Eutimesius punctatus ( Roewer, 1913 ) M. & Sánchez & Ascenção, 2019

M., Osvaldo Villarreal, Sánchez, Nestor & Ascenção, Antonio De, 2019, New generic assignment to the harvestman Metaphareus punctatus (Opiliones: Stygnidae) and observations about it reproductive behavior, Iheringia, Série Zoologia (e 2019008) 109, pp. 1-6 : 2-3

Eutimesius punctatus ( Roewer, 1913) , comb. nov.

( Figs 1–9 , 11-14 , 18 )

Metaphareus punctatus ROEWER, 1913:432 , fig. 170; 1923:573 fig. 719; CAPORIACCO, 1951:42; PINTO-DA-ROCHA, 1997:297, figs 427-431, 604; KURY, 2003:229.

Type data. VENEZUELA, Mérida, holotype ♂, type SMF RI, 832.

Studied material. VENEZUELA, Mérida: Campo ElÍas, ♂, ♀ ( MIZA 1749 ), Sector Piedra Blanca , [8.583611, -71.32611], 2114 m, Viii.2006, RodrÍguez C. leg; AndrÉs Bello , 2♂ ( MIZA s/n) road MÉrida - La Azulita , El Chorotal , sector El Frontino , 8.668528, -71.417998, 2.255 m, 03.ii.2017, Villarreal, M.O.; GarcÍa, A. & SÁnchez, N. leg; Libertador: ♂, 2♀, ( CAULA-Op- 0052), Monte Zerpa [8.639417, -71.169138], 2181 m, 11.IV.2010, N. SÁnchez & Mendoza I. leg; ♂ ( CAULA-Op-0049-1), Monte Zerpa [8.639417, -71.169138], 2186 m, 11.IV.2010, SÁnchez N. leg; 6♂, 5♀ ( CAULAOp-0050), Monte Zerpa , Quebrada El Macanal , 2160 m, 17.IV.2010, SÁnchez N. leg; 7♂, ♀ ( CAULA-Op-0051), Monte Zerpa , 2160 m, 25.V.2010, SÁnchez N. & De AscenÇÃo A. leg; 2♂, 5♀ ( CAULA- Op-0243), Monte Zerpa [8.639722, -71.167444], 2170 m, 24. IX. 2011, SÁnchez N. & Mendoza I. leg; 2♂, 3♀ ( CAULA-Op-0302), Monte Zerpa , Quebrada La Honda, RÍo Albarregas , [8.641472, -71.162675], 2140 m 8.x.2011. SÁnchez N. & Mendoza I. leg.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from its other all congeneric species by the black spots on the base of mesotergal tubercles contrasting with the yellow greenish background ( Figs 1-4 , 11, 14 ) and pattern of the dry-mark ( Figs 3 , 11, 14 ).

Genital description (males) ( Figs 7-9 ). General pattern typical for Heterostygninae : with the hammer well differentiated and carrying the MS A1-A2 and MS B, all aligned forming a ring slightly basal at the beginning of the lamina parva (LP), which is clearly differentiated from the truncus and have lateral margins convergent and curved, with apical circular and deep cleft, and a basal constriction forming a basal neck. MS C1-C2 similar in size, positioned slightly apical at neck of the LP. Only one pair of MS D, located on a monticule, dorsally on the base of LP. Stylus curved dorsally, with small dorsal process.

Natural history. This species inhabits exclusively in cloud forests located in the Andean mountain range system in MÉrida state, particularly in protected areas in Sierra de La Culata National Park ( Figs 14–16 ). Eutimesius punctatus is characterized for occupying microhabitats above the undergrowth, being frequent to find it on shrubs near small water courses ( Fig. 17 ). Remarkably, in Monte Zerpa, Mérida state, it was frequently found on a species of scaly tree fern Cyathea caracasana var. meridensis (H. Karst) (Cyatheaceae) a very common species on the edges of streams, which is used by E. punctatus to lay his eggs ( Figs 13, 17 ). In this regard, one of the authors observed four events involving posture or care of eggs inthese plants, always the eggswere placed on the back of the leaves (at the bottom) ( Fig. 13 ). All these cases were observed at the same locality: brook El Macanal, Monte Zerpa, Mérida state ( Figs 15, 17 ).

The first case only one female was observed next to the clutch (about 50 eggs), which has a semicircular shape; a second case was observed both male and female next to the clutch (eggs arranged in a similar way to the previous case), in this case after being disturbed they both left the clutch, they were dropped in a vacuum to fall into the leaf litter; a third case was observed, which only the female after the disturbance fled the clutch, in this case the eggs had a different appearance, some of which located on a side edge looked more recent; and a fourth case in which only a male and some scattered eggs were observed (about 15 eggs in an approximate diameter of 10 cm) ( Fig. 13 ), this could have several interpretations, maybe it is the remnant of a larger clutch cared by this male, or maybe the male was preying on the eggs of an old alien clutch.

Figures

Figs 1-6. Eutimesius punctatus (Roewer, 1913), comb. nov. (male MIZA 1749), habitus: 1, dorsal, panoramic view; 2, frontal view; 3, dorsal view, detail of scutum; 4, lateral view; Figs 5-6, leg III, tarsomerus, dorsal and prolateral views 4. Bars of scale = 1 mm.

Figs 7-9. Penis of Eutimesius punctatus (Roewer, 1913), comb. nov., apical portion (MIZA 0065969): 7, lateral view; 8, ventral view; 9, dorsal view.

Figs 10-17. Fig. 10, Eutimesius albicinctus (Roewer, 1915), male at live from Chorotal, MÉrida, Venezuela; Figs 11-12, Eutimesius punctatus (Roewer, 1913), comb. nov., male at live from Chorotal, MÉrida, Venezuela; Figs 13, 14, male and egg on fern from Monte Zerpa, MÉrida; Figs 15-17, cloud forest in MÉrida state, Chorotal (15) and Monte Zerpa (16 and 17).

Fig. 18. Geographical distribution of Eutimesius punctatus (Roewer, 1913), comb. nov. and E. albicinctus (Roewer, 1915).