Karaops dejongi, Crews, 2023

Crews, Sarah C., 2023, But wait, there's more! Descriptions of new species and undescribed sexes of flattie spiders (Araneae, Selenopidae, Karaops) from Australia, ZooKeys 1150, pp. 1-189 : 1

Karaops dejongi sp. nov.

Figs 18F , 19D , 20A, C , 21A, B, D, E , 22A-C , Maps 1 , 7

Material examined.

Holotype: Western Australia • ♀ (reared in captivity); RAAF Boab Quarry camping area; 17°54.56.60"S, 125°18'5.94"E; 24 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; on limestone rocks at night; sel_1273; SCC16_055; (WAM T155650) . Paratype: ♂ (reared in captivity); same data as previous; sel_1272; (WAM T155649) . Other material examined: 2 imm.; same data as previous; sel_1270-1271; (WAM T155646-T155647) • 4♀, 4♂; RAAF Boab Quarry; 17°54'59.14"S, 125°18'05"E; 9 Sep. 2018; J. DeJong leg.; (WAM T147699-147706).

Diagnosis.

The female of Karaops dejongi sp. nov. is most similar to K. dalmanyi sp. nov. in that there is a slit-like opening medially between the lateral lobes (Figs 21A , 23A, B ). However, the epigynal plate is more triangular in K. dalmanyi sp. nov. and more rounded anteriorly in K. dejongi sp. nov., the median depression anterior to the atrium in K. dalmanyi sp. nov. is much larger than the median depression in K. dejongi sp. nov., in dorsal view, the atrium and copulatory ducts are shaped like an inverted T in K. dejongi sp. nov., whereas they are narrowed medially in K. dalmanyi sp. nov.

The male can be distinguished from the other members of the group by the RTA (Figs 20C , 22A-C ). The dRTA is extended prolaterally into a keel that is jagged along the anterior margin (Fig. 22B ). The vRTA is long and slender, arched prolaterally.

Description.

Female (holotype). Total length 5.28. Carapace: length 2.71, width 3.04. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two teeth. Eyes: AER slightly recurved, PER recurved; diameters AME 0.16, ALE 0.14, PME 0.25, PLE 0.33; interdistances AME-PME 0.07, PME-PLE 0.16, ALE-PLE 0.31, PME-PME 0.99, ALE-ALE 1.43, AME-AME 0.48, PLE-PLE 1.79. Sternum: length 1.43, width 1.52. Abdomen: length 2.57, width 2.17. Color: Carapace: yellowish white with dark patches extending posteriorly from PLEs, two dark patches medially on either side of fovea, three pairs of lateral dark spots and single medial dark spot posteriorly, white, flattened setae around eyes and anterolateral margin, some short, thick, sparse setae and long, thick, sparse setae, the latter mostly toward the posterior and anterior, darker, thin setae distributed evenly, not dense. Chelicerae: whitish yellow, paturon with longitudinal curved mark frontally, dark setae more prominent anteriorly. Maxillae: whitish yellow. Labium: tan, pale distally. Sternum: whitish yellow. Abdomen: dorsally orangish brown with dark spots around margin, two dark patches anteriorly, several dark chevrons extending to posterior; ventrally yellow-gray. Legs: whitish yellow, Cx and Tr with dusky areas proximally; Fm with annulations at Fm-Tr joint and medially, Pt with annulations at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with annulations basally and distally, Mt with annulations basally and distally; Ta dusky; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg II F d 1-1-1; Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg III Fm d 1-1-1, pr 2-0-0; leg IV Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2; leg formula 3421; measurements leg I 12.09 (3.07, 1.34, 3.50, 2.75, 1.43); leg II 12.70 (3.54, 1.46, 3.57, 2.86, 1.25); leg III 14.59 (4.63, 1.27, 3.76, 3.41, 1.51); leg IV 13.17 (4.39, 1.12, 3.17, 3.12, 1.37). Palp: spination Fm 0-1-2; 2.46 (0.70, 0.54, 0.61, Ta 0.63); claw with ~ 7 teeth. Epigyne: EP arched; MF with At; LLs separated by a narrow, longitudinal slit, widens anteriorly; COs in At (Fig. 21C ). Endogyne: At narrow with nearly straight sides, leading posteriorly to wide, lateral CDs, At+CDs shaped like inverted T; ABs+S abruptly bent medially in lateral direction, ABs round, do not extend beyond atrium anteriorly; S allantoid; long FDs directed anterolaterally; small pdf medially.

