Tetralycosa eyrei ( Hickman, 1944 )

Framenau, Volker W. & Hudson, Peter, 2017, Taxonomy, systematics and biology of the Australian halotolerant wolf spider genus Tetralycosa (Araneae: Lycosidae: Artoriinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 335, pp. 1-72 : 52-56

Tetralycosa eyrei ( Hickman, 1944)

Figs 2 C–D; 22E–H; 24A–E; 25

Pardosa eyrei Hickman, 1944: 24–25 , pl. 1, figs 11–13.

Pardosa eyrei – Roewer 1955: 185. — McKay 1973: 378.

Lycosa eyrei – McKay 1985: 76. — Platnick 1989: 370.

Tetralycosa eyrei – Framenau et al. 2006: 26.

Diagnosis

Males of T. eyrei can be distinguished from other species in Tetralycosa , especially the similar T. adarca sp. nov., T. halophila sp. nov. and T. williamsi sp. nov., by the shape of the tegular apophysis, in particular its broadly truncated tip. Females in this group cannot be separated with certainty (see ‘Diagnosis’ of T. adarca sp. nov.).

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA: ♂, South Australia, surface of North Lake Eyre, 2.5 miles from shore, 28°29′00″ S, 137°37′30″ E, Simpson Desert Expedition 1939 ( AM KS5738 ) (examined).

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA, New South Wales: 1 ♂, 1 juv., Scotia Lakes, 33°07′27″ S, 141°22′47″ E ( SAM NN21904). – South Australia: 1 ♀, Francis Swamp, near southern end, 29°09′ S, 136°17′ E ( SAM NN13813); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Half Moon Lake, 29°57′58″ S, 133°23′09″ E ( SAM NN21892–3); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Lake Eyre North, 28°58′40″ S, 137°45′00″ E ( SAM NN21737–8, NN21741); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 ♀ with spiderlings, 1 juv., Lake Frome, 30°38′00″ S, 139°38′10″ E ( SAM NN13811, NN13814–5, NN21915); 1 ♂, 1 juv., north corridor of Lake Frome, 30°38′00″ S, 139°38′10″ E ( SAM NN21886–7); 3 ♀♀, Lake Torrens, 30°36′ S, 138°03′ E ( MV K8126); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Scrubby Peak Lake, NE part of lake, 32°35′00″ S, 135°13′12″ E ( SAM NN13810, NN21905–7). – Victoria: 1 ♂, Lake Tyrell, 35°27′10″ S, 142°51′45″ E ( SAM NN21911).

Description

MEASUREMENTS. ♂ holotype, SAM NN21737 (♀ SAM NN13813): TL 13.91 (16.80), CL 6.77 (7.35), CW 4.98 (5.40). Eyes: AME 0.45 (0.40), ALE 0.28 (0.26), PME 0.84 (0.89), PLE 0.71 (0.80). Row of eyes: AE 1.79 (1.89), PME 2.35 (2.55), PLE 3.30 (3.75). Sternum length/width:3.01/2.54 (3.00/2.70). Labium length/ width: 1.09/1.26 (1.12/1.17). AL 6.86 (8.40), AW 4.98 (8.25). Legs: Lengths of segments (femur + patella/ tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 3.38+3.29 + – +2.02 = 8.69, I 6.58+7.14+6.49+2.54 = 22.75, II 6.67+7.43+7.05+2.63 = 23.78, III 6.11+7.05+7.24+2.44 = 22.84, IV 7.52+8.18+8.65+2.91 = 27.26 (Pedipalp 2.85+3.15+ – +1.95 = 7.95, I 5.70+(missing)+(missing)+(missing) = unknown, II 5.55+6.30+4.95+2.40 = 19.20, III 5.25+6.00+5.55+2.25 = 19.05, IV 6.45+7.50+7.35+2.70 = 24.00).

VARIATION. ♂ (♀) (range, mean ± SD): TL 11.55–15.75, 14.08 ± 1.61; CL 6.00–8.10, 7.38 ± 0.83; CW 4.20– 6.45, 5.48 ± 0.81; n = 6 (TL 7.50–18.00, 13.79 ± 3.92; CL 4.05–9.30, 6.63 ± 1.66; CW 2.70–6.75, 4.80 ± 1.41; n = 11). The size variation of females is quite remarkable, since the measurements of the largest animals are more than double the measurements of the smallest spiders.

Male (based on SAM NN21737)

CARAPACE ( Fig. 22E ). Cephalic area highest in lateral view and steep vertical slopes in frontal view; brown with an indistinct darker radial pattern; mainly covered with white setae, densest towards margins and around eyes; brown macrosetae around eyes; eight long bristles below AE; one long bristle between AME.

