Megachernes Beier, 1932

Nassirkhani, Mahrad, Received, Reza Vafaei Shoushtari, Online, Published & Version, Final, 2017, Key to the species of Megachernes Beier (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae), with notes on M. afghanicus and M. pavlovskyi, Turkish Journal of Zoology 41 (3), pp. 568-575 : 569-572

Key for the species of Megachernes Beier, 1932

1. Pedipalpal femur mostly covered with long setae (see Beier, 1948: figs. 6, 12; Beier, 1951: fig. 30; Beier, 1959: fig. 17; Beier, 1965: figs. 13, 14; Beier, 1966: fig. 3; Beier, 1967: figs. 17–18; Mahnert, 2009: figs. 16, 21; Schawaller and Dashdamirov, 1988: fig. 62; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 20; Schawaller, 1994: fig. 65) ............................................................................... 2

- Pedipalpal femur mostly covered with short setae (see Beier, 1932: figs. 144–145; Beier, 1948: figs. 8, 10, 14, 16; Beier, 1951: fig. 28; Beier, 1959: fig. 17; Beier, 1965: fig. 13; Beier, 1966: fig. 2; Beier, 1967: fig. 16; Beier, 1974: fig. 6; Dashdamirov, 2005: fig. 188; Harvey et al., 2012: figs. 4C–4D; Hoff and Parrack, 1958: fig. 1; Krumpál and Kiefer, 1982: fig. 2; Morikawa, 1954: fig. 4; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 21; Schawaller, 1994: fig. 64) ........................................ 13

2(1). Pedipalpal chela very narrow and concave on dorsal view (see Beier, 1966: fig. 3); chelal (with pedicel) ratio 5.40–6.20× ........... monstrosus Beier, 1966 (♀ ♂)

- Pedipalpal chela normal and relatively stout; chelal (with pedicel) ratio less than 5.00× ......................... 3

3(2). Pedipalpal patella sparsely covered with shorter setae than those on femur (see Beier, 1948: fig. 6; Beier, 1959: fig. 17; Christophoryová et al., 2013: fig. 3B; Schawaller and Dashdamirov, 1988: fig. 62) ................................................................................…. 4

- Pedipalpal patella densely covered with long setae as well as femur (see Beier, 1948: fig. 12; Beier, 1951: fig. 30; Beier, 1965: figs. 13–14; Beier, 1967: figs. 17–18; Mahnert, 2009: figs. 16–21; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 20; Schawaller, 94: fig. 65) ....................... 5

4(3). Posterolateral corner of coxa IV slightly elongate, rounded and blunt (see Beier, 1948: fig. 7); prolateral margin of femur densely covered with long setae (see Beier, 1948: fig. 6); pedipalpal femur ratio 2.30–2.40× …........…...... M. penicillatus Beier, 1948 (♀) [from Australia]

- Posterolateral corner of coxa IV distinctly elongate and dominant; both margins of pedipalpal femur densely covered with long setae (see Beier, 1959: fig. 17; Christophoryová et al., 2013: fig. 3B; Schawaller and Dashdamirov, 1988: fig. 62); pedipalpal femur ratio 2.50–3.00× ...…...... M. pavlovskyi Redikorzev, 1949 (♂) [from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan]

5(3). Pedipalpal chela covered with relatively long setae as well as femur (see Beier, 1948: fig. 12; Beier, 1967: fig. 18; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 20) .............................. 6

- Pedipalpal chela covered with markedly shorter setae than those on femur (see Beier, 1951: fig. 30; Beier, 1965: figs. 13–14; Beier, 1967: fig. 17; Mahnert, 2009: figs. 16–17, 21–22; Schawaller, 1994: fig. 65) .............................................................. 8

6(5). Trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger located distinctly distal to isb; ist located closer to isb than to ib (see Beier, 1967: fig. 18; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 20) .........................................................................….. 7

- Trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger located slightly distal to isb; ist located in midway between isb and ib (see Beier, 1948: fig. 12) ...…....... M. crinitus Beier, 1948 (♀) [from Indonesia]

