Revision of the new Australian wolf spider genus Kangarosa (Araneae: Lycosidae: Artoriinae)

Abstract

The new Australian wolf spider genus Kangarosa is revised to include ten species: Kangarosa alboguttulata (L. Koch, 1878) comb. nov., K. focarius sp. nov., K. ludwigi sp. nov., K. nothofagus sp. nov., K. ossea sp. nov., K. pandura sp. nov., K. properipes (Simon, 1909) comb. nov. (= Trochosa tristicula phegeia (Simon, 1909) new synonymy) (type species), K. tasmaniensis sp. nov., K. tristicula (L. Koch, 1877) comb. nov., and K. yannicki sp. nov. The presence of a basoembolic apophysis and the apicad orientation of the tegular apophysis in the male pedipalp identify Kangarosa as member of the subfamily Artoriinae Framenau, 2007. Kangarosa differs from all other artoriine genera by the distinct shape of the tegular apophysis, which forms an elongated hook. The female epigyne has a simple, shallow atrium that extends into a posterior lip. Kangarosa is a typical representative of the Bassian fauna as its representatives occur in the southeastern Australian mainland states, Tasmania and in southwest Western Australia. Here, members of the genus are commonly found in mesic areas, for example along watercourses and in swampy areas, although some species appear to prefer forested habitats. Male pedipalp morphology suggests close affinities of Kangarosa to Tetralycosa Roewer, 1960 in a clade that also includes Diahogna Roewer, 1960 and potentially a further undescribed Australian artoriine genus. Kangarosa is of Gondwanan origin and all but one species are restricted to eastern Australia suggesting the genus diversifi ed after an aridifi cation of Australia in the late Tertiary provided a barrier for dispersal between the eastern and western temperate regions.