Linzhiassamia, Qi & Kury & Zhang, 2024

Qi, Xiaoru, Kury, Adriano B. & Zhang, Chao, 2024, A new genus of Assamiidae (Opiliones, Grassatores) from Xizang, China, ZooKeys 1215, pp. 27-52 : 27-52

Linzhiassamia gen. nov.

Included species.

Linzhiassamia medogensis sp. nov. (type species) and Linzhiassamia zayuensis sp. nov.

Etymology.

The genus name is based on 林芝 (Linzhi), an alternative name for Nyingchi. This is associated with the pre-existing genus name Assamia . The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis.

Linzhiassamia is similar to Paktongius for the sexually dimorphic coxa IV, which in males may reach areas III, IV or even V of the dorsal scutum, while in females it is much shorter, reaching area II, and not projected laterally ( Nilgirius and the Nepalese genera treated here, all possess coxa IV monomorphic).

Linzhiassamia is similar to Dhaulagirius due to the sexually dimorphic chelicerae; however, in Dhaulagirius , the cheliceral hand is much more exaggeratedly developed. In the other genera compared here, the chelicerae are monomorphic.

Linzhiassamia is similar to Nilgirius and Paktongius for having a “ pseudonychium ” (tarsal process) in the tarsi of legs III and IV.

Linzhiassamia is similar to Dhaulagirius , Micrassamula , and Nepalsia for lacking a sharp annular joint-like constriction in the distal third of the truncus penis, between the pars basalis and pars distalis (in contrast to Nepalsioides and Nilgirius ).

Linzhiassamia is similar to Dhaulagirius , Nepalsia , and Nepalsioides for having MS A organized in a triangle (in contrast to Micrassamula , which has MS A extended into a line, and Nilgirius , which has a ring-girdle formed by macrosetae D 1, A 1 – A 3, and B 1).

Linzhiassamia is similar to Dhaulagirius , Nepalsia , and Nilgirius for not having a wide dorsal concavity, giving the distal truncus the aspect of an ice-cream scoop (in contrast to Micrassamula and Nepalsioides ).

Linzhiassamia is similar to Nepalsia and Nilgirius for having all macrosetae concentrated distally (in contrast to Dhaulagirius , Micrassamula , and Nepalsioides ).

Linzhiassamia is similar to Dhaulagirius for having the distal part of the truncus with constrictions, flaring to form a pyriform structure (in contrast to Micrassamula , Nepalsia , Nepalsioides , and Nilgirius , which have more or less continuous widening of the truncus, getting rounded apically).