Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913

Villarreal, Osvaldo, González-Gómez, Julio César, Kury, Adriano B. & García, Luis Fernando, 2024, Peering beyond the monotypic veil: taxonomy and notes on the parental care of Neocranaus (Opiliones: Gonyleptoidea: Cranaidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 925, pp. 292-320 : 296-302

Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913

Figs 1–5

Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913: 409 , fig. 162.

Neocranaus albiconspersus – Roewer 1923: 562, fig. 703. — Soares & Soares 1948: 610. — Kury 2003: 95.

Type data

“ COLOMBIA ” • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (syntypes); “ Maracaibo ”; SMF RI 861 .

Remark

Incorrectly interpreted by Kury (2003) as “ Venezuela, Zulia, Maracaibo”. The label reads: “Columbien: Cañea”. Cañea could be a hard to guess misspelling of anything like Cañon, Cauca, Cabaña, Carmen. Orrico & Kury (2009), noted that there are many places called Maracaibo in Colombia, and that of Valle del Cauca (4.67361° N, 76.12062° W, alt. ca 1800 m) was the strongest candidate for Stygnicranaus abnormis Roewer, 1913 . Given the record of fresh material from Merenberg, in Huila State, Roewer’s locality should be best interpreted as Maracaibo, Huila (2.26035° N, 75.99412° W), a locality only 14 km away from Merenberg (see the map in Fig. 1 ).

Material examined

COLOMBIA • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Huila, La Plata, Corregimiento de Belén, Vereda Cachipay ; 2.221028° N, 76.074603° W; alt. 2100 m; 2 Feb. 2019; L. Martínez, J. González and Y. Mazabuel leg.; MUSENUVAr 2120 • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Huila, La Plata, Corregimiento de Belén, Centro de Investigación y Educación Ambiental Merenberg ; 2.218717° N, 76.116761° W; alt. 2300 m; 19 Jan. 2021; J. González, L. Martínez and M.D. Pulido leg.; MUSENUV-Ar 2122 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MUSENUVAr 2121 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Huila, 10 km E of Santa Leticia, Finca Merenberg ; alt. 2300 m; Mar. 1979; W. Eberhard leg.; MCZ AK 012 .

Redescription

Male (MUSENUV-Ar 2121)

MEASUREMENTS. Variation in size found in males (n = 7) is denoted in parentheses. DSL = 9.3 (7.1–9.3); MDW = 8 (6.3–8.1); CL = 3.6 (2.4–3.6); CW = 5.1 (4.1–5.1); IOD = 1.8 (1.4–2.3); ChI = 1.6 (2.4–3.6); pedipalp: tr = 1.1 (0.9–1.3), fe = 2.7 (2.1–3.1), pa = 1.5 (1.0–1.7), ti = 2.2 (1.2–2.3), ta = 3.3 (2.6–3.4); leg I: tr = 1.2 (0.8–1.4), fe = 4.5 (3.5–4.8), pa = 1.4 (1.2–1.6), ti = 3.4 (2.4–3.4), mt = 5.1 (4.1–5.4), ta = 2.1 (1.8–3.1); leg II: tr = 1.4 (1.2–1.7), fe = 9.1 (7.6–9.7), pa = 2.1 (1.6–2.4), ti = 6.2 (5.1–6.9), mt = 7.0 (6–8.6), ta = 5.7 (6–8.6); leg III: tr = 1.9 (1.4–2.0), fe = 7.5 (5.4–7.6), pa = 2.2 (1.7–2.2), ti = 4.4 (3.5–4.5), mt = 5.9 (5.7–7.3), ta = 3.4 (3.1–3.7); leg IV: tr = 2.4 (1.4–2.4), fe = 12.3 (9.3–12.1), pa = 2.9 (2.1–3.0), ti = 6.7 (5.2–6.6), mt = 9.1 (7.7–10.4), ta = 4 (3.5–4.0).