EYES. Row of AE of shorter than row of PME; row of AE strongly procurved.

CHELICERAE. Orange-brown; covered with white setae mainly in basal half; three promarginal teeth with the median largest; three retromarginal teeth of similar size.

STERNUM ( Fig. 22F ). Dark orange-brown, margins brown; covered with brown setae that are longer towards margins.

LABIUM. Brown, basally darker; front end truncate and white.

PEDIPALPS ( Figs 2 C–D, 24A–C). Tegular apophysis curved with broadly truncated tip ( Figs 2C , 24A ); embolus straight over most of its length with slightly curved tip ( Fig. 2D , 24C ).

ABDOMEN. Dorsally yellow-brown with indistinct darker lanceolate heart mark in anterior half; heart mark laterally widened through triangular pattern of olive-grey patches; covered mainly with white setae ( Fig. 22E ). Venter dark olive-grey. Spinnerets light brown ( Fig. 22F ).

LEGS. Leg formula IV>II>III>I; light brown. Femora brown, apically lighter; tarsi, metatarsi and tibiae of leg I and II dark brown. Spination of leg I: femur: three dorsal, two apicoprolateral, four retrolateral; patella: one prolateral, one retrolateral; tibia: two dorsal, three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral; metatarsus: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral, one apicoventral, one apicoprolateral, one apicoretrolateral.

Female (based on SAM NN13813)

CARAPACE ( Fig. 22G ). As male, but without dark radial pattern.

EYES. As male.

CHELICERAE. Very dark brown; covered with brown setae; dentition as male.

STERNUM ( Fig. 22H ). Shiny dark brown; covered with brown setae.

LABIUM. Brown, centrally darkest; front end truncate and white.

ABDOMEN. Yellow; darker lanceolate heart mark accompanied by two lateral triangular patches and crossed by grey line; covered with white setae, but light brown setae in heart mark ( Fig. 22G ). Venter olive-brown with an indistinct central patch of brown setae. Spinnerets as male ( Fig. 22H ).

EPIGYNE. Ventral view ( Fig. 24D ): circular atrium with anterior notch. Dorsal view ( Fig. 24E ): spermathecal heads slightly wider than the short spermathecal stalks.

LEGS. Leg formula IV>II>III (legs I missing). Light brown, femora with two dark annulations, which are much more distinct on ventral side. Spination of leg I: femur: three dorsal, two apicoprolateral, four retrolateral (tibia, patella, metatarsus, and tarsus missing on both legs).

Life history and habitat preferences

Most adult spiders were found on salt lakes between March and July, the only female with spiderlings was recorded in July.

Distribution

New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria ( Fig. 25 ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of Tetralycosa Roewer, 1960, male pedipalps. A. T. alteripa (McKay, 1976), right pedipalp, apico-ventral view (SAM NN21799). B. T. alteripa (McKay, 1976), palea region of right pedipalp, baso-ventral view (SAM NN21794). C. T. eyrei (Hickman, 1944), right pedipalp, retrolatero-ventral view (SAM NN21741). D. T. eyrei (Hickman, 1944), palea region of right pedipalp, ventral view (SAM NN21737). E. T. alteripa (McKay, 1976), left pedipalp, retrolatero-ventral view (Sinclair Gap Lake, South Australia; PH, pers. collection). F. T. wundurra (McKay, 1979), palea region of right pedipalp, ventral view (Lake Daringdella, Western Australia; P.H., pers. collection). Abbreviations: BL = basal lobe of tegular apophysis; EMB = embolus; TEG = main branch of tegular apophysis; TER = terminal apophysis. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B–C, F = 0.2 mm; D = 0.1 mm; E = 1.00 mm.

Fig. 22. Tetralycosa Roewer, 1960, microscopic photographs showing dorsal and ventral views. A–B. T. adarca sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (SAM NN21882). C–D. T. adarca sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (SAM NN21732). E–F. T. eyrei (Hickman, 1944), ♂ (SAM NN2737). G–H. T. eyrei (Hickman, 1944), ♀ (SAM NN13813). Scale bars: A–H = 2.00 mm.

Fig. 24. Tetralycosa eyrei (Hickman, 1944), ♂ (SAM NN21737) and ♀ (SAM NN13814). A–B. Left male pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view. C. Left male pedipalp, palea section of bulbus, ventral view. D–E. Female epigyne, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bar: A–B = 1.89 mm; C = 1.23 mm; D–E = 1.26 mm.

Fig. 25. Tetralycosa adarca sp. nov. and T. eyrei (Hickman, 1944), distribution records in Australia.