Forsteropsalis grayi ( Hogg 1920 ) Taylor, 2011

Taylor, Christopher K., 2011, Revision of the genus Megalopsalis (Arachnida: Opiliones: Phalangioidea) in Australia and New Zealand and implications for phalangioid classification 2773, Zootaxa 2773 (1), pp. 1-65 : 52-53

Forsteropsalis grayi ( Hogg 1920) new combination

Pantopsalis grayi Hogg 1920: 35–36 , pl. 1, fig. 5.

Megalopsalis grayi (Hogg) — Taylor 2004: 61.

Material examined. Female holotype. GB. Hukanui block, Waikaremoana, New Zealand, 1 March 1924, W. R . Gray ( BMNH) .

Other material examined. GB. 2 females, Waikaremoana, 13 December 1946 ( MONZ) .

Description. FEMALE (N = 2). Prosoma length 1.8–2.2, width 2.6–3.2. Prosoma mottled dark brown and silvery white; unarmed. Ocularium silvery white, with darker median stripe and scattered black setae. Metapeltidium medium brown. Opisthosoma with central dark brown saddle, remainder mottled light brown and silvery white, scattered black setae present. Coxae tan proximally, dark brown distally; venter of opisthosoma light brown, with black setae, silvery white patches around margins.

Chelicerae. Segment I 1.0, segment II 2.0. Medium brown except for dorsodistal patch of white on segment I; unarmed.

Pedipalps. Femur 1.6, patella 0.8, tibia 1.0, tarsus 2.4. Striped brown and tan, with black setae; femur unarmed. Small pointed mediodistal apophysis on patella; small hypersetose area on medial side of patellar apophysis, extending slightly behind apophysis. Claw without ventral teeth.

Legs. Leg I femur 5.0, patella 1.0, tibia 4.5; leg II femur 9.0, patella 1.5, tibia 8.0; leg III femur 5.0, patella 1.0, tibia 4.5, leg IV femur 7.0, patella 1.5, tibia 6.5. Striped tan and brown with silvery white patches. Tibia II with eight pseudosegments; tibia IV with three pseudosegments.

Comments. The holotype of this species is poorly preserved, and the description given above is mainly based on the specimens collected in 1946 from near the type locality. The close resemblance of this species to Forsteropsalis marplesi supports the generic placement. Its exact specific status, however, cannot be determined until a male specimen is identified, and F. grayi should currently be regarded as a nomen dubium.

The key to Pantopsalis of Hogg (1920) distinguished this species from other members of the genus by the presence of a spine on trochanter I. Such a feature, however, is not visible on the holotype (on which only one trochanter I remains attached), or on the specimens collected in 1946. Two possibilities may explain Hogg’s (1920) observation. He could have been referring to the dorsal spine on the coxa of the leg, or the frontal spine on the pedipalpal coxapophysis, both of which are features of all Australasian Enantiobuninae . Alternatively, the outer margin of the ozopore on one side of the holotype has become partially detached, and Hogg could have mistaken this for a spine attached to the leg.