Parabeloniscus corneus, Zhang, Chao & Zhang, Feng, 2012

Zhang, Chao & Zhang, Feng, 2012, A new species of Parabeloniscus (Opiliones: Laniatores: Epedanidae) from China, Zootaxa 3565, pp. 55-64 : 56-62

Parabeloniscus corneus sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–25 )

Type material. Male holotype, CHINA: Fujian Province, Wuyishan City, Wuyi Mountain [N27°48´, E 117°47´], August 15, 2010, F. Zhang leg. (MHBU-Opi-10ZF815). One female paratype (MHBU-Opi-10ZF816), same collecting data as holotype.

Diagnosis. The male of new species resembles P. caudatus ( Suzuki, 1973: figs. 10–20), both having a median spine in free tergite III. It can be distinguished from P. caudatus by the conspicuous enlarged spines of coxa IV, free tergite II and lateral margin of the scutum; by the pedipalpal femur with four setiferous tubercles; by the number of tubercles on front margin of carapace; and by the shape of glans. It is distinct from P. shimojanai by the free tergite III with an enlarged median spine in male, lateral margin of the scutum with conspicuous enlarged spines, pedipalpal femur with four setiferous tubercles, the number of tubercles on front margin of carapace and the shape of glans tip; from P. nipponicus by the free tergite III with an enlarged median spine in male, the ventral plate of penis with distal border concave and the glans with a horny stylus.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word “ cornu ” meaning horn, referring to shape of the stylus in the penis.

Description. Male (holotype) habitus as in Figs. 1–2 , 6 . Coloration: entire body pale hazel, with somewhat brown patches on the dorsum; median area of carapace with faint pigmented reticulations; both lateral ridges of the carapace and scute brown; venter lighter; coxa with slightly hazel patches; free sternites with transverse band of brown; chelicera, pedipalpus and legs pale yellow, femur and tibia of all legs with hazel reticulations.

Dorsum ( Fig. 1 ). Dorsal scutum pyriform in shape, widest portion of body near sulcus II. Carapace with two setiferous tubercles on each side of front margin. Ocularium long oval, remote from anterior border of scutum, armed with a long median spine, posterior to two smaller hair-tipped granules. Opisthosomal region of scutum with five areas, the scutal sulci almost parallel to each other. The first area wider than remaining areas, not divided by a median groove. Areas I–IV each with a transverse row of hair-tipped granules. Each lateral margin of the scutum with a longitudinal row of hair-tipped granules, with granules at widest portion enlarged in two spines. Free tergite I and area V each with a transverse row of slightly enlarged hair-tipped granules spread over its entire width, of which granules at the both extremities are largest. Free tergite II with a single lateral enlarged spine on each side. Free tergite III with a remarkably enlarged median spine, protruding posteriorly and numerous granules throughout its surface. Anal operculum with numerous scattered granules.

Venter ( Fig. 2 ). All coxae granulate. Coxae I–III disto-dorsally with two coarse tubercles on anterior and posterior sides respectively. Coxa IV with a reduced tubercle prolaterally. Coxa I medio-ventrally and prolaterally with transverse rows of hair-tipped granules, which are slightly enlarged along the anterior margin. Coxa II with three hair-tipped tubercles on the retrolateral surface. Coxa III with prolateral and retrolateral rows of small humps. Coxa IV considerably widened, with somewhat enlarged tubercles on the prolateral surface, of which one tubercle nearly at distal end enlarged into a spine; retrolateral surface also with one stout tubercle distally, in contact with tubercles on the sternal ridge. Genital operculum with a few hair-tipped granules. Free sternites each with a transverse row of hair-tipped granules along the entire width. Spiracles clearly visible. Anal plate with numerous scattered hair-tipped granules. Free tergite III with a single lateral enlarged tubercle on each side, which is under the spine of free tergite II.

