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| Portacosa cinerea Framenau, 2017 |
Abstract
A new monotypic genus of Australian wolf spiders is proposed to accommodate the common south-east Australian Grey Wolf Spider, Portacosa cinerea gen. n. and sp. n. The genus includes large (total length 9.5–25.0 mm), uniformly grey-coloured wolf spiders with unique genital morphology, i.e. the ventral ridge of the tegular apophysis in the male pedipalp is comparatively sharp and situated towards its retrolateral edge, and the distinct anterior hood of the female epigyne is continuous with the inverted T-shaped median septum. Unlike most other members of the Lycosinae in Australia, the Grey Wolf Spider closes its burrow with a plug-like trapdoor. The species can be found in south-eastern mainland Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia) and Tasmania. It prefers compacted, open and often sun-exposed habitats such as road verges and river banks, but can also be found in open woodlands and grasslands.
Key Words: taxonomy, systematics, Dingosa, trapdoor
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| Live images and habitat of Portacosa cinerea gen. n. and sp. n. A, male holotype (WAM T68032) from near Apex Park, Mildura, Victoria. B, male, same locality. C, female (WAM T56062) from Specimen Hill Bushland Reserve, Bendigo, Victoria, D, female from Red Hill, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (WAM T67906); |
Family Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833
Subfamily Lycosinae Sundevall, 1833
Portacosa gen. n.
Etymology:
The genus-group name is a composite noun derived from the Latin word portus – door, referring to the trapdoor-building behaviour of the type species and –cosa, a generic ending used for genera in the family Lycosidae. The gender is feminine.
The specific epithet is a Latin adjective (cinereus – grey), referring to the colour and common name of the species, Grey Wolf Spider.
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| Live images and habitat of Portacosa cinerea gen. n. and sp. n. E, open Eucalyptus camaldulensis riparian woodland, near Apex Park, Mildura, Victoria, where the holotype male (WAM T68032) was found. F, road embankment in Red Hill, Canberra, habitat of female WAM T67906. G, closed burrow of holotype male (WAM T68032). H, open burrow of female WAM T67906 from Red Hill, Canberra. |
Volker W. Framenau. 2017. Portacosa, A New Genus for the south-east Australian Grey Wolf Spider (Araneae, Lycosidae, Lycosinae). Evolutionary Systematics. 1: 77-86. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.1.14847
