Difference between revisions of "Austrarchaea"

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Taxonavigation

Ordo: Araneae
Familia: Archaeidae

Name

Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984 – Wikispecies link – Pensoft Profile

• Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984: 21; Platnick 1991b^[1]: 259; Main 1995^[2]: 151; Harvey 2002a^[3]: 35.

Type species

Archaea nodosa Forster, 1956, by original designation.

Diagnosis

Species of Austrarchaea can be distinguished from all other extant Archaeidae (i.e. Malagasy and African species of Eriauchenius and Afrarchaea) by the presence of numerous, clustered spermathecae in females (Figs 5D, 10G, 14G) and by the presence of a long, wiry embolus on the pedipalp of males (Figs 10E, 15E, 27E) (Forster and Platnick 1984^[4], Wood 2008^[5]). The remarkable, elevated shape of the carapace (Figs 4A-C, 10A-B) and the very long chelicerae (Figs 4B, 4D) will also immediately separate this genus from all other Australian spiders.

Description

Small, haplogyne, araneomorph spiders; total length 2.5 to 5.0.
Colouration: Body colouration cryptic and relatively uniform across species, usually with only subtle intraspecific variation in abdominal patterning; carapace, sternum and chelicerae tan brown to dark reddish-brown, interspersed with darker regions of granulate cuticle (Fig. 5), covered in highly reflective setae; legs tan-brown to darker reddish-brown, with pattern of darker annulations on distal segments; abdomen mottled with beige and variable hues of grey-brown (Figs 5E-G), with darker sclerites, scutes and sclerotic spots (Figs 5A-B); paler beige markings due to reflective, subcuticular guanine crystals (Fig. 5B); antero-lateral face of abdomen always with large, humeral patch of reflective guanine crystals (Figs 5A, 5E-G).
Cephalothorax: Carapace greatly elevated anteriorly (CH/CL ratio usually 2.0–2.4; Fig. 6), with raised, highly modified pars cephalica forming ‘neck’ and bulbous ‘head’ (see Wood 2008^[5]) (Figs 4A-C); ‘neck’ with concomitantly long diastema (see Schütt 2002^[6]) between cheliceral bases and anterior margin of carapace, fused along entire length with sclerotised cuticle (Fig. 4C); cheliceral bases emanating from broad, fully-enclosed cheliceral foramen situated at front of ‘head’ (Figs 4A-B); posterior ‘head’ region usually also bearing two pairs of rudimentary protrusions or ‘horns’, each typically terminating in a short, thickened seta (Fig. 4A). Carapace with densely granulate cuticular microstructure (Fig. 4G), covered in larger setose tubercles arranged in clusters or distinct rows (Figs 4C, 4E); each tubercle bearing single densely plumose or ciliate seta; setose tubercles largest on ‘neck’ and pars thoracica (Figs 4C, 4E). Eight eyes present on anterior margin of ‘head’, in four widely separated diads (Figs 4A-B); AME largest, widely separated, directed antero-laterally on rounded ocular bulge (Fig. 4B); PME situated closely posterior to AME, directed obliquely on postero-lateral side of ocular bulge; lateral eyes contiguous, with shared raised bases, directed ventro-laterally on widest lateral margin of ‘head’ (Figs 4A-B). Sternum longer than wide, covered in setose tubercles; lateral margins separated from dorsal pleural sclerite extending between coxae I-IV. Labium subtriangular, not fused to sternum, directed antero-ventrally at oblique angle to sternum; labrum with pair of divergent projections on anterior surface. Maxillae large (Fig. 4C), straddling labium and labrum, converging distally; serrula a single row of teeth. Chelicerae very long, spear-like, distally divergent (Figs 4B, 4D, 4F), usually with proximal bulging projection (Fig. 4B); both sexes with oval, ectal stridulatory file adjacent to pedipalps (Fig. 4F); males usually also with brush (Figs 4F, 12C, 19C, 22C), short comb (Figs 14C, 18C) or dense tuft (Figs 16C, 17C) of accessory setae on anterior face of paturon. Chelicerae armed with three rows of peg teeth; anterior (prolateral) row with two peg teeth near tip of fang; posterior (retrolateral) row with single peg tooth near tip of fang; median (prolateral) row with more than 15 peg teeth extending along inner prolateral margin of paturon to near base of fang; median row with approximately nine porrect, comb-like peg teeth adjacent to fang, several larger, flattened, spiniform peg teeth near tip of fang, and additional progressively shorter, spiniform peg teeth along inner paturon (Fig. 4D); cheliceral retromargin also with four or five true teeth and prominent cheliceral gland mound.
