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Cyrtobill darwini, a new species in a new orb-weaving spider genus from Australia (Araneae, Araneidae, Cyrtophorinae)
Journal article

Cyrtobill darwini, a new species in a new orb-weaving spider genus from Australia (Araneae, Araneidae, Cyrtophorinae)

Volker W. Framenau and N. Scharff
Records of the Western Australian Museum. Supplement, Vol.25(3), pp.315-328
2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.25(3).2009.315-328
url
https://museum.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/RecWAMuseum_25(3)_2009_315-328_FRAMENAUTELetal.pdfView

Abstract

A new monotypic genus of orb-weaving spider (Araneidae) with Cyrtobill darwini as type species is described from Australia. A reduced piriform spinning field of the anterior lateral spinnerets and the construction of a horizontal, dome-shaped orb-web suggest a placement of Cyrtobill in the araneid subfamily Cyrtophorinae Simon, 1895. However, the morphology of the male pedipalp is unique within the Araneidae as the cymbium has a basal, semicircular, sclerotised rim that creates a cymbial concavity. Cyrtobill darwini are small spiders of less than 5 mm body length and occur mainly in arid habitats such as spinifex grassland in the northern half of Australia (mainly north of 30°S latitude). Adult spiders have been found all year round; however, the species seems to be predominantly winter mature. We propose new generic combinations within the Australasian Cyrtophorinae: Cyrtophora crassipes (Rainbow, 1897), comb. nov.; Cyrtophora rainbowi (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov.; Cyrtophora trigona (L. Koch, 1871), comb. nov. (all originally described from Australia); and Cyrtophora gazellae (Karsch, 1878), comb. nov. (described from Papua New Guinea). In addition, we provide an updated species list for Australian Cyrtophora Simon, 1864.

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