Charinus milloti Fage, 1939

Miranda, Gustavo Silva de, Giupponi, Alessandro P. L., Prendini, Lorenzo & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2021, Systematic revision of the pantropical whip spider family Charinidae Quintero, 1986 (Arachnida, Amblypygi), European Journal of Taxonomy 772, pp. 1-409 : 151-153

Charinus milloti Fage, 1939

Figs 11A–B , 83 , 93 ; Table 6

Charinus milloti Fage, 1939: 156–158 , fig. 3a–e.

Charinus milloti – Millot 1949a: figs 47, 56a–b, 59a–b; 1949b: figs 318, 319a, 320, 321a–b, 322a–b, 323. — Fage 1954: 182. — Kästner 1956: fig. 544. — Janetschek 1957: fig. 8. — Cloudsley-Thompson 1968: 155, fig. 29. — Kaestner 1968: fig. 10-5; 1969: fig. 574. — Lawrence 1969 a: 86. — Delle Cave 1986: 152–153, fig. II. — Barnes 1987: figs 13–37. — Dunlop 1994: figs 1–2. — Ruppert & Barnes 1994: figs 13–33. — Weygoldt 1994: 244; 2000a: figs 1–2, 30; 2000b: 341, 346; 2002b: figs 1, 8. — Selden & Dunlop 1998: fig. 7.1. — Ax 2001: fig. 48a–d. — Harvey 2003: 6.

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from C. madagascariensis and other African species of Charinus by means of the following combination of characters: secondary sexual dimorphism, males with longer pedipalp segments than females; cheliceral claw with four teeth; female gonopod cushion-like; three spines on pedipalp tarsus.

Etymology

Patronym honoring J. Millot ( Fage 1939).

Type material (examined)

Syntypes GUINEA • 1 ♂ [chelicerae missing], 1 ♂ [opisthosoma missing, but pedipalps suggest ad. ♂], 1 ad. [gonopods and pedipalps missing], 2 subad. [opisthosoma missing], 1 juv. [opisthosoma missing]; Grotte Tinka, Grotte Dalaba; Millot leg.; MNHN .

Redescription

CARAPACE. Six short anterior setae ( Fig. 93A ); frontal process triangular. Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes and median ocular tubercle reduced ( Fig. 93A ); pair of setae on median ocular tubercle; lateral eyes reduced, pale, seta posterior to lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad well separated from carapace margin.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation, short, only reaching base of pedipalp coxae ( Fig. 93B ); other sternal platelets narrow, with pair of setae anteriorly on plaque and some smaller setae posteriorly; pentasternum with four setae anteriorly and without seta in membranous region.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Female gonopods cushion-like. Male gonopods unknown (could not be studied due to poor preservation).

CHELICERAE. Large tooth projecting from retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth ( Fig. 11B ); retrolateral surface of claw with discontinous row of setae, basally to medially; claw with four teeth ( Fig. 11A–B ); row of twelve setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp ( Fig. 11A–B ).

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with six prominent setae encircled by round carina and two setae on margin. Femur with four dorsal spines and five ventral spines ( Fig. 93C–D ); small spine between each dorsal spine; small spine between ventral spines 1 and 2, and spines 2 and 3 (large setiferous tubercle between spines 1 and 2 in smaller specimen without gonopod); long spine proximal to ventral spine 1; long setiferous tubercle ventral to spine 1; three prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with three long dorsal spines in primary series and row of 3–5 small spines, slightly longer than setiferous tubercle ( Fig. 93C ); long setiferous tubercle between spines 1 and 2; prominent setiferous tubercle distal to spine I, half length of spine I; three ventral spines with small spine between each ( Fig. 93D ); large setiferous tubercle between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with one ventral spine distally and three or four setae between spine and distal margin ( Fig. 93D ). Tarsus with three dorsal spines, spine 1 long, half length of tarsus, spine 2 aligned and half length of spine 1, spine 3 one-third length of spine 2 and situated near its base ( Fig. 93C ); cleaning organ with 25–28 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles; tarsus I with 43 articles; first tarsal article similar in length to subsequent article. Leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, with sclerotized, denticulate projection at apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated in distal third of pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to sbf than to bf, sc and sf series each with five trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 6 .

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Natural history

Only found inside caves.

