Artoria pileata Prado, Baptista & Framenau, 2024, sp. nov.

Artoria pileata sp. nov. Figs 24–26 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6EBDD579-8BDE-40F4-ACFF-63C6340494A8 Type material. Holotype male, Old Lissadell Station, near, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA, 16º40’S, 138º33’E, 13 October 1971, R.J. McKay (WAM T162498). Other material examined (6 males, 14 females, 2 juv. in 8 records). AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2 males, 8 females, Old Lissadell Station, near, 16º40’S, 138º33’E (WAM T86691); 1 female, same locality (WAM T162496); 1 female, same locality (WAM T162497); 1 male, same locality (WAM T86690); 1 male, Walcott Inlet, 16º25’S, 124º55’E (WAM T64059). Etymology. The specific epithet “ pileata ” is a Latin adjective meaning “with a cap”, referring to the conspicuous and wide posterior projection of the anterior margin of the atrium of the female’s epigyne, that resembles the flap of a cap. Diagnosis. The pedipalps of male Artoria pileata sp. nov. are similar to those of A. albopedipalpis Framenau, 2002, a species that does not occur in Western Australia, in having a sinuous tegular apophysis with an acute small projection on its prolateral margin, with a distal inner concavity, and a curved apex. However, in A. pileata sp. nov. the tegular apophysis is narrower, and more sclerotized, and the ventral margin of its distal part is thicker, less projected ventrally, appearing truncated in retrolateral view (Fig. 24C, D), while in A. albopedipalpis the tegular apophysis is wider, more sclerotized, with the ventral margin of its distal part thinner, very projected ventrally as an acute tip (Framenau 2002; fig. 1B). Females of A. pileata sp. nov. are distinguishable among those of other described Artoria by their epigyne with its atrium restricted to the posterior third of the epigyne, covered by the rounded expansion of its anterior margin, and delimited posteriorly by large lateral lobes (Fig. 25C, D). Description. Male (holotype, WAM T162498). Total length, 4.29. Carapace, length 2.68, width 1.84, dark brown, with paler median longitudinal band (Fig. 24A). Sternum, orange-brown (Fig. 24B). Eyes, diameter of AME: 0.08; ALE: 0.08; PME: 0.25; PLE: 0.18, anterior eye row slightly procurved, evenly spaced. Chelicerae, evenly dark brown, three retromarginal and three promarginal teeth, median largest. Labium, dark brown, with pale anterior rim (Fig. 24B). Legs, background colour reddish-brown, mostly dark brown stained, tibiae darker (Fig. 24A, B). Opisthosoma, length 1.65, width 1.30. Dorsum mostly dark grey except for the pale-brown cardiac mark as long as half of the opisthosoma (Fig. 224A). Venter mostly pale brown scattered with dark grey spots, spinnerets dark grey (Fig. 24B). Pedipalp (Fig. 24C–E), Tibia rectangular in ventral view, cymbium free tip almost as longer as half of the cymbium in ventral view; subtegulum heavily sclerotized and very slim in ventral view. Tegular apophysis a subrectangular stalk in ventral view, inclined retrolaterally, that slightly broads distally, and forms an inner concavity at its distal half, while its truncated, thick, and heavily sclerotized apex curves distally. Tegular apophysis has a sinuous prolateral margin with a median digitiform and poorly sclerotized small projection. Basoembolic apophysis wider than long, poorly sclerotized, small, and rounded. Embolus comma-like, tapering, almost filiform through most of its extension, ending in an acute and flexible tip. Terminal apophysis sclerotized, very broad, much wider than the embolus, with its basal portion bearing a concavity as a gutter. Female (WAM T162496). Total length, 5.08. Carapace, length 2.46, width 1.76. Carapace and sternum colouration like male (Fig. 25A, B). Eyes, diameter of AME 0.09, ALE 0.09, PME 0.25, PLE 0.20, anterior eye row like male. Chelicerae, dark brown (as the carapace), with irregular dark grey streaks, teeth pattern as in male. Labium, like male (Fig. 25B). Legs, like male (Fig. 25A, B). Opisthosoma, length 2.48, width 1.71. Dorsum similar to male, but with four pairs of pale brown dots in two longitudinal lines throughout the middle of the opisthosoma following the sides of the cardiac mark; venter similar to male, but with pale brown spinnerets (Fig. 25A, B). Epigyne, wider than long; atrium small, placed in posterior half of epigynal area, mostly covered by the extension of its anterior margin, which is slightly rounded, almost reaches posterior margin of epigyne and has a contrastive black line which follows to the inner margins of lateral lobes. Median septum totally covered by the extension of anterior margin of the epigyne. Lateral lobes occupying the posterior fourth of epigynal area, projected mesally, almost parallel to epigastric furrow and touching each other (Fig. 25C). Spermathecal heads globular, about one diameter apart; spermathecal stalks about as long as one spermathecal diameter, attached posteriorly and following ventrally straight to the copulatory openings in the central area of epigyne (Fig. 25D). Variation. Body length: Males (n=5): 4.29–4.39; Females (n=5): 4.19–5.08 Life history and habitat preferences. Males and females were collected in June and October, in the northern Australian dry season. There is no habitat information with any of the specimens. Distribution. Only known from two locations in the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia (Fig. 26).