Australian Journal of
Taxonomy
Open-access, online, rapid taxonomy
https://doi.org/10.54102/ajt
A new species of pelican spider (Araneae: Archaeidae) from
the Whitsunday hinterland of central-eastern Queensland
Michael G. Rix 1,2* and Mark S. Harvey 2,3
1 Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, Queensland Museum Collections & Research Centre, Hendra, Queensland
4011, Australia.
2 Collections & Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia.
3 Adjunct, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
Michael Rix https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5086-3638; Mark Harvey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1482-0109
© Copyright of this paper is retained by its authors, who, unless otherwise indicated,
license its content under a CC BY 4.0 license
Abstract
Pelican spiders of the genus Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984 (family Archaeidae) are well repre-
sented in the tropical rainforests of central-eastern and north-eastern Queensland, with nine species
currently described. However, this monophyleytic tropical fauna remains poorly documented relative to
other lineages of Archaeidae from subtropical and temperate regions south of the St Lawrence Gap,
with numerous additional species likely still unnamed. Here, we describe a new species from the Central
Mackay Coast bioregion of central-eastern Queensland. Like other Australian Archaeidae, it is a short-
range endemic taxon, known only from upland rainforest habitats in the Whitsunday hinterland near
Airlie Beach. We show its clear morphological affinities to a closely related species from Eungella Nation-
al Park, and further provide live habitus images and habitat information.
Cite this paper as: Rix MG & Harvey MS (2024). A new species of pelican spider (Araneae: Archaeidae) from the Whitsunday
hinterland of central-eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Taxonomy 64: 1–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.54102/ajt.8sf6i
https://zoobank.org/References/36A94554-D7D1-40CD-B417-694C6A536955
Introduction with a remarkable and highly modified carapace mor-
phology and long, spear-like chelicerae – both likely
Pelican spiders of the family Archaeidae are an iconic morphological adaptations for capturing and safely
and morphologically bizarre group of araneomorph spi- manipulating their spider prey. Australian archaeid
ders, with a vicariant modern distribution in Australia, species are also extraordinary for the presence of a
Madagascar and southern Africa, and a deep global evo- uniquely bifurcating spermophor and secondary embo-
lutionary history dating back to at least the early Jurassic lus on the male pedipalp – the only known occurrence of
(Wood et al. 2013; Wood and Wunderlich 2023). Some- a twin intromittent organ in spiders (Rix et al. 2021). In
times referred to as 'assassin spiders' (Rix and Harvey Australia, the 40 currently described species in the gen-
2012c), they are specialised araneophagic predators era Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984 (29 species)
This paper was submitted on 12 April 2024 and published on 15 May 2024 (2024-05-14T21:55:18.216Z). It was reviewed by Jess Marsh and
an anonymous reviewer, and edited by Subject Editor Volker Framenau under the guidance of Associate Editor Tom May. Michael Rix and
Mark Harvey are Editors of the Australian Journal of Taxonomy. They did not at any stage have access to the manuscript while in peer
review, and had no influence on its acceptance or handling, as is standard practice for manuscripts submitted by editors. Australian Journal
of Taxonomy. ISSN: 2653-4649 (Online).
VERSION OF RECORD 1
RIX & HARVEY | A NEW SPECIES OF PELICAN SPIDER (ARANEAE: ARCHAEIDAE) FROM QUEENSLAND
and Zephyrarchaea Rix & Harvey, 2012 (11 species) are near Airlie Beach. This work brings the number of
restricted to the mesic zones of eastern and southern described species of Austrarchaea to 30, the total num-
mainland Australia, with all known species usually ber of described Archaeidae from tropical Queensland
occurring in complex 'suspended leaf litter' microhab- to 10, and the total Australian archaeid fauna to 41
itats in rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest or temperate species.
