Neobisium (Neobisium) henroti Beier, 1956

Gardini, Giulio, 2023, The troglomorphic pseudoscorpions of the genus Neobisium from Corsica, Sardinia and mainland Italy, with description of new species (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae), Zootaxa 5381 (1), pp. 1-67 : 9-14

Neobisium (Neobisium) henroti Beier, 1956

( Figs 10–20 , 118 )

Neobisium (Blothrus) henroti Beier, 1956a: 55 , figs 1–2.

Type locality: Italy, Sardinia, Nuoro Province, Siniscola, Monte Albo , Grotta di Gana ‘e Gortoe 19 Sa / NU (40°34’40”N 9°41’37”E) .

Distribution. Italy (Sardinia).

Diagnosis (♂ ♀). A subterranean, troglomorphic Neobisium from Sardinia (Monte Albo) that differs from other Mediterranean species of the genus in the following combination of characters: posterior margin of carapace with 4– 5 setae, epistome triangular, anterior eyes with flat lens, dark integument between anterior and posterior eyes absent; tergites I–IV: 5–6:6:6:6–7; cheliceral palm with 6–7 setae, rallum with 8 blades; fixed chelal finger homodentate, with contiguous teeth; fixed and movable chelal fingers with 133–140 and 100–120 teeth, respectively; pedipalpal femur 1.71–1.78 mm length (6.10–6.13 ×), patella 1.36–1.38 mm (4.05–4.18 ×), movable finger 2.07–2.20 mm; pedipalpal hand with oval profile and its greatest width in the proximal third, chelal fingers curved in dorsal view, almost straight in antiaxial view; ratio between movable chelal finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.68–1.76; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger 0.81–0.83; ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.63–1.74; trichobothrium ist proximal st, closer to the finger tip than to isb or midway between the finger tip and isb.

Type material examined. None.

Non-type material examined. ITALY — Sardinia: Nuoro Prov.: 1 T, Lula, Monte Albo, Turuddò, Grotta Conca ‘e Crapas 30 Sa / NU (40°27’41.4”N 9°31’17.8”E), 1040 m a.s.l., 28.VIII.1984, G. Grafitti leg. ; 1♀, id., 13. VI.1985, D. Baratelli leg.; 1♀ (together with 1♂ 4 T 8 D of N. lulense ), Lula, Monte Albo, Grotta Sa Conca de Sos Omines Agrestes 68 Sa / NU (40°28’22”N 9°32’32”E), 880 m a.s.l., 14. VI.1980, S. Zoia leg.; 1D, Siniscola, Monte Albo, Grotta di Gana ‘e Gortoe 19 Sa / NU (40°34’40”N 9°41’37”E), 35 m a.s.l., 28.IV.2002, M. Mucedda leg.

