Missulena davidi

Description. MALE (based on holotype; WAM T 119725). Total length 9.8. Colour: pars cephalica and chelicerae reddish-orange (Fig. 3 C); a slim, black ring surrounding the PME (Fig. 4 E); pars thoracica brown with a light, metallic blue sheen (Fig. 3 C); abdomen greyish with a strong, metallic blue sheen on the dorsal side, ventrally more brownish with a faint hint of purple (Fig. 3 D, E); sternum orange, slightly fading into olive with 8 sigilla in similar colour (Fig. 4 D); labium and maxillae orange with a dark olive spot on the base of labium (Fig. 3 F); legs olive-yellowish fading into light brown ventrally, dorsally brown (Fig. 3 A, B); spinnerets beige-coloured (Fig. 3 E). Carapace: 3.86 long and 4.67 wide; clypeus 0.31; pars cephalica covers 2.45 of its length, is highly elevated and slightly granulated with very few setae (Fig. 3 G); pars thoracica also granulated with bands of faint, radial fissures and with two notches close to the abdomen (Fig. 3 C). Eyes: OQ 4 times wider than long; outer width of each eye pair AME 0.66, ALE 2.44, PME 1.48 and PLE 2.21; diameter of AME 0.19, ALE 0.22, PME 0.15, PLE 0.19; anterior eyes very slightly recurved; posterior eyes strongly recurved (Fig. 4 E). Chelicerae: 2.04 long and 1.47 wide on the base; edges rounded and recurved with the widest point being 1.55 close to the chelicerae base (Fig. 3 C); small, faint files along the outer margin of each chelicera; evenly spread setae along the inner margin and the anterior part of the chelicerae; rastellum present, slightly pronounced, consisting of a sclerotized process with 7 (left 8) strong, conical spines (Fig. 4 F); over 25 setae cover the anterior base of fang of each chelicera; inner margin of cheliceral furrow with 2 rows of teeth and a general cheliceral teeth area in between those 2 clear rows (Fig. 4 A, J); prolateral row with approx. 9 teeth; retrolateral row with 4 teeth; intermediate area with 10 small teeth. Maxillae: 2.08 long and 1.44 wide; at least 80 - 100 weakly developed cuspules along entire anterior margin (Fig. 3 F). Labium: 0.96 long and 0.86 wide on the base; conical; at least 40 weakly developed cuspules anteriorly (Fig. 3 F); labiosternal junction visible (Fig. 4 D). Sternum: 2.6 long and 2.38 wide; ovoid (Fig. 4 D); setae of various length somewhat densely but disordered along the margin and a smaller amount of setae spread unevenly over the sternum; 4 pairs of sigilla, anterior pair smallest and hardly visible, second pair also very small and circular, third pair significantly larger than second (roughly 5 times bigger) in the shape of an elongated oval, and posterior pair biggest (roughly 1.5 times the size of the third pair) in the shape of a drop, all sigilla slightly depressed. Abdomen: 3.88 long and 3.4 wide; shape of a rounded trapezoid (Fig. 3 D); 4 spinnerets, PLS 1.12 long, 0.48 wide; PMS 0.43 long, 0.23 wide. Pedipalp: length of trochanter 1.49, femur 3.68, patella 1.68, tibia 4.01, tarsus 0.72; all segments with setae, tibia ventrally covered with comparably long setae (Fig. 4 I); tibia rather thin and slightly recurved, 1.00 wide on the widest point from dorsal and prolateral view (Fig. 4 G-I); bulb roughly pyriform (Fig. 4 G-I), two strongly sclerotized sections connected by a velar median structure (" haematodocha "); embolus short with an intumescence in proximal region; tip of embolus triangular with a small lamella and a tooth best visible from prolateral view (paratype, Fig. 3 H, I). Legs: brown setae of various sizes on all sides of the legs and bent strongly towards the exterior with the exceptions of some long, dorsal