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

Artoria retorta sp. nov. Figs 26, 30–31 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 296183CE-413B-442A-99D8-498C3B30DEA2 Type material. Holotype male, Chilimony Road, SW of Binnu, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA, 28º06’11’’S, 114º33’19’’E, 15 September 1998 – 31 March 1999, wet pitfall trap, L. King, CALM Salinity Action Plan, site NO8 (WAM T162509). Other material examined (38 males, 16 females in 4 records). AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 31 males, 12 females, Chilimony Road, SW of Binnu, 28º06’11’’S, 114º33’19’’E (WAM T68462); 1 male, same locality (WAM T162510); 1 female, same locality (WAM T162508); 7 males, 4 females, same locality (WAM T99228); 1 male, Lake Lefroy, site North East, 31°08’20.4’’S, 121°51’57.6’’E (HBI N17468-1). Etymology. The specific epithet “ retorta ” is a Latin adjective meaning ‘twisted back’ and refers to the tegular apophysis of the male, whose median and distal regions are shaped as a long, concave semi-circular blade, with its tip twisted back ventrally. Diagnosis. Artoria retorta sp. nov. is similar to A. falcata sp. nov. in male and female genital morphology. Males of both species share a pedipalp with a sinuous tegular apophysis curved retrolaterally and with its acute apex projecting ventrally, but that of A. retorta sp. nov. has a spiniform prong at its retrolateral margin (absent in A. falcata sp. nov.) and an apex tapering abruptly in retrolateral view (vs tapering gradually in A. falcata sp. nov.). The terminal apophysis has a broad gutter (vs as a thin stalk in A. falcata sp. nov.) (Figs 11C–E, 29C–E). Females of both species have epigynes with long lateral lobes and guide pockets anteriorly and a subrectangular median septum with an elevated triangular area bearing a longitudinal notch, but A. retorta sp. nov. differs by having deeper and more sclerotized guide pockets and the triangular elevated notched area of median septum stretches the entire atrium (Fig. 31C) (vs restricted to the posterior half of the atrium in A. falcata sp. nov., Fig. 11C). Description. Male (holotype WAM T162509). Total length, 4.43. Carapace, length 2.69, width 2.01, reddish-brown, with paler broad median longitudinal band and narrow marginal bands, and faint dark brown broad lateral bands (Fig. 30A). Sternum, pale reddish-brown (Fig. 30B). Eyes, diameter of AME: 0.11; ALE: 0.09; PME: 0.21; PLE: 0.16, anterior eye row slightly procurved, distance between AME-AME almost twice AME–ALE. Chelicerae, evenly reddish-brown, three retromarginal and three promarginal teeth, median largest. Labium, dark-brown, with pale anterior rim (Fig. 30B). Legs, Background colour reddish-brown, dusted in dark brown (Fig. 30A, B). Opisthosoma, length 1.75, width 1.46. Dorsum mostly dark grey, with a pale-brown cardiac mark slightly surpassing half of its length, and two pairs of visible sigilla (Fig. 30A). Venter pale-brown dusted in dark grey (Fig. 30B). Pedipalp (Fig. 30C–E), Tibia slightly globular, cymbium free tip almost as long as half of the cymbium in ventral view, with a set of distinctive macrosetae distally; subtegulum heavily sclerotized, very slim, and inconspicuous in ventral view. Tegular apophysis a sinuous concave stalk with a constriction at its base, an acute prong centrally on its ventral surface close to the middle of its prolateral margin, apex projected ventrally, broad in retrolateral view abruptly tapering to an acute tip (Fig. 30D). Basoembolic apophysis wider than long, triangular, and heavily sclerotized. Embolus semi-circular, flat, and long, slightly tapering to its truncated broad apex. Terminal apophysis poorly sclerotized curved, almost as wide as the embolus, mostly covered by it (Fig. 30E). Female (WAM T162508). Total length, 6.85. Carapace, length 3.42, width 2.72. Carapace, and sternum colouration like male (Fig. 31A). Eyes, diameter of AME 0.13, ALE 0.12, PME 0.30, PLE 0.26, anterior eye row slightly procurved, distance between AME–AME around twice AME–ALE. Chelicerae, labium, and legs similar to male (Fig. 31A, B). Opisthosoma, length 3.39, width 2.37. Dorsum almost evenly greyish-brown, without a demarcated cardiac mark, and with paler spots on its posterior third (Fig. 31A). Venter pale greyish-brown (Fig. 31B). Epigyne, longer than wide, atrium rectangular, almost as long as the whole epigyne. Median septum rectangular with a median notch from its posterior margin tapering towards its anterior margin. Lateral lobes with almost parallel elevated mesal margins and bearing two guide pockets anteriorly, directed ectally (Fig. 31C). Spermathecal heads globular, around one diameter apart; spermathecal stalks sinuous, with about twice the spermathecal diameter in length, attached mesally, curved ectally, then curved ventrally to the copulatory openings on the posterior third of the epigyne (Fig. 31D). Variation. Body length: Males (n=5): 4.18–4.66; Females (n=5): 5.09–6.85 Life history and habitat preferences. The two records do not allow a proper interpretation of the natural history and habitat preferences of A. retorta sp. nov. Remarks. As A. retorta sp. nov. is only known from two localities outside conservation reserves, we propose conservation Priority 1 for this species. Distribution. Only known from two distant locations, its type locality near Binnu, and Lake Lefroy (Fig. 26).