Spaeleoleptes gimli, Pereira & Bichuette & Pérez-González, 2024

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 : 49-55

Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F2FDBB7A-8465-488C-A216-97A812D210E6

Figs 7–14

Material examined

Holotype

BRAZIL • ♂; Bahia, Itaetê, Gruta Natal cave ; 12°59′48ʺ S, 41°05′27ʺ W; 4 Jul. 2004; M.E. Bichuette leg.; LES 00341 .

Paratype

BRAZIL • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotYpe; LES 027941 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotYpe; LES 027942 ( SEM voucher) .

Etymology

The species epithet is used as a noun in apposition. It refers to the dwarf Gimli, one of the main characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous novel “The Lord of the Rings”. This name was chosen because in Tolkien’s novel the dwarves are a race associated with mining and have a strong admiration for caves. Particularly, Gimli explicitly expresses his fascination for the Glittering Caves of Aglarond with their extensive series of spectacular speleothems, and after the defeat of Sauron he was given the lordship over this marvelous cave. The intention of the specific name is to make a metaphorical association with the close relationship of this species with its subterranean habitat.

Diagnosis

Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov. differs from S. spaeleus mainly by the following combination of genital characters: apical lamina with a narrower base and medial projection absent; the presence of four lateral pairs of reduced setae ventrallY on the apical lamina; bY the lateral projections of the capsula interna being distallY flattened; and bY the ventral keel of the pars distalis having straight top in ventral view ( Fig. 14 ). The external morphology of S. gimli also presents many convergences, but it can be distinguished bY the slight depression on the retrolateral surface of tibia I ( Fig. 10A ); the twopointed tubercles on the post-ocularium that are reduced to two small granules; and bY the absence of large setiferous tubercles covering the body ( Figs 7 , 14 ).

Description

Male (holotype LES 00341) ( Figs 7–14 )

MEASUREMENTS (in millimeters). Total bodY length =2.18; carapace length =0.77; scutum magnum length =1.84; carapace maximum width= 1.07; mesotergal scute maximum width=1.5. Leg measurements in Table 1 .

BODY. EntirelY finelY granulated.

DORSUM ( Figs 7 , 13 ). Scutum magnum hourglass-shaped with the carapace slightly narrower than the mesotergal shield. 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. 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 small, round-tipped tubercles close to each other. Massive ocularium. Ocularium rounded, with several small granules on the surface. Two reduced eyes on the lateral surface of the ocularium, with cornea and retina. Carapace in lateral view with the posterior ocularium region slightly convex, armed with two thickened granules. Deep sulci 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–IV with several setiferous tubercles. Area V and free tergites each with a transversal row of setiferous tubercles. Coxa IV visible in dorsal view, armed with several small setiferous tubercles on the retrolateral-dorsal surface.

VENTER ( Fig. 7 ). Free sternites each with a transverse row of small and rounded setiferous tubercles. Anal operculum covered by many low, robust setiferous tubercles of the same size as those of the free tergites. Coxa IV slightlY rounded, longer than wide, with no setiferous tubercles on the ventral surface. Coxa IV with a cYlinder-shaped projection on the ventro-distal portion, next to sternites. Spiracles somewhat concealed bY coxa IV. Epistome with sulcus well marked. Post-sulcal epistome wider than tall, with a medial groove dividing the post-sulcal epistome into two convex domes. Basal pre-sulcal epistome wide and long, almost triangular. Pre-sulcal epistome process long and somewhat cylindrical, without median constriction ( Fig. 8D ).

CHELICERA ( Figs 9A–C ). Basichelicerite unarmed, with a well-marked rounded bulla. Cheliceral hand unarmed, normal, neither swollen nor hypertelic, covered with several sensilla on the anterior surface.

PEDIPALP ( Figs 9D–H ). Raptorial morphotYpe (sensu Wolff et al. 2016). Coxa short, unarmed, finelY granulated and with a row of three small granules on the mesal surface. Trochanter globular, with one small setiferous tubercle dorsally and two pronounced setiferous tubercles disto-ventrally, with two other pronounced granules baso-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 two subdistal-mesal major spines. Patella cylindrical, armed with one ventro-medial major spine on the mesal surface. Tibia armed ventrally with four ectal and four mesal major spines. Tarsus armed ventrally with three ectal and three mesal major spines. All major spines possess very small and sparse microtrichia covering the distal half. Claw present.

