Starengovia kirgizica Snegovaya, 2010

Jochen Martens, 2017, On Starengovia Snegovaya, a genus of Asian nemastomatines (Arachnida: Opiliones: Nemastomatidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 124 (2), pp. 187-201 : 188-192

Starengovia kirgizica Snegovaya, 2010

Figs 1-5 , 7-17 , 20-26

Starengovia kirgizica Snegovaya, 2010: 352 (types not examined). – Schönhofer & Martens, 2012: 410 (discussion of phylogenetic placement, molecularbased phylogenetic tree). – Martens, 2016: 449 (discussion of phylogenetic placement). – Schönhofer, 2013: 47 (species mentioned).

Material examined: CJM 7649; 2 males; Kyrgyzstan, Fergansky Mountain Ridge, Babush Ata Mountains, above Arslanbob, at and near Yarodar Research Station, Juglans regia woodland, path to ravine, 41°19’ N 72°58’ E, 1400 m; H. Read leg. 17.5. 1993. – CJM 6576; 4 males, 8 females; same locality, 1440 - 1500 m; S. Dashdamirov leg. 8.5. 1990. – CJM 7650; 15 males, 14 females; same locality; W. Schawaller & J. Martens leg. 16 .- 18.5.1993. – CJM 7651; 6 males, 4 females; SMF; 2 males, 2 females; same locality; W. Schawaller & J. Martens leg. 15.5.1993. – ZMMU; 1 female; Kyrgyzstan, Chatkal Mt. Ridge, Sary Chelek Reserve, Suk-Bulak valley, litter, K. Mikhajlov leg. 7.7.1983. – CJM 7652; 1 male; Kyrgyzstan, Sary Chelek Nature Reserve, Tumanyak valley, open Juglans regia woodland, under stones and logs, 41°51’N 71°57’E, 1500 m; H. Read leg. 29.5.1993. – ZMMU; 2 females; same locality; K. Mikhajlov leg. 12.7.1983. – CJM 7653; 1 male, 1 female; same locality: Kodea Ata river valley, Juglans , Malus , Picea , under logs and stones, 71°57’E 41°51’N, 1500- 1800 m; H. Read leg. 29.5.1993. – CJM 7654; 2 males, 5 females; MHNG; 5 males, 5 females; W. Schawaller & J. Martens leg. 29./ 30.5.1993. – ZMMU; 3 males, 3 females; same locality; W. Schawaller & J. Martens leg. 28.5.1993. – CJM 7655; 8 males, 3 females; same locality; W. Schawaller & J. Martens leg. 28.5.1993. – ZMMU; 1 male; same locality; D. Milko leg. 28.- 31.5.1993. – ZMMU; 2 males, 8 females; same locality; S.I. Golovatch leg. 28.- 31.5.1993. – ZMMU; 1 male, 1 female, same locality, Arkit, Juglans regia and Acer turkestanica, 1300 m ; A.B. Ryvkin leg 3.7.1983. – ZMMU; 1 male, 1 female, same locality, Kil’tesay stream, Juglans regia, 1300 m ; A.B. Ryvkin leg. 4.7.1983. – ZMMU; 1 female, same locality, Karatungun canyon, Picea schrenkiana stands, 1400 m; A.B. Ryvkin leg. 10.7.1983. – CJM 7660; 2 males, 3 females, same locality, Kil’tesay canyon, Juglans regia with Abies semenovi forest, 1300 m; A.B.

Ryvkin leg. 17.9.1983. – CJM 7656; 1 male, 1 female; Kyrgyzstan, N. Sovetskoye S. Alash Mt. Ridge, Juglans regia and Crataegus woodland with grassy glades, in litter, 41°11’N 72°39’E, 1200-1550 m; H. Read leg. 26.5.1993. – CJM 7657; 2 males; same locality; W. Schawaller & J. Martens leg. 25.5.1993. – ZMMU; 1 male; same locality; S.I. Golovatch leg. 26.5.1993. – CJM 7658; 1 male; Uzbekistan, Uckargan; J. Martens leg. 27.5.1993.

