Kochosa mendum Framenau & Castanheira & Yoo 2023, sp. nov

Kochosa mendum sp. nov. (Figs 13, 15A–E, 16A–D) Holotype. 1 male, ca. 40 km along Bruxner Highway from Bonshaw to Tenterfield, 150 m south of road (29º00′43″S 151º30′25″E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), H. Doherty, M. Elliot, 22 November–13 December 2001, pitfall trap, NDNW1/020/01 (AM KS.82810). Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin noun in apposition meaning mistake or error. It refers to the fact that we initially included the specimens of this species in K. australia sp. nov. due to their similar morphology. Other material examined (35 males, 4 females). AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: 1 male, Mt Majura, north face, 35º14'S 149º11'E (ANIC). New South Wales: 1 male, Bald Hill, E side, Tamworth, 31º04'29''S 150º57'36''E (AM KS.82802); 1 male, Bruxner Highway, 40 km from Bonshaw toward Tenterfield, 29º00'43''S 151º30'25''E (AM KS.82801); 1 male, same data (AM KS.82797); 1 male, Crown reserve, 2.5 km along Gibraltar Road, off Bruxner Highway, 29º02'26''S 151º42'15''E (AM KS.82789); 1 male, Crown reserve, 200 m past tip, between Kootingal and Tamworth, 31º04'05''S 151º02'04''E (AM KS.82805); 1 male, Crown reserve, 8.9 km along Bukkulla-Ashford Road, 29º25'59''S 151º04'18''E (AM KS.82799); 1 male, same data (AM KS.82800); 1 male, Crown reserve, corner of New England Highway & Old Tamworth Road, 31º04'30''S 151º01'40''E (AM KS.82808); 1 male, same data (AM KS.82795); 1 male, Crown reserve, Woods Reef, between road & Nangahrah Creek, 30º23'39''S 150º44'08''E (AM KS.82790); 1 male, same data (AM KS.82796); 1 female, same data (AM KS.82793); 1 male, Flagstaff Mt, West, Tamworth, 31º05'14''S 150º58'30''E (AM KS.82791), 1 male, Linton Nature Reserve, 700 m W of Reserve entrance, 30º27'38''S 150º53'12''E (KS.82811); 1 male, Linton Nature Reserve, SW corner of Reserve, 60 m E of road, 30º27'45''S 150º51'46''E (AM KS.82792); 1 male, same data (AM KS.82806); 1 male, Mt Kaputar National Park, 1.5 km W of Kilarney Gap, 30º08'31''S 150º03'39''E (AM KS.82807); 1 male, Mt Kaputar National Park, Bullawa Creek Track, 1.1 km past Foggy Dell turnoff, 30º14'15''S 150º05'23''E (AM KS.82794); 1 male, Oaky Creek Nature Reserve, 31º06'38''S 150º37'11''E (AM KS82809); 1 male, Oaky Creek Nature Reserve, ridge on NE side of Figtree Mt, 31º06'11''S 150º36'42''E (AM KS.82798); 2 males, Oaky Creek Nature Reserve, S boundary of Reserve, 31º07'02''S 150º37'14''E (AM KS.82803); 1 male, Oaky Creek Nature Reserve, S boundary of nature reserve, ca. 400 m from road, ENE base of Taggarts Mtn, 31º07'02″S 150º37'14″E (AM KS.82804); 1 female, Wambo Colliery at Warkworth Sands, Wollombi Brook, 32º03′06″S 151º18′00″E (AM KS.91889). Queensland: 1 male, Bogantungan, 13.5km N, 23º31′37″S 147º17′39″E (QM S57315), 2 males, Boggomoss No. 3, near Taroom, 25º26′S 150º01′E (QM S36630); 3 males, Drummond Range, summit, 23º31′53″S 147º17′32″E (QM S57761); 1 male, Expedition Range National Park, ‘Amphitheatre` yards, 25º13′S 149º01′E (QM S44255); 1 male, Keysland, 26º12′S 151º44′E (QM S27993); 1 female, Mt Gayndah, summit, 25º36'S 151º32'E (QM S51312); 1 male, Nipping Gully, 25º40'S 151º26'E (QM S34768); 1 female, Nipping Gully, 25º42'S 151º26'E (QM S51900); 1 male, Woodmillar (East), top, 25º41′S 151º36′E (QM S49712); 2 males, Wonga Hills, 10 km ENE, 26º03′26″S 150º55′10″E (QM S58063). Diagnosis. Males of K. mendum sp. nov. are most similar to those of K. australia sp. nov. due to the exposed, arching base of the embolus and the sperm duct that is visible through the tegulum forming an open arch (Figs 4D, 15C). Both species can be separated by the distinct sclerotised apophysis that accompanies the apical part of the embolus in K. australia sp. nov. (Fig. 4F) but not that of K. mendum sp. nov. (Fig. 15E). Likewise, the female epigyne is most similar to that of K. australia sp. nov., both forming a simple plate. However, the epigyne of K. mendum sp. nov. differs by the presence of anterior ridges (Fig. 16C) that are absent in K. australia sp. nov. (Fig. 5C, E). Description. Male (based on holotype, AM KS.82810; pedipalp QM S44255). Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown; indistinct median light band narrowing posteriorly (Fig. 15A); lateral light bands present, covered with broad patches of white setae (Fig. 15A). Sternum dark brown (Fig. 15B). Abdomen. Dorsally dark olive grey, cardiac mark continuous with dark brown borders centrally and at posterior end (Fig. 15A); venter olive-grey (Fig. 15B). Pedipalps (Fig. 15C–E). Basoembolic apophysis forms small lobe; tegular apophysis broad; embolus basally arched, long, curved along its whole length. Legs. Brown with darker annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 2 dorsal, 2 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral. Measurements. TL 4.04, CL 2.20, CW 1.33. Eyes: AME 0.05, ALE 0.04, PME 0.22, PLE 0.18. Row of eyes: AE 0.41, PME 0.52, PLE 0.77. Sternum (length/width) 0.90/0.69. Labium (length/width) 0.35/0.39. AL 1.80, AW 1.18. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.74+0.59+- +0.74=2.08, I 1.27+1.71+0.99+0.74=4.71, II 1.09+1.42+0.78+0.59=3.97, III 1.09+1.21+0.93+0.53=3.75, IV 1.43 +2.02+1.43+0.90=5.77. Variation: Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.60–4.71, 4.12 ± 0.37; CL 1.82–2.42, 2.14 ± 0.22; CW 1.15–1.70, 1.35 ± 0.15, n = 11. The median band on the carapace is often more distinct in other males investigated. Female (based on QM S51900; epigyne AM KS.82793). Cephalothorax and abdomen. Colouration and setae as male (Fig. 16A, B). Epigyne. Ventral view: wide sclerotised plate incised to about one third by transverse edges in anterior half (Fig. 16C); dorsal view: spermathecal heads spherical with one or two branches antero- and posterolaterally; spermathecal stalk short, vulval chamber convoluted (Fig. 16D). Legs. light brown with distinct dark annulations; spination of leg I: femur: 3 dorsal (apical one small), 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs and 1 apicoventral. Measurements. TL 4.25, CL 2.28, CW 1.27. Eyes: AME 0.05, ALE 0.05, PME 0.22, PLE 0.18. Row of eyes: AE 0.56, PME 0.67, PLE 0.94. Sternum (length/width) 1.03/0.86. Labium (length/width) 0.33/0.38. AL 2.80, AW 1.73. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.74+0.70+- +0.65=2.05, I 1.30+1.77+1.11+0.82=5.00, II 1.28+1.65+1.11+0.72=4.76, III 1.11+1.27+1.13+0.63=4.16, IV 1.55+ 1.97+1.84+0.92=6.28. Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.40–5.20, 4.19 ± 0.74; CL 1.71–2.50, 2.18 ± 0.34; CW 1.20–1.50, 1.34 ± 0.14, n = 4. Colour patterns are similar to the specimen illustrated here, but the median band on the carapace is somewhat more distinct and the venter of the abdomen darker. A very small female measured here did not have a whole cardiac mark, but a single pale spot on the dorsal abdomen. Life history and habitat preferences. Mature males and females of K. mendum sp. nov. have mainly been found between October and January, with a single record from March, indicating this to be a spring/early summermature species. The species appears to prefer open forests and woodlands; habitat descriptions include “open forest”, “Brigalow”, “dry sclerophyll woodland” and “ironbark woodland”. Distribution. Kochosa mendum sp. nov. has been found from southern New South Wales into central east Queensland (Fig. 13).