Ceratomontia capensis Roewer, 1915

Porto, Willians & Pérez-González, Abel, 2023, The newest and the oldest species in the same vial: Description of a new species of Ceratomontia Roewer, 1915 and redescription of Ceratomontia capensis Roewer, 1915 (Opiliones: Laniatores: Triaenonychidae), Zootaxa 5357 (1), pp. 131-138 : 133-134

Ceratomontia capensis Roewer, 1915

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:47A42140-59D7-42EB-B077-10114CCEA043

( Figs. 3–4 )

Roewer 1915: 139; Lawrence 1931: 375; Kauri 1961: 79; Staręga 1992: 284

Type data. J Lectotype (herein designated) ( SMF 9801182 -RI/1182-53) from South Africa, Port Elizabeth , Algoa Bay . Paralectotype J in the same vial as the lectotype.

Emended diagnosis: It can be distinguished from other known species of Ceratomontia by the following combination of characters: a long and curved interocular apophysis, and the femur of the pedipalp possessing a dorsal row of five tubercles. These features differentiate it from C. irregularis , C. karooensis , C. namaqua , C. nasuta , C. reticulata , C. rumpiana , C. ruricola , C. sanguinea , C. tabulae , C. thorni , C. werneri , and C. starengai sp. nov. Furthermore, the shape of the male genitalia is markedly distinct from that of the South American species and the two South African species with illustrated genitalia ( C. minor and C. tabulae ). This distinction is primarily evident in the apical region of the capsula externa, which exhibits a pair of apical processes that are absent in all species featuring illustrations of the penis.

Measurements: J lectotype, total body length 3.24. Carapace length 1.25, Scutum length 1.57, Carapace maximum width 1.94, Mesotergal scute maximum width 2.57. J paralectotype from South Africa, Port Elizabeth, Algoa Bay (SMF). Measurements: Total body length 3.21. Carapace length 1.24, Scutum length 1.58, Carapace maximum width 2.07, Mesotergal scute maximum width 2.77.

Redescription: Dorsum ( Fig. 3 A ─D): outline hourglass-shaped with Eta (η) shape. Scutum with four tubercles on the anterior outline. Ocularium conical, high, pointed forward. Dorsal scutum with a clear delimitation of areas. Areas I─IV bearing 1─2 rows of small setiferous tubercles. Posterior margin and free tergites with a row of small tubercles.

Venter ( Fig. 3 E ─F): Coxae I bear three notable tubercles with subdistal setae, coxae II have six notable tubercles with subdistal setae, and coxae IV with one notable tubercle with subdistal setae. Small bridge partially covering the spiracle.

Chelicerae: Cheliceral hand with a few sparse small tubercles.

Pedipalps: Trochanter with a dorsal and ventral small setiferous tubercle on the ectal view. Femur with a dorsal and ventral row of 4─5 tubercles with subdistal setae. Two tubercles with subdistal setae and sparse granulae on the mesal view. Patella with one mesal tubercle with subdistal setae. Tibia bearing one mesal-ventral tubercle with subdistal setae and two rows of small tubercles with subdistal setae. Tarsus bears two ventral rows of small tubercles with subdistal setae.

Legs: Femur I with a ventral row of small setiferous tubercles (8─10). Tarsal count: 3–6–4–4.

Genitalia ( Fig. 4 ): Ventral plate with a large cleft dividing the plate into two lamellae, each lamella bearing one dorsal and three ventral sensilla. Capsula interna with a tubular shape, bearing a pair of apical processes. Capsula interna is simple, tubular, without processes, and completely covered by the capsula externa.

Appendages measurements (in mm) (Lectotype J): Pedipalp. Trochanter 0.26, femur 1.33, patella 0.81, tibia 1.34, tarsus 1.14. Leg I: trochanter (tr) 0.30, femur (fe) 1.36, patella (pa) 0.63, tibia (ti) 0.84, metatarsus (mt) 1.22, tarsus (ta) 0.71. II: tr 0.29, fe 1.63, pa 0.82, ti 1.46, mt 1.65, ta 1.26. III: tr 0.28, fe 1.40, pa 0.55, ti 0.97, mt 1.43, ta 0.80. IV: tr 0.46, fe 1.71, pa 0.73, ti 1.52, mt 2.22, ta 0.97. (Paralectotype J): Pedipalp. Trochanter 0.30, femur 1.29, patella 0.69, tibia 1.16, tarsus 1.14. Leg I: trochanter (tr) 0.30, femur (fe) 1.34, patella (pa) 0.58, tibia (ti) 0.87, metatarsus (mt) 1.18, tarsus (ta) 0.79. II: tr 0.34, fe 1.70, pa 0.72, ti 1.36, mt 1.50, ta 1.34. III: tr 0.27, fe 1.22, pa 0.45, ti1.05, mt 1.41, ta 0.80. IV: tr 0.38, fe 1.71, pa 0.74, ti 1.57, mt 2.11, ta 0.84.

Records. SOUTHAFRICA,EasternCape,OlifantskopinSuurbergeMts;AlexandriaForest;Boesmansriviermond; East London (Staręga 1992).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Ceratomontia capensis Roewer, 1915, lectotype J (SMF 9801182-RI/1182-53), habitus: dorsal (A), lateral (B), ventral (C) and pedipalp (D). Scale bars (A─C) 2 mm, (D) 500 µm.

FIGURE 4. Ceratomontia capensis Roewer 1915, lectotype J (SMF 9801182-RI/1182-53) genitalia: ventral view (A); lateral view (B); dorsal view (C). Abbreviations: ce, capsula externa; ci, capsula interna; vp, ventral plate. Scale bar: 100 µm.