Pillara karuah Gray &amp; Smith 2004, n.sp.
Creators: name: Gray, M. R.
name: Smith, H. M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2004
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Stiphidiidae
Pillara
Pillara karuah

description: <i>Pillarakaruah</i> n.sp. Figs. 8b, 10a–e <b>Etymology</b>. The species nameis takenfrom one of the major rivers arising in the distribution area of the species. <b>Types</b>. <b>Australia, New South Wales</b>. HOLOTYPE Ƌ KS34509, Upper Allyn, 32°10'S 151°30'E, M. R. Gray. PARATYPES &amp;female; KS70335, Tuglo, 48 km N Singleton, 32°14'S 151°16'E, 19 Jan 1977, M. R. Gray, sheet webs in logs extended 10–15 cm from log, rainforest; Ƌ KS70332, &amp;female; KS70333, data as holotype; ƋƋ KS34505 &amp; KS70336, &amp;female;&amp;female; KS70337– 9, data as described &amp;female; KS70335; Ƌ KS23663, Gloucester Tops, 32°04'S 151°34'E, alt. 1280 m, 19 Nov–4 Dec 1988, D. Bickel, malaise trap, nothofagus forest; &amp;female; KS58361, data as KS23663, 4–30 Dec 1988; Ƌ KS34506, Barrington Tops, 31°58'S 151°28'E, alt. 1666 m, 18 Jul 1971, G.S. Hunt, eucalypt forest. <b>Other material</b>. <b>Australia, New South Wales</b>. &amp;female; KS70334, data as holotype, abdomen used for SEM; Ƌ KS41327, Chichester SF, 100 m N of trig tower, Berrico Rd, 32°06'S 151°45'E, 4 Feb–9 Apr 1993, M. Gray &amp; G. Cassis, NE NSW NPWS Survey. <b>Diagnosis</b>. Differs from all species except <i>P. macleayensis</i> by presence of undivided, spine-like distal conductor; from <i>P. macleayensis</i> by the reduced MA and narrowly divergent processes of bifurcate RTA. Epigynal fossa and sclerotized area in front of it larger than in <i>P. macleayensis</i>. <b>Male</b> (holotype). BL 6.61, CL 3.06 (2.41–3.59), CW 2.08, CapW 1.27, EGW 0.90, LL 0.49, LW 0.49, SL 1.51, SW 1.35. Legs: 1243 (I: 17.83; II: 14.17; III: 11.83; IV: 14.00); ratio tibia I length:CW = 1:0.46. Male Palp: (Fig. 10a,b). Bifurcate RTA with two large, digitiform processes, diverging at an angle of less than 45° or subparallel, ends rounded with tip upturned and pointed. RVTA with a low retroapical ridge. Tegular lobe basal. Embolic origin probasal. Conductor stalked, bent and extended retrolaterally as a sickle-like, grooved spine. MA reduced toa short, membraneous spine (or 2 smaller spines) with a fleshy, collar-like ridge at base; or MA indistinct. <b>Female</b> (KS70335). BL 6.49, CL 2.69 (2.04–2.73), CW 1.88, CapW 1.22, EGW 0.82, LL 0.41, LW 0.41, SL 1.29, SW 1.16. Legs: 1423 (I: 11.67; II: 9.42; III: 7.92; IV: 9.58); ratio tibia I length:CW = 1:0.63. Epigynum: (KS70337, Fig. 10c,d). Fossa a subcircular pit, copulatory ducts opening from anterior end, cuticular area anteriorto fossalip strongly sclerotized. Internalgenitalia: (KS70337, Fig. 10e). Copulatory ducts moderately broad; spermathecae touching medially. <b>Variation</b>. MA always reduced but varies from 1–2 membraneous “spines” to indistinct. The low, collar-like ridge around the MA base may be homologous with the fleshy part of the MA in <i>Borrala</i> spp. <b>Distribution</b>. Barringtonmassif region, New South Wales.
description: Published as part of <i>Gray, M. R. &amp; Smith, H. M., 2004, The " Striped " Group of Stiphidiid Spiders: Two New Genera from Northeastern New South Wales, Australia (Araneae: Stiphidiidae: Amaurobioidea), pp. 123-138 in Records of the Australian Museum 56 (1)</i> on pages 123-138, DOI: 10.3853/j.0067-1975.56.2004.1394