Apricia bracteata L. Koch 1879, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Richardson, Barry J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Apricia
Apricia bracteata

description: Apricia bracteata (L. Koch, 1879) comb. nov.
Figs 32–49
Marptusa bracteata L. Koch, 1879: 1105, pl. 96 figs 7, 8.
Menemerus bracteatus — Davies & Żabka 1989: 256, fig. 57.
Type material. Syntype: 1M, ‘16532 Godeffroi Collection’ (MVMA BJR 1370), examined; Drawings provided by M. Żabka: Syntype M, Rockhampton, Queensland 150.52°E, 23.37°S, (ZMUH MG16532).
Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: QUEENSLAND: 1M, Mount Cameron, Winton, 143.03°E, 22.38°S, Apr. 1977, T. Tebble (QM S4565); 2 imm., Heron Island, 151.92°E, 23.45°S, 15 Jul. 1983, D.C.F. Rentz (ANIC 42 000694); NEW SOUTH WALES 1F, Gundabooka National Park, Bennets Gorge picnic area, 145.69°E, 30.57°S, 20 Oct. 2010, G.A. Milledge & H.M. Smith (AMS KS114361); 1F, Paroo, Darling National Park, Peery section, 9.8 km N of turnoff to Peery Homestead, 143.48°E, 30.73°S, 27 Oct. 2010, G.A. Milledge & H.M. Smith (AMS KS114446); VICTORIA: 1F, '16543' in Godeffroi Collection (MVMA BJR 1367); 1F, Robinvale, 142.77°E, 34.58°S, 25 Oct. 1988, T. Weir, J. Lawrence & M. Hansen (ANIC 42 001206); 2M, 3imm., Millewa, Murray Sunset National Park, 140.07°E, 34.75°S, 19 Nov. 2002 (ANIC 42 000800); SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 1M, 1imm., Pinkawillinie Conservation Park, 136.00°E, 33.12°S, 20 May 1990, D. Hirst (SAM BJR 1268); 1 imm., as above (SAM BJR 1394); 1M, 1imm., as above (SAM BJR 1270); WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 1F, 1imm., King Edward River Crossing, 126.07°E, 15.08°S, 4 Aug. 1998, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130207); 1M, Drysdale River Station, Dawerra Creek, S of Poonjurra Hill, 126.12°E, 15.63°S, 10 Sep. 1995, A.F. Longbottom (WAM T 130201); 1F, Gibb River Road, 126.50°E, 16.28°S, 19 Aug. 1992, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130203); 1F, Mount Elizabeth Station, 126.18°E, 16.30°S, 21 Aug. 1992, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130209); 1M, 1F, 65 km SSE Port Hedland, 118.82°E, 20.84°S, 28 Nov. 1984, B. & M. Baehr (QM S96214); 1F, Cape Lambert, 9.5 km from Wickham, 117.05°E, 20.68°S, 29 May 2007, Z. Hamilton (WAM T92316); 1M, Canning Stock Route, Well 45, 126.18 °E, 20.80°S, 9 Aug. 1990, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130200); 1F, 1imm., Canning Stock Route, Well 45, 126.18 °E, 20.80°S, 9 Aug. 1990, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130199); 1M, 1F, Woodie Woodie Road, near 'Braeside' on Oakover River, 121.02°E, 21.20°S, 4 Sep. 1994, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130215); 1F, Millsteam National Park, 117.08°E, 21.57°S, 3 Dec. 1984, B. & M. Baehr (QM S96159); 1M, Millstream National Park, Pipeline Road, 117.07°E, 21.60°S, 2 May 2003, C. Lambkin, J. Recsei & D. Yeates (ANIC 42 000691); 1M, Mount Divide, 120.82°E, 22.42°S, 9 Aug. 1992, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130211); 1M, Cane River Conservation Park, Onslow Road, 115.17°E, 21.87°S, 29 Jun. 2011, C. Whisson (WAM T115526); 1M, 63 km SW of Pannawonica, 116.25°E, 22.20°S, 28 Jun. 2007, P. Runham & J Adcroft (WAM T81348); 1M, Wittenoon Gorge, 118.33°E, 22.23°S, 2 Dec.
