Charinus rocamadre Torres-Contreras, Alvarez Garcia & Armas, 2015

Torres, Richard A., Arroyo-Pérez, Wendy & Alvarez-Garcia, Deivys M., 2019, Charinus rocamadre (Amblypygi, Charinidae): description of the female, ultrastructure of the male and female gonopods, and mitochondrial DNA sequences, Zootaxa 4664 (1), pp. 129-141 : 131-138

Charinus rocamadre Torres-Contreras, Alvarez Garcia & Armas, 2015

Type data: Charinus rocamadre Torres-Contreras, Alvarez Garcia & Armas, 2015: 145 . Holotype male (ICN-Am- 100). Type locality: Colombia, Sucre, Toluviejo, La Piche, cueva Roca Madre (9º30’50.1” N – 75º23’36.6” W). Distr.: Only known from the type locality.

Examined material. 2 ♂, 3 ♀, 2 juveniles (lot: ICN-Am-159). Colombia, Sucre , Toluviejo , La Piche, parque Roca Madre, caverna, debajo de rocas, zona afótica y de penumbra. 9º30’50.1” N – 75º23’36.6” W, 337 m asl, 17.x.2017, R. Torres-Contreras leg.

Diagnosis (extended): Median eyes and tubercle absent. Lateral eyes underdeveloped and depigmented. Bifid tooth of the chelicera with size relation 1a<1b. Dentiform relief on external surface of cheliceral basal segment present. Cheliceral claw with five denticles. Tibia I with 23 articles and tarsus I with 41 articles. Basitibia IV divided into three pseudo-articles. New diagnostic characters: Female gonopods cushion-like, with its surface highly porous, outer surface with a small flap-like soft projection, and atrium of seminal receptacle with glandular openings. Male gonopods with its constituent parts well defined. Lobus dorsalis with “scaly” surface, lobus lateralis primus, lobus lateralis secundus, and processus internus with spiniform projections, lamina medialis with inner and outer surface longitudinally fluted, with spiniform projections, and serrated edge. Characters that differentiate C. rocamadre from other species with gonopods cushion-like and basitibia IV divided into three pseudo-articles can be seen in table 1.

Female description ( Figs. 1–4 ). Body yellowish to reddish brown (in alcohol).

Carapace ( Figs. 1 A–C): Cordiform and gently convex, 1.36 times wider than long, slightly bent down at the coxa level, surface scattered with small setae, anterior margin straight with six stronger and longer setae, rest of the margin with thinner setae, absent in the posteromedial part. Frontal process triangular-shaped, not visible from above. Ocular tubercle absent, with a depression in its place, and one or two small setae that are a little thicker and longer than those scattered on the carapace. Lateral eyes underdeveloped and depigmented, with one posterior seta.

Sternum ( Figs. 1D, E ): Tetra-segmented. Tritosternum elongated and cone-shaped, projected anteriorly reach- ing the basal third of the pedipalpal coxae, with one-two apical setae, two median setae, and two basal setae; also presents smaller ones on the base. Middle piece (tetrasternum) and third piece (pentasternum) elevated with two setae in its apex and several smaller setae around its base. Metasternum simple (not paired), elevated at the posterior or central region, with a pair of setae on its apex.

Chelicera ( Figs. 2 A–D): Anteroventral surface of the basal segment with four internal teeth; first tooth bifid (1a<1b), fourth tooth larger than the second and this in turn greater than the third. External surface with an acute projection, tooth-like, located in front of the internal bicuspid tooth. Claw with five denticles.

Pedipalp ( Figs. 3 A–D): Pedipalps turned upwards (positioned perpendicular to the axis of the body), a little tilted laterally. Scattered with different sized setae. Trochanter with a ventral spiniform apophysis pointed forwards, bearing setae and setiferous tubercles along its ventral surface, and a small curved spine at its apical end; two subequal spines on prolateral face (one straight in the medial region, and the other curved inwards located at the apophysis level, close to femur), two setiferous tubercles aligned between the spines and other two basal to the medial spine. Femur with three dorsal spines (I> II > III), and three conspicuous setiferous tubercles forming a row before first spine. Three ventral spines (I> II > III), with one setiferous tubercle before the first spine. Patella with three dorsal spines (I> II > III) and one prominent setiferous tubercle (spiniform) distal to I, spines I and II with two setae on its basal thirds and spine III with one seta on its middle third, one conspicuous setiferous tubercle after spine III (from distal to proximal) and another smaller one between I and II; two ventral spines (I> II). Tibia with two dorsal spines (distal spine approximately two times larger than the proximal spine), and one ventral spine approximately equal to the dorsal proximal spine. Distitarsus with two dorsal spines (distal spine longer that proximal spine). Cleaning organ well developed, about half of the article length. Claw long, sharp and curved inward.

