Neocranaus pectinitibialis ( Roewer, 1915 ) Villarreal & González-Gómez & Kury & García, 2024

Villarreal, Osvaldo, González-Gómez, Julio César, Kury, Adriano B. & García, Luis Fernando, 2024, Peering beyond the monotypic veil: taxonomy and notes on the parental care of Neocranaus (Opiliones: Gonyleptoidea: Cranaidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 925, pp. 292-320 : 307-312

Neocranaus pectinitibialis ( Roewer, 1915) comb. nov.

Figs 1 , 9–12

Tolimaius pectinitibialis Roewer, 1915: 125 , figs 12–13.

Tolimaius pectinitibialis – Roewer 1923: 558, fig. 698.

Holocranaus pectinitibialis – Soares & Soares 1948: 603. — Kury 2003: 93.

Type data

COLOMBIA • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (syntypes); Cañón del Mt Tolima ; alt. 1700 m [not located]; ERPC • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (syntypes); Páramo de Tolima ; alt. 4600 m [not located]; SMF .

Material examined

COLOMBIA • 2 ♀♀; Tolima, Termales, Tapias , piedemonte del Volcán-Machín ; 11 Nov. 2020; L. Martínez and E. Betancur leg.; IAvH-I- 3798 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Tolima, Juntas ; 4.561725° N, 75.321106° W; 9 Jul. 2019; J. González, L. García, L. Cardozo and L. Martínez leg.; MUSENUV-Ar 2123 • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; MUSENUV-Ar 2124 .

Redescription

Male (MUSENUV-Ar 2123)

MEASUREMENTS. Variation in size found in males (n = 2) is denoted in parentheses. DSL = 9 (9.0–9.9); MDW = 7.4 (7.4–7.6); CL = 3.6 (3.2–3.6); CW = 5.5 (5.4–5.5); IOD = 2.3 (2.2–2.3); ChI = 2.4 (1.9– 2.4); pedipalp: tr = 1.2 (1.2–1.3), fe = 3.2 (3.2–3.4), pa = 1.5 (1.5–1.6), ti = 2.5 (2,5), ta = 3.5 (3.5–3.6); leg I: tr = 1.1 (0.9–1.1), fe = 4.5 (4,5), pa = 1.5 (1.2–1.5), ti = 3.3 (3.0–3.3), mt = 5.0 (5.0–5.5), ta = 2.4 (2.4–2.5); leg II: tr = 1.6 (1.6–1.9), fe = 9.0 (9.0–9.8), pa = 2.1 (2.1), ti = 6.6 (6.0–6.6), mt = 8.3 (8.3– 8.5), ta = 6.0 (6.0–6.4); leg III: tr = 1.7 (1.7–1.9), fe = 7.1 (6.8–7.1), pa = 2.2 (2,2), ti = 4.2 (4.2–4.6), mt = 6.5 (6.5–6.9), ta = 3.2 (3.2–3.5); leg IV: tr = 2.2 (1.9–2.2), fe = 12.0 (12.0–12.1), pa = 2.8 (2.8–2.9), ti = 6.9 (6.7–6.9), mt = 9.5 (9.5–10.3), ta = 4.0 (4.0–4.6).

DORSUM ( Figs 9A–B, D , 10A–B ). Dorsal scutum outline gamma pyriform. Anterior margin of DS with four anterolateral lighter tubercles; cheliceral sockets shallow, between two short processes, medial process median. Frontal eminence low and granulated. Eyes on elliptical ocularium, located anteriorly on carapace, and slightly posteriorly to ozopores; ocularium with some lighter granules and paramedian pair of short spines Lateral margin with cluster of about 14–19 yellow tubercles at level of coxae III, and row of minute lighter granule between coxa IV and posterior margin, with some greater tubercles at level of groove III. Mesotergum divided into three areas: I divided medially into two broadly joined trapezoidal halves, with one conspicuous tubercle on each side and some anterior granules and cluster of lighter tubercles on posterior zone; II unarmed and entire, with only three transversal rows of few granules, invading slightly area I in medial zone; III with pair of paramedian low rounded spines and densely tuberculate. Posterior margin substraight, with one group of yellow tubercles on each side and paramedian pair of small conical tubercles. Free tergites I with paramedian pair of small tubercles and lateral group of granules; II–III with row of yellow tubercles, and paramedian pair of large conical tubercles (II<III).

VENTER ( Figs 9B–D , 10B ). Coxa I with anterior row of seven tubercles, medial row with nine tubercles and posterior row of granules; II–III with longitudinal rows of granules; IV densely granulated with some tubercles in prolateral face, with large conical prolateral yellow tubercle ( Figs 9B , 10B ). Genital operculum finely granulated. Stigmatic area ( Fig. 9B–C ). T-inverted shaped, granulate, with two posterior depressions between parallel spiracles. Posterior margin ventrally projected. Free sternites I with lateral yellow tubercles, rest each with lateral large tubercles and row of minute granules.

CHELICERAE ( Figs 9A–B , 10A–C ). Segment I with four anterior and ectal small tubercles on bulla; II swollen with some frontal granules, fixed finger with irregularly toothed blade, movable finger with basal tooth and one medial tooth.

PEDIPALPS ( Fig. 9A, F ). Coxa dorsally smooth; ventrally with one mesal blunt tubercle. Trochanter with three dorsal tubercles, and one blunt tubercle on ventral side. Femur straight, with distal portion curved and thickened; dorsally with rows of tubercles and apical apophysis; ectal and mesal row of tubercles; ventrally with proximal group of tubercles, followed by gap, and row of about seven triangular tubercles. Patella swollen distally, with dorsal depression and dorsally tuberculate, ventrally smooth. Tibia dorsally with abundant wide tubercles, ventrally smooth; tibia mesal IiIi, ectal IiIi. Tarsus dorsally and ventrally smooth; tarsus mesal IIi, ectal IiI.

LEGS ( Figs 9G–I , 10D–H ). Coxae I with dorsoanterior and one retrolateral tubercle; II with prolateral tubercle; III with posterolateral tubercle; IV with numerous lateral blunt tubercles, one conspicuous yellowish and one dorsodistal large tubercle. Trochanter I dorsally smooth and one retrolateral distal granule; II with one dorsal tubercle, two retrolateral small tubercles and one retrodistal distinctive granule; III with one prodistal and two retrolateral tubercles; sparse dorsal granules, one prodistal large tubercle, two prolateral, and with some retrodistal granules. Femora I–II with seven rows of granules; II with retroventral and proventral granules larger than others, with two dorsoapical apophyses; III, with distal and proximal granule larger than rest in retroventral row, retroventral and proventral granules larger than other granules of rows, with two prodorsal and retrodorsal distal tubercles; IV almost straight, proventral row with large curved subdistal tubercle and two small distal tubercles, dorsal row with medial tubercles larger than others, retrodorsal row with conspicuous sparse tubercles. Patella I–III granulated, IV covered with low tubercles. Tibiae I–IV straight, slightly thicker distally, III with dorsal distal large tubercle; I smooth; II–III with rows of noticeable granules; IV with rows of low tubercles, and retrolateral row of curved spines. Metatarsi I–IV smooth. Tarsal process present. Tarsal claws III–IV subparallel, unpectinated. Tarsal segmentation: 7(3)/11(3)/7/7.

PENIS ( Fig. 11 ). VP subrectangular with rounded sides and bulged twice: at MS-A1–A2 and at ears. Apical trapezoid cleft of VP forming pair of ears widely projected laterodistad as flange. Pedestal elongate cylindrical. MS-C1–C3, D1 all arranged in row. MS-D1 larger than MS-C1–C3. MS-A1-A2 inserted far away from MS-C, at proximal bulge of VP. MS-B absent. Stylus slightly curved, S-shaped, with small and irregular stylar caps.

COLORATION ( Figs 9 (in ethanol), 13C–D (in vivo)). Description in ethanol. Dorsal scutum blackish red (21) on background dark reddish brown (44), carapace and ocularium background dark reddish orange (38). Mesotergal areas brownish black (65); chelicerae and pedipalps reticulated brownish black (65) on background strong yellowish brown (74); trochanter I–IV dorsally deep reddish brown (41) and strong orange yellow (68); coxae, ventral trochanter, femora, free tergites and free sternites blackish red (21); yellowish tubercles on the lateral and posterior margins of DS, free tergites, coxae IV and mesotergal area I brilliant greenish yellow (98).