Extended diagnosis: Characterized by genital morphology (form of wings of truncus penis, by size of inflated basal region of truncus), size (larger body than in S. ivanloebli sp. n.) and by armament of dorsal scutum and free opisthosomal tergites (large, conical para-median tubercles on opisthosomal areas I-V and on first free opisthosomal tergite in few specimens only).

Name: Named after the country in which the type specimens were collected.

Description (male)

Body, dorsal side ( Figs 1-5 ): Scutum uniformly light to dark brown (depending on time past final moult), without any golden or silver markings. Anterior and lateral margins of prosomal area I of dorsal scutum with a continuous line of closely spaced anvil-shaped tubercles of different sizes, largest on front of prosoma. Additional lines of anvil-shapes tubercles across the scutum: First (anteriormost) straight, second bent forwards, third and fourth straight, fifth and sixth line bent backwards. Tubercles of fourth, fifth and sixth line smaller and more or less interrupted (only few low tubercles present) in median part only, nearly lacking laterally. Opisthosomal areas I-V each with a pair of quite large conical para-median tubercles; these tubercles posteriorly slightly further apart from each other than anteriorly. First free opisthosomal tergite in few specimens also carrying a pair of such tubercles. In addition, prosomal and opisthosomal areas with scattered low rounded tubercles.

Tu oc relativey large, low, touching front margin of dorsal scutum, covered by few strong anvil-shaped tubercles.

Body, ventral side ( Figs 2, 4-5 ): Cx I-IV pro- and retrolaterally with a line of strong anvil-shaped tubercles, rear and front line of consecutive Cx touching each other. Cx surface coarse, covered with relatively large and closely spaced tubercles. Op gen covered by much fewer, large, low, rounded tubercles; free sternites with few tubercles at rear margins; all light brown.

Legs: Quite different in some populations. Relatively short (but variation considerable; see below: Dimensions), male Fe I and III stout and markedly spindleshaped, in females less pronounced (Sari Chelek, Alash), or Fe I and III slender, not spindle-shaped and whole leg considerably longer (Yarodar).

In all populations Tr with several large rounded tubercles; Fe, Pt and Ti of legs unarmed except for few minute light hairs on Mt, and Ta with few scattered long hairs. Coarse surface especially on Fe to Ti. No “comb-teeth” (Kammzähnchen) as illustrated by Gruber (1976) for Mediostoma . Variable numbers of pseudoarticulations on Fe of legs II-IV.

Pedipalp ( Figs 16-17 ): Slender and relatively long (in terms of Starengovia morphology), no article noticeably inflated; all articles except Tr bearing clavate setae, these most conspicuous on Pt, Ti and Ta; distal end of male Ti slightly curved downwards. No article with special armament in males and females.

Chelicera of male ( Figs 7-15 ): Rather stout; basal article with strong pointed tubercles laterally and dorsally, a bulky frontad-directed Apo distinctly surpassing front margin of proximal article; Apo with a broad basis, approximately as long as high (in lateral view), upper side smoothly rounded and dorso-distally projecting into a pointed hook. In dorsal view Apo inclined anteriorly, towards longitudinal axis of article. Prolaterally Apo excavated nearly over its total length, forming a bowl-like excavation or hole. 2nd cheliceral article moderately inflated, with few long scattered bristles mostly on frontal surface.

Male genital morphology ( Figs 20-26 ): Truncus penis ( Figs 20-22 ) moderately slender; basis forming a large inflated part (occupying slightly less than one third of whole penis length) well differentiated from rest of truncus; inflated part compact and deeply split medially, completely filled by two penial muscles, their tendons spanning hole truncus length up to glans. Truncus parallel-sided (in do/ve view), slightly enlarged at level of wings, beyond wings narrowing toward glans; in lateral view narrowest above inflated basal part, from there slightly widening toward wings. One thin, fine hyaline and triangular wing on each lateral side in distal part of truncus, totally flattened, lateral corners slightly curved to ventral side ( Figs 20-24 ).

Glans ( Figs 25-26 ) only inconspicuously oultined, short, starting where two tendons are attached to inner truncus wall; stylus short, a continuation of the glans, tapering to distal asymmetrical opening of seminal duct, slightly curved (in lateral view). Short, stiff and unspecialized spinules forming armament of glans, their arrangement symmetrical in ventral view.

Female ( Figs 14-15 ): Characters largely as in male but lacking the dorso-distal cheliceral Apo.

