Cantabrochthonius asturiensis ( Beier, 1955 ) Beier, 1955

Zaragoza, Juan A., 2017, Revision of the Ephippiochthonius complex in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands and Macaronesia, with proposed changes to the status of the Chthonius subgenera (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae), Zootaxa 4246 (1), pp. 1-221 : 24-32

Cantabrochthonius asturiensis ( Beier, 1955) , n. comb.

( Figs 24–31 , 48–50 )

Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) asturiensis Beier 1955: 90 –91, fig. 1. Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) asturiensis: Zaragoza 2007: 14 –15.

Type locality. Spain, Asturias region, Monte Montera, Puente de los Fierros , Lena (43°04′15″N, 05°46′10″W; 511 m a.s.l.).

Distribution. Mainland SPAIN: Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Basque Country and Navarra communities.

Diagnosis (♂ ♀). An epigean Cantabrochthonius species. Movable cheliceral finger without isolated subapical tooth (di) and with prominent spinneret in both sexes; lyrifissure ldb present; anterior eyes with well developed lens, posterior lens with weakly convex lens; anterior margin of carapace with 1–3 preocular microsetae on each side, posterior margin with 2 macrosetae, some populations with 1–2 very short postero-lateral setae on each side; intercoxal tubercle absent; chelal hand weakly depressed at level of ib / isb, with a long hump distad of ib / isb and an abrupt slope between trichobothria ib / isb and eb; fixed chelal finger with 15–21 teeth; movable chelal finger with 4–8 pointed teeth in the distal half with dental canals, basal half with thin marginal lamina; pedipalpal femur (♂) 6.7–6.9, (♀) 6.2–6.8 times longer than broad, length (♂) 0.67–0.72 mm, (♀) 0.80–0.91 mm; chela (♂) 5.6–6.1, (♀) 4.7–5.1 times longer than broad, length (♂) 0.91–0.95 mm, (♀) 1.11–1.29 mm; ratio movable chelal finger/chelal hand (♂) 1.3–1.4, (♀) 1.2–1.3; all chelal lyrifissure groups present, mostly in their standard numbers, except that hd is absent.

Type material examined. ♀ holotype ( NHMW), SPAIN, Asturias community: Monte Montera, Puente de los Fierros , Lena (43°04′15″N, 05°46′10″W; 511 m a.s.l.), 08.IX.1952, leg. H. Franz.

Other material examined. Spain, Asturias community: 1 ♀ ( NHMW), Puerto Alta Ventana (43°07′06″N, 06°02′58″W; 832 m a.s.l.), 29.VII.1954, leg. H. Franz, det. M. Beier ; 1 ♀ ( DEUA), Cangas del Narcea, Monasterio de Gedrez , Cueva de Siquesas (42°58′39″N, 06°32′20″W; 1001 m a.s.l.), 29.IX.2002, leg. J.M. Salgado ; 1 ♀ ( DEUA), El Franco, Andina-Arancedo, Cuevas de Andina (43°29′19″N, 06°49′45″W; 261 m a.s.l.), 16.IX.2000, leg. J.M. Salgado ; 1 ♀ ( MNHN), Fuejo (43°22′04″N, 05°59′22″W; 192 m a.s.l.), 16.IX.1988, leg. C. Prieto ; 1 ♀ ( DEUA), Oviedo, El Calero (43°21′21″N, 05°17′43″W; 245 m a.s.l.), 23.XI.1976, 1 tritonymph ( DEUA), 20.XI.1976, leg. M. Rambla . Cantabria community: 1 ♀ ( NHMW), Alto de los Tornos, Ramales de la Victoria (43°15′34″N, 03°27′48″W; 98 m a.s.l.), 20.VIII.1957, leg. H. Franz, det. M. Beier ; 2 ♂ ( NHMW), Monte Candina, Liendo (43°24′14″N, 03°20′23″W; 393 m a.s.l.), 20.VIII.1957, leg. H. Franz, det. M. Beier ; 1 ♀ ( DEUA), Santoña (43°27′01″N, 03°26′56″W; 157 m a.s.l.), 20.VII.2003, leg. V. Ripoll & J.A. Zaragoza ; 1 ♀, 1 tritonymph ( DEUA), Val de San Vicente, Pechón, Cueva del Lanzal (43°23′34″N, 04°29′10″W; 26 m a.s.l.), 12.VII.2003, leg. C. González Luque ; 1 ♀ ( DEUA), Valdaliga, Sejo, Cueva de la Mina (43°21′42″N, 04°20′52″W; 57 m a.s.l.), 20.XII.2003, leg. C. González Luque . Castilla y León community: 1 ♂ ( DEUA), Burgos province, Monte Santiago, Berberana (42°56′50″N, 03°01′39″W; 906 m a.s.l.), 11.VI.2005 , 1 ♂ MNCN), 01.XI.2005, 1 ♀ (DEUA), 06.VIII.2005, all leg. J.M. Alberdi. Navarra community: Garralda (42°56′45″N, 01°17′20″W; 875 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂ (NHMW), 05.VIII.1955, leg. H. Franz, det. M. Beier. Basque Country: 1 ♂ ( NHMW), Guipúzcoa province. Oñate, Santuario de Oñate (42°58′43″N, 02°23′57″W; 686 m a.s.l.), 23.VIII.1957, leg. H. Franz, det. M. Beier ; 1 ♂ ( DEUA), Tolosaldea, Albiztur (43°07′41″N, 02°08′01″W; 285 m a.s.l.), 15.IX.1935, leg. D. Ventalló ; 1 ♂ ( MCNB), Tolosaldea, Hernialde (43°09′23″N, 02°05′07″W; 282 m a.s.l.), 14.IX.1935, leg. D. Ventalló ; 2 ♂ (DEUA, MCNB), 1 ♀ ( DEUA), San Sebastián, Hernani (43°16′03″N, 01°59′06″W; 128 m a.s.l.), 20.V.1938, leg. D. Ventalló ; 2 ♂ (DEUA, MNCN), 1 ♀ ( DEUA), San Sebastián, Oyarzun (43°18′19″N, 01°51′39″W; 213 m a.s.l.), 20.IX.1972, leg. M. Rambla; Vizcaya province . 1 ♀, 1 tritonymph, Las Encartaciones, Galdames, Cueva de los Cuervos (43°16′59″N, 03°04′31″W; 480 m a.s.l.), 15.XI.1985, 1 tritonymph, 07.II.2006, leg. C. Prieto (all in DEUA); Monte Santiago , 1 ♂, Arratia-Nervión, Orduña (42°59′11″N, 03°02′24″W; 709 m a.s.l.) , 1 ♂, 14.V.2005, 1 ♂, 21.V.2005, leg. J.M. Alberdi (all in DEUA).