Description of adults [♂ according to Beier (1956), ♀]. Carapace, chelicerae, pedipalps and palpal coxae brown pale; pedipalps smooth, pleural membrane granular. Carapace 1.34–1.39 times as long as broad, with four vestigial eyes without tapetum ( Fig. 10 ), the anterior ones with flat lens (diameter 0.08 mm), the posterior ones reduced to a white spot; distance from anterior eyes to anterior margin of carapace 0.12 mm, dark integument between anterior and posterior eyes absent; anterior margin with prominent triangular epistome, apically denticulate ( Figs 11–12 ); chaetotaxy 4–?–?–4 (♂) or 4–8–4–5 (♀), besides 1 preocular seta on each side. Chaetotaxy of tergites I–X (♀): 5–6:6:6:7:7– 9:8:7–8:7–9:9–10:9. Chaetotaxy of sternites II–X (♀): 6–9:(3)21–22(3):(3)12(3):12–13:10– 11:10–11:11:11:10–11. Chelicera ( Fig. 13 ; Beier 1956a: 56, fig. 1) 2.00 (♂) or 2.08–2.11 (♀) times as long as broad, palm with 6–7 setae; fixed finger (♀) with 12–14 subequal teeth proximally and distally decreasing in size; movable finger (♀) with ca 12 worn teeth and a prominent tooth at level of gs; gs ratio 0.70 (♂) or 0.65–0.69 (♀), spinneret largely prominent and rounded; rallum with 8 blades (♀), the distal one laterally briefly pinnate and isolated on a prominence, the second one serrate, the successive ones smooth, the proximal shorter; serrulae interior (♀) and exterior with ca 25 and 30 blades, respectively. Manducatory process with 5–6 (♂) or 5 (♀) setae. Coxal setae (♀): pedipalp 10–13, I 7–9, II 6–8, III 6, IV 8–9; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically pointed, anteromedial process without spicules ( Fig. 14 ). Pedipalp ( Figs 15–17 ; Beier 1956: 56, fig. 2): trochanter 2.89–3.0 (♀) times as long as broad, on antiaxial face with 2–3 weak button-like tubercles (with lyrifissure) of decreasing size proximally; femur 6.89 (♂) or 6.10–6.13 (♀) times as long as broad, weakly enlarged distally; patella 4.57 (♂) or 4.05–4.18 (♀) times as long as broad, club gradually enlarged distally, ratio between club and pedicel 2.3 (♂) or 2.15–2.26 (♀) ratio X/Y = 0.40–0.43 (♀); chela with pedicel 5.8 (♂) or 5.32–5.47 (♀) times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 2.30 (♂) or 2.08–2.11 (♀) times as long as broad, with oval profile and its greatest width in the proximal third (dorsal view); fingers curved in dorsal view, almost straight in antiaxial view ( Figs 16–17 ); fixed chelal finger regularly homodentate, with 133–140 (♀) pointed contiguous teeth ( Fig. 17 ); nodus ramosus subterminal; movable chelal finger with 100–120 (♀) low, flattened contiguous teeth ( Fig. 17 ), apart from the distal ones (distally the trichobothrium st) which are cuspidate; all teeth with dental canals; sensillum 10–11 teeth proximally trichobothrium st; trichobothria as in figs 15–17 (Beier 1956: 56, fig. 2), relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis (♀): it 0.105–0.11/ et 0.125 –0.135 / est 0.15 –0.18/ ist 0.33–0.42/ isb 0.77–0.79/ ib 0.90/ esb 0.96/ eb 0.97/ t 0.15–0.17/ st 0.24/ sb 0.71–0.72/ b 0.90–0.91; trichobothrium est at level of t or just proximal t; trichobothrium st distal ist, closer to t than to ist; trichobothrium ist closer to the finger tip than to isb (♀ from Grotta Conca ‘e Crapas) or midway between the finger tip and isb (♀ from Grotta Sa Conca de Sos Omines Agrestes); trichobothrium isb proximal sb; ratio between movable chelal finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.65 (♂) or 1.68–1.76 (♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger 0.83 (♂) or 0.81–0.82 (♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.63–1.74 (♀). Leg IV (♀) ( Fig. 18 ): trochanter 2.97–3.02 times as long as deep, femur + patella 5.40–6.23 times as long as deep, tibia 7.44–8.93 times (TS = 0.32–0.38), basitarsus 4.88–5.25 times (TS = 0.13–0.14), telotarsus 7.8–9.8 times as long as deep (TS = 0.51–0.53), ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.70–0.71, subterminal seta furcate, claws with dorsal tooth (apparently) absent.

