Pseudocellus cruzlopezi, Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro & Francke, Oscar F., 2013

Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro & Francke, Oscar F., 2013, Two new species of ricinuleids of the genus Pseudocellus (Arachnida: Ricinulei: Ricinoididae) from southern Mexico, Zootaxa 3635 (5), pp. 545-556 : 547-555

Pseudocellus cruzlopezi sp. nov.

Figs. 1–13

Type material. Male holotype (CNAN-T0706), 1 female and 1 tritonymph paratypes (CNAN-T0707), from MEXICO: Oaxaca, Municipio San José Tenango, Cerro Caballero (lat. 18.13580°, long. -96.68970°; alt. 943 m), 30 September 2008, J. Cruz.

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to the opilionologist M. Sc. Jesús Alberto Cruz-López for his contribution to the knowledge of arachnids from Mexico and who collected all the known specimens.

Diagnosis. Males can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: two ventral rows of curved spines on tibia II, which are small basally and become longer distally (the last distal spines on both rows longest ( Figs 4, 5 )); the very robust femur II ( Fig. 1 ), 2.4 times longer than wide; tarsal process of leg III wide, ending in a long, thin, sharp tip ( Figs 10–12 ); accessory piece of tarsal process bifurcate ( Figs 10–11, 13 ); the long, conical and sigmoid metatarsal process ( Figs 10, 13 ); and the cucullus with a trapezoidal shape, rounded laterally ( Fig. 3 ). Females can be distinguished by the long, curved, horn-shaped spermathecae, ending in a small rounded tip ( Figs 6, 7 ).

Description of male. Carapace: Slightly longer than wide, widest in posterior part, near coxae III. Covered with numerous fine translucent setae and numerous rounded granules, these more visible on ocular spots and margins ( Fig. 1 ). Marginal ocular spots located near to coxae II ( Fig. 1 ). Dorsal depressions on median part, posterior part and near ocular spots ( Fig. 1 ).

Cucullus . Wider than long, widest distally; with numerous rounded granules, more evident than those on carapace. Covered with long and fine translucent setae, longest distally; these setae are longer and thinner than those on carapace ( Fig. 3 ).

Chelicera. Fixed finger with six teeth, the distal longest and the basal shortest. Movable finger with ten teeth, the first four proximal teeth smaller, the fifth tooth longer, and the distal five teeth of medium size.

Sternal region. Coxae I touch the tritosternum at a single point in anterior part; coxae II touch it along anterior fourth. Coxae II considerably larger than others, coxae IV smallest ( Fig. 2 ).

Pedipalp. Trochanter I with rounded granules on ventral-distal half, trochanter II with rounded granules on ventral part. Femur curved, wider proximally than distally, with numerous translucent setae, which are smaller on dorsal part than on ventral part, where there are less. Tibia straight, slightly thinner in middle part; with numerous translucent setae, larger in distal part ( Fig. 2 ).

Legs. With numerous translucent setae on all segments ( Figs 1, 4, 5 ). Femora I–IV with numerous sharp-tipped granules, stronger ventrally. Patella I–IV with numerous rounded granules, stronger on patella II, where they are sharp-tipped. Tibia I with numerous, sharp-tipped granules; tibia II with curved, ventral spines ( Figs 1, 4, 5 ); tibia III ventrally with numerous rounded granules; tibia IV with numerous sharp-tipped granules, weaker than those on tibia I. Metatarsus I with numerous small, sharp-tipped granules on ventral and dorsal parts; metatarsus II with two ventral rows of curved spines and numerous small, sharp-tipped granules on dorsal part ( Fig. 1 ); metatarsus III with numerous rounded granules; metatarsus IV with numerous sharp-tipped granules dorsally and a few rounded granules ventrally.

