Aname mulgana Wilson, Harvey, Simmons & Rix, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Wilson, Jeremy D.
name: Harvey, Mark S.
name: Simmons, Leigh W.
name: Rix, Michael G.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Anamidae
Aname
Aname mulgana

description: Aname mulgana sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CA4B69C0-64CD-4DCC-9F61-AC2C8B309D2C
Figs 1, 7, 44–45
Diagnosis
Males of A. mulgana sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which males are known except A. aurensis sp. nov., A. briggsi sp. nov., A. eddieorum sp. nov., A. hughenden sp. nov., A. longitheca, A. rupicola sp. nov., and A. warrego sp. nov. by a moderate to large body size (carapace length> 4.0 mm), the presence of a long embolus (embolus length / bulb length>1.5) that has a relatively wide basal section tapering into an attenuate, sinuous distal section after about 0.4 of length, and the absence of a prominent sharp heel on metatarsus I (as in the pallida -complex) (Fig. 44L–M). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. eddieorum, A. longitheca, and A. warrego by the presence of a tibia I that widens from the proximal end to the base of the tibial spur when in lateral view (Fig. 44P; cf. Figs 39, 42, 48). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. aurensis and A. rupicola by the presence of a longer embolus (embolus length /bulb length>2.5) (Fig. 44L–M; cf. Figs 34, 46). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. hughenden by the presence of a more strongly curving embolus (Fig. 44L–M; cf. Fig. 41). Males of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. briggsi by the presence of a shorter distal pad and longer proximal excavation on metatarsus I (excavation length / metatarsus length ~0.43; cf. ~ 0.36 in A. briggsi) (Fig. 44Q; cf. Fig. 36).
Females of A. mulgana sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species for which females are known except A. aurensis sp. nov., A. briggsi sp. nov., A. camara, A. dingo sp. nov., A. eddieorum sp. nov., A. longitheca, and A. rupicola sp. nov. by the presence of spermathecae with two vesicles, with relatively long and straight lateral vesicles (lateral vesicle length / genitalia width>0.25) and long medial vesicles (medial vesicle length / lateral vesicle length> 1) that project medially or posteromedially, before undulating anteriorly (Fig. 45L). Females of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. aurensis, A. briggsi, A. dingo, A. longitheca, and A. rupicola by the presence of spermathecae with lateral vesicles terminating in relatively wide ends (Fig. 45L; cf. Figs 35, 37, 38, 43, 47). Females of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. camara by the presence of a darker body colouration and spermathecae with longer vesicles (lateral vesicle length /genitalia width>0.35) with less widely-spaced crowns (distance between crowns less than length of lateral vesicles) (Fig. 45A–L; cf. Fig. 107). Females of A. mulgana can be distinguished from those of A. eddieorum by the absence of bald patches on the sternum, lateral of the sigilla, and the presence of thorn-like setae around the anterior edges of the sternum, and more angular medio-ventral corners of the coxae (Fig. 45G–I; cf. Fig. 40).
Etymology
The specific epithet ‘ mulgana ’ is an adjective formed from ‘Mulga’, the common name of Acacia aneura, and the suffix ‘-ana’ signifying an association, referencing its occurrence in the Mulga Lands bioregion of central-southern Queensland and north-western New South Wales.
Type material
Holotype
AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Charleville; 26°23′ S, 146°08′ E; Oct. 1978; R.C. Turnbull leg.; QMB S9769.
Paratypes
AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂; Morven, “Ovida”; 26°29′ S, 146°49′ E; 21 Dec. 1991; M.N. Goodyear leg.; QMB S20267 • 1 ♂; Dunkeld, via Mitchell; 27°10′ S, 147°44′ E; 2 Nov. 1991; A. Sutton leg.; QMB S25559.