setae on tibia I and IV; ventral preening comb on tarsi and metatarsi III and IV. Leg spination: leg I: tibia rv 0, v 5, pl 0, d 0; metatarsus rv 3, v 8, pl 2, d 0; tarsus rv 3, v 3, pl 4, d 0; leg II: tibia rv 0, v 8, pl 0, d 0; metatarsus rv 0, v 11, pl 0, d 0; tarsus rv 3, v 3, pl 2, d 0; leg III: tibia rv 4, v 8, pl 0, d 11; metatarsus rv 4, v 11, pl 0, d 11; tarsus rv 5, v 9, pl 4, d 5; leg IV: tibia rv 0, v 5, pl 0, d 0; metatarsus rv 0, v 16, pl 0, d 2; tarsus rv 4, v 10, pl 3, d 3; patella I with one spine prolateral close to the tibia and patella II with one spine ventrally also close to the tibia; patella III with ca. 23 spines prolateral to dorsal (Fig. 4 B), 1 spine retrolateral; patella IV with one spine dorsal close to the tibia and approx. 12 small spines (Fig. 4 C) and ca. 18 prolateral, also very small. Leg measurements: Leg I: femur 3.72, patella 1.29, tibia 2.72, metatarsus 2.37, tarsus 1.37, total 11.47. Leg II: femur 3.31, patella 1.36, tibia 2.43, metatarsus 2.26, tarsus 1.38, total 10.74. Leg III: femur 2.72, patella 1.26, tibia 1.93, metatarsus 1.92, tarsus 1.35, total 9.18. Leg IV: femur 3.45, patella 1.47, tibia 2.76, metatarsus 2.41, tarsus 1.51, total 11.6. Formula: 4> 1> 2> 3. FEMALE (based on allotype; WAM T 107393). Total length 23.9. Colour: Carapace brown (Fig. 5 A); chelicerae reddish-orangish with a darker spot (dark reddish-brown) on each chelicerae base (Fig. 5 A); eye region light reddish colour similar to chelicerae (Fig. 5 A); abdomen greyish-brown with a faint, dorsal, metallic blue sheen (Fig. 5 B); sternum light brown fading into a reddish-brown towards labium (Fig. 5 C), sigilla darker brown (Fig. 5 C); labium und maxillae reddish-brown (Fig. 5 E); legs brown (Fig. 5 F, G); spinnerets lighter brown (Fig. 5 B). Carapace: 7.31 long and 9.88 wide; clypeus 0.74; pars cephalica covers 4.72 of its length, is highly elevated and smooth (Fig. 5 D) with some setae going along the margin of the chelicerae as well as vertically in a line from the AME to fovea plus some random setae (Fig. 5 A); pars thoracica smooth surface with bands of faint, radial fissures (Fig. 5 A). Eyes: OQ 4.9 times wider than long; width of each eye pair AME 0.91, APE 6.01, PME 3.59 and PLE 5.54; diameter of AME 0.33, ALE 0.36, PME 0.25, PLE 0.3; anterior eyes in one straight line; posterior eyes clearly recurved (Fig. 5 H). Chelicerae: 5.65 long and 4.15 wide on the base; edges rounded and recurved with the widest point being 4.73 close to the chelicerae base (Fig. 5 A); long setae along the inner margin increasing in amount towards rastellum; short and fewer setae along the outer margin and no setae in centre (Fig. 5 A); rastellum present with 10 - 14 conical spines on each chelicera and long, densely disordered setae (Fig. 5 I); approx. 25 setae cover anterior base of fang; inner margin of cheliceral furrow with two main rows of cheliceral teeth and a small cheliceral teeth area in between (Fig. 6 F); prolateral row with 11 teeth, the first 3 teeth next to the fang's base are partially grown together; retrolateral row with 10 teeth; intermediate area with approx. 