Ambatoiella Mello-Leitão, 1943

Kury, Adriano B. & Medrano, Miguel, 2023, Once upon a time in America: recognition of the species of Libitioides from USA, with comments on other American Cosmetidae (Opiliones, Laniatores), European Journal of Taxonomy 875 (1), pp. 101-141 : 116-117

Genus Ambatoiella Mello-Leitão, 1943

Ambatoiella Mello-Leitão, 1943: 8 [junior subjective synonym of Vonones Simon, 1879 by Goodnight & Goodnight (1953a: 60); synonymy rejected by Kury (2003:37)]. Type-species by original designation: Ambatoiella vigilans Mello-Leitão, 1943 .

Diagnosis

Scutum outline alpha-type, with much elongated coda, lateral border in posterior view following the general body curvature. Protoglyph guards are very robust, triangular. Mesotergal grooves are shallow, straight. All scutal areas unarmed, III–IV however each with a transverse row of minute tubercles. Areas I–IV each with a pair of faintly colored rounded flecks. Cheliceral hand is not swollen, but basichelicerite of male is slightly stouter, with coarsely tuberculate posterior rim. Legs very short (all femora shorter than scutum). Coxa IV oblique, not surpassing coda in situ and projected laterally in dorsal view, with reduced apical apophysis and with groin warts. Femur IV sexually dimorphic, either with strongly clavate prolateral crest on proximal half (in A. clavifemur ) or with a row of strong proventral spines increasing in size posteriorly (in A. vigilans ). Basitarsus I thickened in male. Tarsal counts: 5(3)/7–10(3)/6/6. Male genitalia (only known from A. vigilans ): VP (ventral plate) latero-distal corners wide, projected. Wattle is complete. MS (macrosetae) D1 is clearly smaller than C. Two long lateral patches of microsetae T4 without midfield.

Etymology

From the toponym Ambato + Latin diminutive suffix ‘- ella ’. Gender feminine.

Placement

Originally in Cosmetinae, transferred to Libitiinae by Medrano et al. (2021).

Included species

Ambatoiella vigilans Mello-Leitão, 1943 , Ambatoiella sexpunctata ( Roewer, 1914) and Ambatoiella clavifemur ( Roewer, 1957) comb. nov.

Combined distribution

PERU, Cajamarca and ECUADOR, Tungurahua.