Karaops durrantorum, 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 durrantorum sp. nov.

Figs 64C , 65A, B , 66A, C ; Maps 1 , 9A

Material examined.

Holotype: Western Australia • ♂ (reared in captivity); Cape Range National Park, Mandu Mandu Gorge Trail , hill above car park; 22°09.045'S, 113°52.999'E; ~ 16 m; 10 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rocks in area with spinifex; sel_1136; SCC16_019; (WAM T155512) . Other material examined: 3 imm. (2 different instars present); same data as holotype; sel_1135, 1137-1138; (WAM T155513, 155514) • 2 imm.; Cape Range National Park , Shothole Canyon Road; 22°03.118'S, 114°01.276'E; ~ 90 m; 10 May 2016; S. Crews, J. DeJong leg.; under rocks; sel_1139-1140; SCC16_020 (WAM T155515, 155516) .

Diagnosis.

Karaops durrantorum sp. nov. is most similar to K. burbidgei and K. nyangumarta by the large tegular lobe, the relatively short embolus that does not follow the edge of the bulb, and the twisted distal part of the conductor (Fig. 65A ). It can be differentiated from K. burbidgei by the median apophysis. In K. burbidgei , the median apophysis has a long base and a short branch, and the median apophysis of K. durrantorum sp. nov. has a large, wide base and a narrow branch that is nearly the length of the base. Additionally, the spermophor of K. burbidgei is undulate, with much of it near the top of the tegular lobe. In K. durrantorum sp. nov., the spermophor is U-shaped, reaching the bottom of the tegular lobe medially. Karaops burbidgei is not known to occur on the mainland, only on Barrow and Varanus Islands.

Karaops durrantorum sp. nov. differs from K. nyangumarta in that the former is nearly half the size of the latter. The median apophysis branch is hooked in K. nyangumarta and straighter in K. durrantorum sp. nov., and the spinules on the median apophysis of K. nyangumarta are denser and shorter, covering a larger area than those on the median apophysis the new species. The spermophor of K. nyangumarta is very broad, forming a J-shape from the retrolateral side of the tegular lobe to the middle, then is narrowed abruptly (Fig. 63C ). In K. durrantorum sp. nov., the width of the spermophor is uniform throughout the tegular lobe (Fig. 65A ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length 3.24. Carapace: length 1.72, width 2.26. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, two nearest fang very close together, smallest closest to fang, other two roughly same size, retromargin with two teeth (1-0-1). Eyes: AER recurved, PER strongly recurved; diameters AME 0.12, ALE 0.08, PME 0.19, PLE 0.27; interdistances AME-PME 0.06, PME-ALE 0.07, ALE-PLE 0.23, PME-PME 0.65, ALE-ALE 0.89, AME-AME 0.34, PLE-PLE 1.12. Sternum: length 0.89, width 1.2. Abdomen: length 1.87, width 1.23. Color (in life Fig. 66A, C /preserved Fig. 64C ): Carapace: pale yellowish brown with darker spots, three pair laterally, four spots medially, and two anteriorly between lateral and medial/yellowish white, markings indistinct; setose, with thin, white setae medially and laterally around eye area, red setae around eyes, sparse, darker, shorter, thicker setae present from approximately middle to posterior/after preservation, red setae around eyes and thicker, darker setae remain. Chelicerae: tan, paturon with curved, dark mark frontally (Fig. 66A )/pale whitish yellow, dark marks distinct; cheliceral setae sparser anteriorly and laterally, denser and much stouter on inner cheliceral margin. Maxillae: yellowish white. Labium: dusky, pale distally. Sternum: pale yellowish white. Abdomen: dorsally golden brown, with multi-colored setae, reddish w-shaped mark on anterior half, another posteriorly, posterior third darker overall, longitudinal darker median band, originates anteriorly, extended just past halfway, several small, dark dots along band and posteriorly and laterally/centrally whitish, golden brown anterolaterally, darkened posteriorly, dark spots more distinct as they are from pigment and hair setae have come off in ethanol; ventrally yellowish white. Spinnerets: posterior with red setae dorsally, indistinct in preserved specimen, anterior with dusky markings laterally. Legs: yellowish white, Tr II-IV with black spot prolaterally, Fm leg I-III with a dark spot prolaterally, two dark marks ventrally, other Fm with pale marks basally, and pale annulations distally, Pt with dark area ventrally at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with dark annulation at Pt-Ti joint and pale annulation distally, darker ventrally, Mt with dusky area at Ti-Mt joint and Mt-Ta joint, Ta dusky at tips; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1-1, rl 0-0-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1 1, pr 0-0-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg III d 1-1-1, pr 0-0-1, rl 0-1-1, Ti v 2-2, Mt v 2; leg IV Fm d 1-1, pr 0-0-1, rl 0-1-1, Ti 2-2, Mt v 2; leg formula 3241; measurements leg I 8.53 (2.48, 0.97, 2.22. 1.88, 0.98); leg II 10.6 (3.28, 1.02, 2.71, 2.38, 1.21); leg III 11.57 (3.65, 0.99, 2.72, 2.77, 1.44); leg IV 9.85 (3.05, 0.88, 2.37, 2.44, 1.11). Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-2; 1.98 (0.59, 0.30, 0.40, 0.69); dusky area at base of Ti dorsally (Fig. 35C, H ); vRTA rounded triangular in retrolateral view, oblong in ventral view, dRTA squared off distally in retrolateral view, slightly curved ventrally, roughly the same size as vRTA; Cy tip with somewhat dense brush of setae (Fig. 66A ), Cy triangular, extended slightly further retrobasally in ventral view; rbcp small; C large, twisted, flattened both at tip and retrolaterally, extended dorsally and ventrally (Fig. 35H ), heavily sclerotized tip, with CS that covers E and TS that covers CS; E somewhat short, arising from large TL, not following edge of bulb but in prolateral quarter of bulb, extended apically, hooked retrolaterally, beginning ~ 7 o'clock, ending at ~ 12:30 o'clock; MA with broad base, single branch, slightly curved, nearly as long as base, base with long, somewhat sparse Sp along top edge.

