Taphiassa globosa Rix & Harvey, 2010

Rix, Michael & Harvey, Mark, 2010, The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida: Araneae: Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level, ZooKeys 36 (36), pp. 1-321 : 86-88

Taphiassa globosa Rix & Harvey , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:29F22A1B-422F-4B32-B2AA-18ED3C4901D4

Figs 165–166, 169D, 215, 223C–E

Type material. Holotype male: Walpole-Nornalup National Park , Tall Tingle Tree Path, Western Australia, Australia, 13.VI.1987, N. Platnick, R. Raven ( WAM T96810).

Paratypes: Allotype female, same data as holotype ( WAM T96811) .

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Beedelup National Park, Beedelup Falls , sifting elevated leaf litter, 34°25'S, 115°52'E, 27.VIII.2006, M. Rix, J. Wojcieszek, 1♁ ( WAM T94479) ; S. of Bremer Bay , sifting elevated leaf litter, 34°25'13"S, 119°22'26"E, 2.V.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, J. Newell, 1♁ ( WAM T94487) ; Dillon Bay, near Bremer Bay , sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis , 34°27'26"S, 119°16'36"E, 2.V.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, J. Newell, 1♁ ( WAM T94489) ; Frenchman Peak, Cape Le Grand National Park , sifting elevated leaf litter on S. face of summit, 34°58'03"S, 122°09'59"E, 26.XII.2008, M. Rix, J. Wojcieszek, 1♀ ( WAM T94488) ; Gull Rock National Park, off Gull Rock Road , sifting elevated leaf litter, 35°00'31"S, 118°02'29"E, 17.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ ( WAM T94485) ; Gull Rock National Park, end of Ledge Point Road , sifting elevated leaf litter, 35°00'51"S, 118°00'23"E, 17.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♁ ( WAM T94490) ; Karri Valley, Hop Garden Road, off Vasse Highway , sifting leaf litter, 34°24'59"S, 115°50'52"E, 26–27.VIII.2006, M. Rix, 1♁ ( WAM T80025 DNA-MPE) ; Sand Patch Beach Reserve, end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm , sifting elevated leaf litter, 35°03'07"S, 117°45'39"E, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♁ ( AMNH) ; Shannon National Park, Dog Pool , head-torch at night, 34°46'S, 116°22'E, 8.VI.1993, J. Waldock, A. Sampey, 1♀ ( WAM T65551) ; Torndirrup National Park, Salmon Hole Road , sifting elevated leaf litter, 35°06'07"S, 117°58'03"E, 14.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♁, 1♀ ( AMNH) ; Warren National Park, Maidenbush Track, 600 m, old-growth Karri ( Eucalytpus diversicolor ) forest, flight-intercept trap, 34°30'31"S, 115°57'25"E, 29.VII-10.VIII.2004, Newton, Solodovnikov, 1♀ ( FMC) ; West Cape Howe National Park, Cosy Corner camp ground, sifting elevated leaf litter, 35°03'40"S, 117°38'37"E, 16.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ ( WAM T94486) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘globosus’, meaning ‘spherical’ ( Brown 1956), and refers to the rounded abdomen of this species.

Diagnosis. Males of Taphiassa globosa can be distinguished from all other described congeners by the small body size (carapace length <0.50), by the broad, almost subtriangular profile of the tegulum in ventral view (Fig. 166A), and by the distinctive bi-coloured pattern on the abdomen (Fig. 165A). Females can be distinguished from all other described congeners by the small body size (carapace length <0.50) and by the distinctive, compact shape of the receptacula (Fig. 169D). Both species can also be recognised by the Western Australian distribution (Fig. 215). In the field this species is likely to be confused only with the sympatric species T. robertsi , which is much larger, with relatively longer legs.

Description. Holotype male: Total length 1.03. Carapace 0.49 long, 0.42 wide. Abdomen 0.59 long, 0.51 wide. Leg I femur 0.51. Cephalothorax, abdominal sclerites dark brown; legs tan-yellow; abdomen pale tan-yellow, with dark grey mesal marking and dark grey lateral patches. Carapace raised anteriorly, fused to sternum via pleural sclerites, with circular sclerotic rim around petiole; dorsal surface of pars cephalica slightly convex in lateral view; carapace and sternum heavily punctate. Eight subequal eyes present on anterior margin of pars cephalica; PME separated by half their own diameter. Chelicerae without bulging anterior projections; promargin without peg teeth. Legs relatively short (leg I femur-carapace ratio 1.04); macrosetae absent. Abdomen globose, covered with hair-like setae, each seta projecting from small sclerotic spot; dorsal scute and lateral sclerotic strips absent. Pedipalpal patella with retrolaterallydirected, hooked lRPA and strongly recurved distal apophysis; bulb somewhat conical, with posteriorly-bulging subtegulum; tegulum smooth, almost subtriangular in profile, with curved ETR; embolus long (length> 5× width), curving distally (Fig. 166).

Allotype female: Total length 1.25. Carapace 0.47 long, 0.42 wide. Abdomen 0.88 long, 0.84 wide. Leg I femur 0.57. Cephalothorax, abdominal sclerites dark brown; legs tan-yellow; abdomen dark grey, with slightly paler mesal region. Carapace raised anteriorly, fused to sternum via pleural sclerites, with circular sclerotic rim around petiole; dorsal surface of pars cephalica slightly convex in lateral view; carapace and sternum heavily punctate. Eight subequal eyes present on anterior margin of pars cephalica; PME separated by half their own diameter. Chelicerae without bulging anterior pro- jections; promargin without peg teeth. Legs relatively short (leg I femur-carapace ratio 1.21); macrosetae absent; superior claws on legs I–II strongly pectinate. Abdomen globose, covered with hair-like setae, each seta projecting from small sclerotic spot; dorsal scute and lateral sclerotic strips absent. Pedipalp very small, reduced to a vestigial nubbin. External epigyne indistinct (Fig. 165D); spermathecae globular, compact, ‘teardrop’ shaped; insemination ducts short; fertilisation ducts simple, curved (Fig. 169D).

Distribution. Known only from the south coast of south-western Western Australia, from Pemberton east to Cape Le Grand National Park (Fig. 215).

Remarks. Taphiassa globosa is a common and relatively widespread species along the Western Australian south coast, where it can be found in low vegetation in mesic habitats. It is most similar to T. castanea and several other undescribed species from eastern Australia. This species was included in the molecular phylogenetic analysis of Rix et al. (2008) as “ Parapua sp. WA”.