Eremocosta striata ( Putnam 1883 )

Cushing, Paula E., Channiago, Felix & Brookhart, Jack O., 2018, Revision of the camel spider genus Eremocosta Roewer and a description of the female Eremocosta gigas Roewer (Arachnida, Solifugae), Zootaxa 4402 (3), pp. 443-466 : 459-460

Eremocosta striata ( Putnam 1883)

Figs. 1F , 2S–V , 3F , 4E , 5G

Datames striatus Putnam1883: 255 –257.

Datames cinerea Putnam1883: 260 –261.

Eremobates cinereus ( Putnam 1883) : Kraepelin 1901: 124. Eremorhax striatus ( Putnam 1883) : Muma 1951: 45 –47, figs. 26–31. Eremopus striatus ( Putnam 1883) : Muma & Muma 1988: 10 –11, fig. 2. Eremocosta striata ( Putnam 1883) : Harvey 2002: 451.

Type material. Datames striatus : Female holotype from Camp Grant, Arizona , USA ( BNHM). Datames cinerea : Type locality of male holotype unknown (Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). We did not examine the female holotype .

Specimens examined. Males (8). USA: Arizona, Graham County, 6 miles south of San Carlos, San Carlos Reservoir, N 33.24996°, W 110.44431°, 805 m elev., 5 August 1974, coll. Martin H. Muma (2 males: DMNS ZA.16329); USA: Arizona, Santa Cruz County , E. of Amado along Hopkins Mountain Rd . , between the 2–5 Km signs, N 31.714°, W 111.009°, 1011 m elev., 30 July 2008, coll. Joe Warfel ( DMNS ZA.21079); USA: Arizona, Santa Cruz County, Hopkins Mountain Rd . , toward Whipple Observatory, N 31.67222°, W 110.90528°, 1753 m elev., 28 July 2009, coll. Joe Warfel, on roadway ( DMNS ZA.25446); USA: Arizona, Santa Cruz County, Hopkins Mountain Rd . , N 31.46139°, W 111.00417°, 1112 m elev., 28 July 2009, coll. Joe Warfel, on roadway at 21:28 hrs ( DMNS ZA.25453); USA: Arizona, Pima County, 10 miles E Continental, 3 miles N Madera Canyon, 14–15 July 1989, K. Ribardo (2 males: CAS Casent 9033604).

Females (2). USA: Arizona, Santa Cruz County, Esplendor Resort , 1069 Camino Caralampi , Rio Rico , N 31.46194°, W 110.99746°, 1063 m elev., July 2009, coll. Lou Perrotti, caught in room ( DMNS ZA.25451) ; MÉXICO: Sonora, 73.9 miles N. of Hermosillo , 5 August 1968, coll. T. Briggs ( CAS Casent-9033697).

Diagnosis. The shape of the male chelicera with its slightly rounded fondal notch, a tiny MM, and a flattened ridge-like MD distinguishes this species from all other Eremocosta . Only E. gigasella has a ridge-like structure positionally homologous to the sharper distal ridge that might be a modified MD (see Figs. 2S & O , arrows). Eremocosta gigas has a distinctive MD tooth at that same position on the movable finger ( Fig. 2K , arrow). The genital operculum of E. striata is most similar to that of E. calexicensis ; however, the curved distal portions of the genital wings are more rounded than those of E. calexicensis (compare Figs. 4E & B ).

Measurements. Males (n = 8). TL 31.0–50.0; CL 9.0–16.0; CH 3.4–5.6; FNL 0.3–2.0; FNH 0.4–0.9; FFH 1.0–1.6; PL 25.0–40.5; PT 7.0–8.0; PMT 1.7–3.0; LI 20.5–31.0; LIV 27.0–43.0; PPL 5.0–7.9; A/CP 4.3–5.6; FNL/ FNH 0.5–2.5; FFH/FNH 1.3–2.3; FFH/ CH 0.2–0.5.

Measurements. Females (n = 2). TL 34.5, 50.0; CL 9.0, 17.5; CH 4.0, 5.5; PL 22.0, 35.0; PT 7.5, 7.7; PMT 2.0, 2.9; LI 19.5, 26.0; LIV 34.5, 35.0; PPL 3.9, 4.0; A/CP 3.9, 4.0.

Description. Coloration. Male. Overall dusky yellow body and appendages; legs dusky violet-brown at tibiafemur joint. Propeltidium reticulate violet-brown with a longitudinal lighter stripe the width of the eye tubercle ( Fig. 5G ). Abdomen dark dorsally and lighter ventrally.