heathlands (Rix et al. 2022). As niche-conserved, short-
range endemic species with highly disjunct distributions Methods
in mesic refugia, pelican spiders in Australia are increas- All specimens examined in this study are deposited at
ingly being recognised for their conservation signifi- the Queensland Museum, Brisbane (QMB), and pre-
cance in fire-sensitive ecosystems and other habitats at served in 75% ethanol. Digital images were taken at the
risk from climate change or other forms of human dis- Queensland Museum Collections and Research Centre
turbance (Hyman et al. 2020; Marsh et al. 2021; Rix et (CRC) Hendra, using a Leica M165C stereo microscope
al. 2022; Churchill et al. 2023; Gynther et al. 2023; Marsh with mounted Leica K5C digital camera. Automontage
and Collis 2023). image stacking was performed using Leica Application
The taxonomic documentation of Australian Archaeidae Suite (LAS) X Industry Core software with Z-control. Oth-
has benefitted from recent revisionary monographic er morphological and taxonomic methods, including the
treatments of the fauna, with four successive works (see format of species descriptions, follow previous revision-
Rix & Harvey 2011, 2012a, b; Rix et al. 2022) having ary studies of Australian Archaeidae (see Rix & Harvey
resulted in an order of magnitude increase in the num- 2011, 2012a, b; Rix et al. 2022). The following abbrevia-
ber of described species since 2010. This taxonomic tions are used for descriptions: CH, carapace height; CL,
research has revealed a particularly diverse fauna in carapace length; HPC, highest point of pars cephalica;
the genus Austrarchaea, the latter distributed along the HT, abdominal hump-like tubercles; TS1–3, tegular scle-
Great Dividing Range from Cooktown south to the rites 1–3.
Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Here, species
of Austrarchaea are restricted to rainforests or other Taxonomy
mesic forested habitats, mostly in disjunct upland or
otherwise mountainous refugia, and these distributions
of largely allopatric species are biogeographically con- Family ARCHAEIDAE Koch & Berendt, 1854
sistent with a latitudinal series of mesic-forest ‘islands’ Genus Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984
along the Great Dividing Range (Rix & Harvey 2012c; Rix
et al. 2022; see also Bryant & Krosch 2016). South of Type species
the St Lawrence Gap – a major biogeographic barrier Archaea nodosa Forster, 1956, by original designation.
to the north of Kroombit Tops National Park (see Rix &
Harvey 2012c) – 20 species of Austrarchaea have been Austrarchaea andersoni Rix, sp. nov.
described, including 11 species endemic to subtropical
(Whitsunday Hinterland Pelican Spider)
south-eastern Queensland and the Border Ranges of
New South Wales (Rix et al. 2022). In contrast, the trop- Figures 1–8, 12–21
ical fauna from the rainforests of central-eastern and https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/
north-eastern Queensland (north of the St Lawrence EEE56683-78AF-4722-9F16-7B06EDEAC3EF
Gap) currently includes just nine described species,
Holotype
despite all evidence suggesting this region is a hotspot
of Austrarchaea diversity (Rix et al. 2012b). Indeed, this AUSTRALIA: Queensland: ♂, Conway National Park, start
monophyleytic tropical archaeid fauna remains poorly (western end) of Whitsundays Great Walk, off Forestry Road
documented relative to other lineages of Australian (IBRA_CMC), 20°20'20"S, 148°41'26"E, 210 m, 28 March 2024,
hand collected from suspended leaf litter, rainforest (noto-
Archaeidae, with numerous additional species likely still
phyll vine forest), M.G. Rix & A.G. Rix (QMB S124036).