Chelicera ( Figs. 3–5 ). Basichelicerite with distinct bulla, no prominent armaments except for four small hairtipped tubercles, one dorsally and three ventrally near distal margin respectively. Secondary article dorsally with some greater hair-tipped tubercles, of which two hair-tipped bifurcating tubercles in the middle are conspicuous. Cheliceral fingers relatively short, inner edges toothed as illustrated ( Fig. 5 ): mobile digit with six teeth, the proximal one inconspicuous, the next two tetragonal, the distal three deltoid; fixed digit with six teeth, the proximal one inconspicuous, the next two mound-like, the distal three crested.

Pedipalpus ( Figs. 9–10 ). Coxa with one proximal tubercle dorsally and a small distal setiferous tubercle ventrally. Trochanter ventrally with one short proximal and one long distal setiferous tubercle. Femur enlarged, in profile arched upward, ventrally with a row of four setiferous tubercles, two proximal ones being the longest, the middle one being the shortest; dorsally with a row of five low conical tubercles along the entire length; on the medial distal side with two setiferous tubercles. Patella widened distally and strongly curved, widening abruptly distally, with one conspicuous setiferous tubercle disto-medially and one inconspicuous setiferous tubercle ectally. Tibia with five setiferous tubercles medially, of which the two long ones consist of two parts: one setiferous tubercle and one small low stump; ectally with four setiferous tubercles, in addition, two much reduced ones at the two extremities. Tarsus with four setiferous tubercles on both sides of ventral surface, of which the proximal one is the shortest, and ventral surface with six hairs. Tarsal claw nearly as long as tarsus, strongly curved.

Legs. Legs I–II slender, legs III–IV robust, leg IV longest. Trochanters I–IV unarmed above except for a few hair-tipped granules, more granules on the ventral surface. Trochanters III-IV conspicuously enlarged. Trochanters IV with one enlarged basal tubercle ventrally. Femur I, III and IV slightly curved, but femur II straight. Femur I–III with fine hair-tipped granules which are arranged in longitudinal series. Femur IV with slightly enlarged granules on ventral surface, one near the distal end forming a spine ( Fig. 7 ). Patella IV with spine on the ventral surface; tibia IV and metatarsus IV with spine-shaped tubercles arranged in two longitudinal series ventrally and retrolaterally ( Figs. 7–8 ). Other patellae and tibiae with inconspicuous hair-tipped granules; metatarsi and tarsi with bristle-like hairs only. Tarsi III–IV with bare double claws, without scopulae. Tarsal formula (I–IV): 6/10/6 /6. Distitarsus of the first and second tarsi with two tarsalia.

Penis ( Figs. 11–18 ) slender, sides nearly parallel along its basal half, somewhat distended sub-apically, then lightly constricted, and pars distalis distended. The ventral platebroad, with lightly indented distal margin, nearly enclosed 2/3 part of glans. Glans ( Fig. 18 ) protruding beyond a little the distal margin of the ventral plate. Follis with complex structure, shaped as a Stetson hat in dorsal view. Follis tip cucullate. Stylus smooth andhorny. Basal follis irregular (inflatable), visible from dorsal view, immovable and nearly enclosed by ventral plate. Follis tip rigid (not inflatable). Seminal vesicle immovable, lantern-shaped, sperm duct entirely sunken into truncus. Ventral plate with 12 ventral setae ( Fig. 13 ). Distal margin of ventral plate with eight small ones which arranged both sides of indented; four large ones lying on the underside of small ones. Dorsolaterally, pars distalis with other four setae ( Figs. 13, 16 ), two small and two large ones. All large setae acinaciform, with an acute cusp near distal end ( Fig. 15 ).

Basal follis inflated only when penis was expanded. Remaining penis was unchanged after expansion.

Female. ( Figs. 19–25 ). In general appearance similar to the male, but lacking lateral enlarged spine on free tergite II and a remarkably enlarged median spine on free tergite III ( Fig. 19 ). Inner edges of mobile digit of chelicera toothed as illustrated ( Fig. 23 ): moveable digit with six teeth; fixed digit with five teeth. Pedipalpal tibia with two long and three short setiferous tubercles medially, and with three long and one short setiferous tubercles ( Figs. 20–21 ). Setiferous tubercles of leg IV, leg I–III without any spines ( Fig. 22 ). Tarsal formula (I–IV): 4/9/6/6. Distitarsus of the first and second tarsi with two tarsalia.

