Saint Helenian wolf spiders, with description of two new genera and three new species (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Abstract

Abstract The lycosid fauna of Saint Helena, consisting of entirely endemic species, is revised. Lycosa ringens Tongiorgi, 1977 and Lycosa elysae Tongiorgi, 1977 are redescribed and transferred to Antembolus gen. nov., creating the new combinations Antembolus elysae comb. nov. and Antembolus ringens comb. nov. Dolocosa dolosa O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873, Hogna cinica Tongiorgi, 1977, H. inexorabilis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1870), H. ligata (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1870), and H. nefasta Tongiorgi, 1977 are re-diagnosed and illustrated. Hogna sanctaehelenae (Strand, 1909) is confirmed to be a junior synonym of H. ligata, based on examination of photographs of the immature holotype. A remarkable new monotypic lycosine genus, Molearachne gen. nov., with a new species M. sanctaehelenae sp. nov., is described based on both sexes from Prosperous Bay Plain, where it makes unique mounds which have earnt it the local common name Mole Spider. Two further new endemic species are described: Dolocosa joshuai sp. nov., based on the female, and Hogna veseyensis sp. nov., based on both sexes. Thus, the fauna consists of four genera, including three endemic, and nine species, which are all endemic.