Copulatory apparatus. Metatarsus conical, short and wide with numerous translucent setae ( Figs 10, 13 ), ventrally with several basal pores (arrows Figs 10, 13 ); metatarsal process long, dorsally with fine translucent setae ( Fig. 8 ). Tarsal process wide and curved, ending in a long, thin tip ( Figs 10, 12 ). Lamina of tarsomere 2 conical, with translucent setae more numerous and shorter basally ( Fig. 11 ). Tarsomeres with numerous, fine, translucent setae, smaller and more numerous ventrally ( Figs 10, 13 ). Tarsomere 4 with long, curved, paired claws ( Figs 9–10, 13 ).

Opisthosoma. Longer than wide, widest in middle ( Fig. 1 ). Covered uniformly with numerous, fine, translucent setae ( Fig. 1 ). Tergite X–XII wider than long ( Fig. 1 ). Tergite XIII and lateral tergites longer than wide ( Fig. 1 ). All tergites with sparse, rounded granules ( Fig. 1 ). Pygidium with lateral concavities in the third segment.

Coloration. Body reddish ( Fig. 1 ). Carapace, coxae and leg II dark reddish ( Figs 1, 2 ). Opisthosoma darker ventrally than dorsally, with a dark region on sternites XI and XII.

Measurements. Total length (including pygidium) 3.70. Carapace 1.40 long, 1.33 wide. Cucullus 0.56 long, 0.96 wide. Opisthosoma 2.35 long, 1.57 wide. Femur II length/diameter (l/d): 2.56. Legs tarsal formula (leg I to IV): 1-5-4-5. Leg lengths, I: coxa 0.55/ trochanter 1 0.35/ trochanter 2 -/ femur 0.95/ patella 0.46/ tibia 0.70/ metatarsus 0.80/ tarsus 0.36/ total 4.17; II: 0.80/ 0.55/ -/ 1.60/ 0.76/ 1.26/ 1.18/ 1.30/ 7.45; III: 0.65/ 0.38/ 0.50/ 1.02/ 0.55/ 0.65/ 0.72/ 1.12/ 5.59; IV: 0.55/ 0.40/ 0.37/ 1.02/ 0.50/ 0.75/ 0.73/ 0.71/ 5.03. Pedipalp: 0.38/ 0.26/ 0.28/ 0.74 / -/ 1.06/ -/ 0.13/ 2.85. Leg length formula: 2341.

Female. Differs from male as follows: Carapace more rounded. Femur II less robust, 3.7 times longer than wide. Movable finger of chelicera with six teeth, basal tooth longest. Legs with fewer and smaller ventral sharptipped granules. The two ventral rows of curved spines on tibia II are smaller than those of male. Opisthosoma wider and longer. Tergites XI and XII wider than those of male. Sternite XIII with lateral concavities.

Measurements: Total length 4.07. Carapace 1.40 long, 1.35 wide. Cucullus 0.60 long, 1.00 wide. Opisthosoma 2.55 long, 1.75 wide. Femur II l/d: 3.60. Legs tarsal formula (leg I to IV): 1-5-4-5. Leg lengths, I: coxa 0.61/ trochanter 1 0.32/ trochanter 2 -/ femur 0.93/ patella 0.45/ tibia 0.66/ metatarsus 0.77/ tarsus 0.38/ total 4.12; II: 0.80/ 0.50/ -/ 1.46/ 0.66/ 1.10/ 1.16/ 1.28/ 6.96; III: 0.66/ 0.37/ 0.36/ 0.95/ 0.52/ 0.65/ 0.70/ 0.63/ 4.84; IV: 0.58/ 0.40/ 0.35/ 1.00/ 0.50/ 0.67/ 0.75/ 0.66/ 4.91; Pedipalp: 0.50/0.30/ 0.27/ 0.76/ -/ 1.13/ -/ 0.13/ 3.09. Leg length formula: 2431.