Measurements: Body length: Sary-Chelek and Alash: males: 1.5-1.75 (n=10), Uckargan male: 1.6. Females: 1.6- 2.2 (n=10). Leg II length, male, female in parentheses (two males from Yarodar and Uckargan, two females from Yarodar and Sari Chelek): Fe 1.1/1.5 (1.4/2.0) Pt 0.35/0.4 (0.5/0.5) Ti 0.75/1.2 (1.2/1.5) Mt 1.4/2.05 (1.75/2.4), Ta 1.1/1.6 (1.6/1.7). Pedipalp length (Sari Chelek): Fe 0.7 (0.9), Pt 0.6 (0.7), Ti 0.5 (0.6), Ta 0.3 (0.4). Penis length: 1.1.

Variation: The para-median tubercles of the dorsal scutum differ in size and shape in different populations. They are low and stout in individuals of short-legged populations (Sari Chelek, Alash), longer (up to twice as long) in long-legged populations (Yarodar). There is also variation within populations though to a generally much smaller extent. In addition, the dorsal scutum has either irregularly arranged anvil-shaped tubercles or these are partly arranged in transversal lines.

Distribution: The species is known from three localities in Kyrgyzstan and from one in Uzbekistan. The Kyrgyz specimens were collected at the Sary Chelek Biosphere Reservation about 60 km northwest of Tash-Kumyr, from the Fergansky Mountain Ridge in the Babush Ata Mountains above Arslanbob and from north of Sovetskoye in the Alash Mt. Ridge. The animals were collected in various habitats, mostly in open walnut ( Juglans regia ) forests, in riverine bushy stands, mostly under stones and old wood, and, mainly in the Sary Chelek area, also in various coniferous forest types. These opilionids were mostly sifted from soil litter and turned out to be quite common in all three areas. They were collected by different people independently from the same localities. Altitudinal records range from 1200 to 1800 m.

Type locality: Kyrgyzstan, Alash Mountain Ridge , Alash river valley, near Alash, 1550 m.

Remarks: Starengvoa kirgizica was originally described on the basis of two males. A more detailed description is presented here. Judging from the rich material available, S. kirgizica has considerable variation in the shape of the dorsal scutal armament and in the length of legs, which is pronounced in leg II and IV. This leg variation is not correlated with body size, which is homogeneous throughout all populations. Also genital and cheliceral morphology of males does not vary noticeably. A detailed genetic investigation should check if more than one species is involved.

Figures

Figs 1 - 4. Starengovia kirgizica. (1) Body of male in dorsal view. (2) Same in ventral view. (3) Body of female in dorsal view. (4) Same in ventral view. Scale: 0.5 mm.

Figs 5 - 6 B. Body of male in lateral view (5 - 6 A) and in dorsal view (6 B). (5) Starengovia kirgizica. (6 A) S. ivanloebli sp. n. (6 B) Mediostoma pamiricum Staręga, 1986; reproduced from Staręga (1986). Scale: 1 mm.

Figs 7 - 15. Starengovia kirgizica. 7 - 13. Right chelicera of male. (7) Entire chelicera in prolateral view. (8) Basal article in prolateral view. (9) Same in retrolateral view. (10 - 11) Cheliceral apophysis in prolateral view. (12 - 13) Same in dorsal view. 14 - 15. Right chelicera of female. (14) Entire chelicera in prolateral view. (15) Basal article in retrolateral view. Scales: 0.2 mm (Figs 7 - 9, 14 - 15; Figs 10 - 13).

Figs 16 - 19. Pedipalps in prolateral view. (16 - 17) Starengovia kirgizica. (18 - 19) S. ivanloebli sp. n. (16, 18) Male. (17 - 19) Female. Scale: 0.3 mm.

Figs 20 - 26. Starengovia kirgizica, male genital morphology. (20) Truncus penis in ventral view. (21) Same in dorsal view. (22) Same in lateral view. (23) Distal part of truncus in ventral view. (24) Same in lateral view. (25) Glans penis in ventral view. (26) Same in lateral view. Scales: 0.3 mm (Figs 20 - 22); 0.2 mm (Figs 23 - 24); 0.1 mm (Figs 25 - 26).