32 small teeth. Maxillae: 4.48 long and 3.67 wide; at least 150 - 170 strongly developed cuspules along entire anterior margin (Fig. 5 E). Labium: 4 long and 2.27 wide on the base; conical; at least 60 cuspules (Fig. 5 E); anterior pair of sigilla reach labiosternal junction; labiosternal junction clearly developed (Fig. 5 C). Sternum: 6.32 long and 5.7 wide; oval (Fig. 5 C); setae of various length somewhat densely but disordered along the margin and a similar amount of setae of various sizes spread evenly over the sternum; 4 pairs of sigilla, anterior pair small and hardly visible, second pair (anterior-posterior) smallest and divided in circles, third pair larger than second and roughly in the shape of an elongated oval, and posterior pair biggest (roughly 4 times the size of the third pair); all sigilla depressed, two anterior pairs just slightly, two posterior pairs strongly. Abdomen: 10.87 long and 9.12 wide; surface covered with horizontal wrinkles and dense setae (Fig. 5 B); PLS 2.84 long and 1.5 wide; PMS 1.43 long and 0.6 wide. Pedipalp: Length of trochanter 1.5, femur 4.62, patella 1.79, tibia 3.23, tarsus 2.96; approx. 17 spines spread prolateral, retrolateral and ventral on tarsus. Genitalia: one pair of simple and rounded spermathecae, sperm ducts relatively short (Fig. 6 A-E). Legs: densely covered in brown setae of various sizes on all sides of the legs and bent towards the exterior with the exceptions of some long, dorsal setae on tibia, metatarsus and tarsus. Leg spination: leg I: tibia rv 0, v 0, pl 0, d 0; metatarsus rv 1, v 2, pl 0, d 0; tarsus rv 6, v 13, pl 6, d 0; leg II: tibia rv 0, v 0, pl 0, d 0; metatarsus rv 1, v 3, pl 0, d 0; tarsus rv 6, v 11, pl 3, d 0; leg III: tibia rv 1, v 0, pl 2, d 8; metatarsus rv 0, v 1, pl 0, d 18; tarsus rv 7, v 11, pl 7, d 6; leg IV: tibia rv 0, v 0, pl 1, d 5; metatarsus rv 0, v 3, pl 4, d 2; tarsus rv 1, v 15, pl 9, d 3; patellae I and II aspinose; patella III with ca. 28 spines prolateral to dorsal (Fig. 5 F); patella IV with ca. 18 spines prolateral to dorsal (Fig. 5 G). Leg measurement: leg I: femur 5.2, patella 2.16, tibia 3.4, metatarsus 2.5, tarsus 1.93, total 15.19. leg II: femur 5.32, patella 2.54, tibia 3.02, metatarsus 2.86, tarsus 2.04, total 15.78. leg III: femur 5.03, patella 2.64, tibia 2.39, metatarsus 3.08, tarsus 2.15, total 15.29. leg IV: femur 5.6, patella 2.61, tibia 3.66, metatarsus 3.31, tarsus 2.24, total 17.42. Formula: 4> 2> 3> 1.

Figs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Diagnosis. Males of Missulena davidi sp. nov. share the red colouration of chelicerae and pars cephalica with M. langlandsi Harms and Harvey, 2013, M. occataria Walckenaer, 1805, M. insignis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877, M. iugum sp. nov. and M. manningensis sp. nov. that are morphologically most similar. They differ from M. langlandsi by having strong, conical spines of the rastellum (thin and not conical in the former) and a longer carapace (> 3.00 mm; M. langlandsi up to 2.8 mm). They differ from M. occataria and M. insignis by having spines on patellae III and IV only and not on all four legs (on patellae I and II 1 spine, respectively). Missulena davidi sp. nov. males have more cuspules on maxillae and labium than those of M. manningensis sp. nov. (M. manningensis sp. nov.: 5 at labium, 30 at maxillae; M. davidi sp. nov.: 15 - 10 at labium, 35 - 100 at maxillae). Missulena davidi sp. nov. males differ from M. iugum sp. nov. by the ridge present in the cheliceral groove. Females of Missulena davidi sp. nov. have uniformly red chelicerae that they share with M. insignis; however, the fourth leg of M. davidi sp. nov. is the longest of all legs, whilst in M. insignis the longest leg is the first. Additionally, there are no cuspules recorded on the labium or the maxillae in M. insignis females.

Distribution. Pilbara region of Western Australia, excluding the northern Pilbara subregion, extending into the Little Sandy Desert region. The known linear range of this species is 295 km (Fig. 7).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of the senior author's husband, David A. Greenberg.