Description (♂ ♀). Medium-sized epigean species. Integument pigmented; marked hispid granulation on lateral surface of carapace, on cheliceral hand and on bases of chelal fingers.

Carapace ( Figs 26, 27 ) weakly constricted posteriorly; anterior margin straight or weakly prominent, anteromedial margin more strongly dentate; two pairs of eyes with lenses and reflecting tapeta, anterior eyes distinctly convex, 0.040–0.050 mm from anterior margin of carapace, diameter 0.050–0.055 mm, posterior eyes with weakly convex lens, 0.035–0.050 mm from anterior eyes, diameter 0.045–0.050 mm. Chaetotaxy: 18–20 macrosetae and 1–3 preocular microsetae on each side, macrosetal formula 3–4:6:4:2:2–4 one ♂ from Burgos lacking anterolateral seta on right side ( Fig. 27 ), anteromedial setae (ame) long (length 0.12–0.18 mm), anterolateral setae (al) short (0.04–0.06mm), sublateral ocular setae (osl) very short, sometimes almost microsetal in size (0.02–0.05 mm), posteromedial setae long (pm) (0.13–0.20 mm), posterolateral setae (pl), when present, very short, microsetal (length 0.01–0.02 mm); 4 lyrifissures anteriorly and 2 posteriorly.

Chelicera ( Fig. 29 ) with 6 setae and 1–3 lateral microsetae on hand, seta vb 0.030–0.060 mm long, microsetae 0.015–0.035 mm long; hand with 5 dorsal and 1 ventral lyrifissure, lyrifissure ldb present. Fixed finger with 6–11 teeth, 2–3 subdistal teeth distinctly larger than the others, which decrease in size proximally, and 5–9 proximal microtubercles. Movable finger without an isolated subapical tooth (di), with 5–9 teeth decreasing in size proximally and 0–2 microtubercles, distal tooth strongly larger than others (rarely bifurcate); spinneret prominent and apically more or less rounded in female ( Figs 31 , 50 ), lower in male ( Fig. 30 ); seta gl 0.53–0.61 from base of movable finger. Rallum with 11 blades. Serrula exterior with 15–16 blades, serrula interior with 12–14 blades.

Chaetotaxy of tergites 3–4:4:4:4:6:6:6:6:1T2T1:4:1T2T1:0, tergites IX and XI each with 2 sublateral tactile setae (0.17 and 0.23 mm long respectively). Chaetotaxy of sternites 8–11:(3)10(3):(2)6–9(2):7– 8:6:6:6:6:2T1T2:0:2, lateral seta on each side of sternite III microsetal, sternite X with 2 submedial tactile setae (0.17 mm long); genital notch of male flanked by 9–11 setae on each side (not included in chaetotactic formula) and 4+4 internal glandular setae.

