Indohya catherineae Harvey & Burger, n. sp.

(Figs. 1–3, 5, 27, 28)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FD0BCA78-9BD8-4D20-9CA0-B766DF8D293C

Material examined. Holotype protonymph. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Rocklea Station, ca. 45 km NNE. of Paraburdoo, 22°48′54.96″S, 117°29′52.09″E, 8 July 2012, subterranean stygofauna haul, A. Leung (WAM T127925).

Diagnosis. Indohya catherineae is a blind troglobite that differs from all other Indohya species for which sequence data are available by five synapomorphies in COI mtDNA: at base 305 there is a substitution to G; at base 308 there is a substitution to C; at base 362 there is a substitution to A; at base 368 there is a substitution to G; and at base 369 there is a substitution to T. The single sequenced specimen differs from all other sequenced specimens of Indohya by 15.6–25.8% (Table 2).

Description (protonymph). Colour (Fig. 27): very pale, yellow-white.

Chelicera: hand with 4 setae, movable finger without seta.

Pedipalp: trochanter 2.07 ×, femur 5.27 ×, patella 2.88 ×, chela (with pedicel) 4.37 ×, chela (without pedicel) 4.19 ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.78 × longer than broad, movable finger 1.27 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 3 trichobothria (Fig. 28), eb, ist and et present; movable finger with 1 trichobothrium, t present; fixed chelal finger with 25 low, juxtadentate teeth; movable chelal finger with 6 teeth.

Cephalothorax: 0.97 × longer than broad; with 12 setae arranged 4: 0: 4: 2: 2; without furrows; eyes absent. Coxal chaetotaxy 1: 1: 1: 1.

Legs: metatarsi and tarsi not fused.

Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4 (including 2 tactile setae): 2: 2; sternal chaetotaxy 0: (0) 2 (0): (1) 2 (1): 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 2 (both tactile setae): 2.

Dimensions (mm): protonymph (WAM T127925). Body length 0.83. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.155 / 0.075, femur 0.395 / 0.075, patella 0.245 / 0.085, chela (with pedicel) 0.590 / 0.135, chela (without pedicel) 0.565, hand (without pedicel) length 0.240, movable finger length 0.305. Carapace 0.335 / 0.345.

Distribution and remarks. The sequence data available for this specimen suggests it belongs to a distinct species. Indohya catherineae has only been collected from a single site on Rocklea Station in the central Pilbara (Fig. 5), from subterranean habitats. The species was previously known by WAM identification code Indohya ‘PSE151’.

Conservation assessment. The sole specimen of I. catherineae has been collected from a subterranean bore in an area that contains rather uniform surface habitat adjacent to an intermittent stream. Although the size and nature of the subterranean habitat is unknown, it is unlikely that the species is restricted to a single site, and is considered to be of Least Concern.

Etymology. This species is named for Catherine Car, in recognition of her contribution to invertebrate biodiversity research.