Ovipositor as illustrated ( Figs. 24–25 ). Ventral surface with four setae and dorsal surface with six setae. Tip of each seta pinpoint ( Fig. 25 ).

Measurements. Male holotype (female paratype): body 2.81 (2.24) long, 1.88 (1.65) at the widest portion, scutum 2.51 (2.08) long. Ocularium 0.25 (0.30) long, 0.45 (0.45) wide. Pedipalpal claw 0.50 (0.45) long. Median spine on free tergite III 0.70 long. Penis 1.17 long. Measurements of pedipalpus and legs as in Tables 1, 2. Habitat. The specimens were collected by leaf litter sieving in dark moist places of the forest, under dense canopies.

Trochanter Femur Patella Tibia Metatarsus Tarsus Total Pedipalpus 0.25/0.30 0.80/0.31 0.53/0.27 0.63/0.29 0.55/0.19 2.76 Leg I 0.35/0.23 1.25/0.17 0.53/0.23 0.90/0.17 1.35/0.09 0.95/0.07 5.33 Leg II 0.35/0.23 1.55/0.13 0.68/0.20 1.25/0.14 1.65/0.08 1.50/0.07 6.98 Leg III 0.40/0.35 1.38/0.20 0.55/0.31 1.25/0.21 1.53/0.13 1.00/0.07 6.11 Leg IV 0.50/0.38 1.95/0.24 1.08/0.46 1.75/0.23 2.15/0.15 0.95/0.10 8.38 Trochanter Femur Patella Tibia Metatarsus Tarsus Total Pedipalpus 0.30/0.28 0.78/0.28 0.50/0.27 0.63/0.25 0.48/0.17 2.69 Leg I 0.30/0.19 1.00/0.15 0.45/0.20 0.78/0.13 1.10/0.09 0.88/0.07 4.51 Leg II 0.30/0.21 1.28/0.12 0.60/0.18 1.13/0.12 1.38/0.08 1.38/0.06 6.07 Leg III 0.38/0.27 1.05/0.19 0.53/0.26 1.00/0.18 1.28/0.10 0.75/0.07 4.99 Leg IV 0.38/0.28 1.68/0.18 0.70/0.28 1.38/0.19 1.75/0.11 1.00/0.08 6.89 Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Parabeloniscus corneus sp. nov. 1. Male body, dorsal view. 2. Same, ventral view. 3. Left chelicera of male, medial view. 4. Same, ectal view. 5. Cheliceral fingers of male, frontal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (1 – 2); 0.5 mm (3 – 4); 0.25 mm (5).

FIGURES 6 – 10. Parabeloniscus corneus sp. nov. 6. Male body, lateral view. 7. Right leg IV of male, retrolateral view. 8. Patella, tibia, metatarsus and tarsus of male right leg IV, dorsal view. 9. Left pedipalpus of male, medial view. 10. Patella, tibia and tarsus of male left pedipalpus, dorsal view. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURES 11 – 18. Parabeloniscus corneus sp. nov. 11. Penis, dorsal view. 12. Distal part of penis, dorsal view. 13. Same, lateral view. 14. Same, ventral view. 15. Same (expanded), dorsal view. 16. Same, lateral view. 17. Same, ventral view. 18. Tip of glans, dorsal view. DS, dorsal setae; Fo, follis; S, stylus; SD, sperm duct; SV, seminal vesicle; VP, ventral plate; VS, ventral setae. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (11); 0.125 mm (12 – 17); 0.05 mm (18).

FIGURES 19 – 25. Parabeloniscus corneus sp. nov. 19. Female body, dorsal view. 20. Left pedipalpus of female, medial view. 21. Patella, tibia and tarsus of female left pedipalpus, dorsal view. 22. Right leg IV of female, retrolateral view. 23. Cheliceral fingers of female, frontal view. 24. Ovipositor, dorsal view. 25. Same, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (19 – 22); 0.25 mm (23 – 25).