Venatrix speciosa (L. Koch, 1877)

Male of Venatrix speciosa [as illustrated in Koch (1877a)]. Cephalothorax length 6 mm.

Systematics and Taxonomy

Lycosa speciosa L. Koch.- L. Koch, 1877a: 890-892, plate 77, Figs 1, 1A-B.
Lycosa speciosa L. Koch.- Rainbow, 1911: 273.
Hogna speciosa (L. Koch).- Roewer, 1955c: 253.
Lycosa speciosa L. Koch.- McKay, 1973: 379.
Lycosa mayama McKay, 1976a: 413-415, Figs 1A-B (new synonymy in Framenau and Vink, 2001).
Lycosa mayama McKay.- Brignoli, 1983: 450.
Lycosa mayama McKay.- McKay, 1985b: 80.
Lycosa speciosa L. Koch.- McKay, 1985b: 83.
Lycosa speciosa L. Koch.- Churchill, 1993: 477 (Table 1).
Venatrix speciosa (L. Koch).- Framenau and Vink, 2001: 946-949, Figs 22A-D, 23A-D, 24.

Types

Holotype:

Male, Caigan [31°41’S, 149°12’E, Queensland], Bradleys Collection (today housed at the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney, however, the holotype of this species has not yet been located there) (M. Humphreys, pers. comm.)
Holotype of Lycosa mayama, female, Werribee [37°54’S, 144°39’E, Victoria]. Supposedly lodged in the Museum Victoria (McKay, 1976a) however, I have not been able to locate this type specimen there).

Identification

Holotype female of Lycosa mayama McKay [as illustrated in McKay (1976a)].

Male of Venatrix speciosa (L. Koch) (QM S45326) [as illustrated in Framenau and Vink (in press)]. A, habitus; B, male, ventral view of abdomen; C, D, left male pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view. Scale bar: A, B 3.92 mm; C, D 0.96 mm.

Female of Venatrix speciosa (L. Koch) [as illustrated in Framenau and Vink (2001)]. A, B, epigyne and vulva (QM S45326); C, D variation of epigyne (AM KS67462, MCZH); Scale bar: 0.59 mm.

Distribution

South-eastern Australia [map as illustrated in Framenau and Vink (2001)].

Biological Reference

Forest habitats, but many specimens also found in suburban areas; unusual life cycle (reproductive activity in winter) since most mature spiders were found between late autumn and early spring (April – October) (Framenau and Vink, 2001).

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