Xinjiangsha lyciaensis, Stekolnikov & Daniel, 2012

Stekolnikov, Alexandr & Daniel, Milan, 2012, 3216, Zootaxa 3216, pp. 1-104 : 16-19

Xinjiangsha lyciaensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 9–11)

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-N-3-3111.1000; fPp = B/B/NNB; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fSc: PL> OS> PPL ≥ AM> AL; Ip = 976; fD = 7H-[17-11]-24-21-8-8-7; DS = 103; VS = 60; NDV = 163. Standard measurements of holotype: AW 77, PW 90, SB 33, ASB 29, PSB 27, SD 56, P-PL 39, AP 16, AM 48, AL 43, PL 62, PPL 46, 52, OS 54, H 60, D min 41, D max 52, pa 338, pm 301, pp 337, TaIII 86, m-t 0.208 .

Description (holotype larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes large, 2 + 2. About four pairs of humeral setae (7 in holotype); 96 dorsal idiosomal setae with long thick barbs, 1 st row double, fD = 7H-[17-11]-24-21-8-8-7; four sternal setae and 60 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal 163.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with large tricuspid cap and additional ventral projection; cheliceral base moderately covered with puncta; gnathobase with dense puncta and one pair of branched setae; palpal femur moderately punctate, palpal genu with few puncta; galeala nude; palpal claw with three prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu branched; dorsal and lateral palpal tibial setae nude, ventral palpal tibial seta branched; palpal tarsus with seven branched setae, nude subterminala, and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly pentagonal, with rounded posterior margin and dense small puncta; posterior scutal angles reduced. In holotype, scutum bears three post-posterolateral setae and two scuto-ocular setae situated between posterior scutal margin and eyes; all scutal setae with long thick barbs; AM base posterior to level of ALs; SB far posterior to level of PLs (PSB–P-PL = –12); PL> OS> PPL ≥ AM> AL; flagelliform sensilla with about 5–6 branches of moderate length in distal part .

LEGS. All seven-segmented, with pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with one non-specialized branched seta (1B); trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 5B; genu 4B, three genualae (18, 18, and 16 long), microgenuala (2); tibia 8B, two tibialae (17 and 16), microtibiala (3); tarsus 22B, tarsala (23), microtarsala (1) distad tarsala, subterminala (18), parasubterminala (10), pretarsala (13). Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala (14); tibia 6B, two tibialae (14); tarsus 16B, tarsala (20), microtarsala (1) proximad tarsala, pretarsala (11). Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala (17); tibia 6B, tibiala (17); tarsus 14B, mastitarsala (54) nude.

Host. Chionomys nivalis (Martins) .

Type material. Holotype larva (ZISP) (8088, T-Tr.-46) ex Chionomys nivalis , TURKEY: Antalya Prov., 6 km SWW from Kizlarsivrisi Mt , 2135 m a.s.l., 26 April 2009, coll. AAS.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the ancient region Lycia where the type locality is situated.

Remarks. Homology of the posterior scutal setae in this species is unclear. In the above description, we provisionally identified the setae most approximate to AL as PL, but it is also possible to consider OS to be extrascutal PL. In this case, the setae identified here as PL should be considered as additional setae situated on lateral scutal margins.

The new species similar to Xinjiangsha variabilis in having multiple additional scutal setae, but differs from it in the reduced posterior scutal angles, nude lateral palpal tibial seta (fPp = B/B/NNB vs. B/B/NBB), more than 2 pairs of humeral setae vs. 1 pair, much more numerous idiosomal setae (NDV 163 vs. 77–91), longer legs (Ip 976 vs. 896–909, TaIII 86 vs. 75–77), in somewhat smaller scutum (PW 90 vs. 98–108, SD 56 vs. 58–62), and in AP 16 vs. 26–34. The above data on X. variabilis are based on lectotype ( Kudryashova 1998) and our examination of 5 paralectotypes.

The new species differs from other close species, X. montana , in having fCx = 1.1.1 vs. 1.2.1, multiple additional scutal setae vs. 1 pair of PPL, reduced posterior scutal angles, more than 2 pairs of humeral setae, and in AP 16 vs. 27–33. Xinjiangsha lyciaensis sp. nov. differs from three species ( X. armata , X. tokobajevi , and X. scutocularis ) included in the genus Xinjiangsha by Wen (2003) in the absence of additional sternal and coxal setae, simultaneous presence of OS and PPL, and in fPp = B/B/NNB vs. B/B/BBB.