Bisetocreagris aspera, Feng & Zhang & Chen, 2023

Feng, Zegang, Zhang, Feng & Chen, Jun, 2023, Cave-dwelling Neobisiidae in South China Karst, with descriptions of twelve new species of Bisetocreagris (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae) from Guizhou Province, Zootaxa 5395 (1), pp. 1-77 : 11-16

Bisetocreagris aspera sp. nov. (DZ双ŁÞ伪AE)

http://zoobank.org:act: 174173E6-7028-4036-9B38-641C34C96BC8

Figs 7–11

Type material. Holotype male (Ps.- MHBU-GZ19101401 ): China, Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Yinjiang County, Muhuang Town , Tu Cave (âṅåȇ仁Ṅ印ũ县ÌĸDz土ñ), [28°05′20.94″N, 108°39′28.73″E], 764 m a.s.l., 14 October 2019, Zegang Feng, Lingchen Zhao leg.

Paratypes: 3 males (Ps.- MHBU-GZ 19101402 ‒04 ) , 5 females (Ps.- MHBU-GZ 19101405 ‒09 ), same data as the holotype .

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin word “ asper ”, meaning rough and harsh, which refers to the presence of granules on the lateral margin of carapace, as well as on all segments of the pedipalp.

Distribution and habitat. This new species is known only from the type locality Tu Cave ( Figs 1E , 7 ), located next to a country road about 3 km to the west of Muhuang Town, Tongren City. The entrance of the cave is approximately triangular (~ 1.5 m high and ~ 4 m wide), about 15 m from the nearest agricultural field. The cave is humid, about 200 m long, extending horizontally with dripping water and scattered bat guano. All specimens were found under the gravel near the bat guano ( Fig. 7B ) in the dark zone.

Diagnosis. (♂ ♀) Troglomorphic habitus; carapace without eyes or eyespots; epistome triangular, with rounded tip; carapace with 4–6 setae on posterior margin; pedipalp slender with distinct granular in all segments except chelal finger from middle to the fingertip; both chelal fingers with 106–133 teeth; femur 6.54–7.12 (♂), 6.40–6.75 (♀) times (length 2.19–2.56), patella 5.26–5.63 (♂), 4.93–5.28 (♀) times (length 2.17–2.48) longer than wide, pedicel about half of total length of patella. Hand with pedicel 3.42–3.65 (♂), 2.83–2.98 (♀) times (length 1.75– 2.01), chela with pedicel 6.74–7.46 (♂), 5.35–5.70 (♀) times (length 3.39–3.83) longer than wide, finger 1.08–1.15 (♂), 0.99–1.06 (♀) times longer than hand with pedicel. Chelicera: rallum with 8 pinnate setae, distal one with an expanded base.

Description. Male (holotype; paratypes males in parentheses; Figs 8A , 9A ). Carapace, chelicerae, and pedipalps reddish brown; abdomen and legs yellowish.

Carapace ( Figs 10A–B , 11A ): smooth with finely granular on each side, 1.31 (1.26–1.31) times longer than wide, with a total of 27 (26–27) setae, including 4 (4) on anterior margin, 6 (5–6) on posterior margin, and 2 (1–2) on each side of antero-lateral margin; without eyes or eyespots ( Fig. 10B ); epistome triangular, with rounded tip.

Chelicera ( Figs 10C , 11B–C, E ): hand with 7 (6–7) setae, movable finger with 1 (1) submedial seta; fixed finger with 14–21 (15–19) teeth; movable finger with 15–17 (16–20) teeth; serrula exterior with 42 (40) lamellae; serrula interior with 27 (29) lamellae. Galea ( Fig. 11E ) with only one main branch and apically forked. Rallum ( Fig. 11C ) with 8 (8) pinnate blades, distal-most blade with expanded base, distal-most 1–2 blades slightly separated from others, proximal one short.

Pedipalps ( Figs 10D–E , 11I–K ): apex of coxae rounded, with 5 (4–5) setae on each side, pedipalpal coxae with 8–9 (7–9) setae. Pedipalp slender and with obvious granular in all segments except chelal finger middle to the fingertip. Trochanter 2.97 (2.81–3.06) times longer than wide, femur 6.88 (6.54–7.12), patella 5.52 (5.26–5.63) times longer than wide, pedicel about half the entire length of patella, chela (with pedicel) 6.74 (6.85–7.46), chela (without pedicel) 5.94 (6.00–6.50) times longer than wide, movable finger 1.47 (1.43–1.56) times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 8 trichobothria, movable finger with 4, eb and esb on lateral margin of hand; ib, ist and isb closely grouped at the base of the fixed finger; est slightly distal of finger middle; it -et at same level near fingertip; on movable finger st nearer to t than to sb, the latter slightly nearer b than to st, the distance between sb and b longer than that between st and t ( Figs 10D , 11I–J ). Venom apparatus present only in fixed chelal finger, venom duct short, not extending past half of the distance to et. Fixed chelal finger with 120 (131–132) teeth, which are blunt and retrorse in distal, flat and round in middle and basal part; movable finger with 122 (131–133) teeth, which are pointed in distal, flat and round in middle and basal part; all teeth contiguous.

