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| Venomius tomhardyi Rossi, Castanheira, Baptista & Framenau, 2023 |
Abstract
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.
Key Words: Australia, systematics, monotypy, taxonomy
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| Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov., male holotype (QVM:2023:13:0100). A dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C–E left pedipalp: C retrolateral view D dorsal view E mesal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C–E). Arrow in D points to the setal socket of the patellar macroseta. |
Order Araneae Clerck, 1757
Family Araneidae Clerck, 1757
Venomius gen. nov.
Diagnosis: Somatically, specimens of Venomius gen. nov. resemble those of Phonognatha due to the similar abdomen shape and colouration of both genera (elongate cylindrical with dark brown to black markings dorsally on paler area) (Figs 1A, B, 3A, B vs Kallal and Hormiga 2018, e.g., figs 12A, 13A, 17A, 20A). However, the genital morphology of Venomius gen. nov. is quite different from Phonognatha. Males do not have the genital synapomorphies of Phonognatha (i.e., the elongate conductor in which the embolus lies or the lack of a median apophysis; Kallal and Hormiga 2018, p. 1079) nor do females (epigyne without scape and lobed spermathecae). Similarly, the genital morphology is very different to that of Deliochus Simon, 1894 and Artiphex Kallal & Hormiga, 2022, the other representatives of the Phonognathinae Simon, 1894 (sensu Kallal et al. 2020)/Phonognathidae Simon, 1894 (sensu Kuntner et al. 2023) in Australia.
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Etymology: The new genus Venomius is named after the Marvel Comics’ character “Venom”, created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane, whose full first appearance was in “The Amazing Spider-Man #300” (published in May 1988), after an alien symbiote bonded with the character Eddie Brock. This genus-group name is a reference to the head of the character Venom, with conspicuous black spots, that resembles the abdomen of our species, specifically the male holotype (Fig. 1A). The gender of the genus-group name Venomius is masculine.
Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov.
Etymology: The species epithet is a patronym in reference to the English actor Edward Thomas “Tom” Hardy, who plays the character Eddie Brock and his alter-ego Venom in the super-hero films of the same name.
Giullia de F. Rossi, Pedro de S. Castanheira, Renner L. C. Baptista and Volker W. Framenau. 2023. Venomius, A New monotypic Genus of Australian Orb-weaving Spiders (Araneae, Araneidae). Evolutionary Systematics. 7(2): 285-292. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.7.110022
