Sarax rahmadii, Miranda & Giupponi & Prendini & Scharff, 2021

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 : 196-198

Sarax rahmadii sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:307E7237-3EF2-40B4-8390-AE3EF5C03017

Figs 103 , 120–121 ; Table 8

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from other species of Sarax in Southeast Asia and Oceania by the following combination of characters: large size; female gonopod finger-like ( Fig. 121A ); basal segment of chelicera with acute tooth on retrolateral surface; cheliceral claw with five teeth; pedipalp patella with long spine between dorsal spine I and distal margin ( Fig. 120E ); pedipalp tarsus with two spines ( Fig. 120D ); tibia of leg I with 23 articles, tarsus I with 41 articles; leg IV basitibia with four pseudoarticles; distitibia sc and sf series each with six trichobothria.

This species resembles S. gravelyi sp. nov., but can be differentiated by the greater number of spines on the pedipalp.

Etymology

Patronym honoring Dr Cahyo Rahmadi for his contributions to the study of Southeast Asian whip spiders.

Type material

Holotype INDONESIA • ♀ [largest]; Khom Bheng caves , Kalimantan Timut ; 01°01′ N, 116°59′ E; J. Lowy leg.; WAM T63201.

Paratypes INDONESIA • 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 2 juv.; same collection data as for holotype; WAM T63201 .

Description

CARAPACE. Six anterior setae ( Fig. 120A ); frontal process triangular, visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 120C ). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes and median ocular tubercle well developed; pair of setae on median ocular tubercle; lateral eyes well developed, pale, seta lateral to lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad near carapace margin; curved carina between ocular triads and carapace margin.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation, long, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae ( Fig. 120B ); other sternal platelets narrow and projected, with pair of setae anteriorly on plaque and some smaller setae posteriorly; pentasternum with six setae anteriorly.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs cover well developed.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with short setae posteromedially ( Fig. 121A–C ); pair of white bulges medially with slender setae apically ( Fig. 121A–C ); gonopod finger-like with apical invagination ( Fig. 121A, C, F ); denticulate surface between gonopod and posterior margin of genital operculum ( Fig. 121D ); slit sensilla on lateral margin of genital operculum ( Fig. 121E ); unsclerotized basally. Male gonopod LoL2 with sclerotized base.

CHELICERAE. Retrolateral surface of basal segment with short projection opposite to bifid tooth; retrolateral surface of claw with row of setae basally to medially; claw with five teeth; more than two rows of several setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp.

PEDIPALPS. Coxae without seta encircled by round carina and with three or four setae on its margin. Femur with four dorsal spines and four ventral spines in primary series ( Fig. 120E–F ); four prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin; spine between dorsal spines 2 and 3, and spines 3 and 4; long spine between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin, two thirds length of spine 1; spine between ventral spines 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4. Patella with five or six dorsal spines in primary series ( Fig. 120E ); prominent spine distal to spine I; four ventral spines ( Fig. 120F ); small spine between ventral spines 1 and 2, and spines 2 and 3; two or three small setiferous tubercles between spine I and distal border. Tibia with ventral spine distally and long setiferous tubercle proximally; three or four setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with two dorsal spines ( Fig. 120D ), distal spine long, about one-third length of tarsus, proximal spine one-third length of distal spine; cleaning organ with 30–32 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles; tarsus I with 41 articles; first and second tarsal articles equal in length. Leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, without sclerotized, denticulate border 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 six trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 8.

Distribution

Known only from the type localities.

Natural history

Exclusively found in caves; troglomorphic characters include large size and long spines on pedipalp.

Figures

Fig. 103. Map plotting known distributions of species of Sarax Simon, 1892 in Southeast Asia and Oceania, with insets for Singapore (A), eastern Borneo (B), and western West Papua (C).

Fig. 120. Sarax rahmadii sp. nov. (WAM T63201), general morphology, ♂. A. Carapace, 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–C = 0.5 mm; D–F = 1 mm.

Fig. 121. Sarax rahmadii sp. nov. (WAM T63210), female gonopod and genital operculum.A. Gonopod, dorsal view. B. Genital operculum, ventral view. C. Gonopod and genital operculum, posterior view. D. Posterior margin of genital operculum. E. Gland on genital operculum, ventral view. F. Apex of sinistral gonopod.