Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick, 1991b) Rix, Michael G. & Harvey, Mark S., 2012

Rix, Michael G. & Harvey, Mark S., 2012, Australian Assassins, Part II: A review of the new assassin spider genus Zephyrarchaea (Araneae, Archaeidae) from southern Australia, ZooKeys 191, pp. 1-62 : 8-11

Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick, 1991b) comb. n. Figs 1 E–F5A–B, 5E6A, 6 C–D, 6F8G9E1020

Austrarchaea mainae Platnick, 1991b: 259, figs 1-7.

Albany Assassin Spider

Type material.

Holotype male. Torndirrup National Park (probably near end of Eclipse Island Road), Western Australia, Australia, pitfall trap, 1-6.VI.1983, P. Dyer, J. Lyon (WAM T17683).

Paratypes. Allotype female, same data as holotype except 3-8.X.1983 (WAM T17684).

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA: Western Australia :Torndirrup National Park: same data as holotype except 2-9.XI.1983, 1 juvenile (WAM T17682); next to carpark at end of Salmon Hole Road, 35°06'07"S, 117°58'03"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 14.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 2 juveniles (WAM T89566DNA: TO-1-J/TO-2-J); same data except 30 April 2008, 1♀ (AMNH); same data, 1♀ (QMB S91206); same data, 1 juvenile (WAM T89567DNA: TO-171-J); next to carpark at base of Isthmus Hill, 35°05'55"S, 117°58'02"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in coastal Agonis and eucalypt grove, 14.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 2 juveniles (WAM T89568DNA: TO-3-J/TO-4-J). Bremer Bay: Wellstead Road, S. of Bremer Bay, near Yate Place, 34°24'10"S, 119°22'42"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in Agonis grove, 19.VI.2010, M. Rix, J.D. Roberts, 1♂, 1♀ (WAM T118984); same data except 21.IV.2009, M. Rix, 1♂, 1 juvenile (WAM T97463DNA: BB-147-J); same data except 2.V.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, J. Newell, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T89563DNA: BB-34-F/BB-35-J). Denmark Region: Gilge Road, 15 km SE. of Denmark, 35°03'15"S, 117°28'49"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in remnant Karri grove with Agonis , 16.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T89577DNA: GI-14-F/GI-15-J); Mount Hallowell, 7 km SW. of Denmark, 35°00'34"S, 117°18'04"E, beating grass clumps in Karri forest, 6.XI.2007, M. Moir, D. Jolly, 1 juvenile (WAM T78901); Mount Hallowell, 7 km SW. of Denmark, 35°00'38"S, 117°17'57"E, beating grass clump in Karri forest, 19.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89590DNA: MH-30-J). Gull Rock National Park: end of Ledge Point Road, near carpark, 35°00'51"S, 118°00'23"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 17.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T89578DNA: GR- 16 -F/GR-17-J). Mutton Bird Point: end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'53"S, 117°41'42"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 19.VI.2010, M. Rix, J.D. & B. Roberts, 1♂, 2♀, 2 juveniles (WAM T118983); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'52"S, 117°41'42"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♂, 3 juveniles (WAM T89582DNA: MB-21-J); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'40"S, 117°41'50"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89581DNA: MB-20-F); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'54"S, 117°42'07"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89584DNA: MB-23-F); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'42"S, 117°41'36"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89579); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'43"S, 117°41'43"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89580); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'58"S, 117°41'56"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89583). Porongurup National Park: west of Waddy's Hut, 34°40'54"S, 117°50'48"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in unburnt Karri forest, 306 m, 20.IV.2009, M. Rix, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T97465DNA: PO-166-F/PO-167-J); same data except 6 March 2010, M. Rix, L. Lopardo, 1♀ (WAM T114028DNA: PO-168-F). Torndirrup Peninsula: Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'53"S, 117°47'35"E, beating vegetation in coastal heathland, 26.IX.2007, M. Harvey, R. Ott, 3 juveniles (WAM T89557); Albany Wind Farm, off Bibbulmun Track boardwalk, 35°03'57"S, 117°47'43"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Banksia praemorsa , 12.III.2007, M. Rix, M. Harvey, M. Moir, 1 juvenile (WAM T81097); Albany Wind Farm, NW. of Wind Turbine No. 2, 35°03'43"S, 117°47'46"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89575DNA: WF-12-J); Albany Wind Farm, NW. of Wind Turbine No. 3, 35°03'44"S, 117°47'38"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89576DNA: WF-13-J); Albany Wind Farm, SW. of Wind Turbine No. 5, 35°03'35"S, 117°47'22"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89574DNA: WF-11-F); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'05"S, 117°48'01"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 27.V.2011, M. Rix, M. Harvey, G. Binford, 1♂ (WAM T118982); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'05"S, 117°48'07"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89585DNA: WF-24-F); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'10"S, 117°48'26"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89588); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'08"S, 117°48'18"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89587DNA: WF-26-J); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'06"S, 117°48'09"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89586DNA: WF-25-J); Cuthbert, W. of Roberts Road, 35°01'59"S, 117°47'47"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 2 juveniles (WAM T89589DNA: WF-28-J/WF-29-J); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°02'57"S, 117°45'30"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♂, 3 juveniles (WAM T89569DNA: WF-5-J/WF-6-J); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'10"S, 117°46'11"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89573DNA: WF-10-J); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'10"S, 117°45'59"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89572DNA: WF-9-F); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'02"S, 117°45'28"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89570); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'10"S, 117°45'43"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89571DNA: WF-8-F). Walpole-Nornalup National Park: Anderson Road, 34°59'43"S, 116°52'14"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under curly grass in Marri and Agonis forest, 3.V.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 2 juveniles (WAM T89564DNA: WA-36-J/WA-37-J); same data except 24.I.2010, M. Rix, J. Wojcieszek, 1♂, 2♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T114037DNA: WA-162-F). William Bay National Park: near Elephant Rock carpark, 35°01'21"S, 117°14'12"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 26.VI.2010, M. Rix, 2♀ (WAM T114029DNA: WB-169-F); same data except 29.IV.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89591DNA: WB-31-J); same data except 7.III.2010, M. Rix, L. Lopardo, 2 juveniles (WAM T114030DNA: WB-170-J).

