Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966

Pereira, Maria Paula, Gallão, Jonas E., Bichuette, Maria E. & Pérez-González, Abel, 2024, Hidden in the caves: a new troglobitic species of Spaeleoleptes and the type species redescription (Opiliones, Laniatores), European Journal of Taxonomy 921, pp. 36-63 : 41-49

Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AEA8884E-50DF-43AA-B4A3-C1AB8D4C0AB7

Figs 3–6

Spaeleoleptes spaeleus [sic] H. Soares, 1966: 111, figs 7–9.

Spaeleoleptes spaeleus – Gnaspini & Trajano 1994: 582. — Pinto-da-Rocha 1995: 80; 1996: 189. — Kury 2003: 28.

Material examined

Holotype

BRAZIL • ♂; Minas Gerais, Cordisburgo, Lapa Nova de Maquiné cave ; 19°07′31ʺ S, 44°21′07ʺ W; MZUSP 28463 (ex: MZUSP-OS 3187 ).

Paratype

BRAZIL • ♀; same collection data as for holotYpe; MZUSP 28462 (ex: MZUSP-OS 3187 ) .

Notes about the type material

Soares (1966) deposited the type material of Spaeleoleptes spaeleus in the “Otto Schubart Collection” with the number 3187. In addition to a holotype male, one female paratype and other male paratype were deposited with the same number (3187) in this same collection. A third male and two female paratypes were deposited in the collection “Coleção H. Soares” with the number 54 and this material was destroyed in the fire at the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro ( MNRJ) in 2018, where the “Coleção H. Soares” was deposited. In 2003, Kury referred to the material type with the collection numbers MZUSP-OS 3187. Today, the male holotype and female paratype from the “Otto Schubart Collection” (3187) are incorporated into the collection of the University of São Paulo Museum of Zoology ( MZUSP) with the collection number: MZUSP 28463 (male holotype) and MZUSP 28462 (one female paratype). These two specimens were analyzed in this work.

Etymology

The original species name is incorrect; it should be spelled ‘spelaeus’ from Greek σπήλαιον (spelaion=cave, cavern). Although incorrect, the original name, spaeleus , can’t be emended according to article 32.5.1 of the currently valid ICZN (1999), because it is considered as an incorrect latinization of the Greek σπήλαιον.

Diagnosis

Spaeleoleptes spaeleus differs from S. gimli sp. nov. mainly by the following combination of genital characters: apical lamina with a pointed medial projection; the presence of three lateral pairs of reduced setae ventrallY on the apical lamina; lateral projections of the capsula interna distallY pointed; and bY the ventral keel of the pars distalis with a round top in ventral view ( Fig. 6 ). Both species of Spaeleoleptes have a very similar external morphology, but S. spaeleus can be distinguished by having the tibia I modified, horse saddle-shaped, in retrolateral view ( Figs 5A–B ); the two large pointed tubercles in the post ocularium region; and bY the bodY being covered bY large setiferous tubercles ( Fig. 3 ).

Redescription

Male (holotype, MZUSP 28463) ( Figs 3–6 )

MEASUREMENTS (in millimeters). Total bodY length = 2.2; carapace length =0.78; scutum magnum length =1.9; carapace maximum width=1.0; mesotergal scute maximum width=1.50.

BODY. Entirely covered by setiferous tubercles with the exception of the carapace, chelicerae, and pedipalp ( Fig. 3 ).

DORSUM. Scutum magnum hourglass-shaped with the carapace slightly narrower than the mesotergal shield. Left and right anterior margin of the carapace is armed with two large pointed tubercles close to each other. Mesotergal shield trapezoidal, with areas increasing in width in an anteroposterior direction, with area I being the smallest and area IV the largest (along transversal axis). Areas IV and V with the same width ( Fig. 3 ). Anterior margin of carapace straight, with no pronounced cheliceral sockets. Posterior margin of scutum straight. Each antero-lateral margin of the carapace is armed with two large, pointed tubercles close to each other. Massive ocularium and frontal hump well marked near the anterior margin of the carapace. Ocularium rounded, with several small granules on the surface. Two eyes on the lateral surface of the ocularium with reduced cornea, no visible retina. Carapace in lateral view with a posterior ocularium region slightly convex, armed with two rounded-tipped tubercles. Deep sulcus I. Mesotergal scutum with five distinguishable areas of approximatelY the same size (along anteroposterior axis). Sulci II–IV shallow (not well marked), especiallY the sulci III and IV. Sulci II–IV complete, extending from center to edge of mesotergum. Areas I–V and free tergites each with a transversal row of pointed setiferous tubercles. Coxa IV visible in dorsal view, armed with several prominent setiferous tubercles on the retrolateral-dorsal surface.

VENTER. Free sternites each with a transverse row of pointed setiferous tubercles. Anal operculum covered bY manY low, robust setiferous tubercles of the same size as those of the free tergites. Coxa IV longer than wide, with low setiferous tubercles on the ventral surface. Spiracles free, not concealed bY coxa IV.

CHELICERA. Basichelicerite unarmed, with a well-marked rounded bulla. Cheliceral hand unarmed, normal, neither swollen nor hypertelic, covered with some sensilla.

