Australian Pionidae 
389 
Yanchep Natl Park, 31°32'S, 115°40'E, 25 August 
1987, M.S. Harvey, J.D. Blytli (WAM 88/2983; FL); 
3d, North Sister Lake, 5 km N. of Manypeaks, 
34°48'S, 118°09'E, 2 September 1987, M.S. Harvey, 
J.D. Blyth (NMV K893-895; FL); 2d, 4 
deutonymphs, Thompson Lake [32°09'S, 155°50’E], 
30 August 1985, M.S. Harvey, T.J. Doeg, B. Murley 
(NMV K999-1004; SL). 
Diagnosis 
Male genital field without deep, central pit; 
female genital field with acetabula lying on small, 
scattered plates. Male pedipalpal tibia with stout, 
sub-distal seta, set in tubercle; that of female distal, 
not set in tubercle. Anterior claw of male tarsus III 
strongly curved, with ventral clawlet. 
Description 
Adult 
Colour pale yellow, legs pale maroon. 
Glandularia: 5 pairs of dorsoglandularia, 4 pairs of 
lateroglandularia, and 6 pairs of ventroglandularia 
(Figures 78-79, 81). Dorsum (Figure 78): with 2 
pairs of dorsalia, anterior pair larger than posterior 
pair. Venter (Figures 79, 81): apodemes of coxa I 
very short; suture lines between coxae I and II and 
coxae III and IV present; suture lines between 
coxae III and IV extending antero-laterally, not 
reaching mid-line. Genital region (Figures 80, 82): 
6-13 (usually 9-10) (6), 9-14 (usually 9-10) (2) 
pairs of acetabula; those of 6 mostly situated on 
plate which is attached to coxae; those of $ lying 
on small, scattered plates. Chelicera not unusual. 
Pedipalp (Figures 88-89): tibia of 6 with stout 
ventral seta sub-distal, set in tubercle, of 2 distal; 
tarsus with 4 disto-dorsal setae. Legs (Figures 83- 
87): 6 tarsus III setose, with slightly shortened and 
thickened tarsus; claws unequal, anterior claw 
strongly curved, with ventral clawlet, posterior 
claw long and nearly straight, with ventral clawlet 
(Figure 84); 6 tibia IV modified, with posterior 
concavity lined with several proximal and 3 (rarely 
2) distal peg-like setae (Figures 86-87); legs II, III 
and IV with swimming setae arranged as follows: 
leg L 6, tibia 3-4, metatarsus 5-6; 2, tibia 5-8, 
metatarsus 8-10; leg II: 6, tibia 4-7, metatarsus 6- 
7; 2, tibia 8-10, metatarsus 8-12; leg III: 6, tibia 5- 
9; 2, tibia 10-11, metatarsus 9-12; leg IV: 6, 
metatarsus 5-6; 2, tibia 6-8, metatarsus 6-9. 
Dimensions (pm), 6 (2): body 659-864/531-704 
(859-992/747-827); capitulum length 181-219 (262- 
276); chelicera length 255-291 (309-331); genital 
field 116-152/267-304 (138-160/320-351). 
Pedipalp: trochanter 35-45 (38-51), femur 148-167 
(164-182), patella 73-87 (82-96), tibia 143-172 (168- 
197), tarsus 52-68 (68-77). Leg I: trochanter 77-93 
(83-114), femur 93-128 (122-150), patella 134-179 
(160-198), tibia 178-237 (230-291), metatarsus 209- 
280 (256-330), tarsus 197-278 (254-313). Leg III: 
metatarsus 232-307, tarsus 127-172. Leg IV: 
trochanter 139-187 (171-206), femur 109-147 (147- 
179), patella 154-179 (223-262), tibia 218-250 (293- 
374), metatarsus 246-314 (312-403), tarsus 211-282 
(244-339). 
Deutonymph 
Much as in adults except that vgx is absent; 
genital region with 2 pairs of acetabula. 
Dimensions (pm): body 614/467. 
Remarks 
Piona murleyi belongs to the variabilis species- 
group as defined by Smith (1976), and differs from 
the other species of the group by the position and 
morphology of the seta on the male pedipalpal 
tibia. Piona murleyi is apparently restricted to 
southwestern Australia (Figure 52), where it is 
common in lakes and swamps. 
Etymology 
This species is named for Brendon Murley, who 
assisted in the collection of this species at one site. 
Piona puripalpis K.O. Viets 
Figures 52, 90-100 
Piona puripalpis K.O. Viets, 1984: 429, figs 41-45. 
Types (not examined) 
Holotype 
6, Station Spring, via Mataranka, Roper Valley, 
Northern Territory, Australia [ca. 14°55’S, 
133°04'E], 12 July 1981, B.V. Timms (VC). 
Paratype 
Australia: New South Wales: 12, mining pool 
no. 11, Crowdy Head via Taree [31°51'S, 152°45'E], 
6 September 1980, B.V. Timms (VC). 
Material Examined 
Australia: Northern Territory: 12, Coonjimba 
Billabong, Jabiru Mining Camp, 12°42'S, 132°54'E, 
12 June 1979, R. Marchant (NMV; FL); 12, same 
data except 7 August 1979 (NMV; FL); Id, same 
data except 4 September 1979 (NMV; FL); 12, 
Dunlop's Swamp, Katherine Gorge Natl Park [ca. 
12°19'S, 132°30'E], 7 July 1987, M.S. Harvey, A.L. 
Yen (NMV; FL); Id, 12, billabong on Flying Fox 
Creek, Kakadu Natl Park [ca. 12°44'S, 132°22'E], 30 
June 1987, M.S. Harvey, A.L. Yen (NMV; FL); 7d, 
62, Fogg Dam [12°34'S, 131°17'E], 29 June 1987, 
M.S. Harvey, A.L. Yen (NMV; SL, FL); 16d, 42, 
same data except 13 July 1987 (NMV; FL); 22, 
Georgetown Billabong, Jabiru Mining Camp, 
12°42'S, 132°54'E, 30 April 1979, R. Marchant 
