Abstract
Artesian springs, commonly referred to as mound springs, are isolated unique threatened wetlands in arid central Australia that harbor a large number of endemic and relict species. Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are the dominant invertebrate predators in mound springs and are the most abundant spider family present. Nine species are common, five of which are known to occur in other Australian wetland habitats, such as river floodplains and lakeshores: Artoria howquaensisFramenau 2002, Hogna crispipes (L. Koch 1877) new combination (= Trochosa pulveresparsa (L. Koch 1877) new synonymy; = Geolycosa tongatabuensis (Strand 1911) new synonymy; = Tarentula tannaStrand 1913 new synonymy; = Lycosa waiteiRainbow 1917 new synonymy; = Lycosa strenuaRainbow 1920 new synonymy; = Lycosa rainbowi (Roewer 1951) new synonymy), Venatrix arenaris (Hogg 1905), V. fontisFramenau & Vink 2001, and V. goyderi (Hickman 1944). Four species commonly found in mound springs are described as new: Artoria victoriensis new species, Hogna diyari new species, H. kuyani new species, and Tetralycosa arabanae new species. Venatrix fontis and T. arabanae are mainly found at mound springs and have only rarely been recorded from other wetland habitats. TetralycosaRoewer 1960 is revalidated with Lycosa meraculaSimon 1909 as type species. The genus is defined by its unique male pedipalp morphology with a deeply divided tegulum that carries a mesally directed spur on its retrolateral section opposing the hook-shaped median apophysis. Three Australian species are transferred to Tetralycosa: T. alteripa (McKay 1976) new combination, T. eyrei (Hickman 1944) new combination and T. oraria (L. Koch 1876) new combination (= Trochosa candicans (L. Koch 1877) new synonymy; = Lycosa meraculaSimon 1909 new synonymy). Hogna pexa (Hickman 1944) new combination, an Australian wolf spider closely related to Hogna kuyani new species, is transferred from Pardosa.