Female. The female of this species is undescribed, but a specimen has been located in the collection at WAM and will be described in a forthcoming publication.

Etymology.

This species is named after Brad and John Durrant, two people who helped me immensely before, during, and after my field work. Name in genitive case.

Distribution.

Known from only the Cape Range National Park, Western Australia (Fig. 66C , Map 9A ).

Natural history.

This species is found in the Cape Range subregion of the Carnarvon bioregion. The climate is semi-desert to subtropical, with summer and winter rainfall. The subregion contains high ecosystem and species diversity, although the subterranean terrestrial invertebrate fauna is poorly surveyed ( Kendrick and Mau 2002).

At least two different instars were collected. Molting occurs from every month to every other month, the shortest time being three weeks. According to the data, males are present in late October, when it is dry and starting to become warmer. sel_1135 lived for 1.5 years beyond collection, and although it molted eight times, it did not reach adulthood (Suppl. material 2: tables S1, S20). This species was collected under rocks.

Discussion.

The bioregion comprises diverse habitats on Quaternary alluvial, aeolian and marine sediments atop Cretaceous strata. The Cape Range is elevated limestone, with rugged topography and karstic features.

This species appears to be endemic to the area. It is most morphologically similar to Karaops burbidgei , and there were likely connections between the North West Cape Peninsula and Barrow Island to the mainland during times of lower sea level. Molecular data, however, do not indicate that they are each other’s closest relatives (Suppl. material 1).

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 9. Species of the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A diamonds (juveniles): blue = Erawandoo Hill, orange = Mt. Augustus, red = Nammuldi, yellow = Hillside-Corunna-Glenn Herring, black = Marble Bar-Glacier Valley, pink = Orebody 19, 31, teal = Wheelara North, orange with thick outline = Harding Dam (maybe Karaops ngarluma, see text); Circles: dark blue = Karaops julianneae, dark green = Karaops badgeradda, red = Karaops joehaeneri sp. nov., teal = Karaops karrawarla, blue = Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., brown = Karaops burbidgei, green = Karaops martamarta, purple = Karaops nyangumarta, black = Karaops banyjima, yellow = Karaops morganoconnelli sp. nov., gray = Karaops nyiyaparli, red-brown = Karaops feedtime, bright pink = Karaops nyamal (probably, see text), white = Karaops kariyarra, bright green = Karaops yurlburr, orange = Karaops ngarluma, tan = Karaops jaburrara, peach = Karaops forteyi, teal = new species yet undescribed; small white diamonds are unidentifiable immatures for which no molecular data are available B boxed area expanded for clarity.

Figure 35. Karaops yumbubaarnji sp. nov., Cathedral Gorge Lookout, Purnululu National Park, Western Australia A holotype male (sel _ 1300, WAM T 155676) B adult female.

Figure 63. Karaops nyangumarta and Karaops nyiyaparli from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A adult male Karaops nyangumarta, Mt. Nameless (sel _ 1197, T 155573) B Karaops nyiyaparli, ex Karaops yindjibarndi, syn. nov., holotype male, 6 km N of Millstream (WAM T 79405) C Karaops nyangumarta, palp, ventral (sel _ 1179, WAM T 155555) D same, retrolateral. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 64. Karaops spp. from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops sp. Harding Dam B Karaops banyjima, adult male, palps not fully developed, Newman-Port Hedland Road (sel _ 1198, WAM T 155574) C Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., holotype male, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range National Park (sel _ 1136, WAM T 155512) D Karaops banyjima, adult male, Dale's Gorge, Karijini National Park (sel _ 1187, WAM T 155563). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figure 65. Karaops durrantorum sp. nov. and Karaops banyjima from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., holotype male, palp ventral, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range National Park (sel _ 1136; WAM T 155512); TS = Tegular sheath, CS = Conductor sheath B same, retrolateral C Karaops banyjima, adult male, palp, ventral, palps not fully developed, Newman-Port Hedland Road (sel _ 1198, WAM T 155574) D same, retrolateral E same, dorsal F Karaops banyjima, adult male, ~ 1.5 km from Hamersley Gorge on side of road (sel _ 1174, WAM T 155550). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C-E); 2 mm (F).

Figure 66. Karaops spp. from the Pilbara-Gascoyne species group A Karaops durrantorum sp. nov., holotype male, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range National Park (sel _ 1136, WAM T 155512) B Karaops banyjima, adult male, face, palps not fully developed, Newman-Port Hedland Road (sel _ 1198, WAM T 155574) C Mandu Mandu Gorge, habitat of Karaops durrantorum sp. nov. D Karaops yurlburr, holotype female, Python Pool, Millstream-Chichester National Park (WAM T 79403) E Karaops banyjima, holotype female, NW of Newman (WAM T 101159) F Karaops yurlburr, holotype male, Python Pool, Millstream-Chichester National Park (WAM T 79403) G Karaops ngarluma, holotype male, SW of Roebourne (WAM T 79396). Scale bar: 1 mm.