Nanometa dimitrovi, Álvarez-Padilla & Kallal & Hormiga, 2020

Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, Kallal, Robert J. & Hormiga, Gustavo, 2020, Taxonomy And Phylogenetics Of Nanometinae And Other Australasian Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneae: Tetragnathidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2020 (438), pp. 1-107 : 1-107

Nanometa dimitrovi , sp. nov.

Figures 30–32 , 36–37

“ Nanometa sp.” Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga, 2011: 802, figs. 87–90, 91A, C (SEMFAP048).

TYPE MATERIAL: Male holotype and female allotype from Australia, Queensland, Bellenden Ker Range, Summit TV Stn. 17° 15′ 59.69″ S, 145° 50′ 1.42″ S, 1560 m. Earthwatch/QLD Museum, 25–31 October 1981 ; 17 males and 25

FD

FIGURE 29. Nanometa purpurapunctata (male: TEAU051; female: TEAU025). A. Pedipalp, ventral. B. Pedipalp, ectal. C. Pedipalp, dorsal. D. Epigynum, ventral. E. Epigynum, dorsal. Scale bars: A–D, 0.2 mm; E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 31. Nanometa dutrorum (A, C, E, G), and N. dimitrovi (B, D, F, H), pedipalps. A, B, Ventral. C, D, Dorsal. E, F, Mesal. G, H, Ectal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

females paratypes from the same locality. Deposited at Queensland Museum ( S27687 ).

DIAGNOSIS: Males of N. dimitrovi can be differentiated from the other small Nanometa species by its short paracymbium and CEBP (figs. 30F, 31B, D, 32A–C), compared to the long, curved structure of N. forsteri (figs. 35B, 36H) and sclerotized, bifurcated N. dutrorum (fig. 33A). Females of N. dimitrovi can be separated from other small Nanometa species by having round and shallow genital openings approximately 1/4 of the epigynum width, located on the center of the epigynal plate and delineated by a “question mark-shaped” sclerotized margin (figs. 30A, 35D, 36F). These genital openings have a similar position in N. forsteri , but differ in the septum shape (fig. 36B).

DESCRIPTION: Female ( S27683 ; SEM observations from Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga, 2011: specimen code SEM-FAP048 from the paratype series S27687 ) total length 2.3. Cephalothorax length 0.9, width 0.7. Clypeus height 1.0 AME diameter. Cephalothorax background pale yellow light gray concentrated over the ocular area and the carapace lateral edges (fig. 36I). Endites and sternum dark gray. Cheliceral promargin and retromargin each with three teeth, cheliceral denticles present ca. 3. Abdomen dorsum background light gray, silvery guanine patches covering all abdomen dorsal surface, except the central line that extends over only half the abdomen length, lateral surface covered with guanine patches over dorsal half, ventral half with darkgray pattern, ventral surface dark gray with a central rectangle flanked by two lines of silvery guanine patches. Booklung stridulatory organ absent. Tracheae and epigynum observed with SEM, median tracheal trunks branched; lateral tracheae tubular (fig. 30D). ALS with one major ampullate, one nubbin, ca. 16 piriform, few tartipores present. PMS with one minor ampullate, one nubbin, and one cylindrical and two central aciniform. PLS with araneoid triplet spigots clustered together, ca. five aciniform distributed in one row between the two peripheral cylindrical gland spigots. The anterior cylindrical spigot is considerably thicker than the other. Femur I length 1.24. Copulatory ducts modified as membranous sacs with smooth cuticle, spermathecae round, accessory duct glands clustered on puffball-shaped clusters (figs. 30B, 32E).

Male same as female except as noted. Total length 2.3. Cephalothorax length 1.0 width 0.8. Clypeus 1.1 AME diameter (fig. 36J). Cephalothorax and abdomen coloration slightly darker than in female, silvery guanine patches less conspicuous. Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with three and two teeth respectively, cheliceral denticles present ca. three. Stridulatory organ formed by a cuticular ridge on the booklung anterior edge, coxa IV retrolateral surface covered with small teeth opposite to the booklung ridge (fig. 30C). Femur I length 1.6. Pedipalp with small paracymbium and spikelike CEBP (figs. 30F, 31B, D). Conductor tip with one distal blunt apophysis and cuticle covered with scales (figs. 30E, GH, 31F, H).

VARIATION: Females (N = 3) total length 2.3– 2.6, cephalothorax length 0.9–1.0, width 0.7–0.8. The epigynum septum and the epigynal plate vary on their width.

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet honors our colleague Dimitar S. Dimitrov for his many contributions to the study of spider systematics.

DISTRIBUTION: Nanometa dimitrovi is found in tropical Queensland (fig. 37C).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: N = 47. AUSTRALIA, North East Queensland, Bellenden Ker Range, NQ Cable Tower 3, 17° 15′ 29.85″ S, 145° 50, 17.83″ E, 1054 m, 17–24 October 1981. 1 female S26341 Queensland Museum. 1 female, 4 males S26352 . 1 male, QM S27684 ; Bellenden Ker, Center Peak Summit, 17° 16′ 0″ S, 145° 51′ 0″ E, 1500 m, G.B. Monteith, 10 April 1979, 2 females, QM S27683 ; Bellenden Ker Range, Summit TV Station, 17° 15′ 59.69″ S, 145° 50′ 1.42″ E, 1560 m, Earthwatch /QLD Museum , 25–31 October 1981, 17 males 25 females, 42 immatures, QM S27687 ; Bellenden Ker Range, Summit TV Station, 17° 15′ 59.69″ S, 145° 50′ 1.42″ E, 1560 m, Earthwatch /QLD Museum, 25–31 October 1981, 1 male, 1 female, S27687 . Bellenden Ker Range, Summit TV Station, 17° 15′ 59.69″ S, 145° 50′ 1.42″ E, 1560 m, Earthwatch /QLD Museum , 1–7 October 1981, 1 male, S27682 ; Bellenden Ker Range, Summit TV Station, 17° 15′ 59.69″ S, 145° 50′ 1.42″ E, 1560 m, Earthwatch /QLD Museum , 25–31 October 1981, 5 males, 1 female S27695 ; Eungella National Park , Dalyrymple Road, 2.9 km NE of Snake Road Junction, 20 April 1998, G. Milledge, 1F, KS 52416 .

Figures

FIGURE 30. Nanometa dimitrovi A. Epigynum, ventral. B. Epigynum, dorsal. C. Male, booklung and stridulatory organ and coxal cusps. D. Tracheae. E. Pedipalp, apical. F. Pedipalp, ectal cymbium detail. G. Conductor, ectal detail. H. Conductor, mesal detail. Scale bars: A, B, E, F, G, H, 0.05 mm; C, D, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 32. Nanometa dimitrovi (QM S27687). A. Pedipalp, ventral. B. Pedipalp, ectal. C. Pedipalp, dorsal. D. Epigynum, ventral. E. Epigynum, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 36. Nanometa forsteri (GH1139; A–C, E, G, H), N. dutrorum (GH0128; D), and N. dimitrovi (QM S27687; F, I, J). A. Female, dorsal habitus. B. Epigynum, ventral. C. Female, ventral habitus. D. Epigynum, ventral. E. Female, lateral habitus. F. Epigynum, ventral. G. Female, frontal. H. Male, frontal. I. Female, frontal. J. Male, frontal. Scale bars: A, C, E, 1.0 mm; B, D, F–J, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 37. Distribution of Nanometa in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea. A. Map of region with areas of importance indicated. B. Western Australia. C. Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia. D. Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. E. New Zealand.