Desognaphosa homerule, PLATNICK, 2002

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2002, A Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spiders Of The Families Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae, And Trochanteriidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (271), pp. 1-1 : 1-

Desognaphosa homerule , new species Figures 279–282 ; Map 13

TYPES: Female holotype taken in molting chamber in curled leaf, and male allotype taken in pitfall trap, at Home Rule , 15 ° 44 ̍ S, 145 ° 18 ̍ E, Queensland (Oct. 28–Nov. 18, 1974; V. Davies), deposited in QMB ( S28292 ) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be recognized by the distally directed, bifid tip of the retrolateral tibial apophysis (fig. 280), females by the posteriorly narrowed epigynal atrium (fig. 281).

MALE: Total length 6.0. Coloration as in D. malbon . Leg spination: tibiae: III v1p­1p­ 2; IV v2­2­2, r0­1­1; metatarsi: III v2­0­2; IV v2­1p­2, r0­1­0. Retrolateral tibial apophysis with heavily sclerotized ventral ledge, tip directed distally, bifid, paracymbial apophysis strong, straight (fig. 280); terminal elements of palp with ventrally directed tip (fig. 279).

FEMALE: Total length 6.9. Coloration as in male. Leg spination: tibiae: III v2­2­2; IV v2­2­2, r0­1­1; metatarsi: III v2­0­2; IV v2­ 2­2, r0­1­0. Epigynal atrium wider anteriorly than posteriorly, depressed along lateral margins (fig. 281); median ducts not extending to sides of atrium (fig. 282).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Queensland: Fritz Creek, N Bloomfield , 15 ° 52 ̍ S, 145 ° 21 ̍ E, Dec. 1975, rainforest litter (M. Gray, AMS KS7503, 8166), 13, 2♀ ; Gap Creek, 0.5 km ESE Mount Finnigan , 15 ° 44 ̍ S, 145 ° 18 ̍ E, May 13–16, 1981 (I. Naumann, ANIC), 1♀ ; Mount Finlay , 15 ° 49 ̍ S, 145 ° 21 ̍ E, Nov. 29–Dec. 5, 1975, litter pitfall (R. Monroe, V. Davies, QMB S26694 ), 1♀ ; 2.5 km SW Mount Hartley , 15 ° 47 ̍ S, 145 ° 19 ̍ E, Apr. 24, 1982, Berlese, sieved rainforest litter, elev. 610 m (G. Monteith, D. Yeates, D. Cook, QMB S26684 ), 1♀ ; Mount Sampson , 15 ° 48 ̍ S, 145 ° 12 ̍ E, Dec. 27, 1990 – Jan. 19, 1991, pitfall, elev. 600–790 m (ex QMB S28729 ), 1♀ ; Twelve Mile Scrub , 15 ° 50 ̍ S, 145 ° 19 ̍ E, Nov. 22–28, 1975, litter, sealed under rock with egg sac (R. Monroe, V. Davies, QMB S26651 , 26652 ), 23, 3♀ .

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from northeastern Queensland (map 13).

TRACHYCOSMINAE , NEW SUBFAMILY

TYPE GENUS: Trachycosmus Simon

DIAGNOSIS: The three genera here assigned to the Trachycosminae differ from most other trochanteriids in having only slightly laterigrade legs, and less enlarged chelicerae, with the apex directed ventrally so that only the base of the paturon is visible in dorsal view. Trachycosmines share with morebilines the presence of detached, triangular intercoxal sclerites, but lack the basal retrolateral tibial apophysis found in morebiline males. The trachycosmine genera share a similar male palpal conformation, with an elongated embolus (sometimes largely hidden, in unexpanded palps, between the bulb and cymbium) and a prolaterally situated projection on the terminal apophysis.

Trachycosmus Simon

Trachycosmus Simon, 1893: 347 (type species by original designation Trachycosmus sculptilis Simon ).

DIAGNOSIS: The absence of leg spines readily separates members of this genus from those of Trachytrema and Trachyspina ; males have the apex of the cymbium prolonged into a functional conductor (figs. 289, 293).