1984, B. & M. Baehr (QM S96203); 2F, 1imm., Carrowina Creek near Oakover River, 121.18°E, 22.33°S, 21 Jul. 1990, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130212); 5M, 4F, 6imm., Rudal River, National Park, River Crossing, 122.62°E, 22.48°S, 25 Jul. 1990, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130213); 1M, 4imm., Rudal River, National Park, River Crossing, 122.62°E, 22.48°S, 25 Jul. 1990, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130214); 1M, Karajini National Park, Weano Gorge Road, 116.25°E, 22.37°S, 25 Apr. 2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir (ANIC 42 000695); 1M, Karajini National Park, Juno Downs Road, 118.42°E, 22.72°S, 14 May 2003, C. Lambkin (ANIC 42 000690); 1F, Coral Bay, 113.77°E, 23.13°S, 11 Mar. 2006, A.F. Longbottom (WAM T 130190); 1F, Lofty Range, 119.27°E, 24.22°S, 15 Jul. 1990, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130208); 1F, Gibson Desert Nature Reserve, 12.03°E, 24.67°S, 12 Aug. 1990, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130204); 1M, 1F, 1imm., Mount Evelyn, near, 121.77°E, 25.52°S, 14 Aug. 1991, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130179); 1F, Melrose Station, Camp 8, 121.03 °E, 26.30°S, 14 Aug. 1991, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130194); 1M, Millbillillie Station, Bubble Well, MEB site 130, 120.03 °E, 26.57°S, 31 Mar. 2009, W.F. Humphries & S. Cooper (WAM T 111617); 1M, Helena-Aurora Ranges, 119.63°E, 30.38°S, 24 Sep. 1995, R.P. McMillan (WAM T 130206); 1M, Jaurdi Station, 120.17°E, 30.82°S, 3 Aug. 1991, A.E. de Jong (WAM T 130193); 1M, Dryandra, 116.92°E, 32.78°S, 28 Aug. 1978, S.J. Curry (WAM T 130202); 1F, Sieda, Fitz Loc 41, 121.77 °E, 33.23°S, 4 Nov. 2000, A.F. Longbottom (WAM T 130192).
Remarks. L. Koch (1879) described and Davies & Żabka (1989) illustrated this species. Davies & Żabka (1989) also showed drawings of the male palp of a syntype. Whilst examining the material for this species in the MVMA, a specimen with the label 16532 Godeffroi Collection was found. As this is the same number as the types in the ZMUH, it is taken to be a further member of the syntype series. The syntypes in the collection of the ZMUH can no longer be borrowed, making work on this very extensive collection of Australian types difficult and prohibitively expensive for Australian workers. Fortunately, Prof. M. Żabka has seen and drawn the palp of one of the syntypes and kindly made his illustrations available. They are shown below.
There is variation in abdominal colour pattern between individuals in this species (Figs 32, 36), though this is not reflected in consistent variation in other characters. The figures of this species in L. Koch (1879) show the cephalothorax to be a light colour, though the description and all known specimens show the cephalothorax to be medium to very dark red-brown.
Diagnosis. This species can be most easily separated from A. longipalpis by the length of the tibia and the patella of the male palp (each half the length of the cymbium compared to each twice the length of the cymbium in A. longipalpis, Fig. 65). The tibial apophysis is narrow with a rounded end in A. bracteata (Figs 42, 44) and narrow and pointed in A. jovialis (Fig. 27) but strongly built and square in shape in A. longipalpis (Fig. 60). The embolus is long and thin in A. bracteata (Figs 41, 43) and A. longipalpis (Fig. 59) but short and stubby in A. jovialis. It arises from a distinct mound on the anterior distal edge of the tegulum in all three species; however, in M. bracteata this is small, unlike the other two species.