7(6). Prolateral margin of pedipalpal patella distinctly curved distally (see Schawaller, 1991: fig. 20); pedipalpal femur size 1.43/ 0.57 mm, and patella 1.39/ 0.70 mm ......…......…. M. loebli Schawaller, 1991 (♂) [from Nepal]

- Prolateral margin of pedipalpal patella normally curved distally (see Beier, 1967: fig. 18); pedipalpal femur size 1.72–1.90/ 0.79–0.80 mm, and patella 1.80–2.00/ 0.78–0.79 mm ............…... M. barbatus Beier, 1951 (♀) [from Vietnam]

8(5). Trichobothrium est located at same level as t, t located close to middle of movable chelal finger (see Schawaller, 1994: fig. 66) .................... M. trautneri Schawaller, 1994 (♂) [from Thailand]

- Trichobothrium est located distinctly proximal to t, t located in distal third of movable chelal finger .... 9

9(8). Pedipalpal chela distinctly plump (chelal hand (with pedicel) ratio = 1.06×) and visually transfigured (see Mahnert, 2009: fig. 17); pedipalpal patella with a prominent median hump; femur and patella of legs III and IV with numerous glandular microsetae; pedal tibia IV with a slightly long seta situated distally .................................. M. glandulosus Mahnert, 2009 (♂) [from China]

- Pedipalpal chela normal in size and shape (chelal hand (with pedicel) = 1.30–1.60×); pedipalpal patella without a prominent median hump (if present, more or less distinct); femur and patella of legs III and IV generally without glandular microsetae; pedal tibia IV without a slightly long seta situated distally ............................................. 10

10(9). Trichobothrium ist on fixed chelal finger located closer to ib than to isb; ib located distinctly distal to eb (see Beier, 1965: figs. 13–14; Mahnert, 2009: fig. 22) .................................................................... 11

- Trichobothrium ist on fixed chelal finger located closer to isb than to ib; ib located at same level as eb (see Beier, 1951: fig. 30; Beier, 1967: fig. 17); pedipalpal femur size 1.72–1.90/ 0.79–0.80 mm (♀), and 2.15/ 0.90 mm (♂) ... M. barbatus Beier, 1951 (♀ ♂)

11(10). Males with a more or less distinct protuberance on pedipalpal patella; trichobothrium ist on fixed chelal finger located very close to ib, at same level as esb (see Mahnert, 2009: fig. 22) ............. M. tuberosus Mahnert, 2009 (♀ ♂) [from China]

- Males without a protuberance on pedipalpal patella; trichobothrium ist on fixed chelal finger located slightly closer to ib than to isb, distal to eb (see Beier, 1965: figs. 13–14).... 12

12(11). Pedipalpal size: femur 0.91–1.43/ 0.44–0.72 mm, patella 0.92–1.50/ 0.43–0.81 mm, hand (with pedicel) 0.85–1.37/ 0.53–1.05 mm ..... M. limatus Hoff and Parrack, 1958 (♂) [from Papua New Guinea]

- Pedipalpal size: femur 1.60/ 0.76 mm, patella 1.73/ 0.78 mm, hand (with pedicel) 1.60/ 1.19 mm ............. M. limatus crassus Beier, 1965 (♂) [from Indonesia]

13(1). Pedipalpal patella and chela covered with long setae (see Harvey et al., 2012: fig. 4C) ....... M. kanneliyensis Harvey et al., 2012 (♂) [from Sri Lanka]

- Pedipalpal patella and chela covered with short setae ....................................................................... 14

14(13). Pedipalpal femur distinctly narrow (ratio = 3.90– 4.15×) ........ M. ochotonae Krumpál and Kiefer, 1982 (♀ ♂) [from Mongolia]

- Pedipalpal femur more or less stout (ratio = 1.90– 3.50× ♀ ♂) ............................................................. 15

15(14). Prolateral margin of chelal hand distinctly curved basally, apparently rounded on dorsal view (see Beier, 1932: figs. 144–145; Beier, 1948: figs. 8, 10, 14, 16; Beier, 1951: fig. 28; Beier, 1959: fig. 17; Beier, 1965: fig. 13; Beier, 1967: fig. 15; Beier, 1974: fig. 6; Dashdamirov, 2005: fig. 188; Harvey et al., 2012: fig. 4D; Hoff and Parrack, 1958: fig. 1; Morikawa, 1954: fig. 4; Redikorzev, 1934: fig. 1; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 21; Schawaller, 1994: fig. 64) ................................. 16

