Systematics of the Australian curtain-web spiders (Ischnothelinae : Dipluridae : Chelicerata)

Abstract

The Australian Ischnothelinae, previously included in the Macrothelinae, are revised and three newgenera, Australothele, Carrai, and Namirea, and a new species of Stenygrocercus, previously known only from New Caledonia, are described. Cethegus is retained as the senior synonym of Palaevagrus. All genera are diagnosed using characters found only in males. The Australian Ischnothelinae are all included in the Evagrini and include 25 species, 22 ofwhich are new: Australothele maculata, gen, et sp, nov. (type-species), A. bicuspidata, A. jamiesoni, A. magna, A. montana, A. nambucca, A. nothofagi, all new; Carrai afoveolata, gen. et sp. nov., Cethegus lugubris Thorell (type-species). C. barraba, sp. nov., C. broomi (Hogg), C. colemani, sp. nov., C. daemeli, sp. nov., C. elegans, sp. nov., C. fugax (Simon), C. hanni, sp. nov., C. multispinosus, sp. nov., C. pallipes, sp. nov., C. robustus, sp. nov., Namirea planipes, gen. et sp. nov., K. eungella, N. fallax, N. insularis, N. montislewisi, all new; Stenygrocercus australiensis, sp. nov. Diagnoses and keys to all taxa are provided.