Kochosa Framenau & Castanheira & Yoo 2023, gen. nov.
Creators: name: Framenau, Volker W.
name: Castanheira, Pedro De S.
name: Yoo, Jung-Sun
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Lycosidae
Kochosa

description: Genus Kochosa gen. nov.
Type species. Kochosa australia sp. nov. (designated here).
Gender. Feminine.
Etymology. The generic name honours both the German arachnologist Carl Ludwig Koch (1778–1857) and his son Ludwig Koch (1825–1908) for their contribution to Australian Arachnology. Carl Ludwig Koch described the first Australian wolf spider species, Venatrix funesta (C. L. Koch, 1847) (C. L. Koch 1846 –47). Ludwig Koch’s Die Arachniden Australiens. Nach der Natur abgebildet und beschrieben (1871–1881), continued by Graf. E. von Keyserling (1881 –1890), remains the benchmark in Australian arachnological research.
Diagnosis. The presence of a basoembolic apophysis identifies Kochosa gen. nov. as a member of the Artoriinae (Framenau 2007). It differs from all other genera within this subfamily by a combination of somatic and genitalic characters. We propose as synapomorphy for the genus a distinct off-white or yellowish-white abdominal cardiac mark, which is surrounded posteriorly by thick black setae which accentuate its shape (e.g., Figs 8A, 9A, 14A, 15A). The cardiac mark can be dissolved to form a separate posterior spot (e.g., Figs 1G, 2H, 5A, 10A). The dorsum of the abdomen is otherwise uniformly dark olive-brown in most species. The cephalic region of the carapace is slightly elevated in lateral view, often with a sharp edge towards the thoracic region. Some salt-lake dwelling Tetralycosa also have a raised cephalic region (e.g., T. eyrei (Hickman, 1944) and T. alteripa (McKay1976)), but these spiders are much larger and have a very different colouration and genitalic structure (see McKay 1976, Framenau et al. 2006; Framenau & Hudson 2017). The basoembolic apophysis is very variable in shape (e.g., reduced to a simple edge, heavily extended retrolaterally, Figs 4F, 8E, 10E, 14E, 18E), in contrast to most other artoriine genera in which it may have a species-specific form (e.g., inverted L-shaped in Anoteropsis and subquadrate in Artoriopsis; Framenau 2007). The tegular apophysis is reduced in comparison to other artoriine genera and generally consists of a subcircular, often semi-transparent lobe (e.g., Figs 4D, 8C, 10C, 14C). In contrast to other genera within the Artoriinae, the tip of cymbium appears very pointy, as the apicolateral sides of the cymbium are concave in most species.
Description. Small to medium-sized lycosids (TL 3.3–5.9, males; 3.4–11.3, females). Carapace: dark brown, with pale median band occupying generally about one third of carapace width, and with continuous light lateral bands of variable width; lateral borders of median band parallel or converging posteriorly, median and lateral bands covered with white short and stout setae; additional white setae in some species result in species specific light colour patterns (e.g., Fig. 30A); cephalic part elevated in lateral view, often with a sharp edge towards the thoracic part; eye area dark, covered with sparse white setae; clypeus 1–2 times higher than the diameter of AME. Eyes: row of AE procurved; row of AE <row of PME <row of PLE (Fig. 4C). Chelicerae: of same colour as carapace, sometimes slightly darker or lighter; outer tubercle present in Kochosa tasmaniensis sp. nov. (Fig. 25F); three promarginal teeth, the middle one largest, and three retromarginal teeth of about equal size (rarely two retromarginal teeth in single specimens within some species). Maxillae: brown; basally lighter than apically. Labium: basally darker than apically; anteriorly bordered off-whitish. Sternum: longer than wide; brown or dark brown with obliquely erect, long and sparse setae, denser towards margins. Abdomen: ovoid, somewhat tapering posteriorly; dark greyish to olive-brown with off-white or yellowish-white cardiac mark; this mark surrounded by thick black setae which accentuate its shape, and which are particularly dense posteriorly, cardiac mark sometimes divided to form two separate spots. Legs: brown or dark brown with light or dark annulations or dorsal patches; leg formula: male 4123, 41=23, or 4213, female 4123 or 42=31; spination of leg I: femur 3 dorsal (apical one small), 0 or 1 apicoprolateral; tibia 3 ventral pairs (sometimes 4 ventral pairs, in this case apical pair small and closer to each other), 1 or 2 prolateral, 0 or 1 retrolateral; metatarsus 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral, 0–2 prolateral; 0 or 1 apicoprolateral, 0 or 1 apicoretrolateral.