unnamed. To breach this gap in understanding, addi-
tional male specimens, numerous molecular exemplars Paratypes
and an enormously challenging field work campaign
AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 ♂, same data as holotype (QMB
throughout the Wet Tropics will be required over com- S124038); 1 ♀, same data (QMB S124039); 1 juvenile, same
ing years. data (QMB S124040); 1 juvenile, same data (QMB S124041); 1
♀, same data except 20°20'21"S, 148°41'26"E, 4 August 2023,
In this study, we take a first step towards better doc-
hand collected at night, G.J. Anderson (QMB S124037); 1 ♂,
umenting the archaeid diversity of tropical eastern
Conway National Park, northern end of Whitsundays Great
Queensland, since the revisionary treatment by Rix and
Walk, near junction of Honeyeater Lookout track (IBRA_CMC),
Harvey (2012b) was published over a decade ago. We 20°17'11"S, 148°42'33"E, 333 m, 29 March 2024, hand collect-
describe a new species of Austrarchaea from the Central ed from suspended leaf litter, rainforest (notophyll vine for-
Mackay Coast bioregion of central-eastern Queensland, est), M.G. Rix & A.G. Rix (QMB S124043); 1 juvenile, same data
from specimens collected in the Whitsunday hinterland except 20°17'10"S, 148°42'32"E, 323 m (QMB S124042).
VERSION OF RECORD 2
RIX & HARVEY | A NEW SPECIES OF PELICAN SPIDER (ARANEAE: ARCHAEIDAE) FROM QUEENSLAND
Figures 1–5. Austrarchaea andersoni Rix, sp. nov. from Conway National Park: 1, paratype female (QMB S124037) cephalothorax
and abdomen, lateral view; 2, holotype male (QMB S124036) cephalothorax and abdomen, lateral view; 3, holotype male che-
licerae and accessory setae, lateral view; 4, 5, paratype female (QMB S124039) internal genitalia, cleared (4, postero-ventral
view; 5, antero-dorsal view). Abbreviations: AS, accessory setae; BL, book lung cover; GP, genital plate; SP, spermathecae. Scale
bar = 1.0 mm (1, 2).
Diagnosis by the shape of the tegulum, which is more pronounced
ventrally (Figures 6, 8; cf. Figures 9, 11); by the shape of
Austrarchaea andersoni Rix, sp. nov. can be distinguished
tegular sclerite 3, which is smaller and more uniform-
from all other species of Australian Archaeidae, except
ly tapered (Figures 6, 8; cf. Figures 9, 11); and by the
A. griswoldi Rix & Harvey, 2012, by its 'Type E' pedipalp
shape of the posterior 'head' region of the pars cephal-
morphology as defined by Rix and Harvey (2012b, figure
ica in both males and females, which is flatter and less
6), with a large bulb (width >> 0.30) (Figures 6–8; see also
inclined downwards in lateral view (Figures 1, 2; cf. Rix
Figures 2, 17), modified ventro-distal rim of the tegu-
and Harvey 2012b, figure 15a, b).
lum forming semi-transparent sub-rectangular opercu-
lar plate (Figures 6–8), and large, flattened tegular Description – male holotype (QMB S124036)
sclerite 3, the latter extending along the entire retrolat-
Total length 2.41. Cephalothorax (Figure 2) dark reddish-
eral edge of the conductor (Figure 6) (Rix and Harvey
brown (in life, pars thoracica and ‘neck’ dark slate grey-
2012b). This species is further similar to A. griswoldi in
brown and ‘head’ dark reddish-brown; Figures 15–17),
sharing a short comb of accessory setae on the male
covered with rows of reflective, short, white or bronze
chelicerae (Figure 3), and having only two pairs of
plumose setae; legs (Figure 2) dark tan-brown with dark-
female spermathecae (Figures 4, 5). Austrarchaea ander-
er annulations (in life, dark reddish-brown with darker
soni Rix, sp. nov. can be distinguished from A. griswoldi
VERSION OF RECORD 3
RIX & HARVEY | A NEW SPECIES OF PELICAN SPIDER (ARANEAE: ARCHAEIDAE) FROM QUEENSLAND
Figures 6–11. Male pedipalps of Austrarchaea species from the Central Mackay Coast bioregion: 6–8, A. andersoni Rix, sp. nov.,
holotype (QMB S124036) from Conway National Park (left to right = retrolateral, ventral and prolateral views); 9–11, A. griswol-
di Rix & Harvey, 2012, holotype (QMB S92212) from Eungella National Park (left to right = retrolateral, ventral and prolateral
views). Abbreviations: C, conductor; Cy, cymbium; E, primary embolus; E*, secondary embolus (equivalent to tegular sclerite 2a
in Rix & Harvey 2012b; see also Rix et al. 2021); OP, opercular plate; sT, subtegulum; T, tegulum; 3, tegular sclerite 3. Scale bars
= 0.25 mm (7, 10).
