Eutimesius aroa Villarreal

Villarreal, Osvaldo, Ahumada-C., Daniela & Navas-S., Gabriel R., 2024, Exploring the diversity of Eutimesius Roewer, 1913: new species and records from Colombia and Venezuela (Opiliones, Gonyleptoidea, Stygnidae), Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (3), pp. 803-820 : 803-820

Eutimesius aroa Villarreal & Ahumada-C. sp. nov.

Figs 4 , 5 , 14 A – C , 2

Type material.

Venezuela • ♂ holotype; Yaracuy, Road Cocorote – Aroa, sector Las Cumaraguas ; (10.3520 ° N, 68.8298 ° W); 1,200 m a. s. l.; 09 Mar. 2008; (Villarreal O., Escalona H., Jayaro Y., Viera E. leg.) ( MIZA 0105934 ) . Paratypes • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; same as the holotype; ( MIZA 0105936 ) .

Diagnosis.

It is distinguishable from all other species in the genus by the pattern of dry white spots, occupying the anterolateral zone of the carapace, lateral areas of the II and III areas, and part of the lateral margins of the dorsal shield (Figs 4 A, C , 5 A, B ), and by the ornamentation of the male femur IV, with large tubercles on both complete ventral rows (Fig. 5 G ).

Etymology.

The species is named in reference to the Sierra de Aroa, the mountain range in which it inhabits. Aroa is a Chibcha word believed to have a meaning associated with the jaguar, or “ tigre. ” Noun in apposition.

Description.

Male. Measurements. DSL 4.0; DSW 3.5; AL 1.9; AW 2.7; IOD 2.0; pedipalp: CoPp 0.8, TrPp 1.1, FePp 3.8, PaPp 1.8, TiPp 2.4, TaPp 2.2, ClPp 1.8; total 13.9; leg IV: FeL 7.2, TiL 3.9. Dorsum (Figs 4 A, C , 5 A, B ). DS outline Epsilon type. Anterior margin of DS with 1–2 anterolateral tubercles. Anteromedial process of the cheliceral sockets shorter than lateral processes. Eyes separated into two small smooth mounds, placed posteriorly on the carapace. Interocular region with small granules in the posterior zone and one central elevated mound that terminates in two short spines. Lateral margins smooth. Mesotergum divided into four areas, III – IV partially fused: I divided medially into two triangular halves, with one conspicuous tubercle on each side; II entire, with four conspicuous tubercles; III with a lateral pair of large tubercles; one pair of paramedian large spines with granulated base; IV with some granules and one row of four tubercles, two each side. Posterior margin and free tergites with a pair of paramedian acute granules. Venter (Figs 4 C , 5 B ). Coxa I with four distal tubercles and a medial row of six tubercles; II with a median row of seven-eight tubercules and a posterior row of two-three small tubercles; III with six intercoxal tubercles, five distal, two anterior, six medial, five posterior tubercles; IV with eight intercoxal tubercles, six anterior tubercles, nine medial tubercles, and about 12 posterior tubercles not aligned. Genital operculum with scattered granules. Stigmatic area with two anterior tubercles, a medial row of four tubercles, and a posterior row of minute granules on the posterior border. Free sternites with a row of small granules. Chelicerae (Fig. 5 A – C ). Segment I smooth with well-defined bulla, with one or two ectoproximal tubercles and one ectodistal tubercle. Segment II swollen, fixed finger with a proximal wide laminar tooth, followed by two very small denticles and three decreasing medial teeth; mobile finger with one subproximal large truncated tooth, one medial pyramidal tooth, and two small subdistal teeth. Pedipalps (Fig. 5 D, E ). Coxa with a group of eight ventral tubercles and three-four dorsal tubercles. Trochanter with a large ventral tubercle and two-three dorsal tubercles. Femur with a ventral row of six small tubercles and dorsally smooth. Patella smooth, distally swollen. Tibia dorsal smooth, ventrally with a row of minute granules; mesal IIiIi; ectal IiIiI. Tarsus dorsally smooth, ventrally with two rows of minute granules, mesal IiIiIi; ectal iIiiIii. Legs (Fig. 5 F – I ). Coxae I – II with two dorsal tubercles; III – IV connected by four – five intercoxal tubercles; IV with one dorsodistal large tubercle and scattered small granules and tubercles. Trochanter I dorsally smooth, ventrally with three tubercles; II with two dorsal, one retrodistal, and three ventral tubercles; III with one prolateral, two-four dorsal, one retrodorsal large, and five ventral tubercles; IV with one prolateral, one dorsal, and some minute dorsal granules; one retrolateral large tubercle; and eight ventral tubercles. Femora I – II with longitudinal rows of minute granules; III and IV with the one proventral and one retroventral row of large and spaced apart tubercles; and with two dorsoapical tubercles. Patella III – IV each with one large proventral tubercle; IV with pro and retrodorsal distal large tubercles and with sparse minute granules. Tibia III, with the tubercles of the distal portion of the proventral row enlarged and all the retroventral row with large tubercles increasing in size distally; IV with similar pattern but more conspicuous. Basitarsus I slightly swollen. Tarsal process and scopula present. Tarsal claws III and IV opposites and pectinated. Tarsal counts: 7 (3) / 19 (br) - 22 (3) / 8 / 9. Penis (Fig. 14 A – C ). Heterostygninae general pattern, as described in Villarreal et al. (2019 b). Truncus with the malleus swollen. Lamina parva (LP) with a shallow neck and a deep distal cleft. MS - A 1 - A 2 located on the malleus, one pair laterally and one pair more ventrally; MS - B pair ventrally located on the LP; two pairs of MS - C located medially on the LP, dorsally to the neck; MS - D 1 large, located slightly proximal to MS - E; MS - D 2 basally located, near the base of the gland; MS - E with only one pair of short setae. Gland globose, with short and dorsally curved stylus with small dorsal process. Color (Fig. 4 A, C ). DS mottled on background brilliant yellow (83). Spots on the carapace moderate brown (58); area I, bases of tubercles of area II; tubercles of area III and margins of DS; free tergites and coxae I – IV dorsally dark grayish brown (62) and blackish red (21). Trochanters I – IV and chelicerae reticulated in the same colors as DS. Femora I – II reticulated dark grayish olive (111) on background moderate yellow green (120); III and IV dark grayish olive (111).