Male (paratype) (Figs 19D , 21E ). Total length 4.98. Carapace: length 3.01, width 3.21. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two teeth. Eyes: AER recurved, PER strongly recurved; diameters AME 0.14, ALE 0.11, PME 0.25, PLE 0.42; interdistances AME-PME 0.06, PME-ALE 0.10, ALE-PLE 0.25, PME-PME 0.91, ALE-ALE 1.24, AME-AME 0.47, PLE-PLE 1.68. Sternum: length 1.26, width 1.68. Abdomen: length 1.97, width 2.09. Color (in life Figs 20A , 21E /preserved Fig. 18F ): Carapace: yellow-tan with two black patches anteromedially, three pairs of dark patches on lateral margins, one dark spot posteromedially, black patches from PLEs laterally along front of carapace (Fig. 21E )/orangish brown, markings conspicuous. Chelicerae: brownish, paturon with a longitudinal curved mark frontally, like a little mustache, sparse, dark setae. Maxillae: whitish. Labium: tan, pale distally. Sternum: orangish white. Abdomen: dorsally hirsute, brownish yellow with dark spots anteriorly, laterally, cardiac area brownish, ending in point medially on abdomen, two triangular marks anteromedially, chevron mark at posterior of cardiac mark, two dark horizontal lines, dusky area, dark, wavy line at posterior/reddish orange, dark marks conspicuous, edges of markings less distinct; ventrally yellowish brown. Legs: yellowish, Tr with dark mark prolaterally, Fm with dark marks basally, center pigmentation paler, an annulation distally, dusky at Fm-Pt joint, Pt with dark annulation at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with dark annulation at Pt-Ti joint and medially, Mt with dark annulation at Ti-Mt joint, slightly dusky at Mt-Ta joint; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1-0, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, pr 0-0-1, rl 0-0-1, Mt v 2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2 (leg regrown); leg III Fm d 1-1-1 (leg regrown); leg IV Fm d 1-1-1, rl 0-1-1, Ti v 2-2, pr 2-2, rl 1-1, Mt v 2-2; leg formula 4132; measurements leg I 13.91 (3.82, 1.28, 3.76, 3.51, 1.56); leg II 11.79 (3.64, 1.06, 3.63, 2.51, 0.96); leg III 13.80 (3.42, 1.16, 3.94, 4.08, 1.20); leg IV 13.93 (3.88, 1.44, 4.08, 3.39, 1.14). Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-2; 2.91 (1.20, 0.49, 0.51, 0.71); dRTA long, pointed, prolaterally, connected to vRTA via keel, keel jagged, teeth seen in v and rl views (Fig. 22B, C ), vRTA in v view long, narrow, arched prolaterally; rbcp smallish; Cy triangular; C crescent shaped prolaterally, with short hook anteriorly, extends just beyond mpc, with CS, TS around CS (Fig. 22A, C ); E hook shaped, arises from medium-sized TL with a slightly plicate extension on anterior margin, begins at approximately 6 o’clock, ends at approximately 12 o’clock, closer to middle of bulb than following edge of Cy; MA only lightly sclerotized basally, sclerotized distally, base quadrangular with long, narrow branch (Fig. 22B, C ).

Etymology.

This species is named after Jordan DeJong, world’s best selenopid finder/collector (and a darn good gecko spotter). Noun in the genitive case.

Distribution.

Known from only the type locality, RAAF Boab Quarry, Kimberley region, Western Australia (Map 7 ).

Natural history.

Karaops dejongi sp. nov. is found in the Fitzroy Trough subregion of the Dampierland bioregion. The climate is semi-arid with summer rainfall. Vegetation includes woodlands of pindan, boab, and eucalypts, with some rainforest patches and hummock grassland ( Graham 2001c). Penultimate males and females were collected in May, reaching maturity in June and September, respectively, the cooler, drier times of the year (Suppl. material 2: tables S1, S7).

Discussion.

According to IBRA, the area is experiencing a loss of species and turnover due to changes in vegetation structure ( Graham 2001c).

Figures

Map 1. Map of Australia showing areas that are expanded in subsequent figures. CD = Central Desert group, D = Karaops dawara group, F = Karaops francesae group, K = Kimberley group, UA = species that are not assigned to a group, PG = Pilbara-Gascoyne group.

