Volker W. Framenau

We revised the orb-weaving spider genus Carepalxis L. Koch, 1872 and tested its monophyly using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference phylogenetic analyses, comparing our results to a previously published family-level dataset on world-wide Araneidae. We studied the placement of the genus and the classification of the informally termed clade ‘backobourkiines’ using phylogenetic analyses based on two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and 16S rRNA (16S), and two nuclear genes, 28S rRNA (28S) and 18S rRNA (18S). Approximately 12,000 araneid records (vials) from major Australian and overseas collections were examined during our taxonomic revision. All phylogenetic analyses supported a monophyletic ‘backobourkiines’ clade, but found a polyphyletic Carepalxis, with its Australasian representatives being part of the ‘backobourkiines’ and the Neotropical species being related to the Neotropical Ocrepeira Marx, 1883. Consequently, the genus was revised to include seven endemic Australian species, Carepalxis montifera L. Koch, 1872 (type species), C. bilobata Keyserling, 1886, C. ferreirasousai sp. nov., C. kolla sp. nov., C. megalostylus sp. nov., C. tholos sp. nov. and C. tuberculata Keyserling, 1886 (=C. furcifera (Keyserling, 1886) syn. nov.), in addition to C. beelzebub (van Hasselt, 1873) (=C. suberosa Thorell, 1881 syn. nov. = C. tuberculifera (Thorell, 1881) comb. nov., syn. nov. = C. tricuspidata Chrysanthus, 1961 syn. nov.), which is present in Australia, Indonesia (West Papua) and Papua New Guinea. The following new combinations for Neotropical species previously placed in Carepalxis were proposed: Ocrepeira camelus (Simon, 1895) comb. nov., Ocrepeira gibbosa (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889) comb. nov., Ocrepeira perpera (Petrunkevitch, 1911) comb. nov., Ocrepeira quasimodo (Ferreira-Sousa & Motta, 2022) comb. nov., and Ocrepeira topazio (Ferreira-Sousa & Motta, 2022) comb. nov. Within the backobourkiines, Carepalxis can be recognised by the presence of two cephalic humps in females and two enlarged megaspines apically on tibia II of males (both here considered synapomorphies of the genus), an anteriorly elevated abdomen usually with numerous tubercles, humps or sigilla in addition to the humeral humps, an elongated male pedipalp median apophysis bearing a small projection, and a female epigyne with broad lateral lobes, and, whenever present, conspicuous transverse slits instead of baso-lateral flaps. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4F888132-4EE9-417F-9A82-7F9C470C9FB3

Among terrestrial animals, spiders exhibit the most striking examples of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) but better understanding of its evolution requires improved taxonomy and phylogeny. Many sexually dimorphic spiders lack adequate description, phylogenetic placement, and natural history observations. In South Africa, we documented the natural history of a poorly known spider, Megaraneus gabonensis (Lucas, 1858), with extreme, female-biased SSD (eSSD, female:male approximately 4:1). Here, we redescribe M. gabonensis, place Megaraneus Lawrence, 1968 phylogenetically for the first time, assess whether the observed eSSD represents an independent evolutionary origin, and test whether the macroevolutionary pattern is better explained by male dwarfism or female gigantism. The recovered phylogenetic placement of Megaraneus in the araneid 'backobourkiines', a clade previously considered as restricted to East Asia and Australasia, extends the range of this clade to the Afrotropics. We find that eSSD was present in the common ancestor of the 'backobourkiines', with further increases in female body length occurring independently in Megaraneus, Backobourkia Framenau, Dup & eacute;rr & eacute;, Blackledge & Vink, 2010, and the currently misplaced Parawixia dehaani (Doleschall, 1859). We conclude that the evolution of eSSD reflects a complex pattern of sex-specific size changes across spider phylogeny, but that in Megaraneus it results from female gigantism.

The male of Socca australis Framenau, Castanheira & Vink, 2022 is described for the first time based on a specimen collected in a campsite near the Fitzgerald River National Park in Western Australia. New distribution records are given for two species expanding their known distribution into additional states, S. caiguna Framenau, Castanheira & Vink, 2022 (previously known from Western Australia only, now also South Australia) and S. levyashini Framenau, Castanheira & Vink, 2022 (previously Victoria only, now also Queensland).

