Gonycranaus androgynus, Bragagnolo & Hara & Pinto-Da-Rocha, 2015

Bragagnolo, Cibele, Hara, Marcos R. & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2015, A new family of Gonyleptoidea from South America (Opiliones, Laniatores), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (2), pp. 296-319 : 315-316

GONYCRANAUS ANDROGYNUS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 5 , 9A–C , 10G–H , 11D )

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the resemblance of males and females regarding cheliceral segment II. Male enlarged chelicera is one of the most evident secondary sexual dimorphisms in non-Gonyleptidae and non- Tricommatidae Gonyleptoidea.

Type material

BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Conceição do Mato Dentro, Gruta CSS15, 665519mE/790837mN-SAD′69, 12–22.IX.2011, Bessi, R et al. leg., ♂ holotype ( MZSP 57194 ). Paratypes :

BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Morro do Pilar , cav. MP-07, 670672mE/7869836mN, 12–24.IX.2011, Andrade et al. leg., 1 ♂ ( MZSP 57207 ) ; idem, 1 ♂ ( MZSP 57208 ) ; idem, 1 ♂ ( MZSP 57209 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57210 ) ; idem, cav. AP-38, 638181mE/7784583mN, 19–23.VII.2008, R. Bessi et al. leg., 4 ♀ ( MZSP 57211 ) ; idem, 4 ♀ ( MZSP 57212 ) ; idem, 3 ♀ ( MZSP 57213 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57214 ) ; idem, gruta MP-17, 7876117mE/670027mN Sad′ 69, 13– 17.II.2012, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♂ ( MZSP 57239 ) ; Barão de Cocais , caverna RF 65, 20–25.VIII.2009, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♂ ( MZSP 57241 ) . Santa Bárbara, gruta AP-57, 0637478mE/7785067mN Sad′ 69, 12–21.XI.2009, R. Bessi et al. leg., 2 ♀ ( MZSP 57215 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57216 ) ; Caeté, gruta AP-59, 0637485mE/7785133mN Sad′ 69, 13–17.IV.2010, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57217 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57218 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57219 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57220 ) ; idem, gruta SG-10, 0637469mE/ 7781907mN Sad′ 69, 26–30.IX.2011, R. Bessi et al. leg., 2 ♀ ( MZSP 57238 ) . Conceição do Mato Dentro, gruta MP-14, 7883172mE/66718mN Sad′ 69, 13–17.IV.2010, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57224 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57225 ) ; idem, 1 ♂ ( MNRJ 8459 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57227 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 8460 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57229 ) ; idem, gruta CAI-03, 665293mE/ 7911340mN Sad′ 69, 03–13.V.2011, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57234 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57193 ) ; idem, iron cave, XII.2008 – I.2009, G. Bahia leg., 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57240 ) ; idem, gruta CSS-15, 665519mE/7908376mN Sad′ 69, 03– 13.V.2011, R. Bessi et al. leg., 4 ♀ ( MZSP 57235 ) ; idem, 1 ♂ ( MZSP 57236 ) ; idem, gruta CAI-03, 665293mE/ 7911340mN Sad′ 69, 03–13.V.2011, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57237 ) ; Caeté, gruta AP-58, 0637499mE/ 7785122mN Sad′ 69, 13–17.IV.2010, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57230 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57231 ) ; idem, gruta AP-61/62, 0637485mE/7785133mN Sad′ 69, 12–21.IV.2009, R. Bessi et al. leg., 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57232 ) ; idem, 1 ♀ ( MZSP 57233 ) .

Diagnosis

Gonycranaus androgynus is very similar to G. pluto and differs by the legs I–IV not elongated, body coloration darkened, and presence of ventral process of penis with flabellum.

Description

Male (holotype): Dorsum ( Figs 5A, B ; 11D ): Measurements: DSL 4.3; DSW 3.6; LI 16.1; LII 27.3; LIII 18.4; LIV 21.9. Leg IV/body length ratio: 5.1. Anterior margin of carapace with frontal hump with small pointed tubercles. Ocularium far from anterior margin of carapace, tuberculate, unarmed. Scutal area I entire; scutal areas I–IV tuberculated and unarmed. Scutal groove II complete. Dorsal scutum outline type alpha, entirely tuberculate, lateral margins with an external row of tubercles. One ozopore (anterior opening), covered by integumentary dome with slit-like opening, obstruct- ed by prolateral apophysis of coxa II. Posterior margin of dorsal scutum densely tuberculate, unarmed. Free tergites I–III each with a row of tubercles. Anal operculum tuberculated, unarmed.

Venter. Coxa I–IV, genital and free sternites tuberculate.

Chelicera. Enlarged. Segment I completely covered with pointed tubercles on bulla, segment II very enlarged with five teeth, segment III with five teeth (two basal largest).

Pedipalp ( Fig. 5E, F ). Coxa with one ventral pointed apophysis. Trochanter inflated, dorsally with five pointed tubercles, ventrally with two tubercles, the basalmost enlarged. Femur dorsally with a median row of 11 pointed tubercles, one prolateral row of eight tubercles, and one proventral apical pointed apophysis; ventrally with a row of nine or ten high, enlarged, pointed tubercles, the basalmost largest. Patella dorsolaterally with scattered tubercles, with one dorsoapical and one prolateral pointed tubercles. Tibia dorsolaterally with scattered tubercles; tibial setation, mesal IiIiIi, ectal IiiIi. Tarsus dorsolaterally smooth; tarsal setation, mesal iIiiIii/iIiiIi, ectal iIiIii. Tarsal claw as long as tarsus length.

