2.47, I 1.76+2.18+1.50+0.98=6.31; II 1.63+1.97+1.43+0.91=5.93, III 1.43+1.76+1.37+0.85=5.40; IV 1.89 +2.35+2.28+1.30=7.80.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.70–4.75, 4.23 ± 0.43; CL 2.25–2.80, 2.59 ± 0.15; CW 1.66–2.10, 1.91 ± 0.14, n = 10. The main colour variation in male K. westralia sp. nov. relates to the abdomen, which might be darker than illustrated here and then the cardiac mark is more distinct.

Female (based on WAM 98/2158).

Cephalothorax and abdomen: Largely as male, but posterior white setae behind and lateral of PLE more distinct and dark borders around abdominal cardiac mark more distinct and venter somewhat lighter ( Fig. 32A, B ).

Epigyne ( Fig. 32C, D ).Ventral view: median septum broadening posteriorly and rounded ( Fig. 32C ); dorsal view: spermathecal heads spherical; spermathecal stalks curved and attaching dorsally at spermathecal heads ( Fig. 32D ).

Legs. Dark brown with pale annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 2 dorsal, 1 apicoprolateral; patella: 1 apicodorsal; tibia: 3 ventral pairs, metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral, 2 prolateral.

Measurements. TL 4.10, CL 2.50, CW 1.72. Eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.07, PME 0.24, PLE 0.22. Row of eyes: AE 0.58, PME 0.79, PLE 1.10. Sternum (length/width) 1.30/0.88. Labium (length/width) 0.28/0.33. AL 2.30, AW 1.97. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.72+0.72+- +1.10=2.15, I 1.50+1.89+1.20+0.78=5.36, II 1.37+1.69+1.11+0.72=4.88, III 1.17+1.56+1.27+0.68=4.68, IV 1.63+ 2.15+2.02+1.11=6.89.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 4.10–4.81, 4.49 ± 0.36; CL 2.49–2.80, 2.59 ± 0.18; CW 1.72–2.10, 1.93 ± 0.20, n = 3. The two other female K. westralia sp. nov. have somewhat lighter legs and therefore the pale annulations are less distinct, otherwise body colouration is very similar between all specimens.

Life history and habitat preferences. Almost all specimens were collected in pitfall traps that were exposed too long to interpret the phenology of the species. A male and a female not from pitfall traps were collected in June suggesting winter-maturity.

Distribution. Kochosa westralia sp. nov. is found in south-western Western Australia ( Fig. 27 ).

Figures

FIGURE 27. Distribution records of Kochosa tasmaniensis sp. nov., K. timwintoni sp. nov., K. tongiorgii sp. nov. and K. westralia sp. nov.

FIGURE 28A–E. Kochosa timwintoni sp. nov., male holotype, WAM T86692. A, B, male habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, D, male, left pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view; E, male, left pedipalp, apical section. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm; E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 31A–E. Kochosa westralia sp. nov., male holotype, WAM T67840. A, B, male habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, D, male, left pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view; E, male, left pedipalp, apical section. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm; E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 32A–D. Kochosa westralia sp. nov., female, WAM 98/2158. A, B, female habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, epigyne, epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, 0.2 mm.