Systematics of the spiny trapdoor spider genus Cryptoforis (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae: Euoplini): documenting an enigmatic lineage from the eastern Australian mesic zone

Abstract

The arbanitine spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Cryptoforis Wilson, Rix & Raven, 2020 are revised, and 15 new species are described from eastern Australia: C. absona sp. nov., C. arenaria sp. nov., C. cairncross sp. nov., C. cassisi sp. nov., C. celata sp. nov., C. cooloola sp. nov, C. fallax sp. nov., C. grayi sp. nov., C. hickmani sp. nov., C. mainae sp. nov., C. montana sp. nov., C. monteithi sp. nov., C. woondum sp. nov., C. xenophila sp. nov., and C. zophera sp. nov. The type species, C. hughesae Wilson, Rix & Raven, 2020, and two other previously described species, C. tasmanica (Hickman, 1928) and C. victoriensis (Main, 1995), are re-described and re-diagnosed, and a key to all species in the genus is provided. Species of Cryptoforis are characterized by ‘wafer-door' burrow entrances; the cryptic nature of these burrows in the natural environment likely contributed to the relatively recent recognition of their widespread occurrence in mainland eastern Australia. One species, however, is an exception: C. fallax sp. nov. constructs a ‘palisade’ type burrow remarkably similar to those created by the turrificus-group in the sister-genus EuoplosRainbow, 1914. The subtropical region around the McPherson–Macleay overlap appears to be the center of diversity for Cryptoforis; however, given the cryptic nature of burrows, and the confinement of some known species to cool, high elevation habitats (which can be difficult to access and sample), we suggest that additional species likely remain undiscovered in parts of New South Wales and tropical northern Queensland.