LEGS ( Figs 10–12 ). Cuticle of legs is scale-like and granulated except on calcaneus and tarsus. Calcaneus restricted to the distal portion of legs. Legs I and II sexually dimorphic, males with thickened tibia I. The glandular/sensorial? region is present on the retrolateral surface and extends from the subproximal region to the subdistal region of tibia I, occupying the entire medial area ( Fig. 10 ). Males also have glandular/sensorial? openings with “droplet-like” pegs on the patella and tibia II ventrallY, but different from what is observed in S. spaeleu s. In S. gimli sp. nov. the glandular/sensorial? openings are not concentrated in one region but are dispersed throughout the ventral region of the patela and tibia II ( Fig. 11 ). Patella and tibia II are not expanded ventrally. Tarsal formula: 4(2):6(3):5:5.

MALE GENITALIA ( Fig.14 ). Pars distalis swollen, separated from the pars basalis by a slight constriction. Pars distalis with a ventral keel with straight top in ventral view. Pars distalis with a broad apical lamina with narrow base that does not surround the glans ventrolaterally. Apical lamina with two very small setae located in a depression in the mid-apical region. Apical lamina with four lateral pairs of setae ventrally reduced. The other four ventral setae reduced on the pars distalis. Glans with a pair of very robust, thickened, and folded conductors, almost completely covering the capsula interna. Capsula interna with lateral projections distallY flattened.

Female (paratype, LES 027941)

MEASUREMENTS (in millimeters). Total bodY length =2.3; carapace length =0.8; scutum magnum length =1.8; carapace maximum width= 1.1; mesotergal scute maximum width =1.6. 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. Tarsal formula: 4(2):6(3):5:5.

Natural history

The specimens were found in the aphotic zone near the water body inside the Gruta Natal cave (phreatic water); theY were under rocks in highlY moist susbtrate. TheY were not grouped and did not show gregarious habit. It is noteworthy that S. gimli sp. nov. exhibits thanatosis as a defensive behavior.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Gruta Natal cave.

Figures

Fig. 7. Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov., male paratype (LES 027942), dorsal view. A. Habitus. B. Detail of carapace. C. Detail of antero-lateral margin of carapace. Arrows indicating the two projections. D. Detail of right coxa IV.

Fig. 8. Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov., male paratype (LES 027942). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Lateral carapace showing the ozopore region. C. Habitus, ventral view. D. Epistome, anterolateral view. E. Detail of spiracle area.

Fig. 9. Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov., male paratype (LES 027942). A. Right chelicera, ectal view. B. Right chelicera, mesal view. C. Right chelicera, frontal view. D. Right pedipalp, ectal view. E. Right pedipalp, mesal view. F. Detail of the two basal major spines on ventral femur of right pedipalp, ectal view. G. Detail of major spine on right pedipalp with very small and sparse microtrichia, ectal view. H. Detail of spines on mesal distal femur of right pedipalp, mesal view.

Fig. 10. Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov., male paratype (LES 027942), leg I. A. Right leg I, dorsal view. B. Detail of distal area of tíbia I, dorsal view. C. Detail of glandular/sensorial? region on tibia I, dorsal view. D. Detail of glandular/sensorial? openings, dorsal view. E. Detail of glandular/sensorial? openings with ‘‘droplet-like’’ pegs.

Fig. 11. Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov., male paratype (LES 027942), leg II. A. Right leg II, ventral view. B. Detail of patella II, ventral view. C. Detail of tibia II, ventral view.Arrows point to some of the glandular/ sensorial? openings. D. Detail of glandular/sensorial? openings with ‘‘droplet-like’’ pegs, ventral view.

Fig. 12. Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov., male paratype (LES 027942), right legs. A. Leg II, retrolateral view. B. Detail of distal region of metatarsus II, dorsal view. C. Leg III, retrolateral view. Inset shows detail of distal region of metatarsus III, dorsal view, scale 100 µm. D. Leg IV, retrolateral view. Inset shows detail of distal region of metatarsus IV, dorsal view, scale 100 µm.

Fig. 13. Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov., male holotype (LES 00341), habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Lateral view.

Fig. 14. Line drawings of male genitalia of Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov. male holotype (LES 00341). 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.