Legs and female pedipalp: Legs (longest to shortest) 1–4–2–3, covered with short plumose setae; spines absent; patella I long, greater than one-third length of femur I. Trichobothria present on tibiae and metatarsi of legs; tibiae I-IV each with two trichobothria; metatarsi I-IV each with single trichobothrium; bothrial bases with strongly ridged hood. Tarsi shorter than metatarsi, with capsulate tarsal organ and three claws; tarsi, metatarsi and distal tibiae of legs I-II usually with ventral and pro-ventral rows of moveable, spatulate setae. Female pedipalp with long, porrect trochanter and small tarsal claw; tibia with two dorsal trichobothria.
Abdomen: Abdomen arched anteriorly, rounded-subtriangular in lateral view, usually with four to six large hump-like tubercles on dorsal surface (Figs 5A, 5E-G); cuticle covered with short plumose setae and numerous sclerotic spots (Figs 5A-B). Epigastric region with sclerotised (setose) book lung covers and dorsal and ventral plates surrounding pedicel (Fig. 5C) (plates fused in males); dorsal pedicel plate with transverse ridges; females with median genital plate and sclerotised lateral sigillae (Figs 5C-D); males with broad dorsal scute fused anteriorly to epigastric sclerites, with or without additional paired sclerites associated with hump-like tubercles (Fig. 5A). Six spinnerets, surrounded by thickened cuticle; ALS largest, PMS smallest; colulus absent. Posterior pair of divided tracheal spiracles situated anterior to spinnerets; males also with transverse row of epiandrous gland spigots situated closely anterior to epigastric furrow.
Genitalia: Female genitalia haplogyne, with sclerotised, strongly arched genital plate anterior to epigastric furrow (Figs 5C-D); internally with gonopore leading to large, spherical membranous bursa (Fig. 17G; see also Forster and Platnick 1984^[4], fig. 57) overlying two separate, radiating clusters of sclerotised anterior spermathecae (Figs 5D, 10G, 14G, 19G). Male pedipalp with complex, expandable pyriform bulb (Figs 10E, 19E, 23E, 24E), consisting of smooth tegulum, proximal ‘subtegulum’ and associated tegular groove with basal haematodocha (Figs 10E, 23E, 27E) (similar to Mecysmaucheniidae and potentially analogous to the subtegular division of Entelegynae); distal tegulum with excavate, rimmed cavity surrounding massive, inflatable haematodochal complex incorporating distal embolus, basal embolic sclerite and multiple tegular sclerites (Figs 26D, 27E) (see below); distal haematodochal complex with balloon-like proximal portion (anchored by distal rim of tegulum) and sinuous, tapering embolic portion (anchored by flexible, hinged retro-ventral conductor) (Figs 26D, 27E). Unexpanded pedipalp with folded, wiry embolus abutting conductor (Fig. 17E); tegular sclerites embedded pro-distally (Fig. 20E); pedipalpal expansion and haematodochal inflation (e.g. see Figs 14E, 23E, 26D, 27E) resulting in significant conformational changes to shape of conductor, length and orientation of embolus, and relative position of tegular sclerites.
As noted by Wood (2008)^[5], the homology of the tegular sclerites among archaeid genera remains unclear, and this is especially true for Austrarchaea relative to Malagasy and African taxa. For the purposes of this revision, and for an easy comparison among species of Austrarchaea from mid-eastern Australia, the moveable tegular sclerites of the pedipalp are here numbered (1–3), relative to their pro-distal position within the unexpanded tegular cavity (e.g. see Figs 11F, 17F). Tegular sclerite 1 (TS 1) is a porrect, variably spiniform (Fig. 25F), rod-like (Fig. 20E) or filiform (Fig. 10F) process (breakable in some specimens; Fig. 21F) that originates near the prolateral base of the conductor, adjacent to the embedded base of the proximal embolic sclerite; during pedipalpal expansion this sclerite usually remains distally directed, positioned adjacent to the embolic haematodocha (Figs 26D, 27E). Tegular sclerite 2 (TS 2) is a distinctive, pointed, usually spur-like process, angled obliquely towards the conductor (Figs 11F, 25F), which is closely associated with the adjacent tegular sclerite 2a (TS 2a); in the unexpanded state, the sinuous, filiform TS 2a is usually obscured and ‘locked’ within a folded groove along the margin of TS 2 (see Forster and Platnick 1984^[4], figs 60, 62). Tegular sclerite 3 (TS 3) is the most disto-dorsally positioned of the tegular sclerites, with a broader, more plate-like morphology relative to TS 1–2, usually visible as a distally pointed or rod-like projection beyond the retro-distal rim of the tegulum (Figs 14E-F, 17E-F, 20D-E).