Measurements. Body length 6.0 (♂) or 4.0–4.3 (♀). Carapace 0.98–1.09 × 0.73–0.78 (♀) anteriorly. Chelicera 0.75–0.76 × 0.36 (♀); movable finger length 0.475–0.49 (♀). Pedipalp: trochanter 0.81 × 0.27–0.28 (♀); femur 2.0 × 0.29 (♂) or 1.71–1.78 × 0.28–0.29 (♀); patella 1.60 × 0.35 (♂) or 1.36–1.38 × 0.325–0.34 (♀); chela with pedicel 3.65 × 0.63 (♂) or 3.14–3.23 × 0.59 (♀) [depth 0.57–0.58 (♀)]; hand with pedicel length 1.45 (♂) or 1.23–1.25 (♀); movable finger length 2.07–2.20 (♀). Leg IV (♀): trochanter 0.61–0.62 × 0.205; femur + patella 1.51–1.59 × 0.255–0.28; tibia 1.34 × 0.15–0.18; basitarsus 0.61–0.63 × 0.12–0.125; telotarsus 0.86–0.89 × 0.09–0.11.

Description of tritonymph. Carapace, chelicerae, pedipalps and palpal coxae brown pale. Pedipalps smooth, pleural membrane granular. Carapace 1.33 times as long as broad, with four eye-spots ( Fig. 19 ); anterior margin of carapace with a triangular smooth epistome ( Fig. 19 ); chaetotaxy 4–7–4–4, besides 1 preocular seta on each side. Chaetotaxy of tergites I–X: 4:5:6:6:7:7:7:7:8:7. Chaetotaxy of sternites II–X:?:(2)8(2):(2)8(2):9:9:9:9:10:10. Chelicera 1.96 times as long as broad, palm with 5 or 6 setae, fixed finger with subequal worn teeth, movable finger with a prominent tooth just distad of gs; gs ratio 0.70, spinneret largely prominent and rounded, with 6 silk ducts; rallum with 7 blades, the distal one laterally briefly pinnate and isolated on a prominence, the second one serrate, the successive ones smooth, the proximal shorter. Manducatory process with 4 setae. Coxal setae: pedipalp 9–10, I 6, II 6, III 4, IV 6; anterolateral process of coxa I squat with blunt apex. Pedipalp: trochanter 2.66 times as long as broad, with a tubercle (with lyrifissure) in the antiaxial face; femur 5.55 times as long as broad, with a tubercle (with lyrifissure) in the middle on antiaxial face; patella 3.73 times as long as broad, weakly and gradually enlarged distally, club 2.0 times longer than pedicel, ratio X/Y = 0.67; chela with pedicel 5.06 times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 1.87 times as long as broad; fixed chelal finger regularly homodentate, with 107 pointed contiguous teeth; nodus ramosus subterminal; movable chelal finger with 90 low, flattened contiguous teeth; all teeth with dental canals; sensillum six teeth distally trichobothrium st; relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis: it 0.13/ et 0.18/ est 0.22 / ist 0.40/ ib 0.89/ esb 0.94/ eb 0.96/ t 0.22/ st 0.41/ b 0.88; ratio between movable chelal finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.77; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger 0.84; ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.46. Leg IV: trochanter 2.43 times as long as deep, femur + patella 4.94 times as long as deep, tibia 7.37 times (TS = 0.36), basitarsus 3.88 times (TS = 0.15), telotarsus 6.47 times as long as deep (TS = 0.43), ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.63, subterminal seta furcate, claws (apparently) without dorsal tooth.

Measurements. Body length 2.9. Carapace 0.76 × 0.57 anteriorly. Chelicera 0.53 × 0.27, movable finger length 0.35. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.52 × 0.195; femur 1.11 × 0.20; patella 0.84 × 0.225; chela with pedicel 2.0 × 0.395 (depth 0.38); hand with pedicel length 0.74; movable finger length 1.31. Leg IV: trochanter 0.39 × 0.16; femur + patella 0.94 × 0.19; tibia 0.80 × 0.11; basitarsus 0.35 × 0.09; telotarsus 0.55 × 0.085.