Legs ( Figs 5C, D , 10G, H ). Coxa I with one prolateral and one retrolateral apophyses; coxa II and III the same; coxa IV tuberculate, with one short bifid prolateral apical apophysis and one small apical retrolateral pointed tubercle (visible ventrally). Trochanters – tibiae I–III tuberculate; trochanter III with retroapical enlarged tubercle; trochanter IV with three enlarged prolateral tubercles, one or two retrolateral tubercles, one retroapical tubercle, and one prodorsal subapical apophysis. Femur III densely tuberculate, ventrally with one retrolateral and one prolateral row of tubercles, increasing in size apically. Femur IV slightly curved dorsally and densely tuberculate, ventrally with one retrolateral, one retroventral, and one prolateral row of tubercles, increasing in size apically, with two pointed apical apophyses. Patella III ventrally with two median tubercles and one apical pointed apophysis. Patella IV with four dorsal apical apophyses and ventrally with three enlarged tubercles, roughly placed medially (apical largest). Tibia IV with a retroventral row of tubercles increasing in size apically. Basitarsus I not inflated. Tarsal counts: 8(3), 18(3), 6, and 7.

Penis ( Fig. 9A–C ). Ventral plate distal margin straight, its width one-third of the basal portion, basally as wide as truncus apex; with two or three subapical pairs of bifid setae, two ventral subapical pairs of short, unbranched setae, and two basal pairs of long bifid setae (longest set). Truncus apex slightly inflated. Glans sac subcylindrical, with basal constriction. Stylus short, slightly curved dorsally. Ventral process without stem, with flabellum.

Coloration. Background color dark reddish brown.

Female (paratype MZSP 57195; Fig. 5G, H ): Measurements: DSL 4.17; DSW 3.51; LI 12.6; LII 16.9; LIII 14.4; LIV 19.6. Leg IV/body length ratio: 4.7. Pedipalp: femur dorsally with a median row of between nine and 11 pointed tubercles, and one prolateral row of four tubercles; one proventral apical pointed apophysis; ventrally with a row of ten high, enlarged pointed tubercles, the basalmost curved; tibial setation, mesal IiiIi, ectal iIiiIi; tarsal setation, mesal iIiiIii, ectal iIiIii. Tarsal segmentation: 7(3); 14(3), 6, and 6–7.

Variation in males (N = 8): Measurements: DSL 3.5– 4.6; DSW 2.8–3.6; LI 10.9–16.1; LII 19.1–27.3; LIII 13.6– 18.4; LIV 17.4–23.4. Leg IV/body length ratio: 4.6– 5.6. Pedipalp: tibial setation, mesal IiIiIi/IIiIi, ectal IiiIi/ IIiIi; tarsal setation, mesal iIiiIii/iIiiIi/IiiIii, ectal iIiIii/ iiIiIi/iIiIi. Tarsal counts: 8(3), 16–19(3), 6, and 7. Pedipalpal femur dorsally with a median row of between nine and 11 pointed tubercles, and one prolateral row of eight or nine tubercles.

Variation in females (N = 8): Measurements: DSL 3.6– 4.3; DSW 3.15–3.55; LI 12.3–14.9; LII 22.2–26.6; LIII 15.6–17.3; LIV 20.3–21.2. Leg IV/body length ratio: 4.7–5.7. Pedipalp: tibial setation, mesal IiiIi/ IiIiIi/IiiIiIi, ectal iIiiIi/IiIiIi; tarsal setation, mesal iIiiIii/ iIiIii, ectal iIiIii. Tarsal counts: 7–8(3), 14–19(3), 6, and 6–7.

Figures

Figure 5. Gonycranaus androgynus sp. nov. A–F, male holotype: A, habitus, dorsal view; B, habitus, right lateral view; C, right trochanter–patella IV, dorsal view; D, right trochanter–patella IV, ventral view; E, right pedipalp, retrolateral view; F, right pedipalp, prolateral view. G, H, female paratype (MZSP 57195): G, habitus, dorsal view; H, habitus, right lateral view. C and D at same scale; E and F at same scale. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 9. Distal part of penis. A–C, Gonycranaus androgynus sp. nov. (holotype): A, dorsal view; B, left lateral view; C, ventral view. D–F, Gonycranaus pluto sp. nov. (holotype): D, dorsal view; E, left lateral view; F, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 10. Distal part of male leg IV, dorsal and lateral views: A, B, Camarana flavipalpi (Tricommatidae); C, D, Pseudopachylus eximius (Tricommatidae); E, F, Gerdesius paruensis (Gerdesiidae); G, H, Gonycranaus androgynus sp. nov. (Gerdesiidae). Scale bars: 0.04 mm.

Figure 11. Dorsal view of males: A, Camarana flavipalpi (Tricommatidae); B, Pseudopachylus eximius (Tricommatidae); C, Gerdesius paruensis (Gerdesiidae); D, Gonycranaus androgynus sp. nov. (Gerdesiidae). Scale bars: 3.0 mm.