Artoria mungo, Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018

Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018, The wolf spider genus Artoria in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae), Evolutionary Systematics 2 (2), pp. 169-241 : 169

Artoria mungo sp. n. Figs 30, 32 A–H, 48C Mungo Forest Runner

Material examined.

Holotype male, Lake Mungo National Park (33°41'S, 143°03'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 26 August– 1 September 2017, B.C. Baehr, pitfall trap, chenopod scrub, 66 m alt. (AM KS127733). Paratype: 1 female, Lake Mungo National Park (33°41'S, 143°03'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 26 August– 1 September 2017, B.C. Baehr, pitfall trap, mallee scrub, 80 m alt. (AM KS127697).

Other material examined.

3 males in 3 records (all NSW). AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 3 males, Newnes Plateau, 31°10'S, 150°15'E (AM KS16958-9, KS16961).

Etymology.

The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality.

Diagnosis.

Based on the shape of the tegular apophysis, males of A. mungo sp. n. are most similar to A. helensmithae sp. n. and A. beaury sp. n. Artoria beaury sp. n. differs distinctly in the shape of the basoembolic apophysis which is much broader than that of A. mungo sp. n. In A. helensmithae sp. n. the apical edge of the tegular apophysis is much more indented than in A. mungo sp. n. Female A. mungo sp. n. are most similar to A. wilkiei sp. n. based on the shape of the epigyne in ventral view, but the spermathecal heads of the latter are much larger and touching medially.

Description.

Male (based on holotype, AM KS127733).

Total length 3.6.

Prosoma. Length 2.0, width 1.4; carapace greyish with dark radial pattern; indistinct lighter narrow marginal band and v-shaped central band constricted between PME (Fig. 32A); sternum light brown, dusted dark grey (Fig. 32B).

Eyes. Diameter of AME: 0.08; ALE: 0.09; PME: 0.25; PLE: 0.16.

Anterior eye row. Slightly procurved, evenly spaced.

Chelicerae. Medium brown.

Labium. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 32B)

Pedipalp coxae. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 32B).

Legs. Yellow-brown, with darker annulations; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi I darker, less annulated, lighter (Fig. 32A).

Opisthosoma. Length 1.6, width 1.2; cinnamon-brown with light yellow-brown anterior cardiac mark and dark grey irregular pattern (Fig. 32A). Venter light brown with darker pattern (Fig. 32B); spinnerets dark grey.

Pedipalps. Tibia as long as broad; cymbium tip with few smaller distoventral macrosetae (Fig. 32E, F); dorsal scopula patch present; tegular apophysis distally widely scooped, basally narrowed to 1/3, retrolateral tip pointed and reaching margin of cymbium (Fig. 32E); palea about 1 1/2 long as wide, basoembolic apophysis triangular; embolus broad, widely semicircular; terminal apophysis broad, with rounded tip (Fig. 48C).

Female (based on AM KS127697).

Total length 3.5.

Prosoma. Length 1.4, width 1.1; carapace and sternum colouration as male (Fig. 32C, D).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.08, ALE 0.07, PME 0.19, PLE 0.13.

Anterior eye row. Slightly procurved, evenly spaced.

Opisthosoma. Length 2.1, width 1.7; otherwise as male, but legs less annulated and opisthosoma pattern more obscure (Fig. 32C, D).

Epigyne. About 1 ½ times longer than wide, strongly sclerotised at posterior tips, atrium semicircular (Fig. 32G); spermathecal heads globular, less than 1/5 of diameter apart, spermathecal stalks attached laterally and basally bent (Fig. 32H).

Life history and habitat preferences.

It appears that this species has affinities to at least intermittently flooded areas, as it has been found near swamps and creeks in dry sclerophyll bushland and scrubland. Mature spiders have been found in August, September and January suggesting it is spring- to summer-mature.

Distribution.

Artoria mungo sp. n. is currently known from two widely separate locations in the Murray Darling Depression (MDD) and Sydney Basin (SYD) IBRA regions (Fig. 30).