Other material examined
AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♀; Thrushton National Park, near Thrushton Homestead camping area; 27°44′ S, 147°42′ E; 219 m a.s.l.; 19 Oct. 2021; E.J. Briggs leg.; QMB S118217 • 1 ♂; Markarene Station, 30 miles N of Cunnamulla / Bollon Road; 27°46′ S, 146°31′ E; 6 Oct. 1984; C. Hembrow leg.; open dry eucalypt at base of sand ridge; QMB S9474 • 1 ♂; Saint George, Wagoo Road; 27°54′ S, 148°38′ E; 10 Nov. 2001; D. Jenkins leg.; QMB S60387 • 1 ♂; Dirranbandi; 28°16′ S, 147°29′ E; 18 Oct. 1982; S. Ferguson leg.; QMB S9399. – New South Wales • 1 ♂; Angledool; 29°07′ S, 147°54′ E; 23 Nov. 2001; hand collected, under fibro sheet; AMS KS77357 • 1 ♂; Wilganea Station, 90 km NE of Bourke; 29°21′ S, 146°17′ E; L. Gibson leg.; AMS KS37161 • 1 ♂; Beleuah Station, 90 km NE of Bourke; 29°21′ S, 146°14′ E; 14 Oct. 1993; L. Gibson leg.; pitfall trap; AMS KS37162 • 1 ♂; Collarenebri, on farmland; 29°25′ S, 148°15′ E; 29 Nov.–3 Dec. 2013; R.C. Santana, I. Armiach and K. Bock leg.; QMB S29116 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Lightning Ridge; 29°26′ S, 147°59′ E; 16 Dec. 1991; M. Taylor leg.; AMS KS30687 • 1 ♀; Walgett, “ Morendah ”; 29°31′ S, 147°34′ E; 17 Oct. 1982; T. Remond leg.; AMS KS10434 • 1 ♂; Walgett, “ Barfield ”; 29°48′ S, 147°38′ E; 15 Oct. 1985; T.S. Willis leg.; AMS KS16028 • 1 ♀; Walgett, “ Remington ”; 29°52′ S, 147°32′ E; Mar. 1982; B. Forster leg.; AMS KS8919 • 1 ♂; Walgett; 29°59′ S, 148°04′ E; AMS KS45847 • 1 ♂; Walgett; 30°01′ S, 148°07′ E; 23 Nov. 1988; S. Remond leg.; AMS KS19939.
Description
Male (holotype, QMB S9769)
GENERAL (Fig. 44A–Q). Body length 22.81, in good condition, colour presumably faded due to preservation.
DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 44A, E–F). Carapace length 7.78, width 7.13, length/width 1.09, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.70, caput width/carapace width 0.72, carapace red, reflective setae present, heavy on caput, moderate on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 (Fig. 44A, F); chelicerae red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.74 (Fig. 44A); eye group rectangular, width/length 2.11, eye tubercle present (Fig. 44E).
ABDOMEN (Fig. 44B, D). Abdomen length 8.75, grey-brown, dorsal pattern absent, with some evidence of reflective setae on anterior portion.
VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 44C, G–I). Labium cuspules absent (Fig. 44H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count =about 80, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 25% of maxillae length (Fig. 44C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 44C, I); sternum length/width 1.21, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, some shorter thorn-like setae around anterior edges (Fig. 44G–H); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.18, posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.19 (Fig. 44G–H); other sigilla small and lateral, medial sigilla semi-elongate, anterior sigilla round (Fig. 44G–H).
LEG I (Fig. 44N–Q). Leg I orange-brown, lighter on distal metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 7.36, patella length 4.55, tibia length 4.86, metatarsus length 4.84, tarsus length 3.05, total length 24.66, leg I length/carapace length 3.17 (Fig. 44N–O); scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus (Fig. 44N–O); spine count Fe D 0, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 0, Ti RL 0, Me PL 0, Me RL 0, Ta 0 (Fig. 44N–O); tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 2.75, widening from proximal end to spur before narrowing again towards distal end, spur present, digitiform, knuckle present, megaspine angled at 8 degrees, length to distal face of spur/tibia length [TIS/TIL] 0.41, spur height/tibia width [TISH/TID] 0.47, megaspine length/tibia length 0.21 (Fig. 44N–P); metatarsus slightly sinuous, proximal excavation present, excavation concave with pronounced heel, heel broadly rounded, excavation length/metatarsus length [MIPEL/MIL] 0.43, metatarsus length/width [MIL/MID] 4.34 (Fig. 44N–O, Q).
