Tetralycosa alteripa (McKay, 1976)

Figs 1C; 2 A–B, E; 14A–D; 15A–F; 17

Lycosa alteripa McKay, 1976: 418–420, Fig. 2 a–e.

Lycosa alteripa – Brignoli 1983: 450. — McKay 1985: 74.

Tetralycosa alteripa – Framenau et al. 2006: 25.

Diagnosis

Tetralycosa alteripa is most similar to T. baudinettei sp. nov. Males can be distinguished by the shape of the embolus that is fairly strong and straight in T. alteripa and much slimmer with a curved tip in T. baudinettei sp. nov. The shape of the epigyne distinguishes females; it is rectangular in T. alteripa, whereas in T. baudinettei sp. nov. only the posterior rim is visible in ventral view.

Type material examined

AUSTRALIA: holotype of Lycosa alteripa McKay, 1976, ♂, Western Australia, Fitzgerald River, claypan near mouth, 34°05′ S, 119°35′ E, 11 Jul. 1970, R.J. McKay and R. Prince leg. (WAM 71/40) (examined).

AUSTRALIA: paratypes of Lycosa alteripa McKay, 1976, 2 ♂♂, 4 juvs, same data as holotype (WAM 71/41–6) (examined); 1 ♀, Western Australia, salt lake near Israelite Bay, 33°33′ S, 123°53′ E, 19 Apr. 1974, A.V. Thomas leg. (WAM 74/501; erroneously listed as WAM 71/501 by McKay (1976)) (examined).

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA, South Australia: 1 ♀, Agars Lake, 32°53′30″ S, 135°23′45″ E (SAM NN21821); 1 ♂, Lake Fowler, 35°04′45″ S, 137°34′55″ E (SAM NN21852); 1 ♀, Ifould Lake near road crossing, 30°54′15″ S, 132°05′31″ E (SAM NN21922); 1 ♀, Lochiel Lake D, 33°54′40″ S, 138°13′00″ E (SAM NN21825); 1 ♂, Poodina Lake, 32°37′15″ S, 135°53′57″ E (SAM NN21902); 1 ♂, 1 ♀ with spiderlings, Serpentine Lakes, 28°29′20″ S, 129°00′30″ E (SAM NN21908–9); 5 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, Sinclair Gap Lake, 33°07′30″ S, 137°03′08″ E (SAM NN21791–4, NN21797, NN21799–801, NN21815–7); 3 ♀♀, Yorke Peninsula Lake I, 35°01′00″ S, 137°37′28″ E (SAM NN21846–7, NN21850). – Western Australia: 1 ♀, Boorabin, 31°13′ S, 120°19′ E (WAM T55430); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 ♀ with spiderlings, Buningonia Springs Reserve, Lake Harris Dunes, 31°19′30″ S, 123°36′30″ E (WAM T47354–6); 1 ♂, Camel Lake Nature Reserve, 34°15′50″ S, 117°57′49″ E (WAM T45402); 1 ♂, Lake Ballard, 29°32′ S, 121°12′ E (SAM NN21883); 1 ♂, Lake Gilmore, 32°37′ S, 121°36′ E (WAM T42145); 1 ♂, Lake Johnston, 32°25′40″ S, 120°38′40″ E (SAM NN21895); 1 ♂, Lake Lefroy, 31°25′18″ S, 121°46′37″ E (PES 10062); 3 ♂♂, Lake Lefroy, 31°26′24″ S, 121°42′41″ E (PES 9872); 1 ♂, same location (PES 9865).

Remark

Due to the poor condition of the male holotype, T. alteripa is here redescribed based on a well preserved representative male and female from Buningonia Spring Reserve in Western Australia.

