Parobisium qiangzhuang, Feng & Wynne & Zhang, 2020

Feng, Zegang, Wynne, J. Judson & Zhang, Feng, 2020, Cave-dwelling pseudoscorpions of China with descriptions of four new hypogean species of Parobisium (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae) from Guizhou Province, Subterranean Biology 34, pp. 61-98 : 61

Parobisium qiangzhuang sp. nov. Figs 6 , 7 , 8 , 9

Type material.

Holotype male (Ps.-MHBU- GZ19080301): China, Guizhou Province, Anshun City, Ziyun County, Daying Town, Zharou Cave (Figs 1B , 19 ), [25°29'24.87"N, 106°18'28.65"E], estimated cave deep zone, 1139 m elevation, 3 August 2019, Zegang Feng, Chen Zhang leg. Paratypes: 2 Males (Ps.-MHBU- GZ19080302- GZ19080303), same data as for holotype; 1 Female (Ps.-MHBU- GZ19061201), same location as holotype, 12 June 2018, Sunbin Huang, Zhuanghui Qin, Mengzhen Chen, Lei Tao leg.

Etymology.

The species name, qiangzhuang , was derived from the Latinized Mandarin phrase for "strong and hardy" qiáng zhuàng (强壮), which refers to the shape of chela.

Distribution.

Species known only from the type locality.

Diagnosis.

The subterranean-adapted Parobisium qiangzhuang can be distinguished from other members of the genus Parobisium by following combination of characters: carapace with four eye spots on a raised surface ( P. wangae has four developed eyes, P. tiani with two faint eye spots; P. magangensis , P. xiaowutaicum and P. yuantongi lacks eyes/eye spots); epistome small, rounded (small, triangular in P. wangae ; triangular, with rounded top in P. tiani and P. yuantongi ); pedipalpal femur 3.89-4.11 times longer than wide (8.91-8.97 times in P. magangensis ; 4.66-4.90 times in P. motianense ; 6.50-6.59 times in P. sanlouense ; 5.63-5.73 times in P. tiani ; 4.65 times in P. xiaowutaicum ; 6.75 times in P. yuantongi ); patella 2.54-2.60 times longer than wide (7.64-7.84 times in P. magangensis ; 3.09-3.39 times in P. motianense ; 5.07-5.11 times in P. sanlouense ; 4.52-4.58 times in P. tiani ; 3.14 times in P. xiaowutaicum ; 5.70 times in P. yuantongi ;); pedipalpal hand and inside lateral of femur, which is finely granular (smooth in P. magangensis , P. wangae and P. xiaowutaicum ; with granulation present on chelal hand in P. tiani ; with granulation present on femur, inside lateral of patella and chelal hand in P. yuantongi ); chela (with pedicel) 3.12-3.52 times longer than wide (8.67-8.69 times in P. magangensis ; 3.72-4.06 times in P. motianense ; 6.08-6.34 times in P. qiangzhuang ; 4.97-5.03 times in P. tiani ; 5.70 times in P. yuantongi ); both chelal finger has 69-80 teeth (146-162 in P. magangensis ; 96-98 in P. motianense ; 119-130 in P. sanlouensis ; 104-112 in P. tiani ; 116-118 in P. yuantongi ).

Description.

Male (Fig. 7A ). Carapace, chelicerae, and pedipalps reddish brown; abdomen and legs yellowish.

Carapace (Figs 8A , 9A ): Smooth, 1.15-1.24 times longer than broad, with a total of 28-31 setae, including 4 on anterior margin, 6-8 on posterior margin, and 1-2 on each side of anterior lateral margin; with 4 eye spots on a raised surface (Fig. 8B ); epistome small and rounded.

Chelicera (Figs 8C , 9B ): Hand with 7 setae, movable finger with 1 submedial seta; fixed finger with 9-11 teeth; movable finger with 10-13 teeth; serrula exterior with 34-38 lamellae; serrula interior with 20-24 lamellae. Galea (Fig. 9D ) replaced by a small rounded transparent sclerotic knob. Rallum (Fig. 9C ) with 8 pinnate blade, distal-most blade with expanded base, proximal one short.

