Parachernes (Parachernes) galapagensis Beier, 1977

Mahnert, Volker, 2014, Pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) from the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Revue suisse de Zoologie 121 (2), pp. 135-210 : 191-194

Parachernes (Parachernes) galapagensis Beier, 1977 Fig. 72

Parachernes galapagensis Beier, 1977: 106-108 , fig. 7 (type locality: Santa Cruz, Turtle Bay , humus dans une crevasse au pied du barranco, à 1 km de la plage).

Parachernes darwiniensis maculosus Beier, 1978: 543-544 , fig. 7 (type locality: Pinzon, Südabfall des höchsten Gipfels); syn. n.

SPECIMENS STUDIED: Bartolome: 53 7♀ 7T 8D 7P; littoral, mangrove litter sifting, 28.III.1992, leg. S. Peck (92-63). – 13; littoralzone, Lagunculariaracemosa, Batis, Maytenus; siftedfromlitterandsand, 12.II.1985, leg. H. & I. Schatz (85-H9). – 2P; mangrovesbehind Pinnacle Rock, littoral zone, 0 m, under Maytenus octogona, leaf litter, 11.II.1985, leg. H. & I. Schatz (85-59). – 1♀ 1P; mangroves between Pinnacle Rock and island, 0 m, littoral zone, under Maytenus octogona, decayed leaf litter and pieces of wood, 12.II.1985, leg. H. & I. Schatz (85-139). – 1T; mangroves near Pinnacle Rock, littoral zone, 0 m, leaf litter and soil, under Maytenus octogona, 26.XII.1986, leg. H. Schatz (87-422). – 1♀ 2T 2P; mangroves near Pinnacle Rock, 0 m, littoral zone, leaf litter and soil under Laguncularia racemosa, 26.XII.1986, leg. H. Schatz (87-G040). – 4P; mangroves near Pinnacle Rock, littoral zone, 0 m, under Maytenus octogona, leaf litter and humus, 26.XII.1986, leg. H. Schatz (87-G041). – Espanola: 133 103 3T 6P; Punta Suarez, 10 m, litter under bushes in seabird rookery, 10.VI.1985, leg. S. & J. Peck (85-187). – 1♀; Punta Suarez, 30 m, shrub litter, 29.IV.1992, leg. S. Peck (92-144). – Fernandina: 39282; 1T; Cabo Hammond, 3-5 m, sweeping in clumps of “salt grass”, 27.IV.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39370; 1T; 5-10 m, from Scalesia solitary in Aa lava near Cabo Hammond, 29.-30.IV.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39267; 1♀ 1T; west vegetation strip, 30 m, sweeping in ash delta of stream bed, Croton, Ipomoea , Bursera, Waltheria , 11.VIII.1977, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 23 1D; 10 km NE Cabo Hammond, 400 m, shady ravine, litter on lava, 8.V.1991, leg. S. & J. Peck (91-125). – 103 7♀ 3T 5D 3P; Cabo Hammond, 1 m, litter and soil washing under beach hibiscus, 11.V.1991, leg. S. & J. Peck (91-128). – Floreana: 1D; highland near caves under Cerro Asilo de la paz, cultivated zone, 340 m, in crevice under Lantana camara, leaf litter with roots and humus, 17.I.1987, leg. H. Schatz (87-G051). – Genovesa: 1D; Arcturus Lake, 20 m, littoral zone, under Rhizophora mangle, decayed leaf litter and black soil, 16.II.1985, leg. H. & I. Schatz (85-60). – Isabela: RBINS; 13; 12.III.1974, leg. S. Jacquemart (139). – 39261; 73 5♀ 4D 2P; Volcan Alcedo, eastern slope, 790 m, screened from eight finch and two mockingbird nests in Zanthoxylum , 5-7 ft above ground, Cassia, Ipomoea, Tournefortia, 14.V.1980, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39369; 13; Cabo Berkeley, 40-140 m, under ash plates and lava erratics, orgo del burro, Waltheria, Tribulus, Boerhavia (?), 8.VIII.1977, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39334; 1T; 1 km S of Cerro Verde, 320 m, screened from organic soil at base of lava blocks, latter covered by ferns and moss, Peperomia, 16.I.1978, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 1♀ 1D; Santo Tomas, humid forest, FIT, 4.-15.III.1989, leg. S. Peck & B. J. Sinclair (89-100). – CDRS; 1♀; Volcan Alcedo, 1125 m, 24.VI.1991, bajo piedras, leg. S. Abedrabbo. – Marchena: RBINS; 13; near fumaroles, 21.II.1974, leg. S. Jacquemart (97B); – 143 16♀ 11T 5D 12P; SW Playa, littoral, Cryptocarpus, soil wash, 23.III.1992, leg. S. Peck & J. Cook. – North Plazas: TNSC 39259, 39310; 1♀ 4T 1P; 5 m, sweeping in Sesuvium-Opuntia-Scutia association, 20.X.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39318; 13 1♀ 1T 2D; 5 m, sweeping in Maytenus and Castela, Opuntia- Castela-Scutia association, 20.X.