Female. Measurements. Dorsal scutum length 4.1; dorsal scutum width 3.4; abdominal scutum length 1.8; abdominal scutum width 2.8; interocular distance 1.7; pedipalp: coxa 0.6, trochanter 0.8, femur 3.9, patella 1.6, tibia 2.0, tarsus 2.2, claw 1.7; total 12.8; leg IV: femur 7.3, tibia 3.9. Description (Fig. 4 B ). Similar to male, except by abdominal scutum Eta type; chelicerae not swollen; ornamentation of leg IV conspicuously less developed; basitarsus I not swollen.

Distribution.

Venezuela, Yaracuy. Only known from the type locality (Fig. 2 ).

Figures

Figure 2. Map showing the distribution of Eutimesius.

Figure 4. Eutimesius aroa sp. nov., A, B. Male habitus, dorsal and lateral views (MIZA 0105934); C, D. Female habitus, dorsal view (MIZA 0105936); C. Male habitus, lateral view (MIZA 0105934). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 5. Eutimesius aroa sp. nov., male (MIZA 0105934): A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Ditto, lateral view; C. Right chelicera, frontal view; D. Right pedipalp, tibia, and tarsus, ectal view; E. Ditto, mesal view; F. Right leg IV, dorsal view; G. Ditto, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 14. Eutimesius spp., penis, distal portion in dorsal, ventral, and lateral view: A – C. E. aroa sp. nov., (MIZA 0105934); D – F. E. canoabo sp. nov., (MIZA 0105945); G – I. E. ephippiatus, (ICN-Ao - 1492); J – L. E. guaichia sp. nov., (MIZA 0105935); M – O. E. simoni, (ICN-Ao - 328). A – I. Unscaled.