Charinus loko, Miranda & Giupponi & Prendini & Scharff, 2021

Miranda, Gustavo Silva de, Giupponi, Alessandro P. L., Prendini, Lorenzo & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2021, Systematic revision of the pantropical whip spider family Charinidae Quintero, 1986 (Arachnida, Amblypygi), European Journal of Taxonomy 772, pp. 1-409 : 150-151

Charinus loko sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FC7937C2-CB50-4FBB-ACDF-E557814D52FE

Figs 10A–B , 83 , 90–92 ; Table 6

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from C. madagascariensis and other African species of Charinus by means of the following combination of characters: large size; tritosternum short, not reaching base of pedipalp coxae ( Fig. 90B ); pedipalp tarsus with three spines ( Fig. 90D ); tibia of leg I with 23 articles, tarsus I with 41 articles; leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles.

This species resembles C. africanus , but bears five teeth on the cheliceral claw, compared with six teeth in C. africanus , and a greater number of spines on the pedipalp.

Etymology

Noun in apposition honoring the Loko, an indigenous tribe that inhabit the Northern Province of Sierra Leone, particularly the Bombali and Port Loko Districts, and the vicinity of Freetown.

Type material

Holotype SIERRA LEONE • ♀ [leg I in vial]; Western Area, peninsula south of Freetown , Guma Trail II ca Essex River Bank in rainforest; [08°20′59″ N, 13°10′14″ W]; SMNS.

Paratypes SIERRA LEONE • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; SMNS .

Description

CARAPACE. Lateral margin ventral to lateral eyes, markedly bent ventrally, creating appearance of projection of anterior carapace margin ( Fig. 90A ); six anterior setae ( Fig. 90A ); frontal process triangular ( Fig. 90C ). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes well developed ( Fig. 90C ); median ocular tubercle reduced, with pair of setae; lateral eyes well developed, seta posterior to lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad well separated from carapace margin.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation, short, only reaching base of pedipalp coxae ( Fig. 90B ); other sternal platelets narrow and concave, with pair of setae anteriorly on plaque and some smaller setae posteriorly; pentasternum with four setae anteriorly and without seta in membranous region.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with prominent setae posteromedially and some smaller setae near margin ( Fig. 91A–C ); gonopod cushion-like and sclerotized basally ( Fig. 91A–B, D–E ); apex of cushionlike gonopod serrated ( Fig. 91D–E ); slit sensilla on lateral margin of genital operculum ( Fig. 91F ). Male gonopod with apical border of fistula and lateral lobe sclerotized; LoL2 fimbriate and short ( Fig. 92A, D–E ); LoL1 well developed ( Fig. 92A, C ); LoD narrow, with denticulate surface ( Fig. 92B, E ).

CHELICERAE. Small tooth projecting from retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth ( Fig. 10B ); retrolateral surface of claw with continous row of setae, basally to medially ( Fig. 10B ); claw with five teeth ( Fig. 10A ); row of more than 20 setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp ( Fig. 10A–B ).

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with five or six prominent setae encircled by round carina and three setae on margin. Femur with four dorsal spines and four ventral spines ( Fig. 90E–F ); long spine between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin; three prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with four long dorsal spines in primary series ( Fig. 90E ); prominent setiferous tubercle distal to spine I, half length of spine I; three ventral spines ( Fig. 90F ); prominent setiferous tubercle between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with ventral spine distally and two setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with three dorsal spines, spine 1 long, one-third length of tarsus, spine 2 aligned with and half length of spine 1 ( Fig. 90D ); spine 3 one-third length of spine 2 and situated near its base; cleaning organ with 22–24 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles; tarsus I with 41 articles; first tarsal article similar in length to subsequent article. Leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, with sclerotized, denticulate projection at apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated submedially on pseudo-article; leg IV distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to sbf than to bf, sc and sf series each with five trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 6 .

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Natural history

Epigean, on the floor of tropical forest.

Figures

Fig. 10. Charinus Simon, 1892, chelicerae, prolateral and retrolateral views. A–B. Charinus loko sp. nov. (SMNS). C–D. Charinus miskito sp. nov. (SMNS). E–F. Charinus mocoa sp. nov. (SMF 68). G–H. Charinus alagoanus sp. nov. (MNRJ 9295). I–J. Charinus renneri sp. nov. (MNRJ 9198). K–L. Charinus madagascariensis Fage, 1954 (MNHN). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 83. Map plotting known distributions of species of Charinus Simon, 1892 in western Africa.

Fig. 90. Charinus loko sp. nov. (SMNS), general morphology, ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Frontal process. D. Pedipalp tarsus, frontal view. E. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E–F = 1 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 91. Charinus loko sp. nov. (SMNS), female gonopod and genital operculum. A. Cushion-like gonopod, dorsal view. B. Gonopods, posterior view. C. Posterior margin of genital operculum, ventral view. D. Apex of projection on sinistral gonopod.E. Apex of projection on dextral gonopod.F. Glandular opening on margin of genital operculum, ventral view.

Fig. 92. Charinus loko sp. nov. (SMNS), male gonopod. A. Ventral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Dextral side of gonopod. D. Lateral lobe 1. E. Dorsal lobe.