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – Pinta: 3 11♀ 3T 2D 1P; littoral zone, Cryptocarpus litter, Berlese, 21.III.1992, leg. J. Cook & S. Peck (92-56). – Pinzon: TNSC 39375; 1♀; Union, screened in litter, area of Lantana, Prosopis, Croton , Cordia , 14.II.1974, leg. D. & D. Clark. – 39265; 13 1♀; 120 m, finch nest of lichen in Scalesia incisa , 2 m from ground, surrounding mostly Lantana, very dry, 2.II.1979, leg. W. G. Reeder. – RBINS; 1T; bord du cratère, 22.VI.1975, leg. H. Franz (SA 331). – 33 2♀ 7T 5D 7P; SE slope, 380 m, “pampa”, litter sifting, 27.VI.1991, leg. S. Peck (91-255). – 1P; Central valley, Upper Dry zone, 270 m, Croton scouleri forest with Lantana peduncularis, Acacia macracantha , Cordia leucophlyctis , under Croton at different localities, decayed litter and fine humus, 31.I.1987, leg. H. Schatz (87-G054). – Rabida: TNSC 39373; 23; north slope, 600 ft, screened litter of Maytenus and Opuntia , sweep netting of Maytenus, Bursera-Croton-Lantana assoc., dry substrate, 29.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39309; 2♀ 2T; north slope, 600-900 ft, from 4 dismantled nests (3 finch, 1 mockingbird) in Maytenus-Croton, 29.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39299; 23 4♀ 1T 1D; north slope, 900 ft, screening of Opuntia litter, sweeping of Maytenus, dry cobble substrate, Bursera , Croton, Lantana, Castela , 29.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39363; 13 1♀; north slope summit, 1200 ft, sifted from very dry litter of ferns, Opuntia and Chamaesyce, rocky cobble substrate, 29.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 13 1♀; north flamingo lagoon, littoral zone, 5 m, mangrove litter and humus under Avicennia germinans, 25.XII.1987, leg. H. Schatz (87-G039). – Santa Cruz: RBINS; 1♀; Los Gemelos, Scalesia zone, 570 m, 25.I.1974, leg. J. Jacquemart (39). – MHNG; 1♀; Los Gemelos, pitfall trap, 17.XII.1997, don. L. Baert. – CDRS; 13 4D; Scalesia zone, soil sample, Berlese, 21.V.1986, leg. S. Abedrabbo. – 39364; 1♀; SW base of Cerro Colorado, suction sample from Scalesia , 200-300 m, cracker on lava ridge, 13.III.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39292; 1T 2D; north slope, 700 m, sweeping in Scalesia understorey, Tournefortia, ferns of forbs, Chiococca very common, 4.V.1980, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 13; Puntudo, 700 m, pampa zone, shrub litter, 2.II.1989, leg. S. Peck (89-29). – 1♀ 1T; Tortuga Bay, 1 m, litter on sand under machineel, 30.I.1989, leg. S. Peck (89-23). – 13; CDRS, backbeach, under Sesuvium litter, 29.I.1989, leg. S. Peck (89-3). – 13 1T 1P; Puerto Ayora, Tortuga Bay, brackish litter under manchineel, 0.5 m, 29.VI.1991, leg. S. Peck (91-258). – 1P; Scalesia forest near Cerro Crocker, Scalesia zone, 700 m, Lycopodium dichotonum on Zanthoxylum fagara, Lycopodium pads on bough with roots and mosses, 6.III.1987, leg. H. Schatz (87-G069). – 1D; forest near Los Gemelos, Scalesia zone, 600 m, Scalesia pedunculata , Zanthoxylum fagara, Tournefortia rufo-sericea and Psychotria rufipes, 8.III.1987, leg. H. & I. Schatz (87-G073). – Santa Fé: 39277; 3♀ 1D; second barranco 1 km SSW of Camp Bay, fallen Opuntia trunk, very dry, Croton-Cordia association, 24.I.1979, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 23; rock outcrops of second barranco 1 km SSW of Camp Bay, 100 m, litter of Cordia and Croton , sheltered but very dry, 24.I.1979, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39257; 1D; second barranco, SSW of Camp Bay, 100 m, from dry Opuntia pads, substrate of rocks and sand, 24.I.1979, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 1♀ 1D; littoral, Cryptocarpus litter, 6.IV.1989, leg. S. Peck (89-193). – Santiago: 39376; 13; crater area, 850 m, screening of litter (Tournefortia and Zanthoxylum leaves, moss, around water source), 16.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39374; 23 1T 1D; crater area, 850 m, screened from moss and dead wood, Zanthoxylum around water source, 16.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39360; 1♀; crater area, 830 m, under tent fly in garua, Zanthoxylum savana, 14.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39372; 13; lower southern crater, 750 m, sweeping in Tournefortia and cafetillo, Zanthoxylum dominant, N.W. Crater rim, 22.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 39361; 13; lower crater, 750 m, sweeping in ferns, Tournefortia, Zanthoxylum, Perperonia in damp depression, SE crater rim, 22.IX.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – Seymour: 1P; interior of island, dry zone under Parkinsonia aculeata and Bursera malacophylla , grass litter, 10 m, 11.II.1985, leg. H. & I. Schatz (85-57). – RBINS/MHNG; 273 22♀ 5T 7D 11P; litter under bushes in frigatebird rookery, 1 m, 23.I.1989, leg. S. Peck (89-20). – South Plazas: 39255; 13; 15 m, damp litter under Maytenus, fully shaded, surface to 10 cm depth, 20.III.1975, leg. W. G. Reeder. – 13 2♀ 3T 1D; arid shrubs and succulent litter, 6.V.1992, leg. S. Peck (92-162).

