Forsteropsalis wattsi ( 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 : 62

Forsteropsalis wattsi ( Hogg 1920) new combination

( Figs 128–130 )

Pantopsalis wattsi Hogg 1920: 33–34 , pl. 1, fig. 3c.

Megalopsalis wattsi (Hogg) — Taylor 2004: 61.

Material examined. Male holotype. TK. Hawera, New Zealand, 14 October ‘K6’, G.S. Watts ( BMNH 1924.111.1.1242) .

Description. MALE (N = 1). Prosoma length 2.4, width 3.2. Colour of holotype prosoma (fig. 128) mostly faded, but with lighter U-shaped patch from ocularium to anterior margin. Scattered denticles on anterior propeltidial area, otherwise unarmed. Ocularium unarmed. Opisthosoma collapsed, preventing recognition of characters.

Chelicerae (fig. 129). Segment I 8.5, segment II 11.0. Reddish-brown, slender.

Pedipalps (fig. 130). Femur 2.4, patella 1.2, tibia 1.4, tarsus 3.2. Striped tan and yellow-brown; dorsal row of denticles on femur; black setae; very small pointed apophysis on patella; no teeth on claw.

Legs. Leg I femur 7.5; leg II femur 11.0; leg III femur 7.0; leg IV femur 8.5. Striped tan and yellow-brown; no denticles on femur; black setae; femur and patella dorsodistally with distad-projecting spines.

Comments. This is the smallest known species of Forsteropsalis . Unfortunately, the holotype is poorly preserved, and provides little information on diagnostic characters.

Figures

FIGURES 128–130. Forsteropsalis wattsi (Hogg 1920), male holotype. 128. Prosoma, dorsal view. 129. Right chelicera, lateral view. 130. Left pedipalp, lateral view. Scale bars for figs 128, 130 = 1 mm; fig. 129 = 2 mm.