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.