Description of deutonymph. Integuments pale. Pedipalps smooth, pleural membrane granular. Carapace 1.36 times as long as broad, neither eyes nor eye-spots visible; anterior margin of carapace with a slightly prominent, triangular epistome; chaetotaxy 4–6–4–5, preocular setae not seen. Chaetotaxy of tergites I–X: 6:6:6:7:7:7:7:7:7:7. Chaetotaxy of sternites II-X: 0:(2)4?(2):(2)4(2):8:8:8:8:7:8. Chelicera 1.9 times as long as broad, palm with 5 and 6 setae, fixed finger with 18 subequal teeth, movable finger with 12 teeth, one of which prominent just distad of gs; gs ratio 0.60, spinneret largely prominent, hemispheric, with 4 silk ducts; rallum with 6 blades, the distal one laterally briefly pinnate and isolated on a prominence, the second one serrate, the successive ones apparently smooth, the proximal shorter; serrula exterior with 25 blades. Manducatory process with 3 setae. Coxal setae: pedipalp 5, I 4–5, II 5, III 4, IV 4; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically pointed. Pedipalp: trochanter 2.4 times as long as broad; femur 4.8 times as long as broad, with a tubercle (with lyrifissure) in the proximal half on antiaxial face; patella 3.0 times as long as broad, weakly and gradually enlarged distally, club 1.85 times longer than pedicel, ratio X/Y = 0.58; chela with pedicel 4.54 times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 1.96 times as long as broad; fixed chelal finger regularly homodentate ( Fig. 20 ), with 81 pointed contiguous teeth; nodus ramosus subterminal; movable chelal finger with 65 low, flattened contiguous teeth ( Fig. 20 ); all teeth with dental canals; sensillum closer to t than to b; relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis: it 0.20/ et 0.235/ est 0.30 / ist 0.42/ ib 0.89/ eb 0.93/ t 0.32/ b 0.82; ratio between movable chelal finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.53; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger 0.86; ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.28. Leg IV: trochanter 2.0 times as long as deep, femur + patella 4.48 times as long as deep, tibia 6.37 times (TS = 0.35), basitarsus 3.84 times (TS = 0.18), telotarsus 6.0 times as long as deep (TS = 0.32), ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.69, subterminal seta furcate, claws (apparently) without dorsal tooth.

Measurements. Body length 1.9. Carapace 0.56 × 0.41 anteriorly. Chelicera 0.38 × 0.20, movable finger length 0.25. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.35 × 0.145; femur 0.72 × 0.15; patella 0.51 × 0.17; chela with pedicel 1.25 × 0.275 (depth 0.265); hand with pedicel length 0.54; movable finger length 0.83. Leg IV: trochanter 0.24 × 0.12; femur + patella 0.65 × 0.145; tibia 0.51 × 0.08; basitarsus 0.25 × 0.065; telotarsus 0.36 × 0.06.

Remarks. Neobisium henroti was described by Beier (1956a) from a male from Sardinia (Grotta di Gana ‘e Gortoe 19 Sa/NU, Siniscola), and compared with N. cerrutii , described on a male from Latium (Grotta di San Luca 13 La/FR, Guarcino). Both species were referred by Beier (1955, 1956a) to the subgenus Blothrus , to which another species from Latium― N. patrizii ―was already attributed to that date. Soon after ( Beier 1956b), they were transferred to the new subgenus Ommatoblothrus . The holotype of N. henroti is still not traceable, and from the type locality only one deutonymph has been available.

Following Beier (1956a), N. henroti should be morphologically similar to N. cerrutii , from which it differs mainly in having larger size, fewer setae at the base of carapace, different tergal and sternal chaetotaxy and different reciprocal positions of the trichobothria ist–est and st–t.

Beier (1956a) also suggested a probable affinity of the subterranean Neobisium species from Latium ( N. patrizii and N. cerrutii ) and from Sardinia ( N. henroti ) with N. sublaeve (Simon, 1879) , an epigean species described from the inland mountains of Corsica and subsequently recorded from Sardinia ( Gardini 2000; WPC 2023). The epigean species of Neobisium from the Corso-Sardinian complex require further review, and the same N. sublaeve has never been redescribed from typical nor topotypical material: only the drawings of the carapace and a pedipalp of a tritonymph, referred to this species, are available (Schawaller 1981: 45, figs 2–4).