PEDIPALP (Fig. 44J–M). Tibia length 3.94, width 1.28, length/width [PTL/PTD] 3.09, asetose depression present, depression length/palp tibia length [PDL/PTL] 0.60, retrolateral face with consistent covering of light setae, ventral face with two elongate bristle-like setae below depression, prolateral face with two disto-ventral spines, disto-medial spine absent (Fig. 44J–K); patella prolateral face with 2 spines (Fig. 44J–K); cymbium with scopulae present distally (Fig. 44J–K); copulatory organ total length 2.33, length/palp tibia length 0.59 (Fig. 44L–M); bulb length/width 0.80 (Fig. 44L–M); embolus tapering from bulb, attenuate, with wide base tapering about halfway along into attenuate apical section, one slight bend, at about 0.4 of length, slight bend before tip, width at base/bulb width 0.29, embolus length/ bulb length 2.68 (Fig. 44L–M).
Female (QMB S118217)
GENERAL (Fig. 45A–L). Body length 21.77, in good condition.
DORSAL PROSOMA (Fig. 45A, E–F). Carapace length 9.52, width 7.52, length/width 1.27, clypeus to fovea length/carapace length 0.72, caput width/carapace width 0.79, carapace orange, caput slightly darker than thorax and clypeus darker again, reflective setae present, moderate on caput, light on thorax, fovea procurved, fovea width/carapace length 0.16 (Fig. 45A, F); chelicerae dark red-brown, rastellum absent or inconspicuous, chelicerae length/carapace length 0.40 (Fig. 45A); eye group rectangular, width/ length 1.86, eye tubercle present (Fig. 45E).
ABDOMEN (Fig. 45B, D). Abdomen length 8.84, dark grey, dorsal pattern absent, with consistent cover of short setae.
VENTRAL PROSOMA (Fig. 45C, G–I). Labium cuspules present, count =1 (Fig. 45H); maxillae heel distinct, cuspules present, count = about 173, extending posteriorly onto heel, extending laterally about 40% of maxillae length (Fig. 45C, I); coxae cuspules absent, thorn-like setae on prolateral face present (Fig. 45C, I); sternum length/width 1.24, central sternum with consistent covering of moderate setae, row of longer setae around posterior edges, some shorter thorn-like setae around anterior edges (Fig. 45G–H); posterior sigilla elongate, central sternum to posterior sigilla length/sternum length 0.21, posterior sigilla length/ sternum length 0.23 (Fig. 45G–H); other sigilla small and lateral, medial sigilla semi-elongate, anterior sigilla round (Fig. 45G–H).
LEG I (Fig. 45J–K). Leg I orange, darker on metatarsus and tarsus, femur length 6.87, patella length 4.45, tibia length 4.77, metatarsus length 4.46, tarsus length 2.77, total length 23.32, leg I length/carapace length 2.45; scopulae on distal metatarsus and tarsus; spine count Fe D 1, Fe PL 1, Pa PL 2, Ti PL 2, Ti RL 4, Me PL 2, Me RL 3, Ta 0; tibia length/width [TIL/TID] 3.15.
GENITALIA (Fig. 45D, L). Epigastric furrow unmodified (Fig. 45D); spermathecae with two vesicles each (Fig. 45L); lateral vesicle relatively straight, length 0.97, lateral vesicle length/genitalia width 0.39, length/width at base 1.74, crown un-demarcated (Fig. 45L); medial vesicle with distinct basal section angled medially, before undulating towards anterior, medial vesicle length/genitalia width 0.54, length/ width 5.25, medial vesicle length/lateral vesicle length 1.37 (Fig. 45L).
Distribution and natural history
Aname mulgana sp. nov. has a widespread distribution in central-southern Queensland and central-northern New South Wales, in the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains bioregions. It extends from Walgett in the south to Charleville in the north, and from Charleville in the west to St George in the east (Fig. 7). The form of burrows constructed by spiders of this species is unknown, but is likely to be similar to that of other eddieorum -complex species (Fig. 7).
description: Published as part of Wilson, Jeremy D., Harvey, Mark S., Simmons, Leigh W. & Rix, Michael G., 2025, An integrative systematic revision of the wishbone spiders (Araneae: Anamidae: Aname L. Koch, 1873) of subtropical and tropical eastern Australia, with the description of 55 new species, pp. 1-298 in European Journal of Taxonomy 985 on pages 65-68, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.985.2845, http://zenodo.org/record/15169471