Chelicera. Male. VDC apical, oriented prolaterally, narrow, with thin carina ( Fig. 1F , arrow). Fixed finger broad at the base narrowing at the apical third of the length in retrolateral view with no median dentition. Movable finger: prominent MP-two tiny MSM (some specimens with just one)-either a very small, but distinct, MM or just a slight ridge at that location (difficult to see in Fig. 2S )-a long ridge-like MD; distinct MPL ( Figs. 2S & T ). Fondal notch seemingly curved and distinct ( Figs. 2S & T ). Two tiny RFA; fondal teeth graded I, III, II, IV retrolaterally and I, II, III, IV prolaterally ( Fig. 3F ).

Setation. Male. Typical.

Coloration. Female. Coloration as in the males but sometimes markings are less distinct.

Chelicera. Female. Fixed finger: large FP-2 small FSM-FM-2 small FSD-smaller FD. Movable finger: large MP-two small MSM-medium MM; smaller but distinct MPL ( Figs. 2U & V ). Two RFA, proximal tiny; fondal teeth graded as in the male.

Setation. Female. Typical.

Genital operculum. Muma’s illustration is accurate (1951, fig. 31, p. 46). Thin anterior arms; relatively large posterior wings ( Fig. 4E ).

Distribution. USA Arizona. MÉXICO: Sonora. Biome: Sonoran Desert.

Discussion. Eremocosta striata is a large species that can be seen by vehicle headlights scurrying across a road (pers. obs, JB). It seems to occupy the Sonoran region east of the Colorado River in Arizona and the state of Sonora, México.

Figures

FIGURE 1. VDC on the fixed finger of the right chelicera of male Eremocosta. Refer to Figure 2 for scale. A) Eremocosta bajaensis (holotype from CAS).B) Eremocosta calexicensis (holotype from USNM).C) Eremocosta formidabilis (IBUNAM). Note the more proximal locationof the VDC on the fixed finger of thisspecies.D) Eremocosta gigas (holotype from SMK).E) Eremocosta gigasella (DMNS ZA.35465). F) Eremocosta striata (DMNS ZA.21079). G) Eremocosta titania (DMNS ZA.15427).Arrows point to an internal carina in the VDC of some species.

FIGURE 2. Retrolateral (left) and prolateral (right) cheliceral views of the right chelicera of Eremocosta species. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. See text for collection abbreviations. A & B) Eremocosta bajaensis male (holotype from CAS). C & D) Eremocosta bajaensis female (IBUNAM). E & F) Eremocosta calexicensis male (holotype from USNM). G & H) Eremocosta calexicensis female (allotype from USNM). I & J) Eremocosta formidabilis male (IBUNAM). K & L) Eremocosta gigas male (holotype from SMK). M & N) Eremocosta gigas female (IBUNAM CNAN Sol00114). O &P) Eremocosta gigasella male (DMNS ZA.35465). Q & R) Eremocosta gigasella female (DMNS ZA.17350). S & T) Eremocosta striata male (DMNS ZA.21079). U & V) Eremocosta striata female (DMNS ZA.25451). W & X) Eremocosta titania male (DMNS ZA.15427). Y & Z) Eremocosta titania female (DMNS ZA.36256).Arrows in K, O, and S point to MD tooth (see text).

FIGURE 3. Fondal teeth on right fixed fingers of male specimens illustrated in Fig. 2. See Fig. 2 for scale. A) Eremocosta bajaensis (holotype from CAS).B) Eremocosta calexicensis (holotype from USNM).C) Eremocosta formidabilis (IBUNAM). D) Eremocosta gigas holotype from SMK). E) Eremocosta gigasella (DMNS ZA.35465). F) Eremocosta striata (DMNS ZA.21079).G) Eremocosta titania (DMNS ZA.15427).

FIGURE 4. Genital opercula of females. Same specimens as illustrated in Fig. 2. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. A) Eremocosta bajaensis(IBUNAM).B) Eremocostacalexicensis (allotypefrom USNM).C) Eremocosta gigas (IBUNAM CNANSol00114). D) Eremocosta gigasella (DMNS ZA.17350). E) Eremocosta striata (DMNS ZA.25451). F) Eremocosta titania (DMNS ZA.36256).

FIGURE 5. Propeltidia of specimens illustrated in Fig. 2. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. A) Eremocosta bajaensis male (holotype from CAS). B) Eremocosta calexicensis male (holotype from USNM). C) Eremocosta formidabilis male (IBUNAM). D) Eremocosta gigas male (holotype from SMK). E) Eremocosta gigas female (IBUNAM CNAN Sol00114). F) Eremocosta gigasella male (DMNS ZA.35465). G) Eremocosta striata male (DMNS ZA.21079). H) Eremocosta titania male (DMNS ZA.15427).