Among the specialized subterranean Neobisium species of the Corso-Sardinian complex, N. henroti is comparable only to N. sardoum as both possess similar degrees of adaptive modifications. The two species can be easily distinguished in the following main characters (see also Remarks under N. sardoum ): posterior margin of carapace with 4–5 setae in N. henroti , 6–7 setae in N. sardoum ; fixed chelal finger homodentate in N. henroti , heterodentate in N. sardoum ; fixed and movable chelal fingers with 133–140 and 100–117 teeth, respectively, in N. henroti , with 109–120 and 84–97 teeth, respectively, in N. sardoum ; chelal hand with oval profile in dorsal view and greatest width in the proximal third in N. henroti , with long oval profile in dorsal view and greatest width in the middle in N. sardoum ; ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.65–1.76 in N. henroti , 1.30–1.61 in N. sardoum ; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger 0.80–0.83 in N. henroti , 0.88– 1.05 in N. sardoum . These two species are present in karst complexes ( N. henroti in Monte Albo and N. sardoum in Supramontes of Oliena, Orgosolo and Urzulei), characterized by the presence of specialized subterranean faunas that are completely different from each other ( Marcia 2008). N. henroti is syntopic in Monte Albo caves with Neobisium lulense Gardini, 1982 : the described above female of N. henroti (Grotta Sa Conca de Sos Omines Agrestes 68 Sa/ NU, 14.VI.1980), was preyed upon by a male of N. lulense .

Among the specialized subterranean Neobisium species from the central and southern Apennines that have the fixed chelal finger regularly homodentate, N. henroti shares the same degree of adaptive morphological features with N. battonii Beier, 1966 from Abruzzo (Grotta Risorgenze di Stiffe 17 A/AQ, San Demetrio ne’ Vestini), known only from the female holotype. Neobisium henroti differs from N. battonii in the following main characters: posterior margin of carapace with 4–5 setae (6 setae in N. battonii ), dark integument between anterior and posterior eyes absent (present in N. battonii ), fixed chelal finger with 133–140 teeth (118 teeth in N. battonii ), pedipalpal femur length 1.71–2.0 mm (1.50 mm in N. battonii ), pedipalpal patella length 1.36–1.60 mm (1.15 mm in N. battonii ), pedipalpal chela length 3.14–3.65 mm (2.50 mm in N. battonii ), hand of chela with pedicel 2.08–2.30 times as long as broad (2.46 in N. battonii ), movable chelal finger length 2.07–2.40 mm (1.62 mm in N. battonii ), ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.65–1.76 (1.51 in N. battonii ), relative position of trichobothrium st along chelal axis 0.24 (0.42 in N. battonii ).

Figures

FIGURE 118. Map depicting known distribution of Neobisum species with troglomorphic facies from Sardinia (A), Ligurian Alps and Corsica (B).

FIGURES 10–18. Neobisium (N.) henroti Beier, 1956, female, Grotta Conca ‘e Crapas, 13.VI.1985 (Lula, Sardinia) (unless otherwise stated). 10, epistome of carapace and left ocular area; 11, enlarged epistome; 12, female, Grotta Sa Conca de Sos Omines Agrestes, 14.VI.1980 (Lula, Sardinia): enlarged epistome; 13, right chelicera, dorsal view; 14, anterior processes of right coxa I; 15, trochanter, femur and patella of right pedipalp, dorsal view; 16, right pedipalpal chela, dorsal view; 17, same, antiaxial view, with magnified details of teeth; 18, right leg IV, antiaxial view.

FIGURES 19–20. Neobisium (N.) henroti Beier, 1956, tritonymph, Grotta Conca ‘e Crapas, 28.VIII.1984 (Lula, Sardinia). 19, epistome of carapace and right ocular area; 20, deutonymph, Grotta Gana ‘e Gortoe, 28.IV.2002 (Siniscola, Sardinia): detail of teeth at level of trichobothria et–it.