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

Artoria falcata sp. nov. Figs 10–12 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 22D035BD-88F5-418C-A729-33E0E7641F2B Type material. Holotype male, Oscar Range, Tunnel Cave, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA, 17º35’S, 125º10’E, 8 April 1996, A. Clarke, BES:4344 (WAM T162505). Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia (2 females, 1 juv. in two records): 1 female, Du Boulay Creek, 21º04’S, 116º06’E (WAM 98 /2154); 1 juv., Oscar Range, Tunnel Cave, 17º35’S, 125º10’E (WAM T70644); 1 female, same locality (WAM T162504). Etymology. The specific epithet “ falcata ” is a Latin adjective meaning “similar to a sickle” and refers to the tegular apophysis of the male, which is elongated, thin, curved and pointed, resembling a sickle. Diagnosis. Artoria falcata sp. nov. is similar to A. retorta sp. nov. in male and female genital morphology. Males of both species share a pedipalp with the tegular apophysis forming a long and sinuous stalk curved retrolaterally and with its acute apex projecting ventrally. However, A. falcata sp. nov. differs as the pedipalp’s tegular apophysis lacks a prong at its prolateral margin (present in A. retorta sp. nov.), its apex tapers gradually in retrolateral view (tapering abruptly in A. retorta sp. nov.) (Figs 11C–E, 30C–E), and its terminal apophysis is a thin stalk (vs broad gutter-like structure in A. retorta sp. nov.). Females of both species have long lateral lobes with guide pockets anteriorly, a sub-rectangular median septum with an elevated triangular area excavated by a longitudinal notch, but A. falcata sp. nov. epigynes have shallower and less sclerotized guide pockets and the triangular elevated notched area of the median septum is restricted to the posterior half of the atrium (stretches the whole atrium length in A. retorta sp. nov.) (Figs 12C, D, 31C, D). Description. Male (holotype, WAM T162505). Total length, 3.82. Carapace, length 2.13, width 1.55, reddish-brown, with paler broad median longitudinal band and narrow marginal bands, and dark brown broad lateral bands (Fig. 11A). Sternum, pale yellow (Fig. 11B). Eyes, diameter of AME: 0.09; ALE: 0.07; PME: 0.20; PLE: 0.16, anterior eye row slightly procurved, evenly spaced. Chelicerae, orange-brown, paler distally, three retromarginal and three promarginal teeth, median largest. Labium, dark brown, with pale anterior rim (Fig. 11B). Legs, femur yellowish-brown, darker on the area closer to its the distal margin, patella, tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus dark yellowish-brown (Fig. 11A, B). Opisthosoma, length 1.62, width 1.20. Dorsum mostly dark grey, with a pale-brown longitudinal band throughout its length, and with one row of pale brown spots on each of its laterals (Fig. 11A). Venter pale yellow, dusted in dark grey (Fig. 11B). Pedipalp (Fig. 11C–E), tibia globular, cymbium free tip almost half as long as the whole cymbium in ventral view, with a set of robust macrosetae distally; subtegulum heavily sclerotized, medium-sized. Tegular apophysis with a sinuous long and concave stalk with a slight constriction at its base and the apex projected ventrally gradually tapering to an acute tip. Basoembolic apophysis triangular, wider than long, heavily sclerotized. Embolus semi-circular, flat, and long, slightly tapering to its truncated narrow apex. Terminal apophysis as sclerotized very slim curved stalk, narrower than embolus and touching only its apex. Female (WAM T70644). Total length, 4.99. Carapace, length 2.43, width 1.70. Carapace and sternum colouration similar to male (Fig. 12A, B). Eyes, diameter of AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.23, PLE 0.19, anterior eye row similar to male. Chelicerae, orange-brown, paler distally, teeth pattern as in male. Labium, similar to male (Fig. 12B). Legs, similar to male, but with faint ringed stains throughout (Fig. 12A, B). Opisthosoma, length 2.15, width 1.76, poorly preserved, but dorsum and venter similar to male (Fig. 12A, B). Epigyne, longer than wide, atrium rectangular, almost as long as the entire epigyne. Median septum rectangular with its anterior half concave and posterior half a triangular elevation with a longitudinal notch at its posterior margin. Lateral lobes with almost parallel elevated mesal margins and bearing two guide pockets in their anterior half, directed ectally (Fig. 12C). Spermathecal heads globular, around one diameter apart; spermathecal stalks long, with about thrice the spermathecal diameter in length, attached posteriorly, and bent ventrally to copulatory openings on posterior third of epigyne (Fig. 12D). Variation. Body length: Females (n=2): 4.82–4.99. Life history and habitat preferences. The two records do not allow an interpretation of the natural history of A. falcata sp. nov. The spiders from the Oscar Range were found in a cave with sandy floor, but the species does not have any subterranean adaptations. Distribution. Only known from two localities, in the coastal Pilbara and the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia (Fig. 10).