Maurymontia centralis (Maury & Roig Alsina, 1985), 2025

Porto, Willians, Iglesias, Patricia P. & Pérez-González, Abel, 2025, Disentangling the South American “ Ceratomontia ”: new genus, new combinations, and new species (Opiliones: Laniatores: Triaenonychidae), Zootaxa 5729 (2), pp. 233-263 : 244-249

Maurymontia centralis (Maury & Roig Alsina, 1985) comb. nov.

( Figs 2A , 10–14 )

Ceratomontia centralis Maury & Roig Alsina 1985: 86 , figs 5–8, 14, 18, 20; Maury 1992: 3; Acosta et al. 1995: 23; Acosta 1993: 16; Acosta 1996: 75; Acosta & Maury 1998: 579; Kury 2003: 20.

Ceratomontia argentina [part]: Canals 1939: 144, figs 3, 5, 7, 9; Ringuelet 1955: 13; Ringuelet 1956: 137; Ringuelet 1957: 16, 23; Ringuelet 1959: 255; Ringuelet 1961: 154, 157, 165; Ringuelet 1962: 88, 89.

Type material. ♂ holotype (MACN-Ar 7907) from Argentina, San Luis, Cortaderas : E. Maury col., 11-XI-1982 . ♀ allotype (MACN-Ar 7908) same data . 5 ♂ 5 ♀ ( 6 ♂ 5 ♀ in the original description) paratypes (MACN-Ar 7909) same data . 3 ♂ 2 ♀ paratypes same locality and date: Roig Alsina col.. 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( 2 ♂ 4 ♀ in the original description) paratypes (MACN-Ar 7910) from Argentina, San Luis, Merlo : E. Maury col., 12-XI-1982. Ex paratype ♀ from Ceratomontia argentina (MACN-Ar 4537): from Argentina, Córdoba, Calamuchita : M. J. Viana col., III-1956 (examined) .

Additional material examined. Maurymontia centralis : ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires, Abra de la Ventana: H. Castelo col., X-1969, 2 ♂ (MACN-Ar 7913). Same locality: E. Maury col., 12-II-1979, 2 ♂ (MACN-Ar 7915) . Buenos Aires, Cerro La Ventana : M. E. Galiano, 15-XI-1962, 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar 7914) . Córdoba, Calamuchita: J. M. Viana col., 24-IV-19?5, 17♂ 13 ♀ (MACN-Ar 1017). Same locality: J. M. Viana col., XII-1939, 2 ♂ 3 ♀ (MACNAr 4538). Same locality: J. M. Viana col., I-1955, 2 ♂ 3 ♀ (MACN-Ar 5626). Same locality: J. M. Viana col., III-1956, 1 ♀ (MACN-Ar 7911) . Córdoba, Macha: Birabén col., III-1949, 1 imm. (MACN-Ar 7912) . Córdoba, Pampa de Achala : Roig Alsina col., 6-II-1981, 1 ♂ (MACN-Ar) . San Luis, Cortaderas: Roig Alsina col., 11-XI-1982, 2 ♂ 2 ♀ 1 imm (MACN-Ar) . San Luis, Merlo: Roig Alsina col., 12-XI-1982, 2 ♂ 2 ♀ (MACN-Ar) .

Maurymontia cf. centralis : ARGENTINA, La Pampa, Bajo Giuliani , 16-V-1999, 1 ♀ ( CDA 000887 ).

Comparative diagnosis. Differs of other species of the genus by the combination of characters: the ocularium ( Figs 10 A ─D, 11 A─B), which is projected and longer than the majority of species (except M. argentina ). The capsula interna is small and not cylindrical (knife blade shaped), almost all covered by the capsula externa that is divided in two lamellae in the dorsal view ( Fig. 14 ).

Measurements holotype (MACN-Ar 7907).: Total length 2.20; carapace length 0.91, maximum width 1.08; dorsal scutum length 1.73; mesotergal scute maximum width 1.41. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.16, femur 0.79, patella 0.42, tibia 0.54, tarsus 0.56. Leg I: trochanter 0.18, femur 0.72, patella 0.34, tibia 0.44, metatarsus 0.51, tarsus 0.44. Leg II: trochanter 0.19, femur 0.91, patella 0.47, tibia 0.77, metatarsus 0.72, tarsus 0.75. Leg III: trochanter 0.18, femur 0.60, patella 0.28, tibia 0.42, metatarsus 0.55, tarsus 0.43. Leg IV: trochanter 0.18, femur 0.84, patella 0.41, tibia 0.73, metatarsus 0.90, tarsus 0.54.

Redescription. Male. Dorsum ( Figs 10 A, C ; 11 A–B ). Outline hourglass-shaped with Eta (η) shape, anterior border bearing a group of 4–5 tubercles each side. Ocularium conical, bearing a long acute tubercle, prominently projected forward, dorsal surface bearing some granules with setae, eyes located proximally in the dorsolateral view of the ocularium. Dorsal scutum with areas well delimited, covered by small tubercles, areas I–IV with 2–6 small tubercles bearing setae, posterior border with 7–8, lateral sulci of dorsal scutum bifurcated each side, all tubercles smaller than M. argentina . Free tergites covered by small tubercles and bearing a row of tubercles with setae.