Abdomen: pleural membrane granulated. Tergal chaetotaxy (I–XI): 6:6:6:6:6:9:10:8:9:8:7 (7–8:6–8:7–8:6– 9:7–9:9–10:9:8–11:9–10:9–11:7–8); sternal chaetotaxy (V–XI): 9:13:13:14:13:13:13:4 (8–10:12–13:13–14:13– 14:13–14:13–14:12–15:3–4); stigmata with 5–6 (4–6) setae; anal cone with 2 (2) dorsal and 2 (2) ventral setae. Male genital area ( Figs 10F , 11G ): sternite II with 28 (31–35) scattered setae; sternite III with anteromedian groove flanked by one small seta on each side, with 17 (15–19) posterior setae.

Legs: coxae chaetotaxy (I–IV): 6:6–7:3:9 (6–8:6–7:3–5:7–10). Leg I ( Figs 10H , 11L ): femur 5.22 (5.45–5.71), patella 3.90 (4.05–4.39), tibia 7.67 (7.20–8.29), basitarsus 4.00 (3.83–4.08), telotarsus 7.82 (6.92–8.00) times longer than wide, femur 1.54 (1.51–1.56) times longer than patella, telotarsus 1.79 (1.73–1.76) times longer than basitarsus.

Leg IV ( Figs 10I , 11F, M ): femur + patella 6.58 (6.09–6.69) times longer than wide, femur shorter than patella, tibia 9.55 (9.05–9.94), basitarsus 4.20 (3.93–4.14), telotarsus 8.67 (7.14–8.08) times longer than wide, telotarsus 1.65 (1.59–1.69) times longer than basitarsus; basitarsus with one tactile setae (TS=0.13–0.17), telotarsus with one tactile setae (TS=0.51–0.55); subterminal tarsal seta ( Fig. 11F ) bifurcated, both branches dentated; arolium not divided, shorter than the slender and simple claws.

Females (paratypes; Figs 8B , 9B ): mostly same as holotype and paratypes males.

Chelicera. Hand with 6–7 setae, movable finger with 1 submedial seta; fixed finger with 14–21 teeth; movable finger with 15–20 teeth; serrula exterior with 38–43 lamellae; serrula interior with 28–32 lamellae. Galea with only one main branch and apically forked; rallum with 8 blades, similar to holotype.

Pedipalps. Apex of coxae rounded, with 4–5 setae on each side. Pedipalpal coxae with 7–9 setae. Trochanter 2.68–3.05, femur 6.40–6.75, patella 4.93–5.28, chela (with pedicel) 5.35–5.70, chela (without pedicel) 4.64–4.94 times longer than wide, movable finger 1.31–1.40 times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with about 106–125 teeth, movable finger with about 108–128 teeth.

Abdomen. Tergal chaetotaxy (I–XI): 6–8:6–7:6–7:6–8:6–8:8–10:8–9:9:9–10:8–11:7–8; sternal chaetotaxy (IV– XI): 8–9:12–13:12–14:12–14:13–14:12–14:11–13:3. Female genital area ( Figs 10G , 11H ): sternite II with 5–7 setae on each side; sternite III with a row of 11–15 setae on the posterior margin.

Measurements: (length/breadth or depth in mm; ratios for most characters in parentheses). Holotype male (paratypes males in square brackets).Body length 5.10 [4.55–5.51]. Carapace 1.31/1.00 (1.31) [1.23–1.29/0.97– 1.02 (1.26–1.31)]. Pedipalpal trochanter 1.07/0.36 (2.97) [1.01/0.33–0.36 (2.81–3.06)], femur 2.34/0.34 (6.88) [2.29–2.35/0.33–0.35 (6.54–7.12)], patella 2.32/0.42 (5.52) [2.25–2.27/0.40–0.43 (5.26–5.63)], chela (with pedicel) 3.57/0.53 (6.74) [3.56–3.60/0.48–0.52 (6.85–7.46)], chela (without pedicel) 3.15/0.53 (5.94) [3.12–3.17/0.48–0.52 (6.00–6.50)], hand length (without pedicel) 1.37 [1.29–1.36], movable finger length 2.02 (1.47 times longer than hand without pedicel) [1.95–2.01 (1.43–1.56 times longer than hand without pedicel)]. Leg I: trochanter 0.40/0.26 (1.54) [0.37–0.39/0.24–0.26 (1.50–1.56)], femur 1.20/0.23 (5.22) [1.19–1.20/0.21–0.22 (5.45–5.71)], patella 0.78/0.20 (3.90) [0.77–0.79/0.18–0.19 (4.05–4.39)], tibia 1.15/0.15 (7.67) [1.08–1.16/0.14–0.15 (7.20–8.29)], basitarsus 0.48/0.12 (4.00) [0.46–0.49/0.12 (3.83–4.08)], telotarsus 0.86/0.11 (7.82) [0.80–0.86/0.10–0.12 (6.92– 8.00)]. Leg IV: trochanter 0.54/0.27 (2.00) [0.64–0.65/0.26–0.27 (2.41–2.46)], femur + patella 2.04/0.31 (6.58) [1.93–1.95/0.29–0.32 (6.09–6.69)], tibia 1.91/0.20 (9.55) [1.73–1.81/0.18–0.20 (9.05–9.94)], basitarsus 0.63/0.15 (4.20) [0.58–0.61/0.14–0.15 (3.93–4.14)], telotarsus 1.04/0.12 (8.67) [0.97–1.00/0.12–0.14 (7.14–8.08)].

