Nerudiella wekufe, Porto & Derkarabetian & Giribet & Pérez-González, 2024

Porto, Willians, Derkarabetian, Shahan, Giribet, Gonzalo & Pérez-González, Abel, 2024, Systematic revision of the South American “ Nuncia ” (Opiliones, Laniatores, Triaenonychidae), ZooKeys 1207, pp. 1-149 : 1-149

Nerudiella wekufe sp. nov.

Figs 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153

Material examined.

Holotype. ♂ Chile. Concepción: El Manzano , T. Cekalovic coll. 31. III. 1984 ( MNHNCL) . Paratypes. Chile. Concepción: El Manzano , T. Cekalovic coll., 03. I. 1985, 1 ♂ ( MACN) . Same data, 03. I. 1985, 1 ♀ ( MACN) . Same locality and collector, 31. III. 1984, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 imm. ( MACN) .

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the “ Wekufe ”, a spirit and / or harmful force (energy) from Mapuche belief and mythology. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from other species in the genus by the presence of an apophysis in the anterior portion of the ocularium. Additionally, in males, the genitalia exhibit a longer capsula externa compared to the capsula interna, providing a distinguishing characteristic.

Distribution.

Chile: Bío-Bío Region (Fig. 4 F ).

Description of male holotype.

Measurements: Total length 2.4, carapace length 1.0, dorsal scutum length 1.9, carapace max. width 1.4, mesotergum max. width 1.8. Appendage measurements: Pedipalps. Trochanter length 0.22, femora length 0.8, patella length 0.47, tibia length 0.57, tarsus length 0.76. Leg I: trochanter (tr) 0.25, femora (fe) 0.81, patella (pa) 0.40, tibia (ti) 0.62, metatarsus (mt) 0.73, tarsus (ta) 0.61. II: tr 0.26, fe 1.00, pa 0.54, ti 0.82, mt 0.89, ta 1.2. III: tr 0.28, fe 0.71, pa 0.37, ti 0.56, mt 0.69, ta 0.63. IV: tr 0.29, fe 0.98, pa 0.55, ti 0.85, mt 1.1, ta 0.68.

Dorsum (Fig. 148 , 149 ). Eta (η) hourglass-shaped dorsal scutum. Ocularium low and rounded, with an anterior apophysis. Dorsal scutum and free tergites microgranulate. Although the areas of the dorsal scutum do not exhibit clear separation, they are covered with small setiferous tubercles, which are more prominent on the dorsal scutum and free tergites.

Chelicerae (Fig. 150 A, B ). Segment I with a sharp tubercle on the dorso-distal surface and three small ventral-proximal tubercles. Segment II with scattered setae in ectal and ventral views, with one triangular tubercle prominent from the others in front view.

Pedipalps (Fig. 150 C, D ). Trochanter with two small dorsal tubercles and a ventral one. Femora with two parallel rows of dorsal and spines. Patella with a mesal tubercle and small sparse tubercles. Tibia with three ventral-ectal and two ventral-mesal spines, lateral and dorsal areas with small setiferous tubercles. Tarsus with three mesal and ectal spines with subdistal setae in addition to setae and few setae.

Legs (Fig. 151 ). Coxa I with 12 or 13 setiferous tubercles the two apical ones are stronger than the others, II with 25–30 setiferous tubercles, III with seven or eight tubercles, IV with five or six small tubercles. Spiracles not obstructed by bridges. Smooth surface occupying 1 / 3 of leg II, ¾ of III and <1 / 3 of IV. Sternum arrow-shaped. Legs covered in small tubercles, astragalus longer than calcaneus on all legs. Tarsal count: 4–6 – 4 – 4.

Penis (Figs 152 , 153 ). Pars distalis with a ventral plate that is divided into two halves by a fine cleft. Each half of the ventral plate with three pointed macrosetae on the ventral surface and one macroseta on the dorsal surface. Capsula externa remarkably long, covering the dorsal surface. It is further divided into two halves by a long cleft and possesses a pair of long processes that curve ventrally. Additionally, with a dorsolateral plate attached to the pars basalis. Capsula externa longer than the capsula interna. Capsula interna thin and laterally flattened, with a sharp apical area.

Female. Similar to male, with shorter pedipalpal femora.

Female measurements. Measurements: Total length 2.7, carapace length 1.1, dorsal scutum length 2.1, carapace max. width 1.5, mesotergum max. width 2.0. Appendage measurements: Pedipalps. Trochanter length 0.23, femora length 0.7, patella length 0.47, tibia length 0.58, tarsus length 0.66, leg I: trochanter (tr) 0.25, femora (fe) 0.82, patella (pa) 0.41, tibia (ti) 0.54, metatarsus (mt) 0.74, tarsus (ta) 0.57. II: tr 0.23, fe 1.0, pa 148, ti 0.78, mt 0.83, ta 1.1. III: tr 0.28, fe 0.74, pa 0.37, ti 0.57, mt 0.73, ta 0.65. IV: tr 0.30, fe 0.97, pa 0.54, ti 0.85, mt 1.1, ta 0.7. Tarsal count: 3–6 – 4 – 4.

Figures

Figure 4. Maps showing the distribution of the species used in this work. South America (Chile and western Argentina inset). Chile in green, Argentina / South America in grey. Terrestrial ecoregions (following Olson et al. 2001) highlighted in yellow (Chilean Matorral) and orange (Valdivian temperate forests).

Figure 148. Nerudiella wekufe sp. nov. habitus, male A dorsal view C lateral view E ventral view. Female B dorsal view D lateral view F ventral view. Scale bars: 500 µm.

Figure 149. Nerudiella wekufe sp. nov. male, SEM images of habitus A dorsal view B lateral view C, D ventral view. Scale bars: 500 µm (A, B, C); 1 mm (D).

Figure 150. Nerudiella wekufe sp. nov. chelicerae: mesal A ectal B pedipalps: mesal C ectal D. Scale bars: 200 µm.

Figure 151. Nerudiella wekufe sp. nov. legs I A II B III C IV D. Scale bars: 200 µm (A, C); 500 µm (B, D).

Figure 152. Nerudiella wekufe sp. nov. penis: ventral A, B apical C lateral D, E dorsal F, G. Scale bars: 200 µm (A, D, F); 100 µm (B, E, G); 50 µm (C).

Figure 153. Nerudiella wekufe sp. nov. penis: ventral A apical B lateral C dorsal D. Colors: ventral plate (yellow), capsula externa (blue), capsula interna (red). Scale bars: 100 µm (A, C); 50 µm (B); 200 µm (D).