Tritonymph. Carapace slightly wider than long, with a longitudinal depression on median part; two small rounded depressions on each side, almost on middle part, and several inconspicuous depressions posteriorly. Carapace, cucullus , legs and opisthosoma covered with numerous rounded granules and translucent setae. Femur and tibia of pedipalp without rounded granules. Legs dorsally and ventrally with a conspicuous longitudinal region without granules. Cucullus wider than long, with numerous fine translucent setae, which are longer distally. Opisthosoma longer than wide, tergites X–XII wider than long, tergite XIII as long as wide. Sternites XI–XIII clearly separate, not fused together. Appendages and body coloration pale orange, distal half of pedipalp tibia brownish.

Measurements. Total length 3.50. Carapace 1.20 long, 1.22 wide. Cucullus 0.52 long, 0.82 wide. Opisthosoma 2.50 long, 1.80 wide. Legs tarsal count formula (leg I to IV): 1545.

Related species. Pseudocellus cruzlopezi is similar to P. j a ro c h o Valdez-Mondragón & Francke 2011 from 5 km East of Tlaquilpa, Veracruz, Mexico. They resemble each other in overall shape, the shape and proportions of femur II in males, and the shape of the ventral spines of tibia II and metatarsus II in the males. However, there are several characters that separate them as different species. P. jarocho has the ventral spines of tibia II and metatarsus II longer those of P. cruzlopezi ( Figs 1, 5 ). P. cruzlopezi has the lamina of tarsomere 2 of leg III distally thinner than that of P. j a ro c h o ( Figs 11, 13 ). P. jarocho has a basal notch on the lamina of tarsomere 2 that is lacking in P. cruzlopezi ( Figs 11, 13 ). Tarsomere 2 is wider in P. jarocho than in P. cruzlopezi ( Fig. 10 ). The tarsal process of leg III of P. cruzlopezi is wide, ending in a long, thin, sharp tip ( Figs 10, 12 ), whereas in P. j a ro c h o the tarsal process has two distal tips. P. cruzlopezi is smaller; the male holotype has a total length of 4.07 mm, whereas the male of P. jarocho has a total length of 5.15 mm. Finally, the spermathecae of P. c r u z l o p e z i are long, curved and horn-shaped ( Figs 6, 7 ), whereas in P. j aro c h o they each have a double receptacle, being rounded distally.

Distribution and habitat. This species is known only from the type locality ( Fig. 27 ). The specimens were collected in the ground, under boulders in a tropical rainforest, with a high humidity around 70%, and at an elevation of 943 m.

Pseudocellus monjarazi sp. nov. Figs. 14–26

Type material. Male holotype (CNAN-T0708), 1 male, 1 female paratypes (CNAN-T0709) from MEXICO: Chiapas, Municipio La Trinitaria, Cueva de San Francisco (lat. 16.09971°, long. -92.04690°; alt. 1546 m), 18 June 2011, A. Valdez, O. Francke, C. Santibáñez, J. Cruz, R. Monjaraz, G. Contreras and K. Zárate.

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to Biol. Rodrigo Monjaraz-Ruedas for his participation in collecting the type series.

Diagnosis. Males can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: tarsal process of leg III ending in a wide tip, with two small, sub-apical, conical projections ( Fig. 25 , arrowed); metatarsal process long and hook-shaped ( Figs 21, 23 ); lamina of tarsomere 2 long and thin, with a marked concavity basally ( Fig. 24 ); and the oval shape of the cucullus , which is rounded laterally ( Fig. 16 ). Females can be distinguished by the spermathecae, each having an oval lobule and an elongate lobule ( Figs 19, 20 ).

Description of male. Carapace: Slightly longer than wide; widest posteriorly, at level of coxae III ( Fig. 14 ). Ocular spots long, between level of coxae II and III ( Fig. 14 ). Covered with rounded granules, more numerous in the dorsal depressions, one of which is located on median part and the others near to ocular spots and on posterior part of carapace ( Fig. 14 ). Covered with fine translucent setae ( Fig. 14 ).

