Metachelifer nepalensis ( Beier, 1974 ) Beier, 1974

Dashdamirov, Selvin, 2006, A new species of the false­scorpion family Cheliferidae from Thailand, with remarks on Ancistrochelifer and Metachelifer (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones), Zootaxa 1325, pp. 347-362 : 358-359

Metachelifer nepalensis ( Beier, 1974) comb. n.

Figs 29–38

Material ( SMNS 1436): Nepal, Gorkha Distr., Buri Gandaki, Nyak [Ngyak], 28°26´N, 84°54´E, Chuling Khola Tal [9], 2450–2870 m, under bark ( Rhododendron , Quercus semecarpifolia ), 2 males, 5 females, 2 August 1983, leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller (see Schawaller 1987).

Description. Colour of carapace, palps and tergites dark brown, remaining parts (legs, sternites and pleural membranes) yellowish brown. Carapace with a pair of welldeveloped eyes, slightly (1.11 times) broader than long, surface evenly and strongly granular, dorsal setae of carapace, palps and tergites short and denticuloclavate, borne on larger but relatively inconspicuous tubercles ( Fig. 33 ). Chaetotaxy of carapace: anterior margin with four, posterior margin with 11 deniculoclavate setae; a total of ca 84 setae. Coxa IV with an anterolateral process and ca 48–50 setae. Coxal sac taking up only 1/2 coxal length. Atrium well­developed. Last tergites without tactile setae.

Structure of male genitalia as illustrated ( Fig. 36 ): lateral rods complex, especially in terminal part, fused anteriorly, at this point being strongly curved posteriad and creating a deep notch; dorsal apodeme large. Reversible sacs large; apodeme of reversible sac and lateral apodeme well­developed.

Female with an oblong median cribriform plate and two lateral cribriform plates (each with about 40–50 pores).

Palp (both sexes): all segments with well­developed granulation, except for chelal fingers, which are smooth; dorsal setae short and prominently denticulate. Proportions of male: trochanter 1.75 times as long as broad; femur 5.22 times as long as broad; patella 3.82 times as long as broad; chela with pedicel 4.64 times as long as broad; chela without pedicel 4.43 times as long as broad. Hand with pedicel 2.61 times, without pedicel 2.35 times, as long as broad. Chela with trichobothriotaxy, venom apparatus and dentition as illustrated ( Fig. 37 ). Hand with pedicel 1.17 times as long as movable finger, hand without pedicel 1.05 times as long as movable finger. Fixed finger of chela with 49 marginal teeth; movable finger with ca 52 marginal teeth. Lamina defensor of fixed finger with a subapical notch on anterior side.

Venom apparatus present in both chelal fingers, nodus ramosus in both fingers almost reaching level of trichobothrium T.

Leg I of male: surface weakly scale­like sculptured; tibia 3.24 times as long as deep; tarsus 4.08 times as long as deep. Subterminal seta simple. Claws modified and asymmetrical ( Figs 30, 35 ): lateral claw shorter than mesal one, with 2–3 tiny denticles at dorsomesal margin.

Measurements of male (length/breadth, in mm).

Carapace 0.98/1.09. Palp: trochanter 0.56/0.32; femur 1.41/0.27; patella 1.2/0.31; chela with pedicel 1.96/0.42; length of chela without pedicel 1.87; length of hand with pedicel 1.1, without pedicel 0.99; length of movable finger 0.94. Leg I: tibia 0.44/0.14; tarsus 0.42/0.10.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 38. Metachelifer nepalensis (Beier, 1974), comb. n., male holotype, NHMW (29 – 30, 33 – 35, 37 – 38), female paratype, NHMW (32) and male from SMNS 1436 (31, 36): 29 coxa IV, ventral view; 30 tarsus and tibia of leg I, lateral view, showing lateral seta in anterior portion of tibia; 31 last tergites (note the absence of granulation); 32 median and lateral cribriform plates, ventral view; 33 carapacal tubercle with seta; 34 carapace, dorsal view; 35 tip of tarsus I, lateral view; 36 genitalia, dorsal view; 37 right chela, lateral view, showing basal sensilla; 38 lamina defensor. Scale: 0.04 (35), 0.25 (36), 0.26 (29 – 30, 32, 34, 37) and 0.5 mm (31).