Females (paratypes). Body length 4.08–6.39. Carapace 1.31–1.46/1.01–1.11 (1.29–1.33). Pedipalpal trochanter 1.02–1.17/0.38–0.41 (2.68–3.05), femur 2.19–2.56/0.34–0.40 (6.40–6.75), patella 2.17–2.48/0.44–0.48 (4.93– 5.28), chela (with pedicel) 3.39–3.83/0.63–0.69 (5.35–5.70), chela (without pedicel) 2.94–3.33/0.63–0.69 (4.64– 4.94), hand length (without pedicel) 1.36–1.52, movable finger length 1.86–2.13 (1.31–1.40 times longer than hand without pedicel). Leg I: trochanter 0.37–0.44/0.26–0.28 (1.37–1.62), femur 1.10–1.32/0.22–0.24 (5.00–5.50), patella 0.71–0.85/0.19–0.22 (3.74–3.90), tibia 1.04–1.23/0.15–0.16 (6.50–8.20), basitarsus 0.44–0.53/0.12–0.13 (3.67–4.08), telotarsus 0.82–0.91/0.11–0.12 (6.83–8.09). Leg IV: trochanter 0.63–0.74/0.28–0.30 (2.25–2.47), femur + patella 1.83–2.07/0.31–0.34 (5.55–6.45), tibia 1.71–1.96/0.20–0.21 (8.55–9.33), basitarsus 0.58–0.63/0.15–0.16 (3.69–3.94), telotarsus 0.95–1.10/0.13–0.15 (6.79–8.23).

Remarks. This new species is similar, in pedipalpal proportions, to B. jiangi sp. nov. and B. chumi sp. nov. (eg: the pedipalpal femur 6.54–7.12 (♂), 6.40–6.75 (♀) times longer than wide B. aspera sp. nov. vs. 6.32–6.77 (♂), 6.12–6.79 (♀) times longer than wide B. jiangi sp. nov. vs. 6.52–6.78 (♂), 6.37–6.77 (♂) times longer than wide in B. chumi sp. nov.), but can be distinguished by the presence of fine granulations on lateral margin of carapace (vs. smooth in B. jiangi sp. nov. and B. chumi sp. nov.); the absence of eyes or eyespots (vs. B. jiangi sp. nov. and B. chumi sp. nov. with 2 faint eyespots); the length of pedipalpal patella 2.25–2.32 (♂), 2.17–2.48 (♀) (vs. 1.79–1.89 (♂), 1.83–1.96 (♀) in B. jiangi sp. nov.); the pedipalpal chela (without pedicel) 5.94–6.50 (♂), 4.64–4.94 (♀) vs. 5.36‒5.78 (♂), 5.02‒5.41 (♀) times longer than wide in B. chumi sp. nov.; and the presence of distinct granules on pedipalp except proximal of chelal finger from middle to the fingertip on pedipalp (vs. smooth in B. jiangi sp. nov. and B. chumi sp. nov.; hand with fine granulations in B. chumi sp. nov.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of the type locality of troglomorphic Bisetocreagris species in China. A. B. maomaotou Gao, Wynne et Zhang, 2018 (Maomaotou Cave); B. B. que sp. nov. (Yanggong Cave); C. B. longidigitata sp. nov. (Mao’er Cave); D. B. brevis sp. nov. (Yehu Cave); E. B. aspera sp. nov. (Tu Cave); F. B. jiangi sp. nov. (Anjialin Cave); G. B. tenuipalma sp. nov. (Sanjie Cave); H. B. changbing sp. nov. (Sanyuan and Guanyin caves); I. B. ampla sp. nov. (Hei Cave); J. B. gracilenta Gao et Zhang, 2017 (Shanmu Cave); K. B. guangshanensis Gao et Zhang, 2017 (Guangshan Cave); L. B. chumi sp. nov. (Tufei Cave); M. B. sanmen sp. nov. (Sanmen Cave); N. B. xishui sp. nov. (Dongkoushang Cave); O. B. baozinensis Mahnert et Li, 2016 (Baozi Cave); P. B. chuanensis Mahnert et Li, 2016 (Chuan Cave); Q. B. grandis sp. nov. (Wulibeidadong Cave); R. B. scