Phalangium martensi, Snegovaya & Cokendolpher & Zamani, 2021

Snegovaya, Nataly Yu., Cokendolpher, James C. & Zamani, Alireza, 2021, Further studies on harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) from Iran, with the descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4984 (1), pp. 73-86 : 75-77

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4984.1.7

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:604672CE-8468-4A69-93A3-D8024DB42327

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5196942

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6B0C87BC-FFC0-C64A-03D0-7E055AC35219

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Phalangium martensi
status

sp. nov.

Phalangium martensi View in CoL spec. nov.

Figs 2A–K View FIGURES 2

Type material. IRAN: Khuzestan Province: Holotype male ( ZMMU), Dezful, Qaleh Shadab (Shahiun), Bazargah, 32°36’N, 48°28’E, 549 m a.s.l., Alireza Zamani leg. January 2019 GoogleMaps . Paratype. 1 male ( RCNS), with same data as for holotype GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific name “ martensi ” is the genitive of the family name of our colleague Prof. Dr Jochen Martens, one of the world’s leading authorities on Opiliones .

Diagnosis. The new species has long legs, all of about the same thickness, with longitudinal rows of fairly large denticles ( Figs 2A–B, D View FIGURES 2 ). Pedipalp slender, long, all segments only with setae ( Figs 2E–F View FIGURES 2 ); chelicera with large rigid dorsal horn ( Figs 2A–B, G–H View FIGURES 2 ). The penis has a thin truncus with a wide base, tapering sharply from 1/3 of the penis length ( Fig. 2I View FIGURES 2 ); the glans is triangular in lateral view ( Figs 2J–K View FIGURES 2 ).

Comparative remarks. Judging from the presence of a hard dorsal horn on the second segment of the chelicera, the new species is most similar to P. savignyi Audouin, 1826 and can be distinguished by the following characteristics: longer legs (Body Leg Index = 2.13) and different shape of femur I which is cylindrical ( Figs 2A–B View FIGURES 2 ), in contrast to the fusiform shape in P. savignyi , and especially by not having the 1st pair of legs thickened; longer and more slender palps ( Figs 2E–F View FIGURES 2 ); different structure of the penis ( Figs 2I–K View FIGURES 2 ). The new species is also similar to P. kopetdaghensis Tchemeris & Snegovaya, 2010 , but different in the following features: longitudinal rows of spiky denticles located on the legs ( Fig. 2D View FIGURES 2 ) (vs. blunt denticles); femur I has a cylindrical shape, in contrast to the fusiform shape in P. kopetdaghensis ; a rigid dorsal horn on the second segment of the chelicera (unlike the softer horn in P. kopetdaghensis ) and the structure of the penis (truncus with a wide base and sharply tapering to 1/3 of its length distally), and with thinner distal part, the so-called “spoon” of the penis [i.e. upper third of the distal part ( Fig. 2I View FIGURES 2 )], and by having longer and thinner pedipalps ( Figs 2E–F View FIGURES 2 ).

Description. Male. Body length 4.7, width 3.0. Body medium-sized: coloration light brown, dorsally with dark brown saddle pattern. Transverse rows of small denticles located along boundaries of tergites ( Fig. 2A View FIGURES 2 ). Eye mound large (length 0.6, width 0.6, height 0.45) and round, with 6–7 large black-tipped denticles and with several denticles on either sides ( Fig. 2C View FIGURES 2 ); 3–4 teeth located in front of eye mound ( Figs 2A, C View FIGURES 2 ). Legs long, 1st pair not thickened, femora with longitudinal rows of spiky denticles ( Figs 2A–B, D View FIGURES 2 ). Lengths of leg segments: I - 6.4+1.3+4.6+7.0+8.7 = 28.0; II - 10.0+1.4+7.8+8.7+18.2 = 46.1; III - 6.0+1.4+4.5+7.6+10.8 = 30.3; IV - 7.7+1.5+5.6+10.2+13.6 = 38.6. Pedipalp slender, long, all segments with only setae ( Figs 2E–F View FIGURES 2 ); segment lengths: 4.3+1.0+2.2+4.6 = 12.1. Chelicera with large horn-shaped (2.8 long), rigid dorsal outgrowth (= apophysis) on second segment; basal segment dorsally with several teeth (= acute tubercles); second segment with teeth and setae dorsally and with setae laterally ( Figs 2G–H View FIGURES 2 ). Basal cheliceral segment 1.9 long, second segment 4.5 long. Abdomen, coxae and legs light yellow (sandy) in color. Coxae with bristles ( Fig. 2B View FIGURES 2 ). Penis small (2.6 long), thin truncus with a wide base. Glans somewhat triangular in lateral view, with 2 pairs of distal setae ( Fig. 2K View FIGURES 2 ). Glans 0.4 long, stylus 0.15 long. Penis light yellow (sandy) in color, with darker edging in apical part. The penis of the paratype is the same shape, color, and size as that of the holotype. The paratype also does not differ from the holotype in other features of the body.

Female. Unknown.

Habitat. Mountainous and sparsely vegetated, mostly with low bushes.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran.

ZMMU

Zoological Museum, Moscow Lomonosov State University

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Opiliones

Family

Phalangiidae

Genus

Phalangium

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