Male pedipalps: Patella lighter than other segments, sometimes covered with white setae dorsally; cymbium tip pointed, as the apicolateral sides of the cymbium are concave in most species; 2–4 macrosetae on cymbium apex; embolus thin and long (e.g., Figs 4F, 10E, 25E), or stout (e.g., Figs 14E, 18E, 23E), originating prolaterally; basoembolic apophysis variable between species, e.g. simple edge (e.g., Figs 4F, 10E, 12E, 25E) to retrolaterally extended (e.g., Figs 8E, 14E); tegular apophysis roundish, semi-transparent or only weakly sclerotised, (e.g., Figs 4D, 8C, 10C,); subtegulum generally inconspicuous, situated basoprolaterally (e.g., Fig. 10C).
Female epigyne: ventral view: very variable in shape; form simple flat plate without distinct median septum (e.g., Figs 5C, E, 16C) to distinct median septum present in some species (e.g., Figs 24C, 29C, 32C); dorsal view: spermathecal head ovoid with or without short and blunt spermathecal branch; spermathecal stalks of variable length and shape; vulval chambers of variable shape present in some species (e.g., Figs 5D, 9D, 11D).
Included species. 16 species, see Table 2.
Distribution. Currently known from mesic areas in eastern, south-eastern and south-western Australia, including Tasmania (Figs 6, 13, 20, 27).
Key to the species of Kochosa gen. nov.
(Currently known state distribution is given for each species to aid identification—abbreviations as in Table 1 and 2.)
1. Males (males of K. aero sp. nov. and K. nigra sp. nov. are unknown)............................................ 2
- Females (females of K. erratum sp. nov., K. fleurae sp. nov., K. queenslandica sp. nov., K. sharae sp. nov. and K. tongiorgii sp. nov. are unknown)................................................................................ 15
2. Base of embolus exposed, highly arched and/or extending beyond the cymbium cavity (Figs 4D, 10C, 12C, 15C, 28C, 31C).....................................................................................................3
- Base of embolus not highly arched (e.g., Figs 21C, 25E)...................................................... 8
3. Embolus long, thin and curved (Figs 4F, 10E, 12E, 15E)...................................................... 4
- Embolus heavily sclerotised, stout (Figs 28E, 31E).......................................................... 7
4. Sperm duct visible through tegulum forms a closed loop (Figs 10C, 12C).........................................5
- Loop of sperm duct visible through tegulum basally open..................................................... 6
5. Embolic division retrolaterally pointed, as wide as embolus reaches (Fig. 10E) (Qld)................. K. confusa sp. nov.
- Embolic division retrolaterally with a sclerotised sinuous edge, much wider than embolus reaches (Fig. 12E) (Qld)............................................................................................. K. erratum sp. nov.
6. Embolic division centrally with elongate triangular, pointed apophysis that accompanies the tip of the embolus (Fig. 4F) (ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Vic, WA).............................................................. .. K. australia sp. nov.
- Embolic division centrally without elongate triangular, pointed apophysis (Fig. 15E) (ACT, NSW, Qld)................................................................................................... .. K. mendum sp. nov.
7. Bulb of pedipalp does not exceed cymbium cavity retrolaterally, embolus straight (Fig. 28C, E) (WA)..................................................................................................... K. timwintoni sp. nov.
- Bulb of pedipalp exceeds cymbium cavity retrolaterally, embolus slightly sinuous (Fig. 31 C, E) (WA)....................................................................................................... K. westralia sp. nov.
8. Cymbium retrolaterally with conspicuous short, stout setae (Fig. 21D) (Qld)................. K. queenslandica sp. nov.
- Cymbium retrolaterally without conspicuous stout setae....................................................... 9
9. Median light band of carapace extends laterally into the cephalic area, so that the area lateral of eyes is light (Figs 18A, 22A, 25A).............................................................................................. 10
- Median light band of carapace does not extend laterally into the cephalic area, so that the area lateral of eyes is dark brown (Fig. 8A, 14A, 23A, 30A)................................................................................. 12
10. Outer edge of cheliceral fangs with tubercle (Fig. 25F) (Tas)................................ K. tasmaniensis sp. nov.