In the female in each species there is a gland/diverticulum arising on the lateral edge of the spermatheca. In A. bracteata (Figs 45, 46) the gland is relatively large, directed laterally away from the spermatheca and arises posterior to the entry point of the insemination duct. The gland in A. jovialis (Fig. 28) arises in a similar fashion but is relatively small. In A. longipalpis (Figs 61, 62) the gland is slightly shorter, the entrance lies immediately above that of the insemination duct and then moves directly along the top of the duct; it may in fact be fused onto the top of it.
Description. Male: Syntype. Cephalothorax (Figs 32, 33) long and flat, mid to dark orange, darker on the sides. There are patches of pennate grey hairs all over the cephalothorax with a well-marked wide band of them along the sides. Surrounds of ALE, PME and PLE, black covered with patches of grey hairs. Clypeus (Fig. 35) narrow, without a thick fringe of long white hairs. Chelicerae mid to dark orange, geniculate. Two medium sized promarginal teeth (one larger than the other) and one medium sized, unident, retromarginal tooth (Fig. 34). Endites and labium brown grading to yellow distally. Sternum brown. Abdomen (Figs 32, 33) elliptical, dorsal surface varying in colour from light to dark brown, covered with scattered dark brown hairs. Edges dark brown spreading variably towards the midline dorsally and changing suddenly to a lighter brown part-way down the sides (Fig. 37). Dorsal pattern shows variation around that shown in Figs 32, 36. Spinnerets large, varying in colour to match the abdomen. Ventral abdomen mid to dark brown. Legs grading backwards from very robust to lightly built and from dark to mid brown. L1 with long grey fringe on patella, tarsus and metatarsus matching that on the clypeus. Palps: dark brown, with one short blunt tibial apophysis (Figs 40–44). Cymbium long. Tegulum rounded, with a large proximal lobe. Embolus long. It arises from a distinct mound on the anterior distal edge of the tegulum forming a clockwise quarter circle. Dimensions: CL 2.91, EFL 1.11, CW 2.29, AEW 1.73, AMEW 1.05, PEW 1.73, AL 3.28, P1+T1 2.41, L1 5.88 (1.86 + 1.18 + 1.36 + 0.93 + 0.56), L2 5.33 (1.67 + 0.99 + 1.24 + 0.80 + 0.62), L3 4.89 (1.42 + 0.87 + 0.99 + 0.99 + 0.62), L4 5.88 (1.86 + 0.99 + 1.36 + 0.99 + 0.68).
Female: As for the male, except colours much lighter and L1 less robust. Epigyne: difficult-to-see, medianfacing, ‘C-shaped’, external guides (Figs 47, 48). Copulatory openings indistinct. Insemination ducts first move laterally a short distance then in a posterior direction until joining the prolateral edges of the spermathecae (Figs 45–47). Large glands or diverticula arise from the lateral edges of the spermathecae and move in an anterior direction. The short fertilization ducts open from the median anterior edge of the spermatheca. Dimensions: CL 2.91, EFL 1.11, CW 2.11, AEW 1.61, AMEW 0.99, PEW 2.11, AL 3.72, P1+T1 2.04, L1 4.83 (1.61 + 1.05 + 1.99 + 0.68 + 0.50), L2 4.46 (1.42 + 0.99 + 0.93 + 0.62 + 0.50), L3 4.46 (1.36 + 0.80 + 0.80 + 0.87 + 0.62), L4 5.63 (1.73 + 1.42 + 0.80 + 1.11 + 0.56).
Distribution and biology. The species is found throughout the more arid parts of mainland Australia (Fig. 49). Accordingly, its IUCN status would be LC. Found under bark and in foliage.
description: Published as part of Richardson, Barry J., 2016, New genera, new species and redescriptions of Australian jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae), pp. 501-560 in Zootaxa 4114 (5) on pages 514-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4114.5.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271623