SHORT DESCRIPTION (measurements of pedipalps based on 153 11♀ from Barrington, Espanola, Fernandina, Isabela, Marchena, North Plazas I., Pinzon, Rabida, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Seymour, South Plazas). Carapace brown, a darker, roughly trapezoid or oval, median spot, lateral whitish spots not tapering to lateral margin; tergite I unsclerotized, the following ones brown, with a dark median spot in each half. Carapace 1.0-1.2 longer than broad, mesozone with round regular granula separated by about their diameter, between them microgranular sculpturing, 4 setae +1/1 preocular setae on anterior margin, 7-13 on posterior one (some submarginal ones); tergites divided, chaetotaxy similar to P. nigrimanus , tergite XI with 7-12 clavate and dentate setae (2 discal ones). Chaetotaxy of coxae similar to that of P. nigrimanus , male genital opening with 3-5 smooth internal setae on each side; spermatheca with two tubes with apical oval enlargements (Fig. 72); anterior genital operculum of 3 with about 30-47 long, smooth, curved setae (in semicircular arrangement), that of ♀ with a round field of 24-32 setae; sternites divided, chaetotaxy similar to that of P. nigrimanus , halfsternite III 2-4+2-3 suprastigmal setae, IV 2-4+1, sternite XI with 5-7 setae, lateral ones slightly longer and dentate. Chelicera with 5 setae, ib finely dentate (rarely both basal setae finely dentate); galea of male stout, with 6 subapical and apical branchlets, that of female more slender, with 4-6 subapical/apical branchlets, rallum with 3 setae, serrula exterior with 18-22 lamellae.

