Artoria belfordensis, Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018

Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018, The wolf spider genus Artoria in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae), Evolutionary Systematics 2 (2), pp. 169-241 : 169

Artoria belfordensis sp. n. Figs 2D, 8, 9 A–H, 47C Belford Forest Runner

Material examined.

Holotype male, Belford National Park, 60 m from Kirkton Road and 2.5 km east of Belford (32°39'S, 151°18'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 17-27 June 2012, J.R. Gollan, M.A. Ashcroft, pitfall trap, canopy of trees but moderate condition, (AM KS127759). Paratypes: 5 males, same data as holotype (AM KS122425); 2 males, 1 female, Maroota State Forest (33°31'S, 150°59'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 26 October 1979, G.A. Webb, NSW States Forest Survey H/8 (AM KS73425).

Other material examined.

18 males 13 records (all NSW). AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 male, Currawong, 33°36'S, 151°18'E (AM KS86426); 3 males, Ferntree Gully Reserve, approx. 170 m from Bylong Valley Way and 4 km SW of Ginghi, 32°37 ’20” S, 150°03 ’37” E (AM KS122454); 1 male, Goulburn River National Park, approx. 120 m from Bylong Valley Way and 6 km E of Bylong, 32°24 ’18” S, 150°11 ’10” E (AM KS122446); 13 males, Maroota State Forest, 33°31'S, 150°59'E (AM KS73313, KS73327, KS73338, KS73384, KS73388, KS73397, KS73407, KS73441, KS84096); 1 female, same locality (AM KS 73452); 1 female, Wallaroo State Forest, Flaggy Creek, 32°36 ’03” S, 151°48 ’07” E (AM KS39707); 1 female, Yengo National Park, approx. 90 m from Howes Trail Road, 32°53 ’32” S, 150°52 ’47” E (AM KS122319); Yesabah Caves, near Kempsey, 31°05'S, 152°43'E (AM KS84058).

Etymology.

The specific name is an adjective in apposition derived from the type locality, Belford National Park.

Diagnosis.

Males of A. belfordensis sp. n. differ from all other Artoria species, except A. taeniifera , by the base of the basoembolic apophysis, which is drawn out into an apical tip (Fig. 47C). It differs from A. taeniifera by the shape of the tegular apophysis, distinctly two-pronged in A. taeniifera , but three-lobed in A. belfordensis sp. n. There is some variation in this character, but also in the shape of the tegular apophysis within this species. Too little material is available to judge if this represents intra- or interspecific variation. We therefore consider this variation capable of occurring within one species. Females are most similar to females of A. taeniifera but differs in the shape of the atrium which is inverted U-shaped in A. taeniifera (Fig. 38G) and obscure in A. belfordensis (Fig. 9G).

Description.

Male (based on holotype AM KS127759; palea AM KS122425).

Total length 4.3.

Prosoma. Length 2.5, width 1.8; carapace light yellow-brown with indistinct dark radial and black V-shaped pattern between cephalic and thoracic region; covered with dark setae centrally and marginally with a band of lighter setae (Fig. 9A); sternum medium brown, dusted dark grey (Fig. 9B).

Eyes (Fig. 2D). Diameter of AME: 0.09; ALE: 0.08; PME: 0.26; PLE: 0.21.

Anterior eye row. Strongly procurved, evenly spaced.

Chelicerae. Dark brown darker apically.

Labium. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 9B)

Pedipalp coxae. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 9B).

Legs. Yellow brown with darker annulations tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi darker, less annulated (Fig. 9A).

Opisthosoma. Length 1.8, width 1.3; yellow-brown with light yellow-brown anterior cardiac mark covered with white setae, and dark grey irregular pattern mainly in posterior half (Fig. 9A). Venter yellow-brown with darker pattern (Fig. 9A); spinnerets dark grey.

Pedipalps. Tibia globular, as long as broad; Cymbium tip without macrosetae (Fig. 9E, F); dorsal scopula patch absent; tegular apophysis long, nearly rectangular distally slightly scooped, basally narrowed to 2/3, retrolateral tip pointed, not reaching margin of cymbium (Fig. 9E); basoembolic apophysis nearly twice as long as broad, broadly rectangular indented medially; embolus broad, widely semicircular; terminal apophysis broad, tip pointed (Fig. 47C).

Female (based on paratype, AM KS73425).

Total length 3.4.

Prosoma. Length 1.9, width 1.3; carapace and sternum colouration as male, although somewhat lighter (Fig. 9C, D).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.05, ALE 0.04, PME 0.19, PLE 0.16.

Anterior eye row. Strongly procurved, evenly spaced.

Chelicerae, labium, pedipalp coxae, legs and opisthosoma. Opisthosoma length 1.9, width 1.2; otherwise as male, but legs I not darker and opisthosoma pattern more obscure (opisthosoma deflated due to preservation) (Fig. 9C, D).

Epigyne slightly wider than long, obscure, with heavily sclerotized posterior tips (Fig. 9G); spermathecal heads ovoid about 1/2 of diameter apart, spermathecal stalks attached postero-laterally and slightly S-shaped (Fig. 9H).

Life history and habitat preferences.

Artoria belfordensis sp. n. was collected in undisturbed or moderately disturbed forest. Mature males were collected in June, October and November and the single female in October, indicating winter to spring maturity.

Distribution.

This species is known from central eastern NSW, principally the Sydney Basin (SYB) and NSW North Coast (NNC) IBRA regions (Fig. 8).