Pedipalpal coxa ( Fig. 28 ) with 5 setae (including 2 on manducatory process), distal marginal seta of disk (dps) 0.07–0.09 mm long; coxa I 3 + 3 marginal microsetae, distal marginal seta (dcs) 0.09–0.13 mm long, ratio between them 0.48–0.83; II 4 + 8–13 bipinnate coxal spines, III 5 + 2–4 bipinnate coxal spines and IV 6; intercoxal tubercle absent.

Pedipalp with femoral chaetotaxy 3:6:2:6–7:1. Chela ( Figs 24, 25 , 48 ) with hand weakly depressed at level of ib / isb, with a long and rounded hump in female ( Fig. 25 ), weaker in male ( Fig. 24 ), distad of ib / isb, and an abrupt slope between trichobothria ib / isb and eb; dorsal-antiaxial surface of chelal hand between the hump and trichobothria eb/esb flattened, limited by a marked edge, before recovering the normal curvature; ventral intercondylar bow-like protuberance (ip) present; hand width approximately equal to depth; chaetotaxy 4:5:3, seta ph3 lacking, seta ih1 level with trichobothria ib / isb, ih3 well distad of ih1 and ih4 distinctly distad of (rarely level with) ih1; distal end of hand and bases of chelal fingers with marked sclerotized condylar complex. Fixed finger with 15–21 teeth with dental canals, 2–3 distal teeth slightly smaller than the following ones, subdistal and medial teeth large and well separated, 8–10 proximal teeth progressively decreasing in size towards the base, 3–5 tiny microtubercles at base; tip of finger with an accessory tooth (td) on antiaxial face; tip of fixed chelal finger of male and tritonymph with a deep hollow on paraxial face and a pronounced subdistal protuberance (sp); 2–3 teeth at level of est / it occupying 0.1 mm, distance between successive apices 0.035–0.065 mm; one pair of short antiaxial sensory setae (as), 0.015–0.030 mm long, distance between them 0.028–0.050 mm, finger depth 0.050–0.073 mm at base. Distal half of movable finger with 4–8 pointed teeth with dental canals in distal half, reaching level of trichobothrium st or, more frequently, more than halfway between st and sb, basal half with thin marginal lamina and 0–2 tiny microtubercles at base; basal apodeme long and apically indented; coupled sensilla pc usually well distad (rarely slightly proximad) of sb ( Figs 24, 25 , 49 ). Trichobothria as in Figs 24, 25 ; ist slightly distad of esb and well proximad of lyrifissure fb; distance between ib / isb and esb slightly longer (1.1–1.2x) than that between ib / isb and the base of the hand; distance between st–sb 1.6–1.9 times longer than that between sb–b. All chelal lyrifissure patterns present with their standard complements, except that hd is absent.

Measurements and ratios. Female holotype: Body 2.21. Carapace 0.58/0.57 (1.0). Pedipalp: femur 0.91/0.15 (6.2), patella 0.36/0.19 (1.9), chela 1.29/0.27 (4.7), hand 0.59 (2.2), movable finger 0.71; ratio movable finger/hand 1.2, femur/movable finger 1.3, femur/carapace 1.6, chela/carapace 2.2, chela/femur 1.4. Males, followed, when different, by females in square brackets: Body 1.70–1.88 [1.70–2.08]. Carapace 0.46–0.51/0.40–0.46 (1.0–1.2) [0.54–0.60/0.50–0.56 (1.1)]. Pedipalp: femur 0.67–0.72/0.10–0.11 (6.7–6.9) [0.80–0.89/0.12–0.13 (6.4–6.8)], patella 0.25–0.28/0.13–0.14 (2.0–2.1) [0.30–0.34/0.15–0.17 (2.0)], chela 0.91–0.95/0.15–0.17 (5.6–6.1) [1.11– 1.24/0.23–0.24 (4.7–5.1)], hand 0.38–0.41 (2.4–2.5) [0.50–0.54 (2.1–2.3)], movable finger 0.52–0.55 [0.58–0.69]; ratio movable finger/hand 1.3–1.4 [1.2–1.3], femur/movable finger 1.3–1.4, femur/carapace 1.4–1.5 [1.5], chela/ carapace 1.9–2.0 [2.1], chela/femur 1.3–1.4 [1.4].