Pedipalps (Figs 8D-E , 9H-J ): Apex of coxa rounded, with 5 setae on each side, pedipalpal coxa with 9 setae. Pedipalp smooth except for hand and inside lateral of femur, which is finely granular. Trochanter 1.84-1.97 times longer than wide, femur 3.89-4.11, patella 2.54-2.60 times longer than wide, pedicel about half the entire length of patella, chela (with pedicel) 3.12-3.25, chela (without pedicel) 2.86-2.97 times longer than wide, movable finger 1.11-1.15 times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 8 trichobothria, movable finger with 4, eb and esb on lateral margin of hand; ib, ist and isb closely grouped at the base of the fixed finger; est slightly distal of finger middle; it-et at same level near fingertip; on movable finger st nearer to t than to sb, the distance between sb and b is somewhat equal to that of sb and st (Figs 8D , 9H-I ). Venom apparatus present only in fixed chelal finger, venom duct short, not extending past half of the distance to et. Fixed chelal finger with 71-75 teeth, movable finger with 69-80 teeth.

Abdomen: Pleural membrane granulated. Tergal chaetotaxy (I-XI): 10-11/11/11-12/12/12-13/12/12/12/12/12-13/12/7-9; sternal chaetotaxy (IV-XI): 9-11/13-15/14-16/13-16/13-15/12-14/12-15/3-4; stigmata with 4-5 setae; anal cone with 2 dorsal and 2 ventral setae. Male genital area (Figs 8F , 9E ): sternite II with 28-30 scattered setae; sternite III with anteromedian groove flanked by one small seta on each side, with 17-19 posterior setae.

Legs: Coxa chaetotaxy (I-IV): 9-11/7-10/4-5/9-11. Leg I (Figs 8H , 9K ): femur 3.52-3.55, patella 2.89-2.94, tibia 5.85-6.67, basitarsus 2.67-2.82, telotarsus 4.42-4.82 times longer than deep, femur 1.40-4.42 times longer than patella, telotarsus 1.66-1.71 times longer than basitarsus. Leg IV (Figs 8I , 9L ): femur + patella 3.63-3.65 times longer than deep, femur shorter than patella, tibia 6.45-6.79, basitarsus 2.93, telotarsus 4.40-4.57 times longer than deep, telotarsus 1.50-1.56 times longer than basitarsus; tibia with one tactile setae (TS=0.48-0.50), basitarsus with one tactile setae (TS=0.11-0.15), telotarsus with one tactile setae (TS=0.41-0.45); subterminal tarsal seta (Fig. 9G ) bifurcate, both branches dentate; arolium not divided, shorter than the slender and simple claws.

Female (paratype) (Fig. 7B ): Mostly same as holotype.

Chelicera. Hand with 7 setae, movable finger with 1 submedial seta; fixed finger with 13 teeth; movable finger with 12 teeth; serrula exterior with 38 lamellae; serrula interior with 24 lamellae. Galea replaced by conspicuous semicircular transparent sclerotic knob; rallum of 8 blades, but similar to holotype.

Pedipalps. Pedipalpal coxa with 10-11 setae. Trochanter 2.02, femur 3.60, patella 2.18, chela (with pedicel) 2.86, chela (without pedicel) 2.63 times longer than wide, movable finger 1.01 times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with about 72 teeth, movable finger with about 78 teeth.

Abdomen. Tergal chaetotaxy (I-XI): 8/11/13/13/12/12/13/13/13/12/5; sternal chaetotaxy (IV-XI): 7/16/14/14/15/14/12/5. Female genital area (Figs 8G , 9F ): sternite II with 4 setae on each side; sternite III with a row of 12 setae on the posterior margin.