Distribution

Assassin spiders occur in mesic habitats throughout south-eastern, south-western and north-eastern mainland Australia (Fig. 2), usually in montane rainforests (Figs 30C, 38C, 41C) and wet eucalypt forests (Figs 39C, 42C, 45C), but occasionally in temperate heathlands or lowland rainforests (Fig. 40C). In south-eastern Australia they occur on Kangaroo Island (South Australia) and along the Great Dividing Range, from Grampians National Park in south-western Victoria north to Kroombit Tops National Park in south-eastern Queensland. In south-western Western Australia they occur from the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park east to Cape Le Grand National Park, with outlying populations in the Porongurup and Stirling Range National Parks. In north-eastern Queensland archaeids occur along the Great Dividing Range, from Eungella National Park near Mackay north to the Mount Finnigan Uplands, near Cooktown. Although this distribution is markedly concordant with the distribution of closed and tall open forests in Australia’s east and extreme south-west (see Specht 1981), assassin spiders appear to be notably absent from Tasmania, from the Australian Alps and from the ‘St Lawrence Gap’ (Webb and Tracey 1981) (Fig. 2), as evidenced by the lack of museum specimens and despite targeted searches by the senior author.

Composition

Five described species – Austrarchaea daviesae Forster & Platnick, 1984, Austrarchaea hickmani (Butler, 1929), Austrarchaea mainae Platnick, 1991b, Austrarchaea nodosa (Forster, 1956) and Austrarchaea robinsi Harvey, 2002a – and the 17 new species from mid-eastern Australia: Austrarchaea alani sp. n., Austrarchaea aleenae sp. n., Austrarchaea binfordae sp. n., Austrarchaea christopheri sp. n., Austrarchaea clyneae sp. n., Austrarchaea cunninghami sp. n., Austrarchaea dianneae sp. n., Austrarchaea harmsi sp. n., Austrarchaea helenae sp. n., Austrarchaea judyae sp. n., Austrarchaea mascordi sp. n., Austrarchaea mcguiganae sp. n., Austrarchaea milledgei sp. n., Austrarchaea monteithi sp. n., Austrarchaea platnickorum sp. n., Austrarchaea raveni sp. n. and Austrarchaea smithae sp. n.

Remarks

At least three clades of Archaeidae can be recognised in Australia (Fig. 3B; see also Wood et al. 2010^[7]): a mid-eastern Australian clade, distributed from southern New South Wales to south-eastern Queensland (including the enigmatic, basal species Austrarchaea monteithi sp. n.); a north-eastern Queensland clade, endemic to tropical Queensland; and a southern Australian clade, known from Victoria, South Australia and south-western Western Australia. For the purposes of this revision, mid-eastern Australian species are diagnosed relative only to other related species from mid-eastern Australia (i.e. Austrarchaea nodosa and its closest relatives; Fig. 3B), all of which possess five or six dorsal hump-like tubercles on the abdomen (Figs 5F-G) and have a carapace height to carapace length (CH/CL) ratio ≥ 2.00. Austrarchaea daviesae and related species from north-eastern Queensland have only two pairs of hump-like tubercles on the abdomen (Fig. 5E), and Austrarchaea hickmani, Austrarchaea robinsi and Austrarchaea mainae from southern Australia have a carapace height to carapace length (CH/CL) ratio significantly less than 2.00 (M. Rix, pers. obs.).