Legs ( Figs. 3 E–G): All setose. Ventral corner of the prolateral surface of femora I–IV projecting in a spiniform process. Subdistal part of the second segment of tarsus II–IV with a thin white ring ( Fig. 3F ). Leg I (antenniform): Tibia with 23 articles and tarsus with 41 articles; tarsal segment 1 is 0.8 smaller than tarsal segment 2 ( Fig. 3E ). Leg IV: Femur lengths: I> III >IV ≈ II. Basitibia divided into three pseudo-articles. Basitibia-distitibia length: DT >BT1>BT3>BT2. First segment of tarsus five times longer than the second. Trichobothriotaxy as in Figure 3G .

Genitalia ( Figs. 4 A–F): Genital operculum 1.43 times wider than long, with setae along its margin and on its external surface; posterior margin straight. Gonopods cushion-like, located close to the posterior margin of the operculum. Base broad (1.6 times wider than long). Basal half (approximately) forming folds, better defined on its inner surface. All its entire surface highly porous. Outer surface with a small flap-like soft projection. Atrium of seminal receptacle with glandular openings.

Variations: One female has three spines on the right pedipalpal distitarsus, while another has the tibia and tarsus of leg I composed of 22 and 44 articles, respectively, in both legs. One of the females has leg I with the first two tarsal segments of the same size, while another has the tarsal segment 1 slightly larger than the second one. Sometimes, only five setae may be present on anterior margin of carapace.

Measurements (data in mm, n=3, Min–Max): Total length: 8.0 (7.0–9.8). Carapace: length: 2.8 (2.5–3.2), width: 3.8 (3.4–4.4), distance between lateral eyes: 1.6 (1.5–1.9), lateral eyes–lateral margin distance: 0.2 (0.2–0.3), sulcus–posterior margin distance: 0.9 (0.7–1.1). Pedipalp (length): femur: 2.3 (2.0–2.8), patella: 2.6 (2.1–3.4), tibia: 1.3 (1.1–1.5), distitarsus: 0.9 (0.8–1.1), claw: 0.8 (0.7–0.9). Leg I (length): femur: 9.2 (7.4–11.8), tarsal segment No. 1: 0.4 (0.39–0.5), tarsal segment No. 2: 0.5 (0.31–0.7). Leg II (length): femur: 5.4 (4.5–6.6), basitibia: 3.9 (3.3–5.0), distitibia: 3.0 (2.6–3.6). Leg III (length): femur: 6.2 (5.3–7.5), basitibia: 5.0 (4.1–6.4), distitibia: 3.3 (3.1–4.0). Leg IV (length): femur: 5.5 (4.6–6.8), basitibia I: 2.8 (2.4–3.4), basitibia II: 1.0 (0.75–1.1), basitibia III: 1.5 (1.3–2.0), distitibia: 3.3 (3.0–4.0), tarsus I: 1.5 (1.4–1.8), tarsus II: 0.3 (0.3–0.4). Genital operculum: length: 1.15 (0.92–1.3), width: 1.65 (1.38–1.9).

New male data: External morphology similar to the female.

Genitalia ( Figs. 5–6 ): Genital operculum with setae along its margin and on its external surface; posterior margin rounded. Gonopods with lobus dorsalis, lobus lateralis primus, lobus lateralis secundus, and lamina medialis subequal in dorsal view; only the basal part of the processus internus is visible in this view. Lobus dorsalis with scaly-like surface, whose elements (“scales”) end in one to several spine-like projections. Lobus lateralis primus with longitudinal folds on its basal half, distal portion with small spiniform projections that are more abundant on its edge. Lobus lateralis secundus with reliefs of apices rounded to spiny, the latter better defined on its dorsal and inner surface. Lamina medialis with inner and outer surface longitudinally fluted, and with spiniform projections, the projections on the edge give it a serrated appearance. Processus internus with robust spiniform projections on its basal portion, and with smaller spiniform projections on its distal portion.