annulations; Figures 15–17); abdomen (Figure 2) mot- ure 3) with short comb of accessory setae on anterior
tled dark reddish-brown and beige-brown, with darker face of paturon. Abdomen (Figure 2) 1.38 long, 1.75
brown dorsal scute and sclerites (in life, variably dark high; with two pairs of dorsal hump-like tubercles
reddish-brown with darker brown dorsal scute and scle- (HT1–4); dorsal scute fused anteriorly to epigastric scle-
rites; Figures 15–17), covered with reflective, short, rites, extending posteriorly to first pair of hump-like
white or orange-brown plumose setae. Carapace (Figure tubercles; HT3, 4 each covered by separate dorsal scle-
2) tall (CH/CL ratio 2.29); 1.03 long, 2.36 high; ‘neck’ 0.46 rites. Unexpanded pedipalp (Figures 6–8) of ‘Type E’
wide; bearing two pairs of rudimentary horns; dual high- morphology (see Rix and Harvey 2012b, figure 6), large
est points of pars cephalica (HPC1, 2) near posterior in size (width of bulb >> 0.30), with retrolaterally direct-
third of ‘head’ (ratio of HPC1 to post-ocular length 0.65) ed, arched conductor; ventro-distal rim of tegulum dis-
and near posterior margin of ‘head’ (ratio of HPC2 to tally extended to form sub-rectangular opercular plate;
post-ocular length 0.85), carapace marginally concave primary embolus distally directed, curved, without spur,
between HPC1 and HPC2; ‘head’ moderately elevated projecting only slightly beyond distal rim of conductor;
postero-dorsally (post-ocular ratio 0.30). Chelicerae (Fig- tegular sclerite 3 (TS3) large, flattened, uniformly taper-
VERSION OF RECORD 4
RIX & HARVEY | A NEW SPECIES OF PELICAN SPIDER (ARANEAE: ARCHAEIDAE) FROM QUEENSLAND
Figures 12–20. Live habitus and habitat images of Austrarchaea andersoni Rix, sp. nov.: 12–14, paratype female (QMB S124037)
from Conway National Park; 15, 16, holotype male (QMB S124036) from Conway National Park; 17, paratype male (QMB
S124043) from Conway National Park; 18–20, rainforest habitat at the type locality, start of Whitsundays Great Walk, Conway
National Park. Images 12–14 by G. Anderson (used with permission); 15–20 by M. Rix.
ing distally and extending along entire retrolateral edge accessory setae on anterior face of paturon. Abdomen
of conductor; secondary embolus (equivalent to TS2/2a 1.77 long, 2.14 high; with four pairs of dorsal hump-like
in Rix and Harvey 2012b) mostly obscured by opercu- tubercles (HT1–4). Internal genitalia (of QMB S124039;
lar plate, projecting beyond distal rim of conductor to Figures 4, 5) with pair of pyriform spermathecae on
just past tip of embolus; TS1 deeply embedded in bulb, either side of gonopore, each pair widely separated
obscured by opercular plate, not visible in ventral view. along midline of genital plate.
