Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions
Author
W. Framenau, Volker
text
Evolutionary Systematics
2019
3
1
1
27
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.3.33454
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.3.33454
2535-0730-3-1
C7DB2091FB5440E8BDC27C92F218D53F
Araneus diabrosis (Walckenaer, 1841)
Epeira diabrosis
Walckenaer, 1841: 131-132; L.
Koch 1871
: 116.
Araneus diobris
(Walckenaer).
Rainbow 1911
: 185 (misspelled).
Type material.
Holotype of
Epeira diabrosis
Walckenaer, 1841: male, Port Jackson (Sydney) [
33°50'S
,
151°16'E
, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA], J. R. C. Quoy and J. P. Gaimard collection (considered lost).
Remarks.
The original description of the male of
Epeira diabrosis
placed the species in a group with
Eriophora pustulosa
(Walckenaer, 1841), in
Walckenaer's
(1841)
family of
'Irregulares'-
i.e. the abdomen has
tubercles-and
within the race 'Triangularae
truncatae'
, a triangular anteriorly truncated (not rounded) abdomen that is drawn out posteriorly by tubercles into a triangle. However, in contrast to
E. pustulosa
(which has five posterior humps) (e.g.
Court and Forster 1988
),
Epeira diabrosis
was described to have only a single posterior tubercle in addition to distinct humeral humps (
Walckenaer 1841
). Within the Australian context, this description is most consistent with a new genus represented by
C. fuliginata
; however, a number of species of this genus are present in New South Wales (unpublished data) and it is unlikely that the species can be recognised by the short verbal original description alone. Therefore, I consider the species-group name
Epeira diabrosis
a nomen dubium.