The spider families Synotaxidae and Malkaridae (Arachnida: Araneae: Araneoidea) in Western Australia

Abstract

The southern-temperate spider families Synotaxidae and Malkaridae are newly recorded from south-western Western Australia, each for a new species from the eastern Stirling Range National Park. The synotaxid genus Calcarsynotaxus Wunderlich, previously described from south-eastern Queensland, is represented in Western Australia by the new species C. benrobertsi. The sternoidine malkarid genus Perissopmeros Butler, previously described from south-eastern Australia, is represented in Western Australia by the new species P. darwini. Species of Synotaxidae and Malkaridae are rare and highly restricted in south-western Australia, known only from refugial, mesic habitats in montane areas of the Stirling Range National Park.