Tritonymph. Carapace with medial part of anterior margin straight and strongly dentate; two pairs of eyes, anterior eyes with strong or moderately convex lens, 0.025–0.035 mm from anterior margin, diameter 0.025–0.040 mm, posterior eyes with weakly convex lens and 0.020–0.035 mm from anterior eyes, diameter 0.020–0.035 mm; chaetotaxy: m 4m:6:4:2:2, anteromedial setae (ame) 0.11–0.14 mm long, anterolateral setae (al) 0.045–0.060 mm long, sublateral ocular setae (osl) 0.020–0.030 mm long. Cheliceral hand with 5 setae and 1–2 lateral microsetae; lyrifissures as in adults; fixed finger with 8–9 teeth, 2–4 distal teeth large, 3rd–4th teeth from apex even larger than others; movable finger without an isolated subapical tooth (di), with 4–6 teeth, the distal one bifurcate or simple and larger than the others; spinneret prominent; seta gl 0.54 from base of movable finger. Chaetotaxy of tergites as in adults; sternites 5:(2)6(2):(1)6(1):7–8:6:6:6:6:2T1T2:0:2. Pedipalpal coxa 5 setae (including 2 on manducatory process), distal marginal seta of disk 0.050–0.065 mm long; coxa I 3 + 2 marginal microsetae, distal marginal seta 0.060–0.093 mm long; II 4 + 5–7 bipinnate coxal spines, III 5 + 2–3 bipinnate coxal spines, IV 5; intercoxal tubercle absent. Pedipalp with femoral chaetotaxy 3:5:2:4:1; chelal hand chaetotaxy 4:5:3, seta ih3 well distad of ih1; tubercle distad of ib / isb low or distinctly prominent; trichobothrium ist level with esb; ventral intercondylar bow-like protuberance (ip) present; fixed finger with 14–15 teeth, mostly pointed and with dental canals, movable finger with 5–9 pointed teeth with dental canals; fixed finger with a single antiaxial sensory setae (as) at base, level with or slightly distad of lyrifissure fb, tip of fixed finger with a deep hollow on paraxial face and a pronounced subdistal protuberance (sp); coupled sensilla pc between trichobothrium b and ma1; lyrifissures fd3, hd and ma2 absent.

Measurements and ratios. Body 1.03–1.34. Carapace 0.32–0.40/0.31–0.35 (1.0–1.1). Chelicera 0.26–0.36/ 0.13–0.18 (2.0), movable finger 0.14–0.20. Pedipalp: femur 0.39–0.55/0.08–0.11 (5.1–5.2), patella 0.16–0.24/ 0.09–0.12 (1.8–2.0), chela 0.54–0.78/0.11–0.15 (4.9–5.2), hand 0.22–0.34 (2.0–2.3), movable finger 0.32–0.43; ratio movable finger/hand 1.3–1.5, femur/movable finger 1.2–1.3, femur/carapace 1.2–1.4, chela/carapace 1.7–1.9, chela/femur 1.4.

Remarks. The examination of the above-listed specimens from different Spanish regions has not allowed it to be established whether the differences found between populations of Ca. asturiensis are due to the presence of more than one species. For example, the short lateral setae are present in the posterior row of the carapace in the eastern populations of the Basque Country, Burgos province and Navarra (only being absent in one of the studied specimens, a male from Guipúzcoa province, Basque Country), whereas they are absent in specimens from the western regions. Although the possibility cannot be discounted, the available morphometric and morphologic data do not support the presence of more than one species.

This species has been found in oak leaf litter and in caves, frequently in the semi-dark zone near the cave mouth.

Figures

FIGURES 24 – 25. Cantabrochthonius asturiensis (Beier, 1955) n. comb., male (24) and female (25) from Burgos province, Spain. 24, right chela; 25, left chela.

FIGURES 26 – 31. Cantabrochthonius asturiensis (Beier, 1955) n. comb., female holotype (26, 31) and male, Burgos province, Spain (27 – 30). 26, carapace, partial view; 27, carapace, partial view; 28, coxae; 29, right chelicera; 30, fingers of right chelicera, partial view; 31, movable finger of right chelicera, partial view. See Material and methods for abbreviations.

FIGURES 48 – 55. SEM images. 48 – 50, Cantabrochthonius asturiensis (Beier, 1955) n. comb., female, Santoña, Cantabria, Spain: 48, right chela, antiaxial view, slightly dorsal; 49, chelal fingers, partial antiaxial view; 50, apex of movable cheliceral finger, with spinneret. 51 – 55, Ephippiochthonius vicenae n. sp. Female, Xixona, Alicante province, Spain: 51, right chela, dorsal view; 52, chelal fingers, partial antiaxial view, with detail of lyrifissure ma 1; 53, partial distal portion of chelal hand and base of movable finger, antiaxial view; 54, distal portion of chelal hand, dorsal view; 55, medial portion of chelal hand, dorsal view. See Material and methods for abbreviations.