Diagnosis.

Zephyrarchaea mainae can be distinguished from other known congeners except Zephyrarchaea janineae sp. n. by the presence of six dorsal, hump-like tubercles on the abdomen (Figs 1 E–F, 6A, 10 A–B); and from Zephyrarchaea janineae sp. n. by the more flattened, rounded apex of tegular sclerite 1 (TS 1) (Figs 10 D–F).

This species can also be distinguished from other genotyped taxa (see Fig. 3) by the following two unique nucleotide substitutions for COI and COII (n = 35): A(282), T(1173).

Description.

Holotype male: Total length 3.44; leg I femur 1.81; F1/CL ratio 1.72. Cephalothorax dark reddish-brown; legs tan brown with darker annulations; abdomen mottled grey-brown and beige, with reddish-brown dorsal scute and sclerites (Fig. 10B). Carapace short (CH/CL ratio 1.60); 1.05 long, 1.68 high, 1.03 wide; ‘neck’ 0.60 wide; highest point of pars cephalica (HPC) near posterior third of ‘head’ (ratio of HPC to post-ocular length 0.67), carapace with pronounced concave depression anterior to HPC; ‘head’ not strongly elevated dorsally (post-ocular ratio 0.24) (Fig. 8G). Chelicerae with proximal tuft and additional comb of accessory setae on anterior face of paturon (Figs 5A, 5E, 10C). Abdomen 1.69 long, 1.18 wide; with three pairs of dorsal hump-like tubercles (HT 1-6); dorsal scute fused anteriorly to epigastric sclerites, extending posteriorly to first pair of hump-like tubercles; HT 3-6 each covered by separate dorsal sclerites. Pedipalp fully expanded (see Platnick 1991b, figs 4-6). Unexpanded pedipalp (of WAM T89569) (Figs 10 D–F) pyriform, with broad, distally curved embolus supported by conductor sclerites 1-2; tegular sclerite 1 (TS 1) porrect, slightly curved in prolateral view, with flattened, rounded apex; TS 2-3 projecting beyond retro-distal rim of tegulum.

Female (WAM T118983): Total length 3.31; leg I femur 1.97; F1/CL ratio 1.73. Cephalothorax dark reddish-brown; legs tan brown with darker annulations; abdomen mottled grey-brown and beige (Fig. 10A). Carapace short (CH/CL ratio 1.71); 1.14 long, 1.95 high, 1.10 wide; ‘neck’ 0.68 wide; highest point of pars cephalica (HPC) near posterior third of ‘head’ (ratio of HPC to post-ocular length 0.63), carapace with pronounced concave depression anterior to HPC; ‘head’ not strongly elevated dorsally (post-ocular ratio 0.24) (Fig. 9E). Chelicerae without accessory setae on anterior face of paturon. Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.36 wide; with three pairs of dorsal hump-like tubercles (HT 1-6). Internal genitalia (Fig. 10G) with cluster of ≤ 15 sausage-shaped spermathecae either side of gonopore, clusters widely separated along midline of genital plate.

Variation: Males (n = 8): total length 2.82-3.44; carapace length 1.02-1.15; carapace height 1.62-1.80; CH/CL ratio 1.56-1.64. Females (n = 23): total length 2.77-3.82; carapace length 0.94-1.21; carapace height 1.45-1.99; CH/CL ratio 1.55-1.71. Specimens of Zephyrarchaea mainae from the eastern-most Bremer Bay population have significantly smaller hump-like tubercles on the abdomen compared to populations further west (see Fig. 1F cf. Figs 1E, 10A), and males from this Bremer Bay population also have a more distally paddle-shaped TS 1 morphology similar to Zephyrarchaea marki sp. n. from Cape Le Grand National Park. Rix and Harvey (2012) showed that the Bremer Bay population of Zephyrarchaea mainae is genetically distinct (Fig. 3), with no evidence of recent gene flow, indicating possible incipient speciation.

Distribution and habitat.

Zephyrarchaea mainae is known from the greater Albany region of southern Western Australia, from Walpole-Nornalup National Park (near Walpole) east to Bremer Bay and north to the Porongurup National Park, with a range centred on the Torndirrup Peninsula south of Albany (Fig. 20). Specimens have been collected by beating and sifting sedges ( Lepidosperma sp.), curly grass ( Empodisma gracillimum ) and low shrubs in dense coastal or near-coastal groves of Peppermint ( Agonis sp.), with several outlying populations also known from wet Karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor ) forest.

Conservation status.

Thisspecies is listed as threatened under theWestern Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. It is a short-range endemic taxon ( Harvey 2002b), with known populations threatened by fire, dieback disease (affecting coastal heathland vegetation), land-clearing and climate change.