- Prolateral margin of chelal hand slightly curved basally, not rounded on dorsal view (see Beier, 1966: fig. 2; Beier, 1967: fig. 16) ........................... 31

16(15). Length of pedipalpal femur more than 1.35 mm ................................................................................. 17

- Length of pedipalpal femur less than 1.35 mm ... 22

17(16). Chelal hand apparently rounded on dorsal view (see Beier, 1951: fig. 28; Morikawa, 1954: fig. 4) ................................................................................. 18

- Chelal hand not rounded on dorsal view (see Beier, 1948: fig. 14; Harvey et al., 2012: fig. 4D) ............. 21

18(17). Trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger located distinctly distal to isb (see Beier, 1951: fig. 28; Beier, 1967: fig. 15); posterolateral corner of pedal coxa IV with a prominent elongated lobe (see Beier, 1951: fig. 29) ..............… M. titanius Beier, 1951 (♀ ♂) [from China and Vietnam]

- Trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger located very close to isb, approximately at same level as isb (see Morikawa, 1954: figs. 3A, 4); posterolateral corner of pedal coxa IV without a prominent enlarged lobe (see Morikawa, 1954: fig. 3C) ….. M. ryugadensis Morikawa, 1954 (♀) [from Japan] ......................... 19

19(18). Dark brown; pedipalpal femur ratio 2.10– 2.60× ......….............. M. ryugadensis myophilus Morikawa, 1954

- Brown; pedipalpal femur ratio 2.50–3.20×........ 20

20(19). Pedipalpal femur ratio 2.50–2.90×, chelal (with pedicel) ratio 2.60–2.90×............ M. ryugadensis naikaiensis Morikawa, 1957

- Pedipalpal femur ratio 2.90–3.20×, chelal (with pedicel) ratio 3.10–3.40× ............. M. ryugadensis ryugadensis Morikawa, 1954

21(17). Pedipalpal femur size 1.44/ 0.55 mm, and patella 1.36/ 0.53 mm; chela (with pedicel) 3.41× longer than width; movable chelal finger slightly longer than hand (with pedicel) (1.08×); trichobothrium st on movable chelal finger distinctly closer to t than to sb (see Harvey et al., 2012: fig. 4D) ............... M. kanneliyensis Harvey et al., 2012 (♀)

- Pedipalpal femur size 1.40/ 0.59 mm, and patella 1.43/ 0.65 mm; chela (with pedicel) 3.20× longer than width; movable chelal finger distinctly longer than hand (with pedicel) (1.23×); trichobothrium st on movable chelal finger slightly closer to t than to sb (see Beier, 1948: fig. 14) ......…..... M. grandis ( Beier, 1930) [♀ from Java]

22(16). Chelal hand (with pedicel) 1.38–1.90× longer than broad ............................................................. 23

- Chelal hand (with pedicel) 2.05× longer than broad ................. M. mongolicus ( Redikorzev, 1934) (♂) [from Mongolia]

23(22). Prolateral face of pedipalpal chela with numerous short setae aggregated on base of fixed chelal finger (see Beier, 1959: fig. 17; Dashdamirov, 2005: fig. 188) ..........……..... M. pavlovskyi Redikorzev, 1949 (♀)

- Grouped setae absent on base of fixed chelal finger (see Beier, 1932: figs. 144–145; Beier, 1948: figs. 8, 10, 14, 16; Beier, 1965: fig. 13; Beier, 1974: fig. 6; Hoff and Parrack, 1958: fig. 1; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 20; Schawaller, 1994: fig. 64) .............. 24

24(23). Trichobothrium ib on fixed chelal finger located basally (see Beier, 1974: fig. 6; Schawaller, 1994: fig. 65) .................................................................... 25

- Trichobothrium ib on fixed chelal finger located subbasally (see Beier, 1932: figs. 144–145; Beier, 1948: figs. 8, 10, 16; Beier, 1965: fig. 13; Hoff and Parrack, 1958: fig. 1; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 21) .... 26

