Nanometa ilanejzykowiczi sp. nov.

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urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:83C66075-6FD3-41DB-985C-CECC851BD785

Type material. 1 male, Hartz Mountains National Park, Arve Falls track and Lake Osborne track (43°12'33.59''S, 146°46'14.95''S, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA), 15 January 2023, R. Baptista & P. Castanheira coll., night hand collecting (QVM:2023:130096).

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Figure 1. Nanometa ilanejzykowiczi sp. nov., holotype male (QVM:2023:130096). A, dorsal habitus; B, ventral habitus; E, frontal habitus; K–N, left pedipalp: K, ventral view; L, ectal view; M, dorsal view; N, mesal view. Ditto, female (QVM:2023:130097). C, dorsal habitus; D, ventral habitus; F, frontal habitus; G–J, epigyne: G, ventral view; H, caudal view; I, ventral view (cleared); J, dorsal view (cleared). Abbreviations: C, conductor; CD, copulatory duct; CEBP, cymbial ectobasal process; CEMP, cymbial ecto-median process; CO, copulatory opening; Cy, cymbium; E, embolus; FD, fertilisation duct; P, paracymbium; S, spermatheca; T, tegulum. Scale bars: A–D, 2 mm; E–N, 0.2 mm.

Figure 2. Nanometa ilanejzykowiczi sp. nov., male (HBI N30486-22). A–B, left pedipalp expanded: A, mesal view; B, ectal view. Abbreviations: C, conductor; CEBP, cymbial ectobasal process; CEMP, cymbial ecto-median process. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Diagnosis. Males of N. ilanejzykowiczi sp. nov. are most similar to those of N. dimitrovi Álvarez-Padilla, Kallal & Hormiga, 2020 and N. gentilis Simon, 1908 as all three have long CEBPs with apically curved tip and rounded CEMPs (Figures 1K–N, 2B; Álvarez-Padilla et al. 2020, figures 7B, D, F–H, 8A–C, 31B, D, F, H, 32A–C). It differs from N. gentilis by the conductor that has a triangular pointed tip and lacks a transversal lobe below the tip in ectal view, CEBP without additional slender projection and a CEMP that is longer and more protruding (Figures 1K–N, 2A, B; Álvarez-Padilla et al 2020, figures 7B, D, F, G, 8A–C). In relation to N. dimitrovi, the new species has a more protruding and thinner conductor with its mesal part wrapping more around the embolus, and the CEBP does not have a spiniform projection at its base (Figures 1K–N, 2A, B; Álvarez-Padilla et al. 2020, figures 31B, D, F, H, 32A–C).

Females of N. ilanejzykowiczi sp. nov. can be confused with N. dimitrovi, N. dutrorum Álvarez-Padilla, Kallal & Hormiga, 2020 and N. tetracaena Álvarez-Padilla, Kallal & Hormiga, 2020. All these species share copulatory openings at the centre of the epigynal plate (Figure 1G, H; Álvarez-Padilla et al. 2020, figures 19D, 32D, 33D). The epigyne of N. ilanejzykowiczi sp. nov. is most similar to the one of N. dimitrovi, as both have a clearly visible shallow median septum separating the two rounded copulatory openings (vs. median septum and copulatory openings partially covered by thick anterior projections of the margin of the enlarged posterior ridges in N. dutrorum and median septum being a thin keel in N. tetracaena) (Figure 1G, H; Álvarez-Padilla et al. 2020, figures 18E, 19D, 30A, 32D, 33D). It differs from N. dimitrovi due to its wider median septum with copulatory keels overhanging the copulatory openings, a relatively large posterior ridge (vs. thin median septum without keel and small posterior ridge), a wider copulatory sac and oblong smaller spermathecae which are projected ectally (vs. globose, larger and centred) (Figure 1G–J; Álvarez-Padilla et al. 2020, figures 30A, B, 32D, E).

Description. Male (holotype QVM:2023:130096): Total length 2.4. Cephalothorax length 1.1, width 0.8. Clypeus 0.3 (Figure 1E). Cephalothorax background yellowish-brown, medially mottled dark olive-grey and dark brown on carapace edges (Figure 1A). Eyes subequal in size, lateral smaller, all ringed in black (Figure 1A). Femur I length 2.2. Legs yellowish-brown mottled olive-grey (Figure 1A, B). Sternum dark grey, slightly lighter centrally (Figure 1B). Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with three and two teeth respectively, and two denticles on retromargin. Abdomen length 1.3, width 0.9; oblong, dorsum background and folium yellowish-brown, with two parallel irregular areas of red and dark brown patches lateral of cardiac area, guanine crystal patches occupy the borders of the dorsal area, sides yellowish-brown with dark streaks, venter grey (Figure 1A, B). Pedipalp with cymbium bearing CEMP trapezoid, long and protruding; and CEBP strong with enlarged base and sclerotized pointed tip, curved apically and bearing a strong apical ridge; conductor membranous, ending in a thin, triangular and very sclerotized tip, and with its mesal half very curved ventrally over the embolus, almost wrapping it; embolus strong, basally enlarged, very sclerotized, wrapped around the conductor and tapering to a pointed tip; paracymbium thumb-like, projected ectally (Figures 1K–N, 2A, B).

Female (QVM:2023:130097): Similar to male unless noted. Total length 3.9. Cephalothorax length 1.5, width 1.1. Clypeus height 0.3 (Figure 1F). Cephalothorax and abdomen coloration as in male, but with more guanine crystals (Figure 1C, D). Sternum slightly lighter centrally (Figure 1D). Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with three and two teeth respectively, and one denticle on retromargin. Abdomen length 2.4, width 1.8, with more guanine crystals, especially ventrally (Figure 1C, D). Genital area almost as wide as long (Figure 1G); copulatory openings enlarged, located at the middle portion of the epigyne, with relatively large median septum, its ectal margins projected as a thin and long keel (Figure 1G–I); copulatory ducts modified into wide subquadrate membranous sacs (Figures 1I, J); spermathecae relatively small oblong, projected ectally, with accessory duct glands clustered at the internal surfaces (Figure 1J).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Tasmania: 1 female, same data as holotype (QVM:2023:130097); 1 male, same data as holotype (HBI N30486-22); 1 female, same data as holotype (HBI N30486-4).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym after Ilan Ejzykowicz, whose friendship constantly helped the senior author during his earlier career and whose Jewish family survived World War II.

Variation. Males total length 2.4–3.2 (n = 2); females total length 3.4–4.3 (n = 5). The colour hue can vary, with some brighter tones in some specimens.

Distribution. Currently only known from Hartz Mountains National Park in Tasmania (Fig. 5).

Habitat preferences and life history. All specimens of N. ilanejzykowiczi sp. nov. were collected during the summer (January). The collecting locations are generally dominated by eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.) and southern beeches (Nothofagus spp.), however the area was still recovering from recent bushfires. Some specimens were collected in small horizontal orb webs among the bushes and herbs at the borders of the Arve River near Arve Falls (Fig. 4). Three other Nanometa species were also collected at Hartz Mountain: N. tasmaniensis Álvarez-Padilla, Kallal & Hormiga, 2020, N. tetracaena and N. cerastes sp. nov.