Measurements (data in mm, n=1): Total length: 7.0. Carapace: length: 2.8, width: 3.7, distance between lateral eyes: 1.5, lateral eyes–lateral margin distance: 0.3, sulcus–posterior margin distance: 0.8. Pedipalp (length): femur: 2.4, patella: 2.5, tibia: 1.4, distitarsus: 1, claw: 0.8. Leg I (length): femur: 9.5, tarsal segment No. 1: 0.4, tarsal segment No. 2: 0.5. Leg II (length): femur: 5.5, basitibia: 4.1, distitibia: 3.0. Leg III (length): femur: 6.3, basitibia: 5.1, distitibia: 3.4. Leg IV (length): femur: 5.0, basitibia I: 2.8, basitibia II: 0.9, basitibia III: 1.5, distitibia: 3.3, tarsus I: 1.6, tarsus II: 0.4.

Molecular characterization. The COI and 16S rRNA sequences obtained were 516 bp and 479 bp long, respectively. There were no indels in the COI sequence. Nucleotide base composition for COI sequence was: A: 26.9, C: 24.8, G: 15.2, T: 33.1%, and 16S rRNA sequence was: A: 30.5, C: 9.0, G: 27.3, T: 33.2%. The pairwise distance of the COI sequences was 47% between C. rocamadre and Charinus neocaledonicus , and 32% between C. rocamadre and Charinus kakum ; while for 16S rRNA it was 59% between C. rocamadre and C. neocaledonicus .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Charinus rocamadre (female in lot ICN-Am-159).A. Dorsal habitus, B. Carapace, C. Anterior area of carapace, D. Sternum, and E. Detail of the sternites. Scale bars: A=2 mm, B–E=1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Charinus rocamadre (female in lot ICN-Am-159, same specimen of figure 1). A. Right chelicera (inner view), B. Detail of chelicera showing internal teeth and denticles, C. Right chelicera (outer view), D. Detail of chelicerae showing denti- form relief. Scale bars: A & C=1 mm, B & D=0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Charinus rocamadre (female in lot ICN-Am-159, same specimen of figure 1). A. Trochanter and femur in ventral view, B. Trochanter and femur in dorsal view, C. Patella, tibia, distitarsus, and claw in ventral view, D. Patella, tibia, distitarsus, and claw in dorsal view, E. Leg I, detail of the last tibial articles and first tarsal articles, F. Detail of second segment of tarsus showing the subdistal part with white ring, G. Leg IV, basitibia III and distitibia showing trichobothriotaxy. Scale bars: A–E, G=1 mm, F=0.5 mm.

FIGURE 4. Charinus rocamadre (female in lot ICN-Am-159, same specimen of figure 1). A. Female gonopods, B. Detail of gonopod, C. Detail of fluted and porous surface of the gonopod, D. Detail of flap-like soft projection, E. Detail of smooth and porous surface of the flap-like projection, F. Detail of atrium showing glandular openings. Scale bars: A=100 μm, B=20 μm, C=1 μm, D=10 μm, E=1 μm, F=5 μm.

FIGURE 5. Charinus rocamadre (male in lot ICN-Am-159). A. Male gonopods in dorsal view, B. Detail of lobus dorsalis (LoD), C. Detail of lobus lateralis primus (LoL1) and lobus lateralis secundus (LoL2), D. Detail of subapical part of LoL1 and LoL2. LaM: Lamina medialis. Fi: Fistula. Scale bars: A=100 μm, B=20 μm, C=20 μm, D=4 μm.

FIGURE 6. Charinus rocamadre (male in lot ICN-Am-159, same specimen of figure 5). A. Male gonopods in ventral view, B. Male gonopods in apical view, C. Processus internus (PI), D. Detail of basal part of PI, E. Lamina medialis (LaM), F. Detail of outer surface of LaM, G. Detail of inner surface of LaM, H. Detail of lobus lateralis primus (LoL1) and lobus lateralis secundus (LoL2) in apical view. LoD: Lobus dorsalis. Fi: Fistula. GO: Genital operculum. Scale bars: A=100 μm, B=100 μm, C=20 μm, D=4 μm, E=20 μm, F=4 μm, G=2 μm, H=20 μm.