PEDIPALP. Raptorial morphotYpe (sensu Wolff et al. 2016). Coxa short, armed with one large setiferous tubercle ventrally. Trochanter globular, with one setiferous tubercle and two pronounced granules ventrally. Femur armed ventrally with two proximal and two smaller medial major spines (i.e., stiff pointed bristles in highly elevated sockets, sensu Wolff et al. 2016); dorsallY with a row of small granules and the subdistal-mesal surface with one major spine. Patella armed with one major spine on the mesal surface. Tibia armed ventrally with three ectal and three mesal major spines. Tarsus armed ventrally with three ectal and three mesal major spines. Claw present.

LEGS. Leg measurements in Table 1 . Legs covered with large setiferous tubercles from the coxae to the middle of the metatarsus. Legs I and II sexuallY dimorphic, males with thickened tibia I and modified distal region horse saddle-shaped in retrolateral view. This modified glandular/sensorial? region has several “droplet-like” pegs present mainly on the retrolateral surface, but they may also be present dorsally and extend from the subproximal region to the subdistal region of the tibia I, occupying the entire medial area ( Fig. 5B ). Tibia I also expanded retrolaterally in its medial region, in dorsal view ( Fig. 5A ). Males also have legs II with a glandular/sensorial? region with “droplet-like” pegs on the ventral surface, medially on the patella II and proximally on the tibia II ( Fig. 5D ). Patella and tibia II slightly expanded ventrally in the glandular/sensorial? region, in lateral view ( Fig. 5C ). Tarsal formula: 4(2):?:5:5.

MALE GENITALIA ( Fig. 6 ). Pars distalis swollen, separated from the pars basalis by a constriction. The apical region of pars basalis extends over the pars distalis dorsally, forming a structure similar to a small round-tipped plate in the region of constriction that separates pars basalis and pars distalis. Pars distalis with a ventral keel with round top in ventral view. Pars distalis with abroad apical lamina partially surrounding the glans ventrolaterally. Apical lamina with three lateral pairs of reduced setae ventrally. Apical lamina with a pointed medial projection. Four ventral setae reduced on the pars distalis. Glans with a pair of very robust, thickened, and folded conductors, partially covering the capsula interna. Capsula interna with lateral projections pointed.

Female (paratype, MZUSP 28462) ( Fig. 4 )

MEASUREMENTS (in millimeters).Total bodY length=2.3;carapace length=0.8;scutum magnum length=2.0; carapace maximum width=1.0; mesotergal scute maximum width=1.60. Leg measurements in Table 1 .

BODY. Similar in appearance to the males but without the modified region on the tibia I, II and patella II. Ocularium with no small granules on the surface. Left antero-lateral margin of the carapace is armed with two large pointed tubercles close to each other, and the right antero-lateral margin of the carapace is armed with three large pointed tubercles close to each other ( Fig. 4E ). Tarsal formula: 4(2):5(3):5:5.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Figures

Fig. 3. Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966, male holotype (MZUSP 28463). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Habitus, right lateral view. Square indicatesglandular/ sensorial? region of leg I, more detail in Fig. 5. D. Carapace, lateral view. Arrows indicate the pointed tubercles on the posterior region of the ocularium. E. Male pedipalp, mesal view.

Fig. 4. Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966, female paratype (MZUSP 28462). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Habitus, left lateral view. D. Carapace, lateral view. E. Carapace, dorsal view.

Fig. 5. Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966, male holotype (MZUSP 28463), glandular/sensorial? region. A. Modified region of right tibia I, dorsal view. B. Detail of glandular/sensorial? region on right tibia I, retrolateral view. C. Modified region of patella and tibia II, lateral view. D. Detail of glandular/ sensorial? region on patella and tibia II, ventral view.

Fig. 6. Line drawings of male genitalia of Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966, male holotype (MZUSP 28463). A. Full genitalia, dorsal view. B. Detail of pars distalis, dorsal view. C. Detail of capsula interna, dorsal view. D. Detail of pars distalis, lateral view. E. Same, ventral view. Red lines: capsula interna. Blue lines: conductors. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Tables

Table 1 (continued on next page). Body and leg measurements (in mm) of analyzed specimens of Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966 and Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov. Abbreviations: tr=trochanter; fe=femur; pa=patella; ti=tibia; me=metatarsus; ta=tarsus.

	Spaeleoleptes spaeleus male holotype (MZUSP 28463)	Spaeleoleptes spaeleus female paratype (MZUSP 28462)	Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov. male holotype (LES 00341)	Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov. female paratype (LES 027941)	Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov. male paratype (LES 027941)
total body length	2.20	2.30	2.18	2.30	2.05
scutum magnum length	1.90	2.00	1.84	1.80	1.77
carapace length	0.78	0.80	0.77	0.80	0.73
carapace maximum width	1.00	1.00	1.07	1.10	1.10
mesotergal scute maximum width	1.50	1.60	1.50	1.60	1.51
Pedipalp tr	0.25	0.30	0.24	0.20	0.25
fe	0.96	1.01	0.84	0.80	0.83
pa	0.43	0.50	0.37	0.30	0.40
ti	0.71	0.70	0.62	0.60	0.69
ta	0.51	0.61	0.55	0.50	0.51
Total	2.86	3.12	2.62	2.40	2.68
Leg I tr	0.30	0.33	0.21	0.20	0.24
fe	1.70	1.64	1.29	0.90	1.12
pa	0.58	0.60	0.35	0.50	0.38
ti	1.26	1.23	0.88	0.80	0.83
me	1.78	1.63	1.17	1.10	1.05
ta	1.16	1.20	0.77	0.70	0.75
Total	6.78	6.63	4.67	4.20	4.37