The wolf spiders of artesian springs in arid South Australia, with a revalidation of Tetralycosa (Araneae, Lycosidae)

Artesian springs, commonly referred to as mound springs, are isolated unique threatened wetlands in and central Australia that harbor a large number of endemic and relict species. Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are the dominant invertebrate predators in mound springs and are the most abundant spider family present. Nine species are common, five of which are known to occur in other Australian wetland habitats, such as river floodplains and lakeshores: Artoria howquaensis Framenau 2002, Hogna crispipes (L. Koch 1877) new combination (= Trochosa pulveresparsa (L. Koch 1877) new synonymy; = Geolycosa tongatabuensis (Strand 1911) new synonymy; = Tarentula tanna Strand 1913 new synonymy; = Lycosa waitei Rainbow 1917 new synonymy; = Lycosa strenua Rainbow 1920 new synonymy; = Lycosa rainbowi (Roewer 1951) new synonymy), Venatrix arenaris (Hogg 1905), V. fontis Framenau & Vink 2001, and V. goyderi (Hickman 1944). Four species commonly found in mound springs are described as new: Artoria victoriensis new species, Hogna diyari new species, H. kuyani new species, and Tetralycosa arabanae new species. Venatrix fontis and T. arabanae are mainly found at mound springs and have only rarely been recorded from other wetland habitats. Tetralycosa Roewer 1960 is revalidated with Lycosa meracula Simon 1909 as type species. The genus is defined by its unique mate pedipalp morphology with a deeply divided tegulum that carries a mesally directed spur on its retrolateral section opposing the book-shaped median apophysis. Three Australian species are transferred to Tetralycosa: T. alteripa (McKay 1976) new combination, T. eyrei (Hickman 1944) new combination and T. oraria (L. Koch 1876) new combination (= Trochosa candicans (L. Koch 1877) new synonymy; = Lycosa meracula Simon 1909 new synonymy). Hogna pexa (Hickman 1944) new combination, an Australian wolf spider closely related to Hogna kuyani new species, is transferred from Pardosa.