DORSUM ( Figs 2A–B , 3A–B ). Dorsal scutum outline gamma pyriform with the median bulge symmetrical. Anterior margin of DS with 5 anterolateral lighter tubercles; cheliceral sockets shallow, between two short processes, medial process short. Frontal eminence low and granulated. Eyes on elliptical ocularium, located anterior on carapace; ocularium with some anterior and posterior lighter granules and paramedian pair of high spines. Lateral margin with cluster of about 13–18 yellow tubercles at the level of the coxae III, and a row of minor lighter granules between coxa IV and posterior margin and some greater tubercles at level of the area III. Mesotergum divided into three well-defined areas: I divided medially into two trapezoidal halves, with wide interior contact area, with one conspicuous and sharp tubercle on each side and some anterior granules and cluster of yellow tubercles on posteriomedial zone; II unarmed and entire, invading slightly area I in medial zone, with some yellow granules in medial zone; III with pair of paramedian sharp spines and densely tuberculated. Posterior margin almost straight with one group of about 9–12 yellow tubercles on each side and paramedian pair of small conical tubercles. Free tergites I with paramedian pair of small tubercles and row of lateral granules; II with row of sparse yellow tubercles; III with dense row of yellow rounded tubercles, both tergites with paramedian pair of large conical tubercles (II <III).

VENTER ( Fig. 2C–D ). Coxa I with row of 7–8 conspicuous tubercles and another posterior row of granules; II–III with longitudinal rows of granules; IV densely granulated with some tubercles in prolateral face, with large conical prolateral yellow tubercle ( Fig. 2B ). Genital operculum with scarced granules arranged in two rows. Stigmatic area T-inverted shaped, granulate, with two posterior depressions between subparallel spiracles. Posterior margin with ventral projection. Free sternites with row of tubercles each.

CHELICERAE ( Figs 2A–C , 3A–C ). Segment I with few small tubercles on bulla proximal face; II slightly swollen, fixed finger with irregularly toothed blade, movable finger with basal tooth and three subdistal teeth.

PEDIPALPS ( Fig. 2E–F ). Coxa short, dorsally smooth, ventrally with two mesal and blunt tubercles. Trochanter dorsally with cluster of conspicuous tubercles, one of them triangular and larger than rest, ventrally with large and blunt tubercle. Femur dorsally curved, with dorsal keel with longitudinal row of tubercles and apical short apophysis; with ectal row of wide tubercles and without mesal row of tubercles; ventrally with two proximal tubercles, followed by gap, and row of three wide tubercles. Patella curved, dorsally tuberculated and ventrally smooth. Tibia dorsally with abundant wide tubercles, ventrally smooth; tibia mesal IiIi, ectal IiIi. Tarsus dorsally and ventrally smooth; tarsus mesal IiIIi, ectal IiIii.

LEGS ( FigS 2G–I , 3D–F ). Coxae I with three dorsal tubercles, one anterior and two posterior; II with dorsal pair of tubercles, one anterior and one posterior; III with prolateral tubercle; IV with numerous lateral tubercles, one conspicuous yellowish and one dorsodistal large tubercle. Trochanter I dorsally smooth; ventrally with four conspicuous tubercles, retrolaterally with proximal small tubercle; II dorsally smooth, ventrally with six and retrolaterally with two tubercles; III dorsally with few scattered granules, ventrally with four irregular tubercles, prolaterally with small granules, retrolaterally with two tubercles and one retrodistal large and sharp tubercle; IV with scattered dorsal tubercles, ventrally with 6 conspicuous tubercles, prolateral with small granules and on medial large and conical tubercle, retrolaterally with two mediantubercles and one retrodistal large tubercle. Femora I–II with complete rows of granules (seven rows); II and IV with pro and retrodorsal distal apophyses, III only with conspicuous retrodorsal apophysis; III with complete rows of granules, one proximal retroventral and one proventral large tubercle; IV straight, with seven rows of tubercles, dorsal and retrodorsal rows with large tubercle, proventral row with one large and curved subdistal tubercle and two curved distal tubercles. Patella II– III evenly covered with low tubercles; IV covered with larger than those in III. Tibiae IV with rows of dorsal tubercles and retrolateral row of curved spines. Metatarsi I–IV smooth; calcaneus swollen. Tarsal process present. Tarsal claws III–IV subparallel, unpectinated. Tarsal segmentation: 7(3)/12(3)/6/7.

