Nanometa gentilis Simon, 1908

Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, Kallal, Robert J. & Hormiga, Gustavo, 2020, Taxonomy And Phylogenetics Of Nanometinae And Other Australasian Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneae: Tetragnathidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2020 (438), pp. 1-107 : 1-107

Nanometa gentilis Simon, 1908

Figures 7–8 , 37

Nanometa gentilis Simon, 1908: 421 . Dalmas, 1917: 369, figs. 36–37.

TYPE MATERIAL: Male, female, and immature syntypes. Australia Occidentale (Michnerd), specimen code 23887, deposited at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (examined and photographed). One juvenile syntype from Western Australia, Lion Hill (= Mt. Helena), -31.883, 116.2. W. Michaelsen and R. Hartmeyer, 10 November 1905. WAM T159.

DIAGNOSIS: Nanometa gentilis shares with N. forsteri a long CEBP apophysis; however, in the Australian species the apophysis is shorter and its tip bent apically in dorsal view (fig. 8A–C). Nanometa gentilis also has a thin apophysis, not found in similar species, that subtends this larger apophysis (fig. 8A). Both species have a conductor that is C-shaped apically (similar to many other Nanometa species), however, in N. gentilis the basal apophysis is narrower and more acute than in N. forsteri (figs. 8A–C, 35A–C). Females of N. gentilis can be separated from other small Nanometa species by having circular and deep genital openings half of the epigynum width, located on the posterior half of the epigynal plate and separated by a rectangular septum, almost the same size as these openings (figs. 7E, 8D, E).

DESCRIPTION: Male (GH0114): Total length ca. 2.6 (cephalothorax and abdomen detached). Cephalothorax length 1.1, width 0.8. Clypeus height 1.0 AME diameter. Cephalothorax background pale yellow with pattern of pair of dark gray parallel lines that converge in the fovea and the carapace lateral edges. Endites and sternum color dark brown. Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with three and two teeth respectively, cheliceral denticles present. Abdomen dorsum background light gray, silvery guanine patches conspicuous and covering the anterior half of abdomen except medial line, lateral surface covered with guanine patches over dorsal half, ventral half with brown pattern, ventral surface with a central brown rectangle, flanked by a line of silvery guanine patches. Stridulatory organ formed by a cuticular ridge highly sclerotized on booklung anterior edge, coxa IV retrolateral not examined with SEM. Femur I length 2.0. CEMP square in shape and ca. 1/4 of the cymbium length. Conductor distal apophyses surface smooth, tip C-shaped (figs. 7B, F, H, 8A–C).

Female (WAM T24691, T24689): Total length 4.0. Clypeus height approximately the same as the AME (measurements taken from Simon, 1908, description). Cephalothorax and abdomen coloration darker than in male (fig. 7A, C). Epigynum plate one third wider than long, anterior margin rounded (figs. 7E, 8D).

REMARKS: Simon’s original description mentions that there were several specimens from other localities cited as follow: “Stat. 99, Lion Mill: Stat. 100, Lion Mill (propter aquae rivum); Stat. 150. Yallingup: Stat. lös, Broome Hill; Stat. 1 (57, South Albany.” We were able to locate only a juvenile from this location.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: N = 8. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Barrabup Road, W. of Nannup , 33° 58′ 59.88″ S, 115° 45′ 0″ E, M.S. Harvey & T.J. Deog, 9 January 1985, at temporary pool, 1 male, 1 juvenile. WAM T20877 ; 8 km W. of Kirup , 33° 43′ 59.88″ S, 115° 49′ 0.12″ E, M.S. Harvey & T.J. Doeg, 9 January 1985, 1 juvenile, WAM T20879 ; Lake Poorginup , 34° 32′ 60″ S, 116° 43′ 59.88″ E, M.S. Harvey & J.M. Waldock, 24 April 1990, 1 male, WAM T24687 ; Mount Chudalup , 34° 45′ 59.76″ S, 116° 4′ 59.88″, M.S. Harvey & J.M. Waldock, 5 January 1990, 1 male, 1 female, WAM T24688; Pemberton, youth hostel, 34° 23′ 60″ S, 115° 58′ 0.12″, M.S. Harvey & J.M. Waldock, 5 January–5 February 1990, 1 male, 1 juvenile, WAM T24689 ; Torndirrup National Park, Quaranup Road , 35° 4′ 59.88″, 117° 55′ 0.12″, M.S. Harvey & J.M. Waldock, 24 April 1990, 1 female, WAM T24691 ; Western Australia, Two Road, Walpole-Nornalup National Park , 11.1 km W. Walpole, 34° 57′ 55.6″ S, 116° 36′ 23.8″ E, 30 m. G. Hormiga, L. Lopardo, 26 February 2006, eucalypt forest and open heathland, 1 male deposited at GWU (DNA voucher, GH0114) .

DISTRIBUTION: This species is endemic to southwestern Western Australia (fig. 37B).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Nanometa gentilis (male: WAM T24687; female: WAM T24689). A. Female, dorsal habitus. B. Male, ventral pedipalp. C. Female, ventral habitus. D. Male, dorsal pedipalp. E. Epigynum, ventral. F. Male, mesal pedipalp. G. Male, apical pedipalp. H. Male, ectal pedipalp. Scale bars: A, C, F, 0.5 mm; B, D, G, H, 0.25 mm; E, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 8. Nanometa gentilis (male: GH0114; female: WAM T24689). A. Pedipalp, ventral. B. Pedipalp, ectal. C. Pedipalp, dorsal. D. Epigynum, ventral. E. Epigynum, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 37. Distribution of Nanometa in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea. A. Map of region with areas of importance indicated. B. Western Australia. C. Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia. D. Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. E. New Zealand.