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA - Western Australia • 1 ♀; Carnarvon, 99 Gascoyne Road; 24 ° 53 ′ S 113 ° 39 ′ E; 23 July 2002; residents leg.; by hand; WAM T 46798 • 1 ♂; Cloudbreak Mining Lease, Fortescue Metals Group (site 25); 22 ° 20.1 ′ S 119 ° 24.23 ′ E; 6 Sept. 2006; S. Thompson leg.; WAM T 84005 • 1 ♀; Jimblebar minesite, 35 km E of Newman; 23 ° 22.5 ′ S 120 ° 12.58 ′ E; 6 Feb. 2009; P. Bolton and C. Weston leg.; active search; WAM T 95397 • 1 ♀; Murray Hills, Mulga Downs Station, Ecologia project 1142; 22 ° 07.67 ′ S 118 ° 30.92 ′ E; 19 Apr. 2009; N. Dight and L. Quinn leg.; dry pitfall trap; WAM T 97637 • 1 ♀; Davidson Creek, ca. 75 km E of Newman, vert site 6; 23 ° 25.73 ′ S 120 ° 26.8 ′ E; 9 Apr. 2010; J. Clark leg.; dry pitfall; WAM T 102165 • 1 ♀; South Parmelia, 52 km NW of Newman; 23 ° 5.13 ′ S 119 ° 19.08 ′ E; 16 Apr. 2011; R. Teale and M. Greenham leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 113591 • 1 ♂; Southern Flank, 72 km NW of Newman; 23 ° 0.17 ′ S 119 ° 8.37 ′ E; 14 Apr. 2011; R. Teale and M. Greenham leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 113596 • 1 ♂; same locality; 23 ° 0.18 ′ S 119 ° 8.35 ′ E, 14 Apr. 2011; R. Teale and M. Greenham leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 113598 • 1 ♀; 113.8 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 39.39 ′ S 118 ° 55.09 ′ E; 26 May 2011; M. Greenham and R. Teale leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 113626 • 1 ♀; 119.1 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 38.02 ′ S 118 ° 52.19 ′ E; 30 May 2011; M. Greenham and R. Teale leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 113660 • 1 ♀; 117.6 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 37.66 ′ S 118 ° 53.76 ′ E; 31 May 2011; M. Greenham and R. Teale leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 113665 • 1 ♀; Mudlark, 107 km W of Newman; 23 ° 5.63 ′ S 118 ° 43.17 ′ E; 30 June 2011; C. Cole and N. Watson leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 116746 • 1 ♀; Mudlark, 111 km WNW of Newman; 23 ° 5.2 ′ S 118 ° 41.18 ′ E; 30 June 2011; M. Greenham and J. Cairnes leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 116751 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 23 ° 5.22 ′ S 118 ° 41.17 ′ E; WAM T 116755 • 1 ♀; Mudlark, 113 km W of Newman; 23 ° 2.28 ′ S 118 ° 40.97 ′ E; 1 July 2011; M. Greenham and J. Cairnes leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 116776 • 1 ♀; Mudlark, 102 km W of Newman; 23 ° 5.4 ′ S 118 ° 48.67 ′ E; 3 July 2011; C. Cole and N. Watson leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 116839 • 1 ♀; Mudlark, 94 km W. of Newman; 23 ° 4.78 ′ S 118 ° 51.48 ′ E; 6 July 2011; M. Greenham and J. Cairnes leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 116866 • 1 ♀; same locality; 23 ° 4.77 ′ S 118 ° 51.47 ′ E; 26 July 2011; C. Cole and N. Watson leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 116868 • 1 ♀; 84.2 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 40.5 ′ S 119 ° 20.95 ′ E; 26 July 2011; D. Kamien, M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 116873 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 22 ° 40.48 ′ S 119 ° 20.9 ′ E; WAM T 116874 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 89.3 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 38.45 ′ S 119 ° 19.23 ′ E; WAM T 116875 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 89.3 km NW. of Newman; 22 ° 38.45 ′ S 119 ° 19.22 ′ E; WAM T 116881 • 1 ♀; Mulga Downs Station, Cowra, site 994 - 13; 22 ° 13.63 ′ S 119 ° 0.82 ′ E; 16 Apr. 2012; WAM T 118328 • 1 ♀; 84.8 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 40.1 ′ S 119 ° 22.48 ′ E; 27 July 2011; D. Kamien, M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 119975 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 99.1 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 34.3 ′ S 119 ° 17.15 ′ E; WAM T 119979 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 22 ° 34.3 ′ S 119 ° 17.17 ′ E; WAM T 119980 • 1 ♀; 105.3 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 30.72 ′ S 119 ° 15.55 ′ E; 28 July 