Zephyrarchaea mainae

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Taxonavigation

Ordo: Araneae
Familia: Archaeidae
Genus: Zephyrarchaea

Name

Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick, 1991b) comb. n. – Wikispecies link – Pensoft Profile

• Austrarchaea mainae Platnick, 1991b: 259, figs 1–7.

Vernacular name

Albany Assassin Spider

Type material

Holotype male. Torndirrup National Park (probably near end of Eclipse Island Road), Western Australia, Australia, pitfall trap, 1–6.VI.1983, P. Dyer, J. Lyon (WAM T17683).
Paratypes. Allotype female, same data as holotype except 3–8.X.1983 (WAM T17684).

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Torndirrup National Park: same data as holotype except 2–9.XI.1983, 1 juvenile (WAM T17682); next to carpark at end of Salmon Hole Road, 35°06'07"S, 117°58'03"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 14.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 2 juveniles (WAM T89566DNA: TO-1-J/TO-2-J); same data except 30 April 2008, 1♀ (AMNH); same data, 1♀ (QMB S91206); same data, 1 juvenile (WAM T89567DNA: TO-171-J); next to carpark at base of Isthmus Hill, 35°05'55"S, 117°58'02"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in coastal Agonis and eucalypt grove, 14.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 2 juveniles (WAM T89568DNA: TO-3-J/TO-4-J). Bremer Bay: Wellstead Road, S. of Bremer Bay, near Yate Place, 34°24'10"S, 119°22'42"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in Agonis grove, 19.VI.2010, M. Rix, J.D. Roberts, 1♂, 1♀ (WAM T118984); same data except 21.IV.2009, M. Rix, 1♂, 1 juvenile (WAM T97463DNA: BB-147-J); same data except 2.V.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, J. Newell, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T89563DNA: BB-34-F/BB-35-J). Denmark Region: Gilge Road, 15 km SE. of Denmark, 35°03'15"S, 117°28'49"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in remnant Karri grove with Agonis, 16.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T89577DNA: GI-14-F/GI-15-J); Mount Hallowell, 7 km SW. of Denmark, 35°00'34"S, 117°18'04"E, beating grass clumps in Karri forest, 6.XI.2007, M. Moir, D. Jolly, 1 juvenile (WAM T78901); Mount Hallowell, 7 km SW. of Denmark, 35°00'38"S, 117°17'57"E, beating grass clump in Karri forest, 19.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89590DNA: MH-30-J). Gull Rock National Park: end of Ledge Point Road, near carpark, 35°00'51"S, 118°00'23"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 17.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T89578DNA: GR-16-F/GR-17-J). Mutton Bird Point: end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'53"S, 117°41'42"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 19.VI.2010, M. Rix, J.D. & B. Roberts, 1♂, 2♀, 2 juveniles (WAM T118983); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'52"S, 117°41'42"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♂, 3 juveniles (WAM T89582DNA: MB-21-J); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'40"S, 117°41'50"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89581DNA: MB-20-F); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'54"S, 117°42'07"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89584DNA: MB-23-F); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'42"S, 117°41'36"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89579); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'43"S, 117°41'43"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89580); end of Mutton Bird Road, 35°02'58"S, 117°41'56"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89583). Porongurup