Charinus carioca, 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 : 103-104

Charinus carioca sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:81F5FF9E-DACF-4B61-9893-94369C73B8F8

Figs 6E–F , 43 , 52–53 ; Table 4

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from other Charinus in eastern South America by means of the following combination of characters: large size; short sucker-like female gonopod ( Fig. 6E–F ); cheliceral claw with nine teeth; pedipalp femur with five dorsal spines and five ventral spines ( Fig. 52E–F ); pedipalp patella with four dorsal spines and five ventral spines ( Fig. 52E–F ); marked secondary sexual dimorphism ( Fig. 53A–B ); leg IV distitibia sc and sf series each with six trichobothria.

Charinus carioca sp. nov. resembles C. taboa in the shape of the frontal process of the carapace, but is easily distinguished from the latter by the higher number of trichobothria in the sc and sf series of the leg IV distitibia, six in C. carioca sp. nov. compared with five in C. taboa .

Etymology

Noun in apposition taken from to the word ‘ carioca ’, referring to those born in Rio de Janeiro.

Type material

Holotype BRAZIL • ♀; Rio de Janeiro, Camorim, Pedra Branca ; 22°56′01.19″ S, 43°26′07.18″ W; 7 Sep. 2004; Giupponi and Pedroso leg.; MNRJ 9201 .

Paratypes BRAZIL • 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; MNRJ 9201 .

Description

CARAPACE. Six anterior setae; frontal process triangular, with small apical projection ( Fig. 52C ). Small granules densely scattered between lateral eyes and among sulci. Median eyes well developed ( Fig. 52A, C ); median ocular tubercle weakly developed; pair of setae on median ocular tubercle; 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, long, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae ( Fig. 52B ); other sternal platelets narrow and concave, with pair of setae anteriorly on plaque and some smaller setae posteriorly; pentasternum with fourteen setae anteriorly and four setae near 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. 6E–F ); gonopod sucker-like and slightly sclerotized basally ( Fig. 6E–F ); tubular projection without constriction ( Fig. 6E–F ).

CHELICERAE. Small flat tooth on retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth; retrolateral surface of cheliceral claw with continous row of setae, basally to medially; claw with nine teeth; row of eleven setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp.

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with two setae encircled by round carina and four setae on margin. Femur with five dorsal spines and five ventral spines ( Fig. 52E–F ); spine between dorsal spine 2 and 3 and spine 3 and 4; three prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin; spine between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin; spine between ventral spines 1 and 2, 2 or 3 and 3 and 4. Patella with four dorsal spines in primary series ( Fig. 52E–F ); prominent setiferous tubercle distal to spine I, one-third length of spine I; patella with five ventral spines; spine between spines 2 or 3 and 3 and 4; 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, distal spine subequal to proximal spine ( Fig. 52D ); third spine situated proximally, near base of proximal spine; cleaning organ with 27–28 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles, tarsus I with 41 articles; first tarsal article shorter than second article. Leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, with sclerotized, denticulate margin projecting from apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated near midline of pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to sbf than to bf, sc and sf series each with six trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 4 .

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Natural history

Specimens were found in the photic zone of a gneiss cave, near a small river. Specimens were only observed at night, on the roof and in crevices in the roof, of the cave.

Figures

Fig. 6. Charinus Simon, 1892, female gonopods, dorsal (left column) and posterior (right column) views. A–B. Charinus renneri sp. nov. (MNRJ 9198). C–D. Charinus euclidesi sp. nov. (MNRJ 9099). E–F. Charinus carioca sp. nov. (MNRJ 9201). Scale bars: A–D = 0.25 mm; E–F = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 43. Map plotting known distributions of species of Charinus Simon, 1892 in eastern South America, with inset for southeastern Brazil.

Fig. 52. Charinus carioca sp. nov. (MNRJ 9021), 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–B, E–F = 1 mm; C–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 53. Charinus carioca sp. nov. (MNRJ 9021), habitus, dorsal view illustrating secondary sexual dimorphism (males possess longer pedipalp segments than females). A. ♀. B. ♂. Scale bars: 1 mm.