25(24). Cheliceral hand with 5 setae; pedipalpal femur ratio 2.70–2.90× (1.15–1.20/ 0.40–0.45 mm) .................... M. soricicola Beier, 1974 (♀) [from Nepal]

- Cheliceral hand with 7 setae; pedipalpal femur ratio 2.24× (1.30/ 0.58 mm) ............... M. trautneri Schawaller, 1994 (♀)

26(25). Trichobothrium isb located distinctly proximal to st, est at same level as st (see Beier, 1932: fig. 144; Beier, 1965: fig. 13; Hoff and Parrack, 1958: fig. 1) ................................................................................. 27

- Trichobothrium isb located approximately at same level as st, est distal to st (see Beier, 1932: fig. 145; Beier, 1948: figs. 8, 10, 16; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 21) .............................................................…... 28

27(26). Pedipalpal femur ratio 2.30× (1.10–1.18/ 0.48– 0.52 mm); pedal tarsus IV with a long tactile seta situated medially .......... M. limatus Hoff & Parrack, 1958 (♀)

- Pedipalpal femur ratio 2.50× (1.29/ 0.52 mm); pedal tarsus IV with a long tactile seta situated distal to middle .......... M. grandis ( Beier, 1930) [♀ from Sumatra]

28(26). Trichobothrium ist on fixed chelal finger approximately located midway between ib and isb (see Beier, 1948: fig. 8; Schawaller, 1991: fig. 21) ...….......................................................................... 29

- Trichobothrium ist on fixed chelal finger distinctly located closer to ib than to isb (see Beier, 1948: figs. 10, 16; Beier, 1967: fig. 15) .......................... 30

29(28). Posterolateral corner of pedal coxa IV with an enlarged lobe, looks like a protuberance (see Beier, 1948: fig. 9)….. M. queenslandicus Beier, 1948 (♀) [from Australia]

- Posterolateral corner of pedal coxa IV without an enlarged lobe, triangular (see Schawaller, 1991: fig. 25) .................... M. loebli Schawaller, 1991 (♀)

30(28). Pedipalp narrow: femur 0.95/ 0.36 mm, chelal hand (with pedicel) 0.90/ 0.48 mm; movable finger 0.92× shorter than hand (with pedicel) .... M. papuanus Beier, 1948 (♀) [from Indonesia]

- Pedipalp stout: femur 0.90–1.30/ 0.41–0.46 mm, chelal hand (with pedicel) 0.85–1.27/ 0.62–1.03 mm (♀ ♂); movable finger as long as or longer than hand (with pedicel) ..................................... 31

31(30). Prolateral margin of pedipalpal femur with a small rounded projection situated basally (see Beier, 1967: fig. 15); movable chelal finger length 1.28–1.40 mm; trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger distinctly distal to isb (see Beier, 1967: fig. 15) ...........… M. titanius Beier, 1951 [♀ from Vietnam]

- Basal margin of pedipalpal femur straight (see Beier, 1948: fig. 16); movable chelal finger length 0.85–1.30 mm; trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger slightly distal to isb (see Beier, 1948: fig. 16) .....................…... M. himalayensis (Ellingsen, 1914) (♀ ♂) [from China, India, and Nepal]

31(15). Pedipalpal femur ratio 2.90× (1.38/ 0.48 mm), and patella 3.10× (1.43/ 0.46 mm); trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger located slightly distal to isb (see Beier, 1966: fig. 2); pedal tarsus IV with a long tactile seta situated distal to middle ........ M. philippinus Beier, 1966 (♀) [from Philippines]

- Pedipalpal femur ratio 3.10× (♂ 1.40–1.60/ 0.45– 0.52 mm)–3.50× (♀ 1.27–1.45/ 0.36–0.41 mm), and patella 2.30–2.60× (♂ 1.40–1.50/ 0.54–0.65 mm)–2.60–2.80× (♀ 1.18–1.27/ 0.42–0.48 mm); trichobothrium est on fixed chelal finger situated distinctly distal to isb (see Beier, 1967: fig. 16); pedal tarsus IV with a long tactile seta situated close to middle ......…... M. vietnamensis Beier, 1967 (♀ ♂) [from China and Vietnam]