Description – female paratype (QMB S124037) Distribution and habitat
Total length 3.00. Cephalothorax (Figure 1) reddish- Austrarchaea andersoni Rix, sp. nov. is a short-range
brown (in life, dark reddish-brown; Figures 12–14), cov- endemic species known only from upland rainforest
ered with rows of reflective, short, white or (notophyll vine forest) in the Conway National Park, in
orange-brown plumose setae; legs (Figure 1) dark tan- the Whitsunday subregion of Queensland's Central
brown with darker annulations (in life, dark reddish- Mackay Coast (CMC) bioregion near Airlie Beach (Figures
brown with darker annulations; Figures 12–14); 18–21). It is currently known from two sites in the north-
abdomen (Figure 1) mottled brown and beige (in life, western sector of the park, but is likely more wide-
variably dark reddish-brown; Figures 12–14), covered spread in suitable habitat. Limited survey effort in
with reflective, short, white or orange-brown plumose lowland habitats in the Whitsunday hinterland indicates
setae. Carapace (Figure 1) tall (CH/CL ratio 2.26); 1.24 it may be absent from semi-evergreen vine thickets at
long, 2.80 high; ‘neck’ 0.60 wide; bearing two pairs of altitudes under 200 m. An indeterminate female speci-
rudimentary horns; highest point of pars cephalica men (QMB S49380) collected in 1992 from the summit
(HPC) near middle of ‘head’ (ratio of HPC to post-ocular of nearby Mount Dryander (Dryander National Park)
length 0.57), carapace sloping only slightly downwards likely also belongs to this species (Figure 21).
posterior to HPC; ‘head’ moderately elevated postero-
dorsally (post-ocular ratio 0.34). Chelicerae without
VERSION OF RECORD 5
RIX & HARVEY | A NEW SPECIES OF PELICAN SPIDER (ARANEAE: ARCHAEIDAE) FROM QUEENSLAND
Figure 21. Map of the Central Mackay Coast bioregion, showing known records of Archaeidae (left), and the distributions of
A. andersoni Rix, sp. nov. and A. griswoldi Rix & Harvey, 2012 (right). Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA)
Version 7 bioregional abbreviations are as follows: CMC, Central Mackay Coast; BBN, Brigalow Belt North; BBS, Brigalow Belt
South. Base maps created using the Atlas of Living Australia website (https://www.ala.org.au/), reproduced here under a Cre-
ative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence.
Etymology of the Linnean Society 119:238–264. https://doi.org/
10.1111/bij.12821
This species is named in honour of Dr Greg Anderson,
Honorary Research Fellow at Queensland Museum, for Churchill TB, Laidlaw MJ, McCall AH, Hines HB, Gynther
his substantial contributions to arachnology, and for IC, Molyneux J, Teixeira D, Stewart D, Rix MG, Burwell
first collecting this species at Conway National Park in CJ, Lambkin CL, Venz MF, Zadkovich J, Cooper S, Buch
2023. W, O’Connell J, Hughes D, Finlayson S, Gurra A & Job
C (2023) Bushfire Recovery 2020–2022: Priority actions for
Acknowledgments Threatened Species in the Gondwana Rainforests of Aus-
We thank Terry Miller, Jeremy Wilson and especially Alan tralia World Heritage Area, South East Queensland.
Rix for assistance with field work at Conway National Department of Environment and Science, Queensland
Park, and Greg Anderson for first locating this species at Government, Brisbane, 135 pp.
the type locality in 2023. The authors are also grateful Gynther I, Hines H, Lambkin CL, Rix MG, Burwell CJ,
to Chris Keates and Steve Moss, Whitsunday region Shapcott A, Churchill TB & Melzer RI (2023) Bushfire
rangers from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Recovery 2020-2021: Priority Actions for Threatened
Partnerships (QPWSP), for discussion of sites and facil- Species in Bulburin National Park, South East Queensland.
itating access to Conway National Park in March 2024. Department of Environment and Science, Queensland
Specimens were collected under permit from the Government, Brisbane, 45 pp.
Queensland Department of Environment, Science and
Innovation (Permit No. P-PTUKI-100128508). Hyman IT, Ahyong ST, Köhler F, McEvey SF, Milledge G,
Reid CAM & Rowley JJL (2020) Impacts of the 2019–20
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