2011; D. Kamien, M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 119984 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 22 ° 30.72 ′ S 119 ° 15.53 ′ E; WAM T 119993 • 1 ♀; 81.2 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 42.02 ′ S 119 ° 22.68 ′ E; 29 July 2011; D. Kamien, M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 119995 • 1 ♀; 85.2 km NW. of Newman; 22 ° 39.2 ′ S 119 ° 24.82 ′ E; 31 July 2011; D. Kamien, M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 120018 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 22 ° 39.2 ′ S 119 ° 24.83 ′ E; WAM T 120019 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 18.9 km NE of Tom Price; 22 ° 39.2 ′ S 119 ° 24.82 ′ E; WAM T 120081 • 1 ♀; Koodaideri Corridor West, 93.7 km NE of Tom Price; 22 ° 19.7 ′ S 118 ° 36.61 ′ E; 20 Feb. 2012; C. Cole leg.; burrow search; WAM T 122209 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 89.4 km NE of Tom Price; 22 ° 15.92 ′ S 118 ° 31.3 ′ E; WAM T 122217 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 71.7 km NE of Tom Price; 22 ° 8.12 ′ S 118 ° 8.17 ′ E; WAM T 122224 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 70.1 km NE of Tom Price; 22 ° 9.31 ′ S 118 ° 8.07 ′ E; WAM T 122226 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 22 ° 9.37 ′ S 118 ° 8.07 ′ E; leaf litter rake; WAM T 122235 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 82.1 km NE of Tom Price; 22 ° 13.95 ′ S 118 ° 24.88 ′ E; burrow search; WAM T 122252 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 77.3 km NE of Tom Price; 22 ° 1.68 ′ S 118 ° 0.22 ′ E; WAM T 122254 • 1 ♀; 111.6 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 53.52 ′ S 118 ° 45.89 ′ E; 29 Mar. 2012; C. Cole and N. Watson leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 122822 • 1 ♀; 115.4 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 54.52 ′ S 118 ° 43.05 ′ E; 31 Mar. 2012; C. Cole and N. Watson leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 122843 • 1 ♀; 118.6 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 52.85 ′ S 118 ° 41.22 ′ E; 1 Apr. 2012; N. Watson and P. Brooshooft leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 122865 • 1 ♀; 124 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 51.93 ′ S 118 ° 38.47 ′ E; 1 Apr. 2012; N. Watson leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 122872 • 1 ♂; 63.5 km ESE of Paraburdoo, site 1000 - tur 01; 23 ° 17.31 ′ S 118 ° 17.1 ′ E; 27 Apr. 2012; E. S. Volschenk leg.; wet pitfall; WAM T 125176 • 1 ♀; Koodaideri Western Corridor, 217.5 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 7.71 ′ S 118 ° 5.57 ′ E; 28 Mar. 2012; G. Humphreys and M. Greenham leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 125307 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 194.8 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 7.71 ′ S 118 ° 7.71 ′ E; WAM T 125308 • 1 ♀; Koodaideri Western Corridor, 214 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 8.14 ′ S 118 ° 6.46 ′ E; 29 Mar. 2012; G. Humphreys and J. King leg.; dug from burrow; WAM T 125316 • 1 ♀; 118.2 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 36.32 ′ S 118 ° 55.15 ′ E; 19 Nov. 2011; M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; WAM T 126257 • 1 ♀; 118.3 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 36.67 ′ S 118 ° 54.43 ′ E; 18 Nov. 2011; M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; WAM T 126260 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; WAM T 126264 • 1 ♀; 114 km NW of Newman; 22 ° 36 ′ 54 ″ S 118 ° 57 ′ 18 ″ E; 21 Nov. 2011; M. Greenham and Z. Hamilton leg.; WAM T 126272 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 22 ° 36.87 ′ S 118 ° 57.3 ′ E; WAM T 126276 • 1 ♀; Karijini National Park, ca. 20 km SW of Hancock Gorge; 22 ° 29.03 ′ S 118 ° 8.85 ′ E; 15 Mar. 2015; C. Stevenson, M. S. Harvey and M. Hillyer leg.; WAM T 135548 • 1 ♀; Karijini National Park, ca. 25 km SSW. of Dales Gorge; 22 ° 39.48 ′ S 118 ° 26.05 ′ E; 17 Mar. 2015; M. S. Harvey et al. leg.; WAM T 135563 • 1 ♀; Karijini National Park, ca. 6 km NW of Mt Bruce; 22 ° 34.12 ′ S 118 ° 5.98 ′ E; 15 Mar. 2015; J. Huey et al. leg.; WAM T 135591.