Cucullus . Wider than long, widest distally. Covered with long, fine translucent setae, which are longer distally. Covered with numerous rounded granules, most evident distally ( Fig. 16 ).

Chelicera. Fixed finger with five teeth, distal tooth longer than others ( Fig. 18 ). Movable finger broad, with seven teeth, basal tooth longer than others.

Sternal region. Tritosternum almost rounded, touched by coxae of pedipalp and legs I and II. Coxa II considerably larger than the others, coxa IV smallest ( Fig. 15 ).

Pedipalp. Trochanters I and II with sparse, rounded granules ventrally. Femora curved, without rounded granules; with numerous translucent setae, smaller dorsally, and less numerous, longer and thinner ventrally ( Fig. 15 ). Tibiae slightly wider basally than distally; with numerous translucent setae, longer distally ( Fig. 15 ).

Legs. Long ( Fig. 14 ), with numerous translucent setae on all segments ( Figs 14, 17 ). Femora long and thin, with numerous granules. Femur I curved on prolateral part ( Fig. 14 ), femur III curved ventrally, femora II and IV straight. Patellae with numerous rounded granules; patella II considerably longer than the others ( Fig. 14 ). Tibiae with numerous rounded granules ( Fig. 17 ). Metatarsi with some rounded granules; metatarsus I much longer and thinner than the others; metatarsus III shorter than the others ( Fig. 14 ).

Copulatory apparatus. Metatarsus rectangular in prolateral view ( Fig. 23 ), broadened distally in retrolateral view ( Fig. 26 ); with numerous curved translucent setae ( Figs 23, 26 ). Metatarsal process long and curved, with curved translucent setae dorsally on basal half ( Fig. 21 ). Tarsal process curved, ending in a wide tip ( Figs 23, 25 ). Lamina of tarsomere 2 with numerous curved translucent setae, more abundant and longer distally ( Fig. 24 ). Tarsomere 2 with numerous conspicuous curved translucent setae ( Fig. 24 ). Tarsomere ventrally with numerous, long and curved translucent setae ( Figs 23, 24, 26 ). Tarsomere 4 with paired, long, curved claws ( Fig. 22 ).

Opisthosoma. Longer than wide, widest in middle ( Fig. 14 ). Covered with numerous, fine, translucent setae and some rounded granules ( Fig. 14 ). Tergites X–XII wider than long ( Fig. 14 ). Tergite XIII and lateral tergites longer than wide ( Fig. 14 ). Pygidium longer ventrally than dorsally, with small lateral concavities in third segment.

Coloration. Body brownish ( Fig. 14 ). Carapace and legs II dark brownish ( Fig. 14 ). Opisthosoma with sternites XI and XII reddish in median part ( Fig. 14 ).

Measurements. Total length (including pygidium) 4.90. Carapace 1.63 long, 1.53 wide. Cucullus 0.76 long, 1.16 wide. Opisthosoma 3.55 long, 1.95 wide. Femur II length/diameter: 9.38. Legs tarsal formula (leg I to IV): 1- 5-4-5. Leg lengths, I: coxa 0.78/ trochanter 1 0.50/ trochanter 2 -/ femur 1.83/ patella 0.70/ tibia 1.16 / metatarsus 1.43/ tarsus 0.60/ total 7.00; II: 0.90/ 0.70/ -/ 3.00/ 1.35/ 2.42/ 2.35/ 2.25/ 12.97; III: 0.70/ 0.53/ 0.70/ 1.90/ 0.80/ 0.97/ 0.96/ 1.30/ 7.86; IV: 0.63/ 0.62/ 0.58/ 1.95/ 0.80/ 1.10/ 1.20/ 1.05/ 7.93. Pedipalp: 0.65/ 0.42/ 0.53/ 1.06/ -/ 1.50/ -/ 0.20/ 4.36. Leg length formula: 2431.

Variation. Male holotype darker than male paratype. Opisthosoma of paratype without reddish pattern on sternites XI and XII. Movable finger of chelicerae with six teeth in paratype. Paratype with ocular spots wider than those of holotype. Paratype with paired lines on tergites XII–XIII, dark and slender. Measurements of the paratype: total length: 5.20, cucullus width 1.16, carapace width 1.56, opisthosoma length 3.42, width 2.05, femur II l/d: 8.85.

Female. Differs from males as follows. Carapace shorter, with ocular spots more obvious. Body coloration darker. Opisthosoma larger. Tergites XI and XII wider. Sternites XI?XIII with paired sclerotized lines.

Measurements. Total length 5.00. Carapace 1.55 long, 1.60 wide. Cucullus 0.80 long, 1.15 wide. Opisthosoma 3.60 long, 2.25 wide. Femur II length/diameter (l/d): 10.00. Leg tarsal formula (leg I to IV): 1-5-4-5. Leg lengths, I: coxa 0.80/ trochanter 1 0.46/ trochanter 2 -/ femur 1.76/ patella 0.66/ tibia 1.15/ metatarsus 1.42/ tarsus 0.60/ total 6.85; II: 0.90/ 0.65/ -/ 2.92/ 1.36/ 2.25/ 2.25/ 2.25/ 12.58; III: 0.73/ 0.53/ 0.60/ 2.00/ 0.76/ 1.15/ 1.10/ 1.00/ 7.87; IV: 0.66/ 0.58/ 0.56/ 2.00/ 0.85/ 1.20/ 1.21/ 1.10/ 8.16. Pedipalp: 0.66/ 0.56/ 0.40/ 1.16/ -/1.66/ -/ 0.22/ 4.66. Leg length formula: 2431.

Related species and remarks. Pseudocellus monjarazi generally resembles Pseudocellus bolivari (Gertsch, 1971) from Sumidero del Camino, 16 Km NE of Comitán, Chiapas, México, located about 40 km from the type locality of P. monjarazi . However, there are several morphological characters that separate them. First, P. bolivari is larger than P. monjarazi : the total length of P. b o l i v a r i is 6.5 mm, whereas P. monjarazi is 4.90 mm long ( Fig. 14 ). P. bolivari is reddish in general body coloration, whereas P. monjarazi is brownish ( Figs 14–17 ). P. bolivari has legs wider than those of P. monjarazi , with the femora of legs III and IV being notably wider (ratios 3.4 and 3.3) than those of P. monjarazi (ratios 5.0 and 7.0) ( Fig. 14 ). P. bolivari has the tarsal claws asymmetrical, with some being spatulate (Gertsch, 1971; figs 5, 6), whereas P. monjarazi only has symmetrical claws, which are never spatulate ( Figs 22–23, 26 ). P. b o l i v a r i has the fixed finger of the chelicera with four teeth of different sizes, whereas P. monjarazi has five teeth, with the distal tooth longer than the others ( Fig. 18 ). The tarsal process of leg III of P. bolivari is trifurcate at the apex, whereas in P. monjarazi it has a wide tip with two small, sub-apical, conical projections ( Figs 23 , arrows 25). P. monjarazi has the lamina of tarsomere 2 of leg III thinner than P. bolivari ( Fig. 24 ). Finally, the shape of the spermatheca is very different: in P. bo li v ar i the two lobules on each side are both rounded, with one larger than the other, whereas in P. monjarazi only one lobule is oval and the other is long and finger-shaped ( Figs 19–20 ).

Gertsch (1971), in the description of P. bo li v ar i, mentioned a male collected from Grutas de Zapaluta, as being a morphological variation of P. b o l i v a r i, but based on its description, it instead corresponds to P. monjarazi .

