Nerudiella zapallar, 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 zapallar sp. nov.

Figs 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 , 159

Material examined.

Holotype. ♂ Chile. Zapallar : E. Ross, A. Michelbacher coll. 27. XI. 1950 ( CAS).

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the type locality of the species, the commune of Zapallar, located in the province of Petorca, Region of Valparaíso, Chile. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from other species in the genus by a unique combination of features. The dorsal surface and pedipalps exhibit a dense population of setae. Additionally, the femoras and tibiae of the pedipalps are covered with small tubercles. In terms of male genitalia, it features a capsula externa that envelops the dorsal and lateral surfaces. A notable characteristic is the apical region of the capsula externa, which bends at a 90 - degree angle in relation to the genitalia’s axis. Moreover, two small parallel apical structures are also present. It is worth noting that this species shares some similarities with Nerudiella choapa sp. nov., especially in the apical region of the capsula externa. However, it is relatively larger in comparison.

Distribution.

Chile: Valparaíso Region (Fig. 4 F ).

Description of male holotype.

Measurements: Total length 2.39. Carapace length 0.94, Dorsal scutum length 1.88, Carapace max. width 1.2, Dorsal scutum max. width 1.8. Appendage measurements. Pedipalps. Trochanter length 0.26, femora length 0.82, patella length 0.43, tibia length 0.65, tarsus length 0.76. Leg I: trochanter (tr) 0.24, femora (fe) 0.85, patella (pa) 0.44, tibia (ti) 0.62, metatarsus (mt) 0.73, tarsus (ta) 0.55. II: tr 0.25, fe 1.27, pa 0.52, ti 0.85, mt 0.85, ta 0.95. III: tr 0.25, fe 0.72, pa 0.35, ti 0.64, mt 0.72, ta 0.57. IV: tr 0.24, fe 1.08, pa 0.52, ti 0.93, mt 1.09, ta 0.68.

Dorsum. (Fig. 154 , 155 ). Eta (η) hourglass-shaped dorsal scutum. Ocularium low, rounded, with small tubercles. Dorsal scutum and free tergites microgranulate, mesotergal areas without clear separation but covered with small setiferous tubercles.

Chelicerae (Fig. 156 A, B ). Segment I with a sharp tubercle on the dorso-distal surface and three small proximal tubercles. Segment II bearing scattered setae in ectal and ventral views, with one triangular tubercle prominent from the others in front view.

Pedipalps (Fig. 156 C, D ). Trochanter with a small dorsal tubercle. Femora bearing the dorso-mesal area with setiferous spines, there are three proximal ones that are stronger than the others; in ventral view there are three strong proximal spines, and a row of small tubercles. Patella with a row of setiferous 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.

Legs (Fig. 157 ). Coxa I with 11–13 setiferous tubercles the two apical ones are stronger than the others, II with 25–30 setiferous tubercles, III with nine or ten tubercles, IV with six or seven small tubercles. Spiracles not obstructed by bridges. Smooth surface occupying 1 / 3 of leg II, ¾ of III, and <1 / 3 of IV. Smooth area of leg II with two small tubercles with subdistal setae on each side. Sternum arrow-shaped. Legs covered in small tubercles, astragalus longer than calcaneus on all legs. Tarsal count: 3–4 / 5 – 4 – 4.

Penis (Figs 158 , 159 ). Pars distalis with a ventral plate bearing a fine cleft dividing the plate into two halves. Each half with three pointed macrosetae on the ventral surface and one macroseta on the dorsal surface; capsula externa covering the dorsal surface, with the apical part bent at an angle of 90 ° to the axis of the pars basalis of the genitalia, with a pair of long apical processes and a pair of long lateral processes; there is a dorsolateral plate attached to the pars basalis. Capsula externa taller than capsula interna. Capsula interna thin, with a sharp apical area.

Female. Unknown.

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 154. Nerudiella zapallar sp. nov. habitus, male A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 155. Nerudiella zapallar sp. nov. male, SEM images of habitus A dorsal view B lateral view C, D ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, C); 500 µm (D).

Figure 156. Nerudiella zapallar sp. nov. chelicerae: mesal A ectal B pedipalps: mesal C ectal D. Scale bars: 200 µm.

Figure 157. Nerudiella zapallar sp. nov. legs I A II B III C IV D. Scale bars: 200 µm (A, C); 500 µm (B, D).

Figure 158. Nerudiella zapallar sp. nov. penis: ventral A, B apical C lateral D, E dorsal F, G. Scale bars: 200 µm (A, D, F); 50 µm (B, C, E, G).

Figure 159. Nerudiella zapallar sp. nov. penis: ventral A apical B lateral C dorsal D. Colors: ventral plate (yellow), capsula externa (blue), capsula interna (red). Scale bars: 50 µm (A – C); 200 µm (D).