Anatea elongata Smith, 2017

Smith, Helen M., Harvey, Mark S., Agnarsson, Ingi & Anderson, Gregory J., 2017, Notes on the Ant-mimic Genus Anatea Berland (Araneae: Theridiidae) and Two New Species from Tropical Australia, Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 69 (1), pp. 1-13 : 8-10

Anatea elongata Smith sp. nov.

Figures 25–31

Holotype ♀ ANIC 42 002257, 12 km SSE Heathlands , 11°51'S 142°38'E [Queensland, Australia], 25.iv–7.vi.1992, T. McLeod, FIT#2, F.I.T., ANIC 1248 , closed forest.

Etymology. The species is named in reference to the pedicel, the longest compared to carapace length so far observed in genus Anatea .

Diagnosis. From New Caledonian species by leg III longer than legs I and II; pedicel longer than carapace, without “node”; from A. monteithi sp. nov. by pedicel longer than carapace; insemination ducts with long conjoined section, crossing ventral spermathecae to entry point towards anterior ( Fig. 30 ).

Description

Colour (in alcohol). Probably similar to A. monteithi but specimen extremely faded, pedicel appears rather reddishbrown; coxae brown, trochanters white on legs III and IV; otherwise apparently similar to A. monteithi except extent of abdominal colour cannot be established as only 1 patch remains.

Carapace ( Figs 25, 26, 29 ) generally similar to female of A. monteithi ; eye group slightly over half carapace width ( Fig. 29 ); eyes and mouthparts similar to A. monteithi . Female palpal claw strongly palmate with at least 8 teeth. Legs: 43(12). Pedicel sclerotized, almost straight ventrally in anterior half then arching posteriorly, narrowest anteriorly and thickest, slightly ridged at mid-point, much longer than carapace ( Figs 25–27 ). Abdomen as in A. monteithi . Legs missing any visible setae but setal bases suggest macrosetae probably present as in A. monteithi .

Genitalia. ExternallY with fine edge curving anterior to ovoid fossa, but otherwise apparentlY smooth in profile. Internal genitalia not dissected but visible through cuticle ( Fig. 30 ), ID exit fossa to posterior, running together for 2/3 of distance to genital groove, then turning away from each other and simultaneously turning dorsally, crossing ventral Sp and entering anteroventrally. Sp lying to either side of fossa in ventral view. FD not visible.

Measurements. Female.Total length, 3.04; carapace length, 0.93; width, 0.72; height, 0.38; abdomen length, 1.32; width, 0.90; pedicel length, 1.06; clypeus height, 0.17. Eyes: AME, 0.09; PME, 0.06; ALE , 0.06; PLE, 0.06; Limbs (femur + (patella-tibia) + metatarsus + tarsus = total): leg I, 0.52 + 0.60 + 0.30 + 0.26 = 1.68; leg II, 0.50 + 0.60 + 0.28 + 0.30 = 1.68; leg III, 0.58 + 0.68 + 0.32 + 0.38 = 1.96; leg IV, 0.70 + 0.98 + 0.42 + 0.42 = 2.52.

Male. Unknown

Distribution. Northeast Queensland. Recorded only from the type locality on the Cape York Peninsula ( Fig. 31 ).

Notes. The single female has lost most of its colour and may not be robust enough to excise the genitalia without severely

damaging the specimen. Due to the lack of pigment, the external view is sufficient to see the route of the ducts and this is clearlY different from A. monteithi .

The habitat around the type locality is generally savannah woodland, or “closed forest” on the label, a contrast to the rainforest habitat of A. monteithi . The condition of the specimen is not good enough to determine gloss (except carapace) or be sure of colour. However, if the species is an ant mimic the extreme extension of the pedicel, should facilitate the identification of the model in ant samples taken from the area.

Figures

Figure 31. Recorded localities ofAnatea monteithi sp. nov. (•) and Anatea elongata sp. nov. (·) in North East Queensland.

Figures 25–30.Anatea elongata sp. nov. holotype female (ANIC 42 002257).(25–27) Habitus: (25) dorsal; (26) lateral;(27) ventral.(28) Opisthosoma, ventral.(29) Prosoma,frontal.(30) Epigynum and internal structure,ventral (uncleared).Scale bar(25) 0.5 mm,(30) 0.1 mm.