Distribution and habitat. Known from the type locality in Chiapas, Mexico, and Grutas de Zapaluta, 6.5 km NE of Zapaluta (Gertsch 1971) ( Fig. 27 ). The types of Pseudocellus monjarazi were collected approximately 120 m inside this horizontal cave, in karstic terrain located in a moderately disturbed oak forest. They were found on the walls of a narrow passage with a low oxygen concentration. The humidity inside the cave was around 70%. The cave shows a high degree of human disturbance, because people from the nearby town hold religious ceremonies inside the cave. Inside the cave there is a river that has been contaminated by the town’s sewage.

Acknowledgments

We thank: M.Sc. Berenit Mendoza Gárfias for the photomicrographs taken with the scanning electron microscope (SEM); Carlos E. Santibáñez López, Jesús Cruz López, Rodrigo Monjaraz Ruedas and Gerardo Contreras Félix (students of the Colección Nacional de Arácnidos (CNAN), Instituto de Biología, UNAM) for their help with the fieldwork; Kaleb Zárate for his help with the fieldwork in the caves of Chiapas; Peter Sprouse (Zara Environmental, Austin) for information about the Mexican caves; the referees, Dr. James Cokendolpher and Dr. Ricardo Pinto-da-Rocha, for comments that improved the manuscript; and Dr. Alejandro Zaldívar Riverón for his comments and suggestions. The Instituto de Biología (IB-UNAM), Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas of the UNAM and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico, provided financial support. The specimens were collected under Scientific Collector Permit FAUT-0175 to Oscar F. Francke, obtained from the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT).

Figures

FIGURE 27. Distribution records of Pseudocellus cruzlopezi and Pseudocellus monjarazi.

FIGURES 1 – 7. Pseudocellus cruzlopezi sp. nov., male holotype (unless otherwise indicated). 1, Habitus, dorsal view; 2, Prosoma, ventral view; 3, Cucullus, dorsal view; 4 – 5, Right tibia II, dorsal and dorsal-prolateral views respectively; 6, Spermathecae of female paratype, anterior view; 7, Spermathecae of female paratype, posterior view. Scales: 1 mm (Figs. 1 – 2), 0.5 mm (Figs. 3 – 5), 0.4 mm (Figs. 6 – 7).

FIGURES 8 – 13. Pseudocellus cruzlopezi sp. nov., male holotype. 8, Left leg III, metatarsal process, prolateral view; 9, Tarsal claws of leg III; 10, Copulatory apparatus of left leg III, prolateral view (arrows indicate the pores on basal part of metatarsus); 11, Lamina of tarsomere 2 of left leg III, retrolateral view; 12, Tarsal process of copulatory apparatus, apical view; 13, Copulatory apparatus of left leg III, retrolateral view (arrows indicates the pores on basal part of metatarsus). Scales: 100 µm (Figs. 9, 12), 200 µm (Fig. 8, 11), 500 µm (Figs. 10, 13).

FIGURES 14 – 20. Pseudocellus monjarazi sp. nov., male holotype (unless otherwise indicated). 14, Habitus, dorsal view; 15, Prosoma, ventral view; 16, Cucullus, dorsal view; 17, Right tibia II, dorsal view; 18, Left chelicera, dorsal view; 19, Spermathecae of female paratype, anterior view; 20, Spermathecae of female paratype, posterior view. Scales: 1 mm (Figs. 14 – 17), 0.4 mm (Figs. 19 – 20), 0.5 mm (Fig. 18).

FIGURES 21 – 26. Pseudocellus monjarazi sp. nov., male holotype. 21, Metatarsal process of leg III, retrolateral-ventral view; 22, Tarsal claws of leg III; 23, Copulatory apparatus of left leg III, prolateral view; 24, Lamina of tarsomere 2 of left leg III, retrolateral view; 25, Tarsal process of copulatory apparatus, apical view (arrows indicate the two small sub-apical conical projections); 26, Copulatory apparatus of left leg III, retrolateral view. Scales: 200 µm (Fig. 21, 22, 25), 500 µm (Figs. 23 – 24, 26).