A new subfamily of spiders with grate-shaped tapeta from Australia and Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Stiphidiidae: Borralinae)

  • Author
    Gray, M. R; Smith, H. M
  • Year
    2008
  • Journal
    Records of the Australian Musuem

Contents

Abstract

Five new genera of stiphidiid spiders are described from forest habitats in Australia and Papua New Guinea. They include Couranga n.gen. (C. kioloa n.sp., C. diehappy n.sp.), Jamberoo n.gen. (J. johnnoblei n.sp., J. boydensis n.sp., J. actensis n.sp. J. australis n.sp.) and Elleguna n.gen. (E. major n.sp., E. minor n.sp.) from eastern Australia; Karriella n.gen. (K. treenensis n.sp., K. walpolensis n.sp.) from southwestern Australia; Asmea n.gen. from Papua New Guinea (A. akrikensis n.sp., A. hayllari n.sp., A. capella n.sp., A. mullerensis n.sp.). A new subfamily, the Borralinae, characterized by the presence of grate-shaped tapeta in all posterior eyes, is proposed. It includes the 5 genera described here plus Therlinya (Gray & Smith, 2002), Borrala and Pillara (Gray & Smith, 2004). The relationships of these putative stiphidiid genera are briefly discussed and the Kababininae is provisionally referred from the Amphinectidae to the Stiphidiidae. Observations on epigynal mutilation as a post-mating sperm protection mechanism are presented. Differences in visible tapetal structure between borraline spiders and Stiphidion are figured and discussed.

Bibliographic Data

Title
A new subfamily of spiders with grate-shaped tapeta from Australia and Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Stiphidiidae: Borralinae)
Author
Gray, M. R; Smith, H. M
Year
2008
Publication Type
Refereed Article
Journal
Records of the Australian Musuem
Number of pages
13-44
Volume
60
Language
en