PENIS ( Fig. 4 ). VP subrectangular with rounded sides and bulged twice: at MS–A1–A2 and at ears (paired distal dorsolateral lobes of VP). Apical parabolic cleft of VP forming pair of ears widely projected laterodistal as flange. Pedestal elongate cylindrical. MS-C1–C2 apically located, MS-C3 closer to MS– D1 than to other MS-C; MS-D1 larger than MS-C1–C2 and similar in size to MS-C3. MS-A1–A2 inserted far away from MS-C, at proximal bulge of VP. MS-B absent. Stylus slightly curved, S-shaped, with small and irregular stylar caps.

COLORATION ( Figs 2 (in alcohol), 13A–B (in vivo)). Dorsal scutum dark yellowish brown (78) on background deep orange yellow (69); mesotergal areas brownish black (65). Chelicerae and pedipalps reticulated brownish black (65) on background dark orange yellow (72); trochanter I–IV dorsally deep reddish brown (41) and strong orange yellow (68); dorsal coxae, ventral trochanter, femora, free tergites, anal operculum and free sternites blackish red (21); coxae I–IV reticulated dark brown (59) on background deep orange (51) and strong brown (55). Yellowish tubercles on lateral and posterior margins of DS, free tergites, coxae IV and mesotergal area I vivid greenish yellow (97).

Female (MUSENUV-Ar 2121; individual 21)

MEASUREMENTS. Variation in size found in females (n = 8) is denoted in parentheses. DSL = 8.8 (7.2– 8.9); MDW = 7.1 (6.9–7.5); CL = 2.3 (2.1–2.7); CW = 4.4 (4.0–4.2); IOD = 1.3 (1.3–1.6); ChI = 1.2 (0.9–1.3); pedipalp: tr = 1.0 (0.9–1.2), fe = 2.7 (1.8–2.7), pa = 1.4 (1.0–1.4), ti = 2.0 (1.3–2.1), ta = 3.0 (2.5–3.1); leg I: tr = 1.0 (0.8–1.0), fe = 4.0 (3.1–4.0), pa = 1.3 (0.9–1.3), ti = 2.7 (2.0–3.0), mt = 4.1 (3.4–4.1), ta = 2.3 (2.1–2.5); leg II: tr = 1.1 (1.0–1.3), fe = 8.1 (7.0–8.1), pa = 1.8 (1.4–2.0), ti = 5.6 (3.5–6.6), mt = 6.2 (6.0–6-8), ta = 4.4 (4.4-5.4); leg III: tr = 1.5 (1.1–1.5), fe = 6.1 (5.1–6.1), pa = 1.9 (1.4–2.2), ti = 3.8 (3.1–3.9), mt = 4.6 (4.6–6.1), ta = 3.5 (2.9–3.5); leg IV: tr = 1.5 (1.2–1.5), fe = 8.3 (7.6–8.9), pa = 2.2 (1.8–2.2), ti = 5.3 (4.3–5.5), mt = 8.5 (8.0–8.5), ta = 3.1 (2.9–4.0).

DESCRIPTION. Similar to males, differing in: chelicerae not swollen ( Fig. 5 ); DS outline slightly wider than in males, with conspicuous coda; lateral and posterior rows and groups of yellow tubercles with more tubercles; paramedian paired tubercles on free tergites larger and wider than in males; paramedia spines on mesotergal area III leaning back; stigmatic area without posteroventral projection; femur IV without prolateral distal spine; tibia IV without retrolateral row of pectinate spines.

Distribution

Colombia, Huila Department ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of the genus Neocranaus Roewer, 1913.

Fig. 2. Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913, ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar 2121). A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Ventral view. D. Posterior view. E. Right pedipalp, ectal view. F. Right pedipalp, mesal view. G. Right leg IV, femur in dorsal view. H. Right leg IV, femur in ventral view. I. Right leg IV, tibia in dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913, ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar 2121). A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Right leg IV, femur in dorsal view. D. Right leg IV, femur in ventral view. E. Right leg IV, tibia in dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913, ♂ (MUSENUV-Ar 2121). Penis: apical portion in dorsal (A, D), ventral (B, E) and lateral view (C, F).

Fig. 5. Neocranaus albiconspersus Roewer, 1913, ♀ (MUSENUV-Ar 2121). A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Ventral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.