Venter ( Figs 10 E ; 11 C–D ). Coxae I with one medial and one distal tubercle with subdistal setae, bearing 6–8 small tubercles with setae, Coxae II microgranulate only in the distal part, III without microgranulation, IV with proximal part smooth, distal part microgranulate and with small tubercles apically, no bridge in the coxae IV. Spiracles not covered. Sternum on arrow shape, located in a sulcus with microgranulation.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 12 A–B ). Segment I with five small tubercles on ectal surface, 10 small tubercles on meso-ventral surface and one small acute tubercle on dorso-distal surface, Segment II with ~7 small tubercles on ectal view, 11 on mesal view and nine on frontal view.

Pedipalp ( Fig. 12 C–D ). Trochanter bearing two dorsal (one conical and one small) and one ventral tubercle with subdistal setae, ventral surface microgranulate that extends to femur, femur bearing a ventro-ectal and a dorso-ectal row of small tubercles with setae, there is a row of conical tubercles intercalated by small tubercles on dorsal view, a row of four ventral asymmetrical tubercles with subdistal setae (proximal) and one small tubercle with subdistal setae (distal), there is a parallel row of small rounded tubercles with setae. Mesal area covered by small rounded tubercles and two conical distal tubercles with subdistal setae, patella bearing two ectal and mesal tubercle with subdistal setae, tibia covered ventrally by small rounded tubercles and with three ventral tubercles with subdistal setae each side, tarsus bearing three ventral tubercles with subdistal setae each side and sparse small ventral tubercles with subdistal setae (~8).

Legs ( Fig. 13 ). Leg I trochanter with two dorsal tubercles, femur with four dorsal and four ventral long tubercles, patella smooth, tibia with a ventral row of tubercles, metatarsus and tarsus smooth, Leg II–IV with small setiferous tubercles in the femur, astragalus larger than calcaneus in all legs, tarsal count: 2-3-3-3.

Penis ( Fig. 14 ). Pars distalis bearing a ventral plate, without cleft, composing one lamella with arc shape, wider than long. Bearing three ventral and two dorsal macrosetae each side, capsula externa higher than the ventral plate, surrounding the capsula interna. Dorsal surface with a cleft dividing the distal part of capsula externa in two halves. Capsula interna without a tubular shape (knife blade shaped), exposed part of the stylus smaller than capsula interna.

Female

Measurements female paratype (MACN-Ar 7908): Total length 2.10; carapace length 1.00, maximum width 1.21; dorsal scutum length 1.82; mesotergum maximum width 1.41. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.16, femur 0.83, patella 0.42, tibia 0.71, tarsus 0.55. Leg I: trochanter 0.19, femur 0.78, patella 0.34, tibia 0.53, metatarsus 0.54, tarsus 0.47. Leg II: trochanter 0.21, femur 1.05, patella 0.47, tibia 0.84, metatarsus 0.80, tarsus 0.74. Leg III: trochanter 0.21, femur 0.70, patella 0.29, tibia 0.49, metatarsus 0.60, tarsus 0.44. Leg IV: trochanter 0.20, femur 0.90, patella 0.41, tibia 0.76, metatarsus 0.98, tarsus 0.51.

Variation. ( Figs 10 B, D, F ). The female is very similar to the male, except for the shorter ocularium and slightly dilated pedipalp femur. It is difficult to distinguish by external morphology from other allospecific females in the genus.

Distribution. ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires, Córdoba, San Luis ( Fig. 2A ). There is a record of Maurymontia cf. centralis from La Pampa province, but it is not possible to determine the species with certainty because the sample consists of a single female specimen, which complicates species identification.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Maurymontia species with elevation layers (A). Distribution of Maurymontia species, showing the representation of the Peripampasic Arc (B).

FIGURE 10. Maurymontia centralis comb. nov., male (A, C, E), female (B, D, F). Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 11. Maurymontia centralis comb. nov., SEM images of male. Habitus, dorsal (A), lateral (B), ventral (C–D). Scale bars: A–C 500 µm, D 200 µm.

FIGURE 12. Maurymontia centralis comb. nov., SEM images of male. Chelicera, mesal (A), ectal (B). Pedipalp, mesal (C), ectal (D). Scale bar 200 µm.

FIGURE 13. Maurymontia centralis comb. nov., SEM images of male. Legs I (A), II (B), III (C), IV (D). Scale bars: A 200 µm, B–D 500 µm.

FIGURE 14. Maurymontia centralis comb. nov., SEM images of male. Penis, ventral view (A), ventro-apical view (B), lateral view (C), dorsal view (D–E). Colors: blue (capsula externa), red (capsula interna), green (ventral plate). Scale bars: A–D 50 µm, E 200 µm.