Promitobates

Bragagnolo, Cibele & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2012, Systematic review of Promitobates Roewer, 1913 and cladistic analysis of Mitobatinae Simon, 1879 (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae), Zootaxa 3308, pp. 1-48 : 13

Key to females of Promitobates species

The females have the same aspect as males regarding the coloration and quantity of tubercles. However, there is sexual dimorphism in femur IV length, i.e., these legs are several times longer in males than females. The Mitobatinae that possesses dorsal apophyses on coxa and trochanter IV [clade 2] presents an additional sexual dimorphism, the reduction of the size of these apophyses in females. The females also possess a body more convex than males and when the apophyses of the ocularium, area III and posterior margin of dorsal scutum are present, they are higher and more robust than those on males.

1 Ocularium armed with a pair of low tubercles ( Fig. 14 B)............................................. P. a l e sp. n.

- Ocularium armed with a pair of high spiniform apophyses ( Fig. 14 A,C,D)........................................ 2

2 Posterior margin of dorsal scutum armed with tubercles or spiniform apophysis ( Fig. 12 B,C,D)........................ 3

- Posterior margin of dorsal scutum with a row of tubercles of the same size ( Fig. 12 A)................ P. viridigranulatus

3 Area I of dorsal scutum with few tubercles (less than 10), scattered; Ocularium sulphurous yellow, standing out from the rest of body (coloration on live animal) ( Fig. 11 A)........................................................... P. bellus

- Area I of dorsal scutum densely tuberculated or with tubercles up to the posterior groove (roughly in rows); Ocularium color not standing out from the rest of body (the same color or slightly yellowish) ( Figs. 11 B–E, 12C,D).................... 4

4 Posterior margin of dorsal scutum armed with a pair of small spiniform tubercles (width similar to length) ( Figs. 11 A, 12C)..................................................................................................... 5

- Posterior margin with a pair of high spiniform apophyses (longer than wide) ( Figs. 11 B,C,E,F, 12D)................... 6

5 Free tergite III with median apophysis; apex of coxa and trochanter IV and basis of femur IV black; area IV densely tubercu- lated ( Fig. 12 C)......................................................................... P. weissbier sp. n.

- Free tergite III unarmed; apex of coxa and trochanter IV and basal of femur IV slightly blackish, but never standing out from the rest of body; area IV with tubercles arranged in transverse rows up to the posterior margin ( Fig. 11 D).... P. intermedius

6 Areas III and IV of dorsal scutum densely tuberculated except around the apophyses; prosoma with a longitudinal row of tubercles on the sides of ocularium ( Fig. 12 D)................................................... P. lag er sp. n.

- Areas III and IV with tubercles concentrated on median region and/or on the grooves; prosoma without longitudinal row of tubercles on the sides of ocularium ( Fig. 11 B, C, E, F)........................................................ 7

7 Free tergite III armed with median tubercle ( Fig. 11 C, E)...................................................... 8

- Free tergite III unarmed ( Fig. 11 B, F)..................................................................... 9

8 Areas III and IV of dorsal scutum with tubercles arranged in transverse rows up to the posterior margin; tubercles of dorsal scutum yellowish, with circular spot of same coloration around them ( Fig. 11 C)........................ P. hatschbachi

- Areas III and IV of dorsal scutum without tubercles arranged in transverse rows up to the posterior margin; tubercles of dorsal scutum sulphurous yellow that stand out, without sulphurous yellow circular spots around the tubercle ( Fig. 11 E)...................................................................................................... P. n i g r i p e s

9 Dorsal scutum with black tiger-like stripes; coxa IV densely tuberculated, tubercles as tall as wide ( Fig. 11 B).... P. difficilis

- Dorsal scutum without black tiger-like stripes; coxa IV with few tubercles (less than 10), tubercles taller than wide ( Fig. 11 F)............................................................................................. P. ornatus

Figures

FIGURE 11. Dorsal view of females of Promitobates. A. P. bellus (MZSP- 19509); B. P. dificillis (MNRJ- 11395, syntype); C. P. hatschbachi (MZSP 18811); D. P. intermedius (MZSP- 16764); E. P. n i g r i p e s (MZSP - 31029); F. P. ornatus (MZSP 27440). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 12. Dorsal view of females of Promitobates. A. P. viridigranulatus (MZSP 18128); B. P. a l e sp. n. (MZSP 18635); C. P. weissbier sp. n. (MZSP 17161, paratype); D. P. l a ge r sp. n. (MZSP 17249). Scale bar, 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. Lateral view of females of Promitobates. A. P. viridigranulatus (MZSP 18128); B. P. ale sp. n. (MZSP 18635); C. P. weissbier sp. n. (MZSP 17161); D. P. lager sp. n. (MZSP 17249). Scale bar, 1 mm.