On new or poorly known Australian Filistatidae spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae), including a study on the fine morphology of Wandella Author Ivan L. F. Magalhaes text Journal of Natural History 2016 2016-06-08 50 29 - 30 1815 1858 journal article 10.1080/00222933.2016.1181805 e129c398-e3b0-44d5-92b5-cf0e9d449b1f 1464-5262 269065 327D7F9C-1ACC-4323-9D03-8D3A7B2E83D8 Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994 ( Figures 3 – 8 , 12 , 13 F – H, 15, 25 – 27 ) Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994 , p. 54 , figs 8, 65 – 70, 80. Male holotype from Lagoon Waterhole, Mabel Creek Station , SA , 28 ° 56 ' S , 134 ° 19 ' E , 26 /X/ 1984 , P. Greenslade , in pitfall trap , deposited in SAM ARA 5311 ( 2 ), not examined. Diagnosis Male ( Figure 25 ) diagnosed by Gray ( 1994 ) . Females can be distinguished by the combination of the following: the enlarged, usually longer than wide, bases of the spermathecae; the lack of a clear distinction between the base and the inner spermathecae; and the rounded outer spermathecae, on the top of a short, laterally directed stalk ( Figure 26 E – H). Description Male ( Figure 25 ) described by Gray ( 1994 ) . Female from Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales , Australia (AM KS. 114345 ) ( Figure 26 A – E). Coloration: carapace cream, with dark brown median pattern and clypeal markings, and light brown median area, with slightly dark submarginal bands; chelicerae cream with an anterior brown patch; labium and endites light yellow; sternum cream with diffuse light brown patches along the anterior border; legs light yellow, with incomplete light brown rings in the base and apex of the femora, tibiae and metatarsi and a prolateral light brown patch on the patellae; abdomen dorsum light brown, clothed with whitish setae, with dark brown chevron with five markings posteriorly; abdomen venter cream, darker posteriorly. Sternum subrounded, with a well-marked pair of posterior sigillae. Total length 3.65 . Carapace length 1.47 , width 1.16 . Clypeus length 0.27 . Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.08 , PME 0.07 , ALE 0.11 , PLE 0.78 , AME – AME 0.03 , PME – PME 0.14 . Palp: femur length 0.8 , width 0.26 , tibia length 0.54 , width 0.26 . Right leg I: femur 1.68 , patella 0.39 , tibia 1.83 , metatarsus 1.49 , tarsus 1.06 . II: fe 1.16 , pa 0.39 , ti 1.01 . III: fe 1.05 , pa 0.38 , ti 0.85 . IV: fe 1.45 , pa 0.39 , ti 1.36 , mt 1.19 , ta 0.75 . Abdomen: length 2.04 , width 1.24 . Leg macrosetae: absent. Calamistrum with three rows, the middle one slightly reduced (~ 5 setae, others ~ 6 – 7 ). Epigastric furrow adorned with thick setae, slightly longer towards the laterals. Spermathecae: inner spermathecae rounded, somewhat sclerotized, outer spermathecae about the same size as inner, not so sclerotized, on a short stalk. State of the specimen: missing left leg I from the tibia. Figure 25. Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994 , males. (A, B) Habitus, male from Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales (AM KS.114191). (A) Dorsal. (B) Ventral. (C – E) Left palps, prolateral, cleared. (C) Beda Hill, South Australia (SAM NN28352). (D) Kolay Hut, South Australia (SAM NN28362). (E) Taroom district, Queensland (QM S36634). Abbreviation: PL, paraembolic lamina. Variation Females ( n = 4 ): total length 2.75 – 3.65 ( 3.31 ), carapace length 1.03 – 1.47 ( 1.21 ), femur I length 1.21 – 1.68 ( 1.39 ), tibia I length 1.23 – 1.83 ( 1.46 ), tibia/carapace ratio 1.13 – 1.24 ( 1.19 ). The morphology of the spermathecae is variable, especially in the base: some specimens have it short and wider, while others have it longer and narrower ( Figures 26 , 27 ). The morphology of the male palp is variable as well ( Figure 25 ), although all specimens fit to Gray ’ s ( 1994 ) original diagnosis. This is a small, widely distributed species that might have to be split after a more careful revision. Note Males and females have been matched because they have been collected several times from the same localities. Distribution Arid regions of Western Australia , South Australia , New South Wales and southwestern Queensland ( Figure 15 ). Figure 26. Wandella stuartensis Gray 1994 , females. (A, B) Habitus and calamistrum, female from Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 114345). (A) Dorsal. (B) Lateral. (C) Ventral. (D) Right calamistrum, retrolateral. (E – H) Spermathecae, dorsal, cleared. (E) Paroo-Darling National Park, New South Wales (AM KS. 114345). (F, G) Chillunie Well, South Australia (SAM NN28366). (h) Beda Hill, South Australia (SAM NN28351). Material examined Australia . New South Wales : ‘ Eumenbah ’ Station, 500 m east of Castlereagh Highway, 12 km north of junction with Gwydir Highway, C. cristata patch (as shown in label), pitfall trap ( 148.13208 °, − 29.81491 °), F. Christie, P. Flemons & M. Elliott, 13 /XII/1999 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 77066 ); Lower Murray-Darling Region, Coombah Station, mallee/spiniflex shrubland ( 141.57444 °, − 33.05194 °), M. Le Breton, 11 – 15 /XII/1999 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 91536 ); Mallara Station ( 142.51667 °, − 33.3825 °), 13 – 17 /XII/1999 , 5 ♂ (AM KS. 91534 ); Popitah Station, black box woodland ( 141.69556 °, − 33.15444 °), 11 – 15 /XII/1999 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 91514 ); Tapio Station ( 142.06861 °, − 34.04306 °), 20 – 24 /III/2000 , 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (AM KS. 91535 ); Warrakoo Station, mallee/spinifex shrubland ( 141.285 °, − 33.8544 °), 16 /X/1998 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 71400 ); Paroo-Darling National Park, Peery section, Arrow Bar addition, 2.3 km south of junction with White Cliffs Rd ( 143.4256 °, − 30.8431 °), G.A. Milledge & H.M. Smith, 28 /X – 25 /XI/2010 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 114191 ); Track to east of Wilga HS, beat/sweep & hand collecting ( 143.9492 °, − 31.4594 °), 25 /X/2010 , 1 ♀ (AM KS. 114345 ); Sturt National Park, site 19 – 1 , SNPORD 10331 , pitfall trap ( 141.8675 °, − 29.0936 °), M. Dangerfield, 26 /IX/ 1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78571 ); site 19 – 1 , SNPORD 10549 , M. Gillings, 26 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78574 ); site 19 – 1 , SNPORD 12446 , A. Holmes, 26 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78543 ); site 19 – 1 , SNPORD 17767 , M. Dangerfield, 26 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78513 ); site 19 – 1 , SNPORD 17841 , M. Gillings, 26 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78562 ); site 33 – 1 , SNPORD02760 ( 141.9667 °, − 29.1119 °), M. Dangerfield, 22 /IX/1997 , 1 imm. (AM KS. 78804 ); site 35 – 1 , SNPORD02121 ( 141.9564 °, − 29.1889 °), A. Holmes, 25 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78907 ); site 35 – 1 , SNPORD02420, 1 ♀ (AM KS. 78898 ); site 35 – 1 , SNPORD03644, R. Harris, 25 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78865 ); site 35 – 1 , SNPORD03789, 1 ♀ (AM KS. 78864 ); site 35 – 1 , SNPORD03994, 1 ♂ (AM KS. 78846 ); site 77 – 1 , SNPORD04169 ( 142.1553 °, − 29.2822 °), M. Streulens, 25 /IX/1997 , 4 ♂ 1 ♀ (AM KS. 79388 ); site 80 – 1 , SNPORD03940, A. Holmes, 25 / IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79451 ); site 80 – 1 , SNPORD 13616 , R. Harris, 25 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79439 ); site 90 – 3 , SNPORD01693 ( 142.155 °, − 29.2822 °), M. Henery, 25 /IX/1997 , 1 ♀ 1 imm. (AM KS. 79477 ); site 90 – 3 , SNPORD01715, 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79481 ); site 90 – 3 , SNPORD01774, 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79545 ); site 90 – 3 , SNPORD03163, 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79482 ); site 90 – 3 , SNPORD03188, M. Streulens, 25 /IX/1997 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79486 ); 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79492 ); site 90 – 3 , SNPORD04346, M. Henery, 25 /IX/1997 , 2 ♂ (AM KS. 79541 ); Site 90 – 3 , SNPORD03220, 1 ♂ (AM KS. 79520 ); 24.7 km on road to Cawwell Stn from jnctn with Jobs Gate Rd ( 146.9986 °, − 29.1142 °), F. Christie, P. Flemons, M. Elliot, 16 /XII/1999 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 71143 ); about 1 km along access road to Cawwell Station ( 147.0674 °, − 29.0642 °), F. Christie, P. Flemons & M. Elliott, 16 /XII/1999 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 77068 ); Darling River, ‘ Kalyanka ’ approx 11 km east of Wilcannia, Eucalyptus camaldulensis patch ( 143.4869 °, − 31.5619 °), F. Christie, P. Flemons, M. Elliot, 22 /XII/1999 , 4 ♂ (AM KS. 71144 ); Little Weir 19.5 km west-southwest of Mungindi on road to Collarenebri, Eucalypts beside dry creek bed ( 149.15795 °, − 29.04895 °), M. Moulds & J. Thompson, 26 /IV/1994 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 42442 ); ‘ Wyninebah ’ Stn, 0.3 km past stockyards, 300 m east of road, Acacia pendula patch, pitfall trap ( 147.4903 °, − 30.3639 °), L. Wilkie, R. Harris & T. Moulds., 15 /XII/1999 , 1 ♂ (AM KS. 77065 ). Queensland: Ethabukka, Simpson desert [ 139.2627 °, − 25.20494 °], R. Raven & B. Baehr, 4 – 6 /III/1999 , 1 ♂ (QM S 68882 ); 1 ♂ (QM S 52363 ); Taroom district, Boggomoss, pitfall trap ( 150.01667 °, − 25.43333 °), P. Lawless, 11 /XI/ 1996 – I/1997 , 1 ♂ (QM S 36634 ). South Australia : Beda Hill, South Gap Station, Gairdner/Torrens basin ( 137.61667 °, − 31.85 °), D. Hirst, 4 /XII/1989 , 1 ♂ ( SAM NN 28352 ); 5 /XII/1989 , 2 ♀ ( SAM NN 28350 ); pitfall trap, 4 /XII/1989 , 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28351 ); Hiltaba Stn, BushBlitz 4, 151 m , Chenopod scrubland ( 135.1 °, − 32.18333 °), B. Baehr, 12 – 21 /XI/2012 , 1 ♂ ( SAM NN 28239 ); BushBlitz 7, 233 m ( 135.18333 °, − 32.13333 °), 12 – 22 /XI/2012 , 1 ♂ ( SAM NN 28240 ); Chillunie Well, Gawler Ra. ( 135.61667 °, − 32.61667 °), D. Hirst, 9 /XII/1989 , 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28366 ); Kolay Hut, Paney Stn. Gawler Ra., pitfall trap ( 135.38333 °, − 32.58333 °), 8 – 11 /XII/1989 , 3 ♂ ( SAM NN 28362 ); in leaf litter, 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28373 ); Olympic Dam [ 136.88775 °, − 30.47588 °], E.G. Watts, 2 – 5 /XI/1987 , 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( SAM NN 28364 ).