Acantholibitia biocellata (Mello-Leitao, 1935) Medrano & Kury & Mendes, 2022

Medrano, Miguel, Kury, Adriano Brilhante & Mendes, Amanda Cruz, 2022, Morphology-based cladistics splinters the century-old dichotomy of the pied harvestmen (Arachnida: Gonyleptoidea: Cosmetidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 195, pp. 585-672 : 602-605

ACANTHOLIBITIA BIOCELLATA (MELLO- LEITÃO, 1935) COMB. NOV.

( FIGS 10 , 12 , 13 )

Bodunius biocellatus Mello-Leitão, 1935: 376 , fig. 7.

Elleria bilunata Piza, 1947: 266 , fig 3, syn. nov.

Elleriana bilunata Kury, 2003: 53 .

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ACANTHOLIBITIA

Comments: The species A. excellens was not included in the present key because detailed examination of specimens was not possible. Future research with fresh material from the type locality is needed for unveiling the identity and validity of the species. It seems to be more related to A. biocellata comb. nov.

1. Area IV with two paramedian spines ( Fig. 12A, E ); areas of mesotergum with scattered yellow granules ( Fig. 12 ............................................................................................................................................................... 2

1’. Area IV unarmed ( Fig. 14A, D ); areas of mesotergum without coloured granules ( Fig. 14 )

.............................................................................................................................................. A. pluriarcuata

2. Areas II and V with paramedian tubercles ( Fig. 11 ); area I without large yellow spots on lateral margin .......................................................................................................................................................... A. pustulosa

2’. Areas II and V unarmed ( Fig. 12 ); area I of mesotergum with two marginal yellow spots ( Fig. 12 )

.................................................................................................................................................... A. biocellata

Type data: Holotype: Brazil. ‘Minas Gerais’ [Goiás]: Barro Alto [–14.964327°, –48.907321°], 1 ♀ ( IBSP 49, not examined), Paratypes: Brazil. ‘Minas Gerais’ [Goiás]: Barro Alto [–14.964327°, –48.907321], 1 ♂ ( MNRJ 42363, examined). Holotype: Brazil. Mato Grosso do Sul: Três Lagoas, Jupiá [–20.83689°, –51.70717], A Zamith & A Correa leg., xii.1946, 1 ♀ (formerly MZLQ A 0127, now IBSP 10102, holotype of Elleriana bilunata , examined by photograph).

Non-type material examined: Brazil. Tocantins: Lagoa da Confusão, Lagoa das Confusões: Caverna da Igreja [–10.8218°, –49.61977°], A Chagas, A Giupponi, A Kury & A Pérez leg., 8.vi.2007, 7 ♂ 12 ♀ ( MNRJ 18972); Lagoa da Confusão, Lagoa das Confusões: Morro da Gruta [–10.81665°, –49.61745°, 183 m], A Chagas, A Giupponi, A Kury & A Pérez leg., 7.vi.2007, 5 ♂ 5 ♀ ( MNRJ 19042); Lagoa da Confusão, Lagoa das Confusões: Morro da Gruta, [–10.81665°, -49.61745°, 183 m], A Chagas, A Giupponi, A Kury & A Pérez leg., 7.vi.2007, 2 ♂ 4 ♀ ( MNRJ 18973). Bahia: Maracás, [–13.4051°, –40.3579°], A Chagas-Jr, A Kury, D Pedroso, A Giupponi & V Dill leg., 03-05.vi.2009, 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 19171). Maranhão: Buriticupu, [–4.32872°, –46.35761°], C Junior leg., 12.viii.2015, (post-fire material) 13 ♂ 17 ♀ ( MNRJ 60365). Goiás: Minaçu, [–13.53085°, –48.22101°], LCF Alvarenga, CN Ricci & DF Moraes Jr leg., i.1998, 1 ♂ 2 ♀ ( MNRJ 2150). Mato Grosso do Sul: Aparecida do Taboado, Complexo Hidrelétrico de Urubupungá, Ilha Solteira, [–20.27267°, –51.15576°], A Mantovan leg., 1.ii.1965, 2 ♂ 5 ♀ ( MNRJ 2273); Águas Claras, Rio Sucuriú, Chapadão do Sul, [–18.79433°, –52.61919°], I Oliveira leg., 29–30.x.2007, 1 ♂ 2 ♀ ( MNRJ 7076); Brasilandia, Usina hidrelétrica Sergio Mota, [–21.25227°, –52.00895°], IBSP leg., 2000, (postfire material) 6 ♂ 13 ♀ ( IBSP 1867). ‘Mato Grosso’ [São Paulo]: Presidente Epitácio, Usina hidrelétrica Porto Primavera, [–21.80364°, –52.12917°], Equipe IBSP leg., i.1999, (post-fire material) 4 ♂ 11 ♀ 0 imm ( IBSP 1215).

Diagnosis: Differs from the other members of the genus by having two reniform well-marked spots in the laterals of area I ( Fig. 12A ). Differs from A. pustulosa by having unarmed areas II and V ( Fig. 12E ).

Distribution ( Fig. 10 ): Acantholibitia biocellata is distributed in: (1) Cerrado ecoregion of Brazilian States of Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Goiás and Tocantins; (2) Bahia interior forest of Bahia State; and (3) Maranhão Babaçu forest ecoregion in Maranhão State (where it is sympatric with A. pluriarcuata ).

Description of male MNRJ 18973 (with extra figures from other specimens): Measurements: CL: 0.98, CW: 1.44, AL: 1.80, AW: 2.44, IOD: 0.35, FeIV: 3.24.