Measurements: (length/breadth or depth in mm; ratios for most characters in parentheses). Male (holotype and paratypes). Body length 3.61-4.42. Carapace 1.15-1.24 (1.12-1.18/0.95-0.97). Pedipalpal trochanter 1.84-1.97 (0.70-0.75/0.38), femur 3.89-4.11 (1.40-1.48/0.36), patella 2.54-2.60 (1.22-1.30/0.48-0.50), chela (with pedicel) 3.12-3.25 (2.18-2.28/0.67-0.73), chela (without pedicel) 2.86-2.97 (1.99-2.09/0.67-0.73), hand length (without pedicel) 1.02-1.11, movable finger length 1.17-1.23 (1.11-1.15 times longer than hand without pedicel). Leg I: trochanter 1.17-1.30 (0.27-0.30/0.23), femur 3.52-3.55 (0.74-0.78/0.21-0.22), patella 2.89-2.94 (0.53-0.55/0.18-0.19), tibia 5.85-6.67 (0.76-0.80/0.12-0.13), basitarsus 2.67-2.82 (0.31-0.32/0.11-0.12), telotarsus 4.42-4.82 (0.53/0.11-0.12). Leg IV: trochanter 2.08-2.30 (0.50-0.53/0.23-0.24), femur + patella 3.63-3.65 (1.24-1.27/0.34-0.35), tibia 2.93 (0.41-0.44/0.14-0.15), basitarsus 3.81-3.88 (0.61-0.66/0.16-17), telotarsus 4.40-4.57 (0.64-0.66/0.14-0.15).

Female (paratype). Body length 5.49. Carapace 1.24 (1.50/1.21). Pedipalpal trochanter 2.02 (0.91/0.45), femur 3.60 (1.69/0.47), patella 2.18 (1.46/0.67), chela (with pedicel) 2.86 (2.69/0.94), chela (without pedicel) 2.63 (2.47/0.94), hand length (without pedicel) 1.37, movable finger length 1.38 (1.01 times longer than hand without pedicel). Leg I: trochanter 1.26 (0.34/0.27), femur 3.54 (0.85/0.24), patella 2.86 (0.63/0.22), tibia 7.08 (0.92/0.13), basitarsus 3.17 (0.38/0.12), telotarsus 4.46 (0.58/0.13). Leg IV: trochanter 2.07 (0.60/0.29), femur + patella 4.11 (1.56/0.38), tibia 7.55 (1.51/0.20), basitarsus 2.81 (0.45/0.16), telotarsus 4.67 (0.70/0.15).

Figures

Figure 1. Study area, general cave locations, and type locality for each species, Guizhou Province, China. A Biyun Cave, Parobisium tiani sp. nov. B Zharou Cave, Parobisium qiangzhuang sp. nov. C Motian Cave, Parobisium motianense sp. nov. D Sanlou Cave, Parobisium sanlouense sp. nov.

Figure 6. Parobisium qiangzhuang sp. nov. Male habitus.

Figure 7. Parobisium qiangzhuang sp. nov. A Holotype male, dorsal view B Paratype female, dorsal view.

Figure 8. Parobisium qiangzhuang sp. nov. holotype male (A - F, H - I), female (G): A Carapace, dorsal view B Eye area, lateral view C Right chelicera, dorsal view D Right chela, lateral view E Right pedipalp, dorsal view F Male genitalia G Female genitalia H Right leg I, lateral view I Right leg IV, lateral view.

Figure 9. Parobisium qiangzhuang sp. nov., holotype male (A - E, G - L), female (F). A Carapace, dorsal view B Right chelicera, dorsal view C Rallum D Movable finger of chelicera, showing sclerotic knob E Male genitalia F Female genitalia G Subterminal tarsal seta H Right chela, dorsal view I Right chelal fingers, lateral view J Right pedipalp, dorsal view (trochanter, femur, and patella) K Right leg I, lateral view L Right leg IV, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (C - D, G), 0.25 mm (B, E - F), 0.5 mm (A, K - L), 1 mm (H - J).

Figure 19. Zharou Cave, type locality of Parobisium qiangzhuang sp. nov. A entrance B Area where P. qiangzhuang specimens were collected.