Xeromiturga gen. nov.

Diagnosis and description. Unlike Miturga, the apical segment of the posterior lateral spinnerets is conical, not digitiform, as is the case on a number of species placed in Miturga. The genus further differs from Miturga in the scopula absent on tibiae and very weak on tarsi and confined to the apex of metatarsi I and II, in the distinctly recurved eye rows, with the ALE smaller than AME. Differs from Miturgopelma gen. nov. in the presence of a patellar apophysis on the palp, long embolus, and retrolateral groove on the cymbium. Males have basal or central embolus origin, with broad embolus base directed retrolaterally to basally, with thin embolus for full prolateral (>180°) diameter of bulb; unlike Knotodo gen. nov. The median apophysis is not slender and in the same general direction or orientation as the embolus origin. The RTA consists of two distal, trianguloid plates adjacent to the base of cymbium, and each joined by an unsclerotised zone. Males and females with AME twice the diameter of the PME.

Etymology. The genus name is based on Xero, the Greek for “dry”, and Miturga. The gender is feminine.

Type species. Xeromiturga gumbardo sp. nov.

Species included. Four: Xer. bidgemia sp. nov.; Xer. gumbardo sp. nov.; Xer. mardathuna sp. nov.; Xer. pilbara sp. nov.

Key to males of Xeromiturga gen. nov. and Miturgiella gen. nov.

1. Palpal patella without any process........................................................................ 2 Palpal patella with bilobed retrodistal process (Fig. 74c–e)................................... Xer. gumbardo sp. nov.

2(1). RTA ventral lobe trianguloid (e.g., Fig. 75d, e).............................................................. 3 RTA ventral lobe rectanguloid (Fig. 81a)....................................... Miturgiella vulgaris, gen. et sp. nov.

3(2). Embolus origin transverse to long axis of bulb, at 90° retrolateral to median apophysis (Fig. 78a)....... Xer. pilbara sp. nov. Embolus origin directed diagonally to retrobasal (Fig. 75a).................................................... 4

4(3). Median apophysis a broad twisting plate (Fig. 77a); ventral lobe of RTA (ventral view) tapers to rounded tip (Fig. 77c)...................................................................................... Xer. mardathuna sp. nov. Median apophysis a tapering hook (Fig. 75a); ventral lobe of RTA (ventral view) with apical lobe (Fig. 75a)................................................................................................ Xer. bidgemia sp. nov.