DESCRIPTION: Medium­sized spiders, total length 3–6. Carapace flattened, with numerous tubercles, with rebordered lateral and posterior margins, with long, dark setae largely confined to ocular area and clypeus; thoracic groove short, Y­shaped, wider anteriorly than posteriorly, greatly deepened anteriorly; cephalic groove indistinct. Eight subequal eyes in two rows; anterior medians circular, dark, posterior medians irregularly rectangular, lenses flattened, canoe­shaped tapetum present, laterals oval; from above, both eye rows recurved, from front, both rows procurved; anterior medians separated by about their diameter, farther from anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by their radius, by about three times their diameter from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by less than twice their diameters; median ocular quadrangle slightly wider in back than in front or than long. Chelicerae porrect, divergent, with distinct oblique groove just below clypeus; anterior surface with few stiff setae; chilum wide, with anteriorly directed tubercle at midline, accompanied by second, elongated, posterior chilum (narrow, T­shaped sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, promargin with series of long setae originating in line along base of fang, those nearest base of fang bent; promargin with three closely spaced, long, subequal teeth, retromargin with two closely spaced teeth; presumptive cheliceral gland openings proximal to base of proximal tooth. Labium rectangular, posterior quarter narrowed, depressed, anterior margin slightly invaginated near midline. Endites long, divergent, with oblique depression restricted to their median edge; serrula absent (fig. 153), sieve plate not conspicuous under light microscopy; anteromedian edges and apex bearing wide patch of long, stiff, dark setae. Sternum flat, with rebordered, slightly depressed lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with slight extensions to coxae, detached triangular sclerites between coxae; surface smooth, with few long setae, posterior margin not rebordered, separating coxae IV. One weakly sclerotized epimeric sclerite on each side, not extending between coxae, not fused to carapace. Pedicel composed of two dorsal sclerites (anterior sclerite without deep posterior invagination, posterior sclerite without beak­shaped anterior extension) and weak, inverted y­shaped ventral sclerite with anteriorly unexpanded head not reaching posterior tip of sternum.

Abdomen without dorsal or anterior scutum; cuticle sparsely coated with short, dark setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, with well­marked booklung openings at sides, posterior rim of booklung openings without postepigastric sclerites, booklung covers not ridged; colulus represented only by scattered setae clustered near tip of projecting area of sclerotized cuticle situated posterior of wide posterior spiracle; males apparently with scattered short epiandrous spigots. Six spinnerets (figs. 283–287), anterior laterals short, conical, with posterior surface flattened, separated by almost their diameter at base, with two articles, distal article apparently with two major ampullate gland spigots and many small, unmodified piriform gland spigots; posterior medians apparently with few aciniform gland spigots and one enlarged minor ampullate gland spigot, those of males triangular, those of females bipartite, enlarged posterior portion with about five enlarged cylindrical gland spigots in two parallel rows, inner row with two, outer row of three; posterior laterals with two articles, apparently without minor ampullate gland spigots, those of males seemingly with aciniform gland spigots only, those of females with at least one large cylindrical gland spigot in addition.

Legs slightly laterigrade, leg formula 4123, with scattered setae; coxae and trochanters with few dorsal tubercles, fourth trochanters slightly enlarged, elongated; anterior coxae without protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters not notched; scopula very weak on all legs; posterior metatarsi without distal preening brushes; tarsi with two long, smooth claws; weak claw tufts composed of two pads of widened setae; tarsi without cuticular cracks, relatively short; morphologically dorsal surface with modified proximal margin consisting of patch of unsclerotized cuticle followed by strong cuticular ridge, that ridge opposing distinct distal extensions situated at distal edge of metatarsi; trichobothria present, in three rows on tarsi, two on metatarsi and tibiae. Female palp without spines; female palpal tarsus with long, smooth claw, without ventral scopula. Leg spines absent.

Male palpal tibia with retrolateral apophysis reduced to low knob or ridge; retrolateral basal corner of cymbium produced into large bulge but without distinct hook (paracymbium); embolus originating on distal surface of bulb, coiling around most of ventral surface of bulb, tip near terminally situated apophysis. Epigynum relatively flat, with anteriorly elaborated ducts.

Figures

Map 13. Records of Tinytrema sandy, new species (circles), Desognaphosa pershouse, new species (square), and D. homerule, new species (diamonds).

Figs. 279–282. Desognaphosa homerule, new species. 279. Left male palp, ventral view. 280. Same, retrolateral view. 281. Epigynum, ventral view. 282. Same, dorsal view.