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Venomius, a new monotypic genus of Australian orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae)
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Venomius, a new monotypic genus of Australian orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae)

Giullia de F. Rossi, Pedro de S Castanheira, Renner Baptista and Volker Framenau
Evolutionary systematics, Vol.7(2), pp.285-292
2023
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CC BY V4.0 Open Access

Abstract

Araneidae Spiders Australia Taxonomy Monotypy Araneae
A new monotypic Australian genus in the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 is described, Venomius gen. nov., with V. tomhardyi sp. nov. as type species. Somatically, Venomius gen. nov. is similar to the typical leaf-curling orb-weaving spiders, such as Phonognatha Simon, 1894 or Leviana Framenau & Kuntner, 2022, due to a similar elongate cylindrical abdomen and colouration; however, the genital morphology of the new genus is very different. Most unusual are the presence of two strong macrosetae on the male pedipalp tibia. Male pedipalp sclerites are complex, with diagnostic characters including the tibial macrosetae and a keeled median and a rounded basal process on the stipes. The epigyne of females is wholly covered by the scape that has a short median process. Venomius tomhardyi gen. nov. et sp. nov. has been collected in southern Australia, from Tasmania to Western Australia, where it builds a circular, vertical orb-web. Spiders often hide in silk-lined hollows in branches of trees when disturbed during the day.

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