The Western Australian species of the wolf spider (Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833) genus Artoria Thorell, 1877 are revised to include 20 species, 13 of which are new to science: Artoria aculeata sp. nov., A. atrata sp. nov., A. cingulipes Simon, 1909, A. emu sp. nov., A. falcata sp. nov., A. flavimana Simon, 1909, A. impedita (Simon, 1909), A. incrassata sp. nov., A. inversa sp. nov., A. lamellata sp. nov., A. linnaei Framenau, 2008, A. pileata sp. nov., A. pinnata sp. nov., A. plicata sp. nov., A. retorta sp. nov., A. schizocoides Framenau & Hebets, 2007, A. taeniata sp. nov., A. taeniifera Simon, 1909, A. trifida sp. nov., and A. wilkiei Framenau & Baehr, 2018. Thirteen of these species are endemic to the state and of these, three are only known from their type localities. We propose Priority status for the following species in accordance with the Western Australian Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Artoria emu sp. nov., A. falcata sp. nov. and A. plicata sp. nov. (Priority 1), and two further species only known from two localities, A. lamellata sp. nov. (Priority 2) and A. retorta sp. nov. (Priority 1). Most species of Artoria in Western Australia are associated with more humid areas and their distribution patterns suggest that their range might be correlated with specific rainfall regimes. Wet pitfall traps collected 637 samples (= 62.3%) considered in this study and six species were exclusively detected using these traps, including the species here proposed for Priority listing. We therefore argue that wet pitfall traps are an imperative tool for studying the biodiversity of ground-dwelling arthropods as long as vertebrate by-catch can be minimised.

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.

A key to the six Australian genera of the wolf spider (Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833) subfamily Artoriinae Framenau, 2007 is provided, now including Artoria Thorell, 1877, Artoriopsis Framenau, 2007, Diahogna Roewer, 1960, Kangarosa Framenau, 2010, Kochosa gen. nov. and Tetralycosa Roewer, 1960. Kochosa gen. nov. is described to include 16 species: K. australia sp. nov. (type species; from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia), K. aero sp. nov. (Western Australia), K. asterix sp. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria), K. confusa sp. nov. (Queensland), K. erratum sp. nov. (Queensland), K. fleurae sp. nov. (Victoria), K. mendum sp. nov. (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland), K. nigra sp. nov. (Queensland), K. obelix sp. nov. (Western Australia), K. queenslandica sp. nov. (Queensland), K. sharae sp. nov. (South Australia), K. tanakai sp. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland), K. tasmaniensis sp. nov. (Tasmania), K. timwintoni sp. nov. (Western Australia), K. tongiorgii sp. nov., (Queensland), and K. westralia sp. nov. (Western Australia). Kochosa gen. nov. differs distinctly from all other genera within the Artoriinae by somatic and genitalic morphology. Most conspicuous is a distinct off-white or yellowish-white cardiac mark on an otherwise generally uniformly dark abdomen. The cardiac mark is rendered by thick black setae, which are particularly dense posteriorly. The tegular apophysis of the male pedipalp is heavily reduced, generally forming a semi-transparent small lobe. In turn, the embolic division is often complex with a variety of apophyses. Kochosa gen. nov. generally inhabit mesic habitats such as temperate and tropical shrubs and forests along the eastern and south-eastern coast and in the south-western parts of Australia.

We describe five new species of mouse spiders, genus Missulena Walckenaer, 1805 (family Actinopodidae Simon, 1892), from national parks and / or conservation reserves in Western Australia, based on somatic and genitalic characteristics, and molecular data where these were available: Missulena durokoppin sp. nov., M. gelasinos sp. nov., M. ignea sp. nov., M. minima sp. nov., and M. terra sp. nov. Three of these species, M. ignea sp. nov., M. durokoppin sp. nov., and M. minima sp. nov have very limited known distributions, being known only from a single park or reserve.

A new Australian genus in the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 is described, Kangaraneus gen. nov., with K. arenaceus (Keyserling, 1886) comb. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia) as the type species and also including two other species: Kangaraneus amblycyphus (Simon, 1908) comb. nov. (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia) and K. farhani sp. nov. (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania). The new genus is included in the informally termed Australasian ‘backobourkiine’ clade due to the presence of its putative synapomorphies, specifically a single patellar macroseta on the male pedipalp and its median apophysis forming an arch over the radix. It includes medium-sized orb-weaving spiders (total length 3–12 mm) with distinct humeral humps on the almost triangular abdomen. Therefore, within the backobourkiines, it is somatically most similar to Novakiella Court Forster, 1993 but differs considerably in male genitalic characters, including a C-shaped median apophysis with an acute tip. Genitalia are most similar to those in Quokkaraneus Castanheira Framenau, 2023 from which the new genus differs by the lack of the white colouration and the shape of the abdomen.