Description

MEASUREMENTS. ♂ WAM T47354 (♀ WAM T47356): TL 18.30 (22.05), CL 9.60 (9.90), CW 7.05 (7.20). Eyes: AME 0.52 (0.54), ALE 0.32 (0.37), PME 0.86 (1.03), PLE 0.80 (0.86). Row of eyes: AE 2.29 (2.60), PME 2.93 (3.03), PLE 4.05 (4.50). Sternum length/width: 4.25/3.60 (4.43/3.75). Labium length/width: 1.35/1.43 (1.49/1.54). AL 9.00 (12.00), AW 5.70 (8.70). Legs: Lengths of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 4.20+3.45+ – +2.95 = 10.60, I 7.95+9.30+9.60+3.75 = 30.60, II 8.10+9.30+10.65+3.90 = 31.95 III 7.80+8.40+10.50+3.75 = 30.45, IV 8.70+10.35+12.60+4.50 = 34.65 (Pedipalp 4.13+3.90+ – +2.70 = 10.73, I 7.95+9.15+8.10+3.15 = 28.35, II 7.95+9.00+8.10+3.15 = 28.20, III 7.50+8.25+8.40+3.30 = 27.45, IV 8.70+10.20+10.20+3.90 = 33.00).

VARIATION. ♂ (♀) (range, mean ± SD): TL 12.75–17.85, 15.99 ± 1.68; CL 6.90–10.05, 8.90 ± 1.00; CW 5.25–7.35, 6.51 ± 0.68; n = 10 (TL 17.25–21.75, 19.35 ± 1.86; CL 9.30–10.80, 9.93 ± 0.54; CW 6.45–7.80, 7.14 ± 0.58; n = 5.

Male (based on WAM T47354)

CARAPACE (Fig. 14A). Cephalic area highest in lateral view (Fig. 15A) and steep vertical slopes in frontal view; brown with dark radial pattern; somewhat lighter around fovea and in two small patches behind PLE; distinct but discontinuous light brown lateral bands; covered with dark brown setae, white setae in lateral bands and around eyes; brown macrosetae around PE.

EYES. Row of AE strongly procurved; row of PME wider than row of AE.

CHELICERAE. Dark reddish-brown; covered frontally with white setae; three promarginal teeth with the median largest; three retromarginal teeth of similar size.

STERNUM (Fig. 14B). Yellow-brown with dense grey pigmentation; covered with white setae and brown macrosetae.

LABIUM. Brown; front end truncate and white.

PEDIPALPS (Figs 2 A–B, E; 15B–D). Tegular apophysis curved with tapering tip that points ventrally (Fig. 2 A–B, E; 15B); embolus strong and straight in ventral view (Fig. 15D), but twisted in more basal view (Fig. 2B).

ABDOMEN. Dorsally dark olive-grey; light olive-grey lanceolate heart mark in anterior half; irregular yellow-brown patches; setae colouration corresponds to basic colours (Fig. 14A). Ventrally yellowbrown with white setae. Spinnerets light brown (Fig. 14B).

LEGS. Leg formula IV>II>I>III; Brown, femora generally lighter, in particular in ventral view; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi of leg I and II dark brown; metatarsi and tarsi of leg I and II with ventral scopulae. Spination of leg I: femur: three dorsal, two apicoprolateral (left leg with one additional prolateral), four retrolateral; patella: one prolateral (left leg with one additional prolateral), one retrolateral; tibia: two dorsal; three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral; metatarsus: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral, one apicoventral, one apicoprolateral, one apicoretrolateral.

Female (based on WAM T47356)

CARAPACE (Fig. 14C). As male, but lateral bands and light patches less distinct.

EYES, CHELICERAE, STERNUM AND LABIUM (Fig. 14D). As male.

ABDOMEN. As male, but spinnerets slightly lighter (Fig. 14 C–D).

EPIGYNE. Ventral view (Fig. 15E): distinctly wider than long, median septum rectangular. Dorsal view (Fig. 15F): spermathecal heads slightly thicker than short spermathecal stalks that attach posterolaterally.

LEGS. Leg formula IV>I>II>III. Light brown, metatarsi and tarsi of legs I and II darker; scopulae ventrally on metatarsi and tarsi of leg I and II. Spination of leg I: femur: three dorsal, two apicoprolateral, two retrolateral (three on left leg); patella: one prolateral; tibia: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral; metatarsus: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, one retrolateral, one apicoventral, one apicoprolateral, one apicoretrolateral.

Life history and habitat preferences

This species is typically found on the surface of salt lakes in South Australia and Western Australia (Hudson 1997; Hudson & Adams 1996; McKay 1976). Adult spiders were found between February and July with a peak in March and April, two females carrying young were collected in April.

Distribution

Southern South and Western Australia (Fig. 17).