National Park: west of Waddy's Hut, 34°40'54"S, 117°50'48"E, sifting elevated leaf litter in unburnt Karri forest, 306 m, 20.IV.2009, M. Rix, 1♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T97465DNA: PO-166-F/PO-167-J); same data except 6 March 2010, M. Rix, L. Lopardo, 1♀ (WAM T114028DNA: PO-168-F). Torndirrup Peninsula: Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'53"S, 117°47'35"E, beating vegetation in coastal heathland, 26.IX.2007, M. Harvey, R. Ott, 3 juveniles (WAM T89557); Albany Wind Farm, off Bibbulmun Track boardwalk, 35°03'57"S, 117°47'43"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Banksia praemorsa, 12.III.2007, M. Rix, M. Harvey, M. Moir, 1 juvenile (WAM T81097); Albany Wind Farm, NW. of Wind Turbine No. 2, 35°03'43"S, 117°47'46"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89575DNA: WF-12-J); Albany Wind Farm, NW. of Wind Turbine No. 3, 35°03'44"S, 117°47'38"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89576DNA: WF-13-J); Albany Wind Farm, SW. of Wind Turbine No. 5, 35°03'35"S, 117°47'22"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89574DNA: WF-11-F); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'05"S, 117°48'01"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 27.V.2011, M. Rix, M. Harvey, G. Binford, 1♂ (WAM T118982); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'05"S, 117°48'07"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89585DNA: WF-24-F); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'10"S, 117°48'26"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89588); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'08"S, 117°48'18"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89587DNA: WF-26-J); along Bibbulmun Track E. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°04'06"S, 117°48'09"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89586DNA: WF-25-J); Cuthbert, W. of Roberts Road, 35°01'59"S, 117°47'47"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 18.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀, 2 juveniles (WAM T89589DNA: WF-28-J/WF-29-J); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°02'57"S, 117°45'30"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♂, 3 juveniles (WAM T89569DNA: WF-5-J/WF-6-J); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'10"S, 117°46'11"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89573DNA: WF-10-J); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'10"S, 117°45'59"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89572DNA: WF-9-F); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'02"S, 117°45'28"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89570); end of Prescott Vale Road, W. of Albany Wind Farm, 35°03'10"S, 117°45'43"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 15.III.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1♀ (WAM T89571DNA: WF-8-F). Walpole-Nornalup National Park: Anderson Road, 34°59'43"S, 116°52'14"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under curly grass in Marri and Agonis forest, 3.V.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 2 juveniles (WAM T89564DNA: WA-36-J/WA-37-J); same data except 24.I.2010, M. Rix, J. Wojcieszek, 1♂, 2♀, 1 juvenile (WAM T114037DNA: WA-162-F). William Bay National Park: near Elephant Rock carpark, 35°01'21"S, 117°14'12"E, sifting elevated leaf litter under Agonis, 26.VI.2010, M. Rix, 2♀ (WAM T114029DNA: WB-169-F); same data except 29.IV.2008, M. Rix, M. Harvey, 1 juvenile (WAM T89591DNA: WB-31-J); same data except 7.III.2010, M. Rix, L. Lopardo, 2 juveniles (WAM T114030DNA: WB-170-J).

