Microcreagris xikangensis, Zhang & R. & ., 2016

Zhang, Xiangbo Guo Feng, R., P. & ., 2016, Notes on two species of the genus Microcreagris Balzan, 1892 (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae) from China, Ecologica Montenegrina 7, pp. 394-404 : 400-404

Microcreagris xikangensis sp. nov ( Figs. 4–6) ( Table 1)

Type material. Holotype male (Ps.- MHBU-SC16062401 ) from China, Sichuan Province, Daofu County, Geka Town (30°50'N, 101°17'E), alt. 3438 m, 24.vi.2016 . Paratypes: one male and two females ( Ps. - MHBU-SC16062402–04 ), same data as for holotype ; one male and two females (Ps. - MHBU-SC16060201–03 ) from China, Sichuan Province, Kangding City, Yajiageng Mountain (29°56'N, 101°58'E), alt. 3039 m, 02.vi.2016 ; one male and one female (Ps. - MHBU-SC16060401–02 ) from China, Sichuan Province, Kangding City, Gaoersi Mountain (30°03'N, 101°26'E), alt. 3705 m, 04.vi.2016 ; two males and four females (Ps. - MHBU-SC16060501–06 ) from China, Sichuan Province, Kangding City, Shade Town (29°33'N, 101°23'E), alt. 3170 m, 05.vi.2016 ; one male (Ps. - MHBU-SC16061401 ) from China, Sichuan Province, Batang County, Zhongzan Town (29°12'N, 99°18'E), alt. 3440 m, 14.vi.2016 ; one male (Ps. - MHBU-SC16061501 ) from China, Sichuan Province, Xiangcheng County, Zhengdou Town (29°08'N, 99°35'E), alt. 3258 m, 15.vi.2016 ; one male and two females (Ps. - MHBU-SC16062201–03 ) from China, Sichuan Province, Luhuo County, Niba Town (31°33'N, 100°43'E), alt. 3297 m, 22.vi.2016. Xiangbo Guo leg.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis. Chelicera with seven setae on palm; rallum consisting of eight blades of nearly equal size; galea divided into four branches in both male and female; male pedipalpal femur 3.60–3.73 (length 1.08–1.12), patella 2.26–2.35 (length 0.88–0.94), chela (with pedicel) 3.31–3.43 (length 1.79–1.82) times longer than broad; female pedipalpal femur 3.62–3.77 (length 1.05–1.17), patella 2.21 (length 0.86–0.93), chela (with pedicel) 3.25–3.34 (length 1.79–1.97) times longer than broad; the characters of male genital area.

Description. Male ( Fig. 4a). Carapace, chelicerae and pedipalps reddish brown; abdomen and legs yellowish.

Carapace ( Figs. 5a, 6a). Smooth, 1.09–1.10 times longer than broad, with a total of 30–35 setae, including four on anterior margin and 7–10 on posterior margin; four eyes, well developed; epistome triangular and apically rounded.

Chelicera ( Figs. 5b, 6b). Palm with seven setae, movable finger with one sub-medial seta; fixed finger with 14–15 teeth; movable finger with 10–12 teeth; serrula exterior with 30–32 lamellae; serrula interior with 26–29 lamellae. Galea ( Fig. 6d) divided into two main branches, each branch is secondarily divided into two terminal branches. Rallum ( Fig. 6c) consisting of eight blades of nearly equal size, all with anteriorlydirected spinules.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 5c, 5d, 6e, 6f). Apex of coxa rounded, with five long setae. Femur and patella with granulations on medial face, chela with granulations on medial and lateral face; chelal fingers a little longer than hand. Trochanter 1.64–1.65, femur 3.60–3.73, patella 2.26–2.35, chela (with pedicel) 3.31–3.43, chela (without pedicel) 3.09–3.21 times longer than broad, movable finger 1.21–1.22 times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable finger with four; eb and esb on lateral margin of hand; ib, isb and ist on basal half, est, et and it on distal half of fixed finger, est closer to it than to ist; t and st near the middle of movable finger, sb and b on basal half. Venom apparatus present only in fixed chelal finger, short. Chelal teeth contiguous, fixed finger with 62–65 pointed teeth, movable finger with 8–10 pointed teeth distally and 48–50 rounded teeth.

Abdomen. Pleural membrane granulated. Tergal chaetotaxy: 13: 14: 14: 13–14: 14: 15: 14–16: 14–15: 15: 13: 6; sternal chaetotaxy (IV–XI): 14–15: 16: 16: 17: 16–18: 17: 17: 9; stigmata with five setae around; sternites VI and VII with two anterior discal setae; anal cone with two dorsal and two ventral setae. Male genital area ( Figs. 5e, 6g): sternite II with 26–29 scattered setae; sternite III with 10 setae on the anterior margin, and a central group of 13–14 dense setae in the middle of the row of 25–27 posterior setae.

Legs. Leg I ( Figs. 5g, 6i) and Leg IV ( Figs. 5h, 6j) typical. Tibia IV with one sub-medial tactile seta (TS=0.40–0.45), basitarsus IV with one basal tactile seta (TS=0.15–0.18), telotarsus IV with one sub-medial tactile seta (TS=0.44–0.49). Subterminal tarsal seta bifurcate; arolium not divided, shorter than the slender and simple claws.

Female ( Fig. 4b). As in holotype except where noted.

Chelicera. Fixed finger with 13–16 teeth; movable finger with 10–11 teeth. Galea divided into two main branches, each branch is secondarily divided into two terminal branches. Serrula exterior with 29–33 lamellae; serrula interior with 25–29 lamellae.

Pedipalps. Trochanter 1.61–1.62, femur 3.62–3.77, patella 2.21, chela (with pedicel) 3.25–3.34, chela (without pedicel) 3.02–3.10 times longer than broad, movable finger 1.23–1.26 times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 58–69 pointed teeth, movable finger with 11–15 pointed teeth distally and 46–50 rounded teeth.

Abdomen. Tergal chaetotaxy: 12: 14: 14: 14: 13–15: 14–15: 15: 14: 14: 11: 7. Chaetotaxy of sternites (IV–XI): 12: 14–15: 17: 16–17: 16–18: 14: 13: 9. Sternites VI and VII with two anterior discal setae. Female genital area ( Figs. 5f, 6h): sternite II with 12 setae; sternite III with a row of 23–27 setae on the posterior margin.

Distribution. This species has been found in Sichuan Province, China.

Remarks. This new species can be placed in the genus Microcreagris based on the following combination of characters: rallum consisting of eight blades of nearly equal size; galea branched; male genital area typical; sternites VI and VII with two anterior discal setae.

Microcreagris xikangensis can be distinguished from M. gigas by: chelicera with seven setae on palm (more than 10 in M. gigas ); male pedipalpal femur length 1.08–1.12 (1.77–1.83 in M. gigas ), patella length 0.88–0.94 (1.52 in M. gigas ), chela (with pedicel) length 1.79–1.82 (2.95–3.01 in M. gigas ); male genital area, sternite II with 26–29 (78 in M. gigas ) scattered setae, sternite III with 48–51 (100 in M. gigas ) setae in total.

Microcreagris xikangensis can be distinguished from M. herculea by: galea divided into four branches in both male and female ( M. herculea with four branches in male galea, and three in female); male pedipalpal femur 3.60–3.73 (3.30–3.50 in M. herculea ), chela (with pedicel) 3.31–3.43 (2.80–2.90 in M. herculea ) times longer than broad; male genital area, sternite II with 26–29 (57 in M. herculea ) scattered setae ( Ćurčić, 1983).