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Variation in size found in females (n = 4) is denoted in parentheses. DSL = 8.8 (8.2– 8.8); MDW = 7.7 (7.5–8.0); CL = 3.0 (2.9–3.2); CW = 5.0 (4.4–5.0); IOD = 1.5 (1.7–1.9); ChI = 1.5 (1.1–1.5); pedipalp: tr = 0.9 (0.8–1.0), fe = 3.0 (2.1–3.0), pa = 1.4 (0.9–1.4), ti = 1.9 (1.5–2.3), ta = 2.5 (1.9–2.5); leg I: tr = 1.1 (0.8–1.5), fe = 3.9 (3.7–4.0), pa = 1.5 (1.2–1.5), ti = 2.6 (2.6–3.0), mt = 3.8 (3.8–4.2), ta = 2.3 (2.3–2.5); leg II: tr = 1.7 (1.5–2.0), fe = 8.4 (7.8–8.4), pa = 2.2 (1.7–2.8), ti = 5.4 (5.2–5.7), mt = 7.5 (6.0–7.5), ta = 5.1 (4.2–5.5); leg III: tr = 1.4 (1.4–2.0), fe = 6.0 (5.2–6.0), pa = 2.2 (1.9–2.2), ti = 3.9 (3.5–3.9), mt = 5.6 (5.4–6.0), ta = 3.0 (2.9–3.1); leg IV: tr = 1.8 (1.5–2.0), fe = 8.9 (7.1–8.9), pa = 2.4 (1.9–2.2), ti = 6.0 (5.2–6.0), mt = 8.8 (6.8–8.8), ta = 3.1 (2.9–4.0).

DESCRIPTION. Similar to males ( Fig. 12 ), differing in: chelicerae not swollen; DS outline wider than in males, with conspicuous coda; posterolateral patch of yellow tubercles with more tubercles (about 19–20); paramedian paired tubercles on free tergites larger and wider than in males; femur IV without prolateral distal spine; tibia IV without retrolateral row of pectinate spines.

Distribution

Colombia, Tolima Department ( Fig. 1 ).

Remarks

The record from Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela ( Roewer 1923) must be a wrong record.As observed in other Neotropical Opiliones groups, a significant level of endemism is evident, with numerous Andean species classified as Short-Range Endemics. The record from Caracas raise doubts due to its location in a separate mountain chain, located several hundred kilometers away from the Colombian Andes and other known localities of this species. Caracas falls within a distinct biogeographic ecoregion and province, exhibiting virtually no shared faunistic elements within the Opiliones group.

Parental care observations in N. albiconspersus and N. pectinitibialis

Different specimens of N. pectinitibialis were observed at the locality of Juntas (4.561725° N, 75.321106° W), Tolima Department and in the Merenberg Nature Reserve, Huila Department (2.2187861° N, 76.1161027° W). All individuals were found under humid crevices next to waterfalls, under rocks or in decaying wood. When individuals were found, we focused on studying feeding events or, if parental care was observed, we recorded if females or males were guarding the eggs as well as the number of eggs. Sex was determined in the field using the armature of leg IV. While recording individuals in the field, we observed three events related to parental care, in two of them, both male and female were caring for the eggs and in the third, only the female.

For N. albiconspersus , we observed three cases of parental care, in two of them, male and female were observed close to the eggs, and in one only the female was observed caring for the eggs. We did not record feeding or any additional behavior. We also recorded predation on eggs of N. albiconspersus by a scolopendromorph centipede ( Fig. 14C ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of the genus Neocranaus Roewer, 1913.

Fig. 9. Neocranaus pectinitibialis (Roewer, 1915) comb. nov., male from Tolima (MUSENUV-Ar 2123). A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Ventral view. D. Posterior view. E. Left pedipalp, ectal view. F. Left pedipalp, mesal view. G. Right leg IV, femur in dorsal view. H. Right leg IV, femur in ventral view. I. Right leg IV, patella and tibia in dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 10. Neocranaus pectinitibialis (Roewer, 1915) comb. nov. A–E. Male from Tolima (MUSENUV- Ar 2123). A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Right leg IV, femur, prolateral view. D. Right leg IV, femur distal portion in dorsal view. E. Right leg IV, femur distal portion in ventral view. F. Female (Catalogue), right leg IV, tibia, prolateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 11. Neocranaus pectinitibialis (Roewer, 1915) comb. nov. (MUSENUV-Ar 2123). Penis: apical portion in dorsal (A), ventral (B) and lateral views (C).

Fig. 12. Neocranaus pectinitibialis (Roewer, 1915) comb. nov. (MUSENUV-Ar 2123) female from Tolima. A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Ventral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 14. A–B. Neocranaus pectinitibialis (Roewer, 1915) comb. nov., live male and female from Tolima, guarding eggs. C–F. Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913 live specimens from Huila. C. Centipede predating on eggs of Neocranaus Roewer, 1913. D–E. Male and female, guarding eggs. F. Female guarding eggs. Pictures: Julio César González-Gómez.