Dorsum ( Fig. 12A, C–E ). DS lambda-type with marked constriction. Areas I, III and IV with two paramedian spines, those of area IV are the largest. Dorsal scutum flat in lateral view. Scutal grooves perceptible by slighter coloration. Anterior edge of dorsal scutum with protoglyphs shallow, with lateral triangular borders. Ocularium low and with a few granules near the eyes. Posterior border and free tergites each containing a transverse row of minute granules. Anal operculum with scattered granules.

Venter ( Fig. 12B ). Coxae I–III triangular, transverse to main body axis. Coxae II–IV connected by tubercular bridges. Coxae I–II with a longitudinal row of granules. Coxa IV pentagonal, greatly developed, oriented obliquely, but almost parallel to body axis; laterally with proximal clavi inguines. Stigmatic area inverted T-shaped with stigmata large, unconcealed. Free sternites each with a row of granules.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 13F, G ). Hand not swollen. Basichelicerite short, with well-marked bulla and uniformly granulated dorsally. Posterior margin of bulla fringed with four tubercles. Movable finger of cheliceral hand with six trapezoidal tubercles. Fixed finger with four triangular tubercles.

Pedipalps ( Fig. 13E ). Elongate trochanter, foliaceus femur; convex dorsally, with a dorsal row of four fused setiferous tubercles and a ventral row of eight setiferous tubercles. Tibia only slightly convex in ectal border, which have one lateral row of setae, distalmost setae larger than others. Tarsus conical, with scattered dorsal setae and two ventral rows of subequal thin setae.

Legs ( Figs 12 , 13H ). Short and unarmed legs, femora straight. Coxa IV convex in dorsal view with few apical granules and basally without clavi inguines. Pectinate claws in legs II and IV in one row with three spines. Tarsal counts: 5, 9, 6, 6 ( Mello-Leitão, 1935).

Colour (in alcohol, Fig. 12 ). DS moderate orange (53), with numerous sparced pale yellow (89) spots on granules that occur in all DS and free tergites. Area I with lateral large waning crescent moon-like spots. Pedipalpi, chelicerae and coxae of appendages moderate orange (53). Other podomeres of legs pale greenish-yellow (104) mottled in black (267).

Penis ( Fig. 13 A – D ). Ventral plate long, subrectangular with invagination at level of MS-C in lateral sides. Subdistal lateral margin of VP with two pairs of MS-C, large, curved and flattened in the tip. Two pairs of MS-D located in apical half of VP, MS-D1 twice longer than MS-D2 and closer to MS-C2, both MS-D straight and conical. One pair of MS-A in the basal region of VP, straight, conical and as long as MS-D1. Two pairs of MS-E in apical portion of latero-ventral surface and one pair of MS-B in the basal portion of ventral surface of VP. Ventral surface with two latero-basal thick stripes composed with microsetae type 1 (T1) surrounding MS-B not occupying truncus, apical portion smooth without microsetae. Glans with a long rounded dorsal process, stylus with a large wattle with an extended serrate part and with stylar barbs.

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus in vivo of lenticular Discosomaticinae. A–B, Sibambea waorani from Yasuní National Park (Ecuador) C–D, Sibambea rotunda from Orellana (Ecuador). E–F, Kayania bicolumnata from Ecuadorian Amazon. G–H, Protus bolivari from Madre de Dios (Peru). I, Protus speciosus from Amazonas (Colombia). Photographs of Arthur Anker (A–B, I), Andreas Kay (C–F), Nicky Bay (G) and Paul Bertner (H).

Figure 2. Habitus in vivo of some Discosomaticinae from Brazil. A, Roquettea singularis from Pará. B, Gryne leprosa from Pará. C, Gryne marginalis from Pará. D, Gryne dimorpha from Goiás. E–G, Gryne orensis from Mato Grosso do Sul. Photographs of Arthur Anker & Pedro H. Martins (A, C–D), Bruno Garcia (B) and Adriano Kury (E–G).

Figure 3. Habitus in vivo of some non-discosomaticinae. A, Cosmetus delicatus from Espírito Santo (Brazil). B, Paecilaema u-flavum from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). C, Cynorta conspersa from Pará (Brazil). D, Meterginus basalis from Cusuco National Park (Honduras). E, Rhaucus serripes from Cundinamarca (Colombia). F, Eucynorta virescens from Antisana Ecological Reserve (Ecuador). Photographs of Miguel Medrano (A, E, F), Sébastien Cally (B), Bruno Garcia (C), Jonathan Kolbi (D).

Figure 10. Map of known distribution of Acantholibitia. Numbers correspond to the following WWF ecoregions:1 = Cerrado, 2 = Bahia interior forest, 3 = Maranhão Babaçu forest, 4 = Caatinga Enclaves moist forest, 5 = Caatinga, 6 = Pernambuco interior forest, 7 = Pernambuco coastal forest.

Figure 11. Acantholibitia pustulosa. A, male syntype (MNRJ 1379), dorsal view. B–E, male from Campo Grande, MS (AMNH AK 145): B, dorsal view. C, frontal view. D, lateral panoramic view. E, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 12. Acantholibitia biocellata, male (MNRJ 18973). A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, dorsal panoramic view. D, frontal view. E, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 13. SEM images of some structures of Acantholibitia biocellata, male (MNRJ 19042). A–D, penis: A, dorsal view; B, lateral view; C, ventral view; D, detail of MS-C, ventral view. E, left pedipalpus, mesal view. F, left basichelicerite, dorsal view. G, left cheliceral hand, dorsal view. H, claws of leg IV, oblique view. Scale bars: 10 μm (D), 20 μm (H), 50 μm (A–C), 200 μm (E), 100 μm (F, G).

Figure 14. Acantholibitia pluriarcuata, male (MZUSP 48841). A, dorsal view. B, dorsal panoramic view. C, lateral view. D, frontal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.