Key to the identification of the species of Charinus in Oceania

1. Median and lateral eyes reduced ( Fig. 99A, C )........................ C. longipes Weygoldt, 2006 ( Fig. 99 )

– Median and lateral eyes well developed............................................................................................ 2

2. Cheliceral claw with four teeth.......................................................................................................... 3

– Cheliceral claw with five or six teeth ................................................................................................ 5

3. Pedipalp femur with three ventral spines and spine between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin; pedipalp patella with four dorsal spines .......................................... C. australianus (L. Koch, 1867)

– Pedipalp femur with four ventral spines and setiferous tubercle between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin; pedipalp patella with three dorsal spines.............................................................................. 4

4. Restricted to Papua New Guinea.......................................................... C. papuanus Weygoldt, 2006

– Restricted to Australia (Queensland) ..................................... C. pescotti Dunn, 1949 ( Figs 101–102 )

5. Carapace with distinct black markings radiating outwards from fovea ....... C. pecki Weygoldt, 2006

– Carapace without black markings...................................................................................................... 6

6. Chelicera with small, flat tooth opposite to bifid tooth on retrolateral surface of basal segment........ ............................................................................................ C. elegans Weygoldt, 2006 ( Figs 96–98 )

– Chelicera with projecting tooth opposite to bifid tooth on retrolateral surface of basal segment .... 7

7. Pedipalp coxa, rounded dorsal carina containing pair of setae, bordered by four setae...................... ........................................................................................... C. cavernicolus Weygoldt, 2006 ( Fig. 95 )

– Pedipalp coxa, rounded dorsal carina containing no setae, bordered by three setae ........................... ................................................................................... C. neocaledonicus Kraepelin, 1895 ( Fig. 100 )

Figures

Fig. 11. Charinidae Quintero, 1986, chelicerae, prolateral and retrolateral views. A–B. Charinus milloti Fage, 1939 (MNHN). C–D. Sarax cochinensis (Gravely, 1915) (AMCC [LP 13118]). E–F. Charinus longipes Weygoldt, 2006 (MNHN). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 83. Map plotting known distributions of species of Charinus Simon, 1892 in western Africa.

Fig. 93. Charinus milloti Fage, 1939 (MNHN), general morphology, ♂. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Pedipalp, dorsal view. D. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 99. Charinus longipes Weygoldt, 2006 (MNHN), general morphology, ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Frontal process. D. Pedipalp tarsus, frontal view. E. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E–F = 1 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 101. Charinus pescotti Dunn, 1949 (AMCC [LP 6367]), general morphology, ♂. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Frontal process. D. Pedipalp tarsus, frontal view. E. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A–B, E–F = 1 mm; C = 0.1 mm; D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 102. Charinus pescotti Dunn, 1949 (AMCC [LP 6367]), male gonopod.A. Ventral view.B. Posterior view. C. Dorsal view. D. Lateral lobe 1 and dorsal lobe. E. Lateral lobe 2. F. Lamina medialis and processus internus.

Fig. 96. Charinus elegans Weygoldt, 2006 (MNHN), general morphology, ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Frontal process. D. Pedipalp tarsus, frontal view. E. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E–F = 1 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 97. Charinus elegans Weygoldt, 2006 (MHNG), male gonopod. A. Ventral view. B. Posterior view. C. Dorsal lobe. D. Lateral lobe 2 and processus internus. E. Inner region of fistula (behind PI) showing spiny surface. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E–F = 1 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 98. Charinus elegans Weygoldt, 2006 (MHNG), antenniform leg I, ♂. A. Apex of distal article. B. Distal segment of tarsus, lateral view. C. Rod sensilla and olfactory setae. D. Apex of distal article of tarsus showing claw and tarsal organ. E. Detail of tarsal organ.

Fig. 95. Charinus cavernicolus Weygoldt, 2006 (MNHN), general morphology, ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Frontal process. D. Pedipalp tarsus, frontal view. E. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E–F =1 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 100. Charinus neocaledonicus Kraepelin, 1895 (AMNH), antenniform leg I, ♀. A. Apex of distal article of tarsus. B. Two distalmost articles, lateral view. C. Distal article of tarsus, frontal view. D. Olfactory setae ventral surface of last article of tarsus. E. Tarsal organ near tarsal claw. F. Claw and tarsal organ, lateral view. F. Tarsal organ, lateral view.