Zalanodius convexus (Mello-Leitao, 1940) Kury, 2014

Kury, Adriano B., 2014, Why does the Tricommatinae position bounce so much within Laniatores? A cladistic analysis, with description of a new family of Gonyleptoidea (Opiliones, Laniatores), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 172 (1), pp. 1-48 : 26-27

ZALANODIUS CONVEXUS (MELLO- LEITÃO, 1940)

COMB. NOV.

Berlesecaptus convexus Mello-Leitão, 1940: 101 ; Kury 2003a: 23 (removed from Phalangodidae to Grassatores incertae sedis).

Diagnosis: Closest to Z. latifemur , in the compact shape and short legs (as opposed to slender body with longer legs in Z. bicornutus and Z. hirsutus ) but with tegument much more finely granular and not wrinkled. Leg IV densely covered by small, long-haired setiferous tubercles (instead of covered by very large ones in Z. latifemur ). Metatarsus IV normal (instead of incrassate with a powerful spur in Z. bicornutus ).

Description, male neotype: Dorsum ( Figs 21A, B , 22A– D ). Dorsal scutum outline classic alpha, carapace elongate, scutal groove posterior margin in obtuse angle. Mesotergum divided into four areas, area I entire, larger than the others, expanded to the sides. All areas unarmed, covered by irregular, large setiferous tuber- cles. Posterior border of scutum and free tergites each with a single transverse row of setiferous tubercles. Ocularium high, inclined frontwards, topped by a short protuberance, placed far from the anterior margin of carapace. Frontal hump low, unarmed. Venter ( Figs 21C , 23A–C ). Coxa IV with ventro-apical, rod-like ventral apophysis connected to sternite II. Sternite II with small, anterior projections partly covering the stigmata. Chelicera ( Fig. 22B ). Weakly developed, basichelicerite short. Pedipalpus ( Fig. 23F ). Articles short, trochanter with ventral setiferous tubercle, femur with one ventrobasal setiferous tubercle, tibia and tarsus armed with very weak ventro-ectal and ventromesal spines. Legs ( Fig. 23D, E ). Legs I−III short, unarmed. Leg IV considerably stouter than the others, trochanter unarmed, femur and tibia IV incrassate, femur to tibia densely covered with coarse, long-haired setiferous tubercles. The distitarsus I has three articles (as can be clearly seen on Fig. 23E ), but the suture between the two distal-most is very shallow, and led to the count of only two by Mello-Leitão (1940; the nearest species, Z. latifemur has clearly only two articles, without any suture, and other species have three articles, so it appears that Z. convexus shows an intermediate state: trimerous in the process of becoming bimerous). Tarsal counts 4(3) or 3(2) (depending on the interpretation)/6(3)/5/5. Genitalia ( Fig. 24A–C ). Distal setigerous part of truncus divided into a basal malleus and a distal LP. LP slender, gently curved ventrally. Prepodium extremely elongate, forming angle with truncus. Malleus ventrally with longitudinal wide ditch. Macrosetae A1−A2 inserted laterally on malleus. Macroseta B ventral on malleus. Macrosetae C1−C3 short, D very small on the laterals of LP. Macrosetae E1−E2, short, forming rectangle on ventral surface of LP. Skirt flabellar, expanded laterally, with deeply serrate margins. Stylus C-shaped. Coloration. Body and appendages uniform 53 Moderate Orange.

Figures

Figure 21. Zalanodius convexus (Mello-Leitão, 1940). Male neotype (MNRJ 4878). A, habitus, dorsal view; B, same, lateral view; C, sternal region, coxae, stigmatic area, and sternites, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figure 22. Zalanodius convexus (Mello-Leitão, 1940). Male neotype (MNRJ 4878). A, habitus, dorsal view; B, same, lateral view; C, sternal region, coxae, stigmatic area, and sternites, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm (A, B), 0.1 mm (C, D).

Figure 23. Zalanodius convexus (Mello-Leitão, 1940). Male neotype (MNRJ 4878). A, right coxa IV and stigmatic area, partial, ventral view; B, same, detail of rod-like ventral apophysis of coxa IV (VA) resting on sternite II (stigmatic area, S2), oblique view; C, left coxa IV, lateroposterior view, showing multiple dorsal apophyses (DA) of coxa IV; D, left trochanter to tibia of leg IV, dorsal view; E, left tarsus of leg I, showing very faint sutures separating pseudo-articles (1, 2, 3) of distitarsus, lateral view; F, left pedipalpus, mesal view. Other abbreviations: Bt, basitarsus; Dt, distitarsus; Mt, metatarsus; TS, tracheal stigma. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (D, F), 0.1 mm (A, C, E), 0.05 mm (B).

Figure 24. Zalanodius convexus (Mello-Leitão, 1940). Male neotype (MNRJ 4878). Distal part of penis. A, lateral view; B, dorsal view; C, ventral view. Abbreviations: Fl, flabellum; Fo, follis (‘glans’); LP, lamina parva; Ma, malleus; St, stylus; T, truncus. Scale bars = 0.05 mm.