Barrow Island Grass Orb-weaver Larinia tumulus Framenau & Castanheira, 2022

Fauna Portal species: 313
Family: Araneidae


tumulus

Larinia tumulus male, dorsal (WAM T153634)

Image: after Framenau & Castanheira (2022; fig. 4A)

Fauna Portal Image No. 2348

Diagnosis

(after Framenau & Castanheira, 2022) Larinia tumulus is by far the smallest Larinia species in Australia (body length males < 3 mm, females < 4 mm; all other species: males > 4 mm, females > 5 mm (Framenau & Scharff 2008). The median apophysis of the male pedipalp is unique amongst Australian species with two spine-like dorsal prongs; most similar is L. sexta but the prongs in that species are much stronger. Similarly, the large, ovoid, flat epigynum is unique amongst Australian Larinia, that of L. sexta has a much more pronounced median septum.

Linnean Holotype

1 ♀
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Western Australian Museum
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T153635
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26.09.2015
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Australia
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Western Australia
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Barrow Island, HDD (Horizontal Direct Drill) Site, near communications tower
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litter sample

Australia

  • Western Australia

Similar Species


Publications

Framenau VW & Castanheira PdeS (2022): Two new species in the orb-weaving spider genus Larinia Simon, 1874 (Araneae, Araneidae) from Western Australia. Zootaxa.

Framenau VW & Scharff N (2008): The orb-weaving spider genus Larinia in Australia (Araneae: Araneidae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny. 66: 227 - 250


Volker Framenau, 04 January 2022