Key to the species of Austrarchaea known from mid-eastern Australia (males required)

Taxon Treatment

• Rix, M; Harvey, M; 2011: Australian Assassins, Part I: A review of the Assassin Spiders (Araneae, Archaeidae) of mid-eastern Australia ZooKeys, 123: 1-100. doi

Other References

1. ↑ Platnick N (1991b) On Western Australian Austrarchaea (Araneae, Archaeidae). Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 8: 259-261.
2. ↑ Main B (1995) Additional records of the Gondwanan spider Austrarchaea from southwestern Australia. Western Australian Naturalist 20: 151-154.
3. ↑ Harvey M (2002a) A new species of Austrarchaea (Araneae: Archaeidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 21: 35-37.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Forster R, Platnick N (1984) A review of the archaeid spiders and their relatives, with notes on the limits of the superfamily Palpimanoidea (Arachnida, Araneae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 178: 1-106.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Wood H (2008) A revision of the assassin spiders of the Eriauchenius gracilicollis group, a clade of spiders endemic to Madagascar (Araneae: Archaeidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152: 255-296. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00359.x
6. ↑ Schütt K (2002) The limits and phylogeny of the Araneoidea (Arachnida, Araneae). PhD thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin.
7. ↑ Wood H, Griswold C, Gillespie R, Elias D (2010) Archaeid and mecysmaucheniid spiders and their relatives (Araneae: Archaeidae, Mecysmaucheniidae): phylogeny, biogeography and evolution of the carapace morphology. In: Żabka M (Ed) 18th International Congress of Arachnology, Book of Abstracts, July 2010. Akademia Podlaska, Siedlce, 480.