Map 7. Species of the Kimberley species group. Diamonds (juveniles): light purple = Mimbi Caves; blue = Geike Gorge, green = Adcock Gorge, teal = Augustus Island, pink = Little Mertens Falls, yellow = Emma Gorge, orange = Kelly's Knob, red = Keep River National Park; Circles: green = Karaops dejongi sp. nov., blue = Karaops jenniferae, red = Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov., purple = Karaops sp. adult male (will be described in subsequent publication), white = Karaops conilurus sp. nov., pink = Karaops umiida, yellow = Karaops alanlongbottomi, teal = Karaops keithlongbottomi, mauve = Karaops larryoo, orange = Karaops garyodwyeri sp. nov., black = Karaops malumbu sp. nov. Juveniles are treated as distinct species based on molecular data.

Figure 18. Members of the Kimberley species group A Karaops sp., Keep River National Park, Northern Territory (sel _ 1315, MAGNT A 004871) B habitat, Keep River National Park, Northern Territory C Karaops keithlongbottomi, holotype male, Drysdale River Station, Western Australia (WAM T 55002) D Karaops keithlongbottomi, palp, dorsal, Bujani (Little Merten's Falls), Mitchell River National Park, Western Australia (sel _ 1244, WAM T 155620) E Karaops keithlongbottomi, holotype male, palp, dorsal, Drysdale River Station, Western Australia (WAM T 55002) F Karaops dejongi sp. nov., holotype female, RAAF Boab Quarry, Western Australia (sel _ 1273, WAM T 155649) G Karaops umiida, holotype female, Irvine Island, Western Australia (WAM T 110393) H habitat, Keep River National Park, Northern Territory I Karaops keithlongbottomi, Bujani (Little Merten's Falls), Mitchell River National Park, Western Australia (sel _ 1244 WAM T 155620) J same, face showing marks on chelicerae. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (D, E); 1 mm (A, C, F, J); 5 mm (G, I).

Figure 19. Members of the Kimberley species group A Karaops keithlongbottomi, palp, ventral, Bujani (Little Merten's Falls), Mitchell River National Park, Western Australia (sel _ 1244, WAM T 155620) B same, retrolateral C Karaops sp., Mimbi Caves, Western Australia (sel _ 1276, WAM T 155652) D Karaops dejongi sp. nov., paratype male, RAAF Boab Quarry, Western Australia (sel _ 1272, WAM T 155648) E Karaops sp., Geike Gorge, Western Australia (sel _ 1267, WAM T 155643) F habitat, Mimbi Caves, Western Australia. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C-E).

Figure 20. Members of the Kimberley species group A Karaops dejongi sp. nov., eating a hymenopteran, RAAF Boab Quarry, Western Australia (photo: J. DeJong) B Karaops sp., Geike Gorge, Western Australia C Karaops dejongi sp. nov., paratype male, palp, dorsal, RAAF Boab Quarry, Western Australia (sel _ 1272, WAM T 155648) D Karaops sp., Mimbi Caves, Western Australia E Karaops sp., Keep River National Park, Northern Territory. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 21. Karaops dejongi sp. nov., RAAF Boab Quarry, Western Australia A holotype female, epigyne, (sel _ 1273, WAM T 155649); black = copulatory openings, pink = median field / atrium, yellow = lateral lobes / epigynal plate B same, endogyne; yellow = accessory bulbs, blue = spermathecae, orange = atrium / copulatory ducts; red = fertilization ducts, green = posterodorsal fold, turquoise = uterus externus C same, epigyne D same, endogyne E paratype male (sel _ 1272, WAM T 155648). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 22. Karaops dejongi sp. nov. and Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov. of the Kimberley species group A Karaops dejongi sp. nov., paratype male, palp, ventral, RAAF Boab Quarry, Western Australia (sel _ 1272, WAM T 155648); green = vRTA, orange = dRTA, light gray-blue = tegulum / tegulum sheath, blue-violet = tegular lobe, blue = spermophor and embolus, pink = conductor, yellow = median apophysis, dark gray-green = subtegulum. St = subtegulum, mpc = medial part of the conductor B same, retrolateral C same, ventral D Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov., adult male, Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge), Western Australia (sel _ 1234, WAM T 155610) E Karaops dalmanyi, (sel _ 1237, WAM T 155613). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-C); 1 mm (D, E).

Figure 23. Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov., holotype female, Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge), Western Australia (sel _ 1236, WAM T 155612) A epigyne B endogyne C adult female. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.