Pedipalps: trochanter with rounded dorsal hump, 1.6-1.9 (3♀) times longer than broad, femur basolaterally obliquely enlarged, 2.5-2.9 (♀ 2.4-2.8) times, patella 2.1-2.5 (♀ 2.2-2.5) times, club 1.5-1.9 (♀ 1.6-1.8) times, hand with pedicel 1.5-1.8 (♀ 1.5-1.8) timeslongerthanbroadand 1.2-1.5 (♀ 1.2-1.7) timeslongerthanfinger, chelawithpedicel 2.5-3.2 (♀ 2.4-3.1) times, withoutpedicel 2.3-3.0 (♀ 2.2-2.9) times longer than broad; fingers not gaping, fixed finger with 22-41 teeth and 4-8 (antiaxial)/2 (paraxial) accessoryteeth; movablefingerwith 29-45 teeth, plus 3-10/1(0 one chela) accessory teeth; venom duct long, nodus ramosus slightly proximal to t, a short, thin venom duct present in fixed finger, reaching level of et.

LegI: femur 1.3-1.6 (♀ 1.4-1.6) timeslongerthandeepand 1.4-1.6 (♀ 1.5-1.6) timeslongerthanpatella, patella 2.1-2.6 (♀ 2.1-2.6) times, tibia 3.0-3.8 (♀ 2.9-3.7) times, tarsus 4.4-5.7 (♀ 4.5-5.2) timeslongerthandeep; legIV: femur+patella 3.1-3.5 (♀ 3.3-3.6) times, tibia 3.8-4.8 (♀ 3.8-4.8) times, tarsus 4.4-5.4 (♀ 4.4-4.8) times longer than deep; tarsus with short pseudotactile seta (as long as tarsus depth, length 0.05-0.07 mm) ( TS =0.70-0.79), withonesubapicaldenticleondorsalface; simple arolium shorter than smooth claws .

MEASUREMENTS of 3 (♀): Totallength 1.6-2.2 (2.1-3.5). Carapace 0.61- 0.73/0.53-0.82 (0.59-0.74/0.51-0.64). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.29-0.37/0.16-0.22 (0.29- 0.39/0.15-0.24), femur 0.48-0.63/0.18-0.23 (0.46-0.68/0.19-0.28), patella 0.47- 0.63/0.20-0.26 (0.46-0.68/0.20-0.28), handwithpedicel 0.49-0.57/0.31-0.37 (0.52- 0.69/0.32-0.43), lengthofpedicel 0.06-0.07 (0.06-0.09), offinger 0.35-0.49 (0.31- 0.51), ofchelawithpedicel 0.82-1.05 (0.80-1.19). LegI: femur 0.15-0.21/0.10-0.13 (0.14-0.21/0.11-0.14), patella 0.23-0.31/0.07-0.08 (0.21-0.33/0.11-0.13), tibia 0.22- 0.31/0.07-0.08 (0.21-0.31/0.07-0.08), tarsus 0.23-0.29/0.05-0.06 (0.23-0.31/0.05- 0.06); legIV: femur+patella 0.44-0.59/0.14-0.17 (0.43-0.64/0.13-0.20), tibia 0.33- 0.47/0.08-0.10 (0.32-0.51/0.08-0.11), tarsus 0.27-0.37/0.06-0.07 (0.27-0.36/0.06- 0.08).

REMARKS: Beier (1977) recorded this species from Isabela-Sud. Specimens of P. franzi and P. galapagensis show a certain variability in proportions and measurements of their pedipalps. Normally they can be separated by the palpal ratios ( P. franzi having in the average more slender segments), combined with the shape of the lateral whitish spots of the posterior margin of the carapace, but the identification of single specimens might be problematic.