Portacosa, a new genus for the south-east Australian Grey Wolf Spider (Araneae, Lycosidae, Lycosinae)

Abstract

A new monotypic genus of Australian wolf spiders is proposed to accommodate the common southeast Australian Grey Wolf Spider, Portacosa cinerea gen. n. and sp. n. The genus includes large (total length 9.5-25.0 mm), uniformly grey-coloured wolf spiders with unique genital morphology, i.e. the ventral ridge of the tegular apophysis in the male pedipalp is comparatively sharp and situated towards its retrolateral edge, and the distinct anterior hood of the female epigyne is continuous with the inverted T-shaped median septum. Unlike most other members of the Lycosinae in Australia, the Grey Wolf Spider closes its burrow with a plug-like trapdoor. The species can be found in southeastern mainland Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia) and Tasmania. It prefers compacted, open and often sun-exposed habitats such as road verges and river banks, but can also be found in open woodlands and grasslands.

Comprehensive biodiversity survey of Wategora Reserve and Everley Park along Duck River, western Sydney

“…Lactuca serriola at the far southern end of the survey area. Portacosa cinereaFramenau, 2017 Very common and widespread throughout the reserve proper, with sightings in the open woodland directly above the southern exotic grassland, western exotic grassland, southern bushland, central bushland, northern bushland, central split path, and around the central bridge, but almost entirely restricted to exposed, hard-packed clay soil (a preference also noted byFramenau (…”