Diagnosis

Zephyrarchaea mainae can be distinguished from other known congeners except Zephyrarchaea janineae sp. n. by the presence of six dorsal, hump-like tubercles on the abdomen (Figs 1E–F, 6A, 10A–B); and from Zephyrarchaea janineae sp. n. by the more flattened, rounded apex of tegular sclerite 1 (TS 1) (Figs 10D–F).
This species can also be distinguished from other genotyped taxa (see Fig. 3) by the following two unique nucleotide substitutions for COI and COII (n = 35): A(282), T(1173).

Description

Holotype male: Total length 3.44; leg I femur 1.81; F1/CL ratio 1.72. Cephalothorax dark reddish-brown; legs tan brown with darker annulations; abdomen mottled grey-brown and beige, with reddish-brown dorsal scute and sclerites (Fig. 10B). Carapace short (CH/CL ratio 1.60); 1.05 long, 1.68 high, 1.03 wide; ‘neck’ 0.60 wide; highest point of pars cephalica (HPC) near posterior third of ‘head’ (ratio of HPC to post-ocular length 0.67), carapace with pronounced concave depression anterior to HPC; ‘head’ not strongly elevated dorsally (post-ocular ratio 0.24) (Fig. 8G). Chelicerae with proximal tuft and additional comb of accessory setae on anterior face of paturon (Figs 5A, 5E, 10C). Abdomen 1.69 long, 1.18 wide; with three pairs of dorsal hump-like tubercles (HT 1–6); dorsal scute fused anteriorly to epigastric sclerites, extending posteriorly to first pair of hump-like tubercles; HT 3–6 each covered by separate dorsal sclerites. Pedipalp fully expanded (see Platnick 1991b, figs 4–6). Unexpanded pedipalp (of WAM T89569) (Figs 10D–F) pyriform, with broad, distally curved embolus supported by conductor sclerites 1–2; tegular sclerite 1 (TS 1) porrect, slightly curved in prolateral view, with flattened, rounded apex; TS 2–3 projecting beyond retro-distal rim of tegulum.
Female (WAM T118983): Total length 3.31; leg I femur 1.97; F1/CL ratio 1.73. Cephalothorax dark reddish-brown; legs tan brown with darker annulations; abdomen mottled grey-brown and beige (Fig. 10A). Carapace short (CH/CL ratio 1.71); 1.14 long, 1.95 high, 1.10 wide; ‘neck’ 0.68 wide; highest point of pars cephalica (HPC) near posterior third of ‘head’ (ratio of HPC to post-ocular length 0.63), carapace with pronounced concave depression anterior to HPC; ‘head’ not strongly elevated dorsally (post-ocular ratio 0.24) (Fig. 9E). Chelicerae without accessory setae on anterior face of paturon. Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.36 wide; with three pairs of dorsal hump-like tubercles (HT 1–6). Internal genitalia (Fig. 10G) with cluster of ≤ 15 sausage-shaped spermathecae either side of gonopore, clusters widely separated along midline of genital plate.
Variation: Males (n = 8): total length 2.82–3.44; carapace length 1.02–1.15; carapace height 1.62–1.80; CH/CL ratio 1.56–1.64. Females (n = 23): total length 2.77–3.82; carapace length 0.94–1.21; carapace height 1.45–1.99; CH/CL ratio 1.55–1.71. Specimens of Zephyrarchaea mainae from the eastern-most Bremer Bay population have significantly smaller hump-like tubercles on the abdomen compared to populations further west (see Fig. 1F cf. Figs 1E, 10A), and males from this Bremer Bay population also have a more distally paddle-shaped TS 1 morphology similar to Zephyrarchaea marki sp. n. from Cape Le Grand National Park. Rix and Harvey (2012) showed that the Bremer Bay population of Zephyrarchaea mainae is genetically distinct (Fig. 3), with no evidence of recent gene flow, indicating possible incipient speciation.

Distribution and habitat

Zephyrarchaea mainae is known from the greater Albany region of southern Western Australia, from Walpole-Nornalup National Park (near Walpole) east to Bremer Bay and north to the Porongurup National Park, with a range centred on the Torndirrup Peninsula south of Albany (Fig. 20). Specimens have been collected by beating and sifting sedges (Lepidosperma sp.), curly grass (Empodisma gracillimum) and low shrubs in dense coastal or near-coastal groves of Peppermint (Agonis sp.), with several outlying populations also known from wet Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forest.

Conservation status

Thisspecies is listed as threatened under theWestern Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. It is a short-range endemic taxon (Harvey 2002b), with known populations threatened by fire, dieback disease (affecting coastal heathland vegetation), land-clearing and climate change.

Taxon Treatment

• Rix, M; Harvey, M; 2012: Australian Assassins, Part II: A review of the new assassin spider genus Zephyrarchaea (Araneae, Archaeidae) from southern Australia ZooKeys, 191: 1-62. doi

