Miturgopelma spinisternis sp. nov.

Figs 2c, 53

Diagnosis. Males are unique in the strong, blunt spines over the sternum and venter of coxae I–IV (Fig. 53e); Miturgopelma buckaringa sp. nov. has such spines only on the centre of the sternum, where they are centrally directed. The MA of the male palp of M. spinisternis sp. nov. is very similar to that of the sometimes-sympatric Miturgopelma ferruginea, but differs in having an apostrophe-shaped subtegulum prolaterally and the embolus originating relatively more distal than in M. ferruginea; the space between the embolus and MA thus is small, diagonal and ovoid in M. spinisternis sp. nov. but longitudinal long ovoid in M. ferruginea. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet alludes to the spiny prosomal venter.

Type Material. Queensland: male holotype, Nipping Gully, site 3, 25°41’S, 151°25’E, open forest, pitfall, 26 Jan–7 Jun 1999, G. Monteith G. Thompson, QM S70918.

Paratypes. Queensland: 1 ma., “Pearlinga”, via Mundubbera, 25°36’S, 151°08’E, semi-evergreen vine thicket, pitfall, 20 Dec 2000 – 23 Mar 2001, D. Cook, G. Monteith, QM S70920; 1 ma., “ Wonga Hills ”, site 2, 26°04’S, 150°49’E, softwood scrub, pitfall, 11 Dec 2001 – 4 Mar 2002, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S70919; 1 ma., “ Wonga Hills ”, site 3, 26°04’S, 150°49’E, softwood scrub, belah, pitfall, 11 Dec 2001 – 4 Mar 2002, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S33457; 1 ma., Allies Ck, 5 km N, 26°02’S, 151°06’E, softwood scrub, pitfall, 11 Oct–11 Dec 2001, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S70310.

Description. Male, holotype QM S70918

Carapace 3.63 long. 2.81 wide. Opisthosoma 3.69 long, 2.06 wide. Total, 7.3.

I: 3.81; 1.69; 3.50; 3.50; 2.19; 14.69. II: 3.75; 1.56; 3.38; 3.44; 2.19; 14.31. III: 3.69; 1.31; 2.88; 3.94; 2.25; 14.06. IV: 4.56; 1.38; 4.13; 5.56; 2.88; 18.50. Palp; 1.50; 0.75; 0.63; -; 3.95; 5.14.

Colour: Carapace pattern: dark bands along caput edge, dark scallops laterally on carapace; distinct dark anterolateral shoulders; opisthosoma, dorsally almost entirely pallid with some darker mottling posteriorly; ventrally none, pallid; legs fawn without mottling.

Eyes: All similar, small; ALE clearly smallest. Posterior eye row more or less overlapping; PME and PLE inner edges well separated. Sternum: With strong blunt spines and on ventral coxae I–IV. Legs moderately long. Spines: Femora pv1 only on I, II; tibia I, II p2d2r2 on I, II; palp fe with p1; ti with d1–2; cymbium 2 basal, 1 mid proventral edge.

Palp: Tibia and patella similar sized; cymbium with pair of long spines basodorsally, dorsally with hairs and uniform cover of long curved spine-like bristles, dense on apex; retrobasally with unmodified, narrow edge; dense band of strong hairs in basal third. RTA, ventral lobe rounded apically; dorsal plate with deeply bifid tip; embolus origin at mid-length, base curves sharply. MA a simple beak-like hook, longer than wide with small unsclerotised zone basally.

Distribution. Known only from southeastern Queensland.