- Outer edge of cheliceral fangs without tubercle............................................................. 11
11. Embolus stout, reaching only halfway along embolic division (Fig. 18E) (WA)...................... K. obelix sp. nov.
- Embolus thin, reaching almost to the retrolateral edge of the embolic division (Fig. 22E) (SA).......... K. sharae sp. nov.
12. Basoembolic apophysis retrolaterally extended and conspicuous in ventral view of pedipalp (Figs 8C, E, 14C, E)........ 13
- Basoembolic apophysis not retrolaterally extended (Figs 23E, 30E)............................................ 14
13. Embolus long and thin with terminal kink (Fig. 8E) (NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic).......................... K. asterix sp. nov.
- Embolus broad and stout (Fig. 14E) (Vic)................................................... K. fleurae sp. nov.
14. Embolus long, stout (Fig. 30E) (Qld)..................................................... K. tongiorgii sp. nov.
- Embolus thin, pointing apically (Fig. 23E) (NSW, Qld)........................................ K. tanakai sp. nov.
15. Epigyne without distinct median septum or other raised median structure (Figs 5C, E, 9C, 16C)...................... 16
- Epigyne with distinct median septum or other raised median structure (Fig. 7C, 11C, 17C, 19C, 24C, 26C, 29C, 32C).... 18
16. Epigyne incised posteriorly (Fig. 9C) (NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic)..................................... K. asterix sp. nov.
- Epigyne not incised posteriorly (Figs 5C, E, 6C)........................................................... 17
17. Epigyne with distinct anterior edge (Fig. 16C) (ACT, NSW, Qld)............................... K. mendum sp. nov.
- Epigyne without anterior edge (Fig. 5C, E) (ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Vic, WA)...................... K. australia sp. nov.
18. Epigyne with sinuous raised edges and central cavity (Fig. 7C) (WA)................................ K. aero sp. nov.
- Epigyne without sinuous raised edges and central cavity (e.g., Figs 11C, 17C, 19C, 24C)........................... 19
19. Median septum with central ridge and widening posteriorly (Figs 19C, 24C, 29C, 32C)............................ 20
- Median septum without central ridge that widens posteriorly (Figs 11C, 17C, 26C)................................ 23
20. Median septum distinctly inverted T-shaped (Fig. 29C) (WA)................................ K. timwintoni sp. nov.
- Median septum not inverted T-shaped (Figs 19C, 24C, 32C).................................................. 21
21. Median septum without distinct posterior edge (Fig. 24C); spermathecal heads separated by more than three times their width (Fig. 24D) (NSW, Qld)................................................................. K. tanakai sp. nov.
- Medium septum with distinct rounded posterior edge (Figs 19C, D, 32C); spermathecal heads separated by less than their width (Figs 19E, 32D)..................................................................................... 22
22. Median septum raised centrally and somewhat bulging, posterior edge almost semicircular (Fig. 32C); spermathecal ducts attached dorsally to spermathecal heads (Fig. 32D) (WA)...................................... K. westralia sp. nov.
- Median septum not raised centrally, posterior edge straighter (Fig. 19C, D); spermathecal ducts attached posteriorly to spermathecal heads (Fig. 19E) (WA)......................................................... K. obelix sp. nov.
23. Median septum forms a posterior ridge (Fig. 26C) (Tas).................................... K. tasmaniensis sp. nov.
- Median septum forms an angled edge centrally on epigyne (Figs 11C, 17C)...................................... 24
24. Median septum connected medially to form an approximate right angle posteriorly (Fig. 11C) (Qld)..... K. confusa sp. nov.
- Median septum not connected medially (Fig. 17C) (Qld)......................................... K. nigra sp. nov.
description: Published as part of Framenau, Volker W., Castanheira, Pedro De S. & Yoo, Jung-Sun, 2023, The artoriine wolf spiders of Australia: the new genus Kochosa and a key to genera (Araneae: Lycosidae), pp. 301-357 in Zootaxa 5239 (3) on pages 307-311, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5239.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7634797