Images

Figure 1. Habitus images of live Archaeidae from southern Australia: A paratype female Zephyrarchaea vichickmani sp. n. from Acheron Gap, Central Highlands, Victoria; B holotype male Zephyrarchaea barrettae sp. n. from Talyuberlup Peak, Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia; C paratype female Zephyrarchaea janineae sp. n. from Karri Valley, Western Australia; D male Zephyrarchaea marki sp. n. from Thistle Cove, Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia; E female Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick) from William Bay National Park, Western Australia; F female Zephyrarchaea mainae from Bremer Bay, Western Australia.  Figure 3. Phylogeny of Zephyrarchaea species from Rix and Harvey (2012), showing results from a combined, gene-partitioned Bayesian analysis of that study’s multi-gene dataset (2591 bp: COI, COII, tRNA-K, tRNA-D, ATP8, ATP6, H3). Clades with >95% posterior probability support are denoted by thickened branches, with lower individual clade support values shown above nodes. Note the presence of three main regional clades, each illustrated with an exemplar species (highlighted*). The Victorian species Zephyrarchaea grayi sp. n. and Zephyrarchaea porchi sp. n. were not able to be sequenced for this study (shown as black dots on inset map).  Figure 5. Carapace morphology of Zephyrarchaea species. A–B, Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick): A, male pars cephalica, dorso-lateral view, showing accessory setae (AS) on and adjacent to proximal cheliceral bulge; B, female pars cephalica, antero-lateral view, showing cheliceral foramen (CF) and ocular bulge (OB). C–D, Zephyrarchaea marae sp. n.: C, male cephalothorax, antero-lateral view; D, male pars cephalica and chelicerae, frontal view, showing dorsal ‘head’ region and cheliceral foramen (CF). E, Cheliceraeof male Zephyrarchaea mainae, lateral view, showing proximal accessory setae (AS) and ectal stridulatory file (SF). F–G, Detail of carapace of male Zephyrarchaea marae, lateral view, showing granulate cuticle and setose tubercles (sT).   Figure 6. Abdominal morphology of Zephyrarchaea species. A–B, Male abdomens, dorso-lateral view, showing dorsal scutes (S) and additional dorsal sclerites (ds) on hump-like tubercles: A, Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick); B, Zephyrarchaea marae sp. n. C, Female epigastric region of Zephyrarchaea mainae, ventral view, showing setose book lung covers (BL) and median genital plate (GP). D, Male epigastric region of Zephyrarchaea mainae, ventral view, showing fusion of epigastric sclerites. E, Abdominal cuticle of male Zephyrarchaea marae, lateral view, showing sclerotic spots (ss) surrounded by short setae. F, Spinnerets of female Zephyrarchaea mainae, posterior view (ventral side uppermost), showing anterior lateral (ALS) and posterior lateral (PLS) spinnerets anterior to anal tubercle (AT), and the absence of a colulus.  Figure 8. Lateral ‘head’ profiles of males of species of Zephyrarchaea, 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 Zephyrarchaea marae sp. n., showing the derivation of morphometric ratios; B, holotype Zephyrarchaea vichickmani sp. n.; C, holotype Zephyrarchaea marae sp. n.; D, holotype Zephyrarchaea porchi sp. n.; E, holotype Zephyrarchaea melindae sp. n.; F, holotype Zephyrarchaea barrettae sp. n.; G, holotype Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick, 1991b); H, holotype Zephyrarchaea marki sp. n.; I, holotype Zephyrarchaea janineae sp. n.   Figure 9. Lateral ‘head’ profiles of females of species of Zephyrarchaea, 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) (see Fig. 8): A, allotype Zephyrarchaea vichickmani sp. n.; B, allotype Zephyrarchaea marae sp. n.; C, holotype Zephyrarchaea grayi sp. n.; D, holotype Zephyrarchaea austini sp. n.; E, Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick, 1991b); F, allotype Zephyrarchaea janineae sp. n.; G, holotype Zephyrarchaea robinsi (Harvey, 2002a); H, allotype Zephyrarchaea melindae sp. n.; I, allotype Zephyrarchaea barrettae sp. n.  Figure 10. Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick, 1991b). A–B, Cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view: A, female (WAM T118983) from Mutton Bird Point, Western Australia; B, holotype male (WAM T17683) from Torndirrup National Park, Western Australia. C, Holotype male chelicerae, lateral view, showing accessory setae. D–F, Male (WAM T89569) pedipalp: D–E, bulb, retrolateral view; F, detail of distal tegular sclerites, prolateral view. G, Female (WAM T118983) internal genitalia, dorsal view. C1–2 = conductor sclerites 1–2; E = embolus; GP = genital plate; T = tegulum; (TS)1–3 = tegular sclerites 1–3. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; E = 0.2 mm.   Figure 20. Zephyrarchaea mainae (Platnick, 1991b), distribution and habitat: A, topographic map showing the known distribution of Archaeidae in south-western Western Australia, with collection localities for Zephyrarchaea mainae highlighted in yellow (red highlighted localities denote juvenile specimens of tentative identification; see Zephyrarchaea sp. unidentified juvenile specimens, above); B, satellite image showing detail of inset (A); C, temperate coastal heathland near the type locality – Albany Wind Farm, Torndirrup Peninsula, Western Australia (March 2008). Image (C) by M. Rix.