Images

Figure 1. Habitus images of live Archaeidae from mid-eastern Australia: A–B, female Austrarchaea nodosa (Forster, 1956) from Binna Burra, Lamington National Park, Queensland; C–D, female A. mascordi sp. n. from Coolah Tops National Park, New South Wales; E–F, juvenile A. raveni sp. n. from Mount Glorious, Queensland. Images A–D by M. Rix; images E–F by Greg Anderson, used with permission.  Figure 2. Map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in Australia, with mid-eastern Australian localities highlighted in black. Note the absence of Archaeidae in central-eastern Queensland, the Australian Alps and Tasmania.  Figure 3. Molecular phylogenetic data analysed as part of this study. A, Schematic map of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I–II (COI–COII) gene complex in Archaeidae and other basal Araneomorphae, showing (i) the position of primers used to amplify and sequence 1.6 kilobases of mtDNA, and (ii) the inferred stop and initiation codons for COI and COII, respectively. Note the centralised, overlapping position of the two internal sequencing primer sites (SeqF2a/SeqR1), and the TTG initiation codon for COII, present in all but one of the spider species sequenced for this study. B, Majority-rule consensus tree with re-estimated branch lengths, resulting from a combined, gene-partitioned Bayesian analysis of the COI–COII mtDNA data. Thickened branches represent clades with >95% posterior probability support, and individual support values are shown above other nodes.  Figure 4. Carapace morphology of Austrarchaea species. A–E, A. alani sp. n.: A, male pars cephalica, frontal view, showing dorsal ‘head’ region, posterior horns (H) and cheliceral foramen (CF); B, female pars cephalica, antero-lateral view, showing ocular bulge (OB), cheliceral foramen (CF) and division of pars cephalica into ‘head’ and ‘neck’ regions; C, male pars thoracica, ‘neck’ and fused cheliceral diastema (fCD), antero-lateral view; D, female chelicerae and peg teeth, frontal view; E, male ‘neck’, lateral view, showing setose tubercles (sT). F–G, A. judyae sp. n.: F, male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae (AS) and ectal stridulatory file (SF); G, detail of female posterior pars cephalica, lateral view, showing field of densely granulate cuticle.  Figure 5. Abdominal morphology of Austrarchaea species. A–C, A. judyae sp. n.: A, male abdomen, antero-lateral view, showing dorsal scute (S) and additional dorsal sclerites (ds); B, detail of female abdomen, lateral view, showing subcuticular guanine crystals (GC) and concentric arrangements of setae around sclerotic spots (ss); C, female epigastric region, ventral view, showing setose book lung covers (BL) and genital plate (GP). D, Cleared epigastric region of female A. nodosa (Forster), postero-ventral view, showing position of clustered spermathecae under posterior rim of genital plate. E–G, Female abdomens, postero-lateral view, showing arrangement of dorsal hump-like tubercles (HT) in different taxa: E, A. sp. nr. daviesae (QMB S72989, from Mount Bartle Frere, NE. Queensland); F, A. monteithi sp. n.; G, A. aleenae sp. n. Note the presence of only a single posterior hump-like tubercle (HT 5) in A. monteithi.  Figure 6. Graphs depicting the relationship between carapace length (CL) and carapace height (CH) for species of Austrarchaea from mid-eastern Australia. Overall body size variation is quantified by the relative lengths of the carapace, whereas carapace shape variation is reflected by the CH/CL ratio; taxa with a very tall, greatly elevated pars cephalica have a CH/CL ratio > 2.20. Circles ● denote New South Wales and southern Queensland species; and triangles ▲ denote Queensland species (from north of the Border Ranges). Note the relatively small body sizes of A. judyae sp. n., A. binfordae sp. n. and A. alani sp. n., and the relatively tall carapaces of most Queensland taxa. Note also the smaller body sizes and lower variance in carapace length among males relative to females.  Figure 8. Lateral ‘head’ profiles of males of species of Austrarchaea from south-eastern Queensland and extreme north-eastern New South Wales (including the Border Ranges), showing variation in carapace shape as quantified by the post-ocular ratio (P.O. Ratio) and ratio of highest point of carapace relative to post-ocular length (HPC Ratio): A, holotype A. alani sp. n.; B, holotype A. aleenae sp. n.; C, holotype A. judyae sp. n.; D, holotype A. raveni sp. n.; E, holotype A. harmsi sp. n.; F, holotype A. clyneae sp. n.; G, holotype A. cunninghami sp. n.; H, holotype A. dianneae sp. n.; I, A. nodosa (Forster, 1956) (QMB S75416). Asterisks (*) denote concave depressions.  Figure 9. Lateral ‘head’ profiles of males of species of Austrarchaea from New South Wales (excluding the Border Ranges), showing variation in carapace shape as quantified by the post-ocular ratio (P.O. Ratio) and ratio of highest point of carapace relative to post-ocular length (HPC Ratio): A, holotype A. monteithi sp. n.; B, holotype A. christopheri sp. n.; C, holotype A. platnickorum sp. n.; D, holotype A. binfordae sp. n.; E, holotype A. milledgei sp. n.; F, holotype A. mascordi sp. n.; G, holotype A. smithae sp. n.; H, holotype A. mcguiganae sp. n.; I, holotype A. helenae sp. n. Asterisks (*) denote concave depressions.  Figure 10. Austrarchaea nodosa (Forster, 1956). A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, female (QMB S75416) from Lamington National Park, Queensland; B, male (QMB S75416) from Lamington National Park, Queensland. C, Male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Male (WAM T89592) pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Female (QMB S75416) internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 11. Austrarchaea dianneae sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (QMB S90186) from Tamborine National Park, Queensland; B, holotype male (QMB S90185) from Tamborine National Park, Queensland. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 12. Austrarchaea cunninghami sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (QMB S90183) from Main Range National Park, Queensland; B, holotype male (QMB S90184) from Main Range National Park, Queensland. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male right pedipalp (flipped horizontal for inter-specific comparison): D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 13. Austrarchaea clyneae sp. n. A–E, Holotype male (QMB S20425) from Mount Clunie National Park, New South Wales: A, cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view; B, chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae; C–D, pedipalpal bulb, retrolateral view; E, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; D = 0.2 mm.  Figure 14. Austrarchaea raveni sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (QMB S90192) from D’Aguilar National Park, Queensland; B, holotype male (QMB S90193) from D’Aguilar National Park, Queensland. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp (partially expanded): D–E, bulb, retrolateral view (inset shows conductor and embolus on unexpanded pedipalp of male from Mt Mee Forest Reserve, Queensland); F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 15. Austrarchaea judyae sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (QMB S90191) from Conondale National Park, Queensland; B, holotype male (QMB S90190) from Conondale National Park, Queensland. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 16. Austrarchaea harmsi sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (QMB S90187) from Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland; B, holotype male (QMB S90189) from Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 17. Austrarchaea aleenae sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (QMB S1094) from Bulburin National Park, Queensland; B, holotype male (QMB S90182) from Bulburin National Park, Queensland. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view, showing membranous bursa overlying clustered spermathecae. B = bursa; C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 18. Austrarchaea alani sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (QMB S90194) from Kroombit Tops National Park, Queensland; B, holotype male (QMB S90195) from Kroombit Tops National Park, Queensland. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 19. Austrarchaea monteithi sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (AMS KS114976) from Gibralter Range National Park, New South Wales; B, holotype male (AMS KS114977) from Gibralter Range National Park, New South Wales. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 20. Austrarchaea christopheri sp. n. A–E, Holotype male (AMS KS114968) from Dorrigo National Park, New South Wales: A, cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view; B, chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae; C–D, pedipalpal bulb, retrolateral view; E, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; D = 0.2 mm.  Figure 21. Austrarchaea platnickorum sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (AMS KS114970) from New England National Park, New South Wales; B, holotype male (AMS KS114971) from New England National Park, New South Wales. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. Note the broken left tegular sclerite 1 (TS 1) in (F), highlighted (*) at the point of breakage, compared to the long, sharply-pointed right TS 1 (see inset). C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 22. Austrarchaea binfordae sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (AMS KS13891) from Kerewong State Forest, New South Wales; B, holotype male (AMS KS114969) from Kerewong State Forest, New South Wales. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 23. Austrarchaea milledgei sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, female (WAM T112568) from Barrington Tops National Park, New South Wales; B, holotype male (AMS KS103905) from Barrington Tops State Forest, New South Wales. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–E, Holotype male pedipalpal bulb (expanded), retro-ventral view. F, Female (WAM T112568) internal genitalia, dorsal view. bH = basal haematodocha; C = conductor; Cy = cymbium; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 24. Austrarchaea mascordi sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (AMS KS114974) from Coolah Tops National Park, New South Wales; B, holotype male (AMS KS114972) from Coolah Tops National Park, New South Wales. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 25. Austrarchaea smithae sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (AMS KS114979) from Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales; B, holotype male (AMS KS114978) from Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Holotype male pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prodistal view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. C = conductor; E = embolus; Es = embolic sclerite; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 26. Austrarchaea helenae sp. n. A–D, Holotype male (AMS KS62774) from Macquarie Pass National Park, New South Wales: A, cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view; B, chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae; C–D, pedipalpal bulb (expanded), retro-ventral view. C = conductor; Cy = cymbium; E = embolus; eH = embolic portion of distal haematodocha; Es = embolic sclerite; pH = proximal portion of distal haematodocha; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; D = 0.2 mm.  Figure 27. Austrarchaea mcguiganae sp. n. A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, allotype female (AMS KS114975) from Monga National Park, New South Wales; B, holotype male (AMS KS62790) from Monga National Park, New South Wales. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–E, Holotype male pedipalpal bulb (fully expanded), retro-ventral view. G, Allotype female internal genitalia, dorsal view. bH = basal haematodocha; C = conductor; Cy = cymbium; E = embolus; eH = embolic portion of distal haematodocha; Es = embolic sclerite; pH = proximal portion of distal haematodocha; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.  Figure 30. Austrarchaea cunninghami sp. n., distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, with collection localities for A. cunninghami highlighted in yellow (red highlighted localities denote juvenile specimens of tentative identification); B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, subtropical rainforest at the type locality – Cunningham’s Gap, Main Range National Park, Queensland (April 2010). Image (C) by M. Rix.  Figure 38. Austrarchaea christopheri sp. n., distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, with collection localities for A. christopheri highlighted in yellow; B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, subtropical rainforest at the type locality – The Never Never, Dorrigo National Park, New South Wales (April 2010). Image (C) by M. Rix.  Figure 39. Austrarchaea platnickorum sp. n., distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, with collection localities for A. platnickorum highlighted in yellow; B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, snow gum woodland adjacent to cool-temperate Nothofagus moorei rainforest at the type locality – Banksia Point, New England National Park, New South Wales (April 2010). Image (C) by M. Rix.  Figure 40. Austrarchaea binfordae sp. n., distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, with collection localities for A. binfordae highlighted in yellow (orange localities denote genotyped juvenile specimens of tentative identification); B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, lowland subtropical rainforest at the type locality – McLeods Creek Road, Kerewong State Forest, New South Wales (April 2010). Image (C) by M. Rix.  Figure 41. Austrarchaea milledgei sp. n., distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, with collection localities for A. milledgei highlighted in yellow (red highlighted localities denote specimens of tentative identification); B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, cool-temperate Nothofagus moorei rainforest near the type locality – Barrington Tops National Park, New South Wales (April 2010). Image (C) by M. Rix.  Figure 42. Austrarchaea mascordi sp. n., distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, with collection localities for A. mascordi highlighted in yellow; B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, open eucalypt forest near the type locality – Breeza Lookout, Coolah Tops National Park, New South Wales (April 2010). Image (C) by M. Rix.  Figure 45. Austrarchaea mcguiganae sp. n., distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, with collection localities for A. mcguiganae highlighted in yellow (red highlighted localities denote specimens of tentative identification; orange highlighted localities denote genotyped juvenile specimens of tentative identification); B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, wet eucalypt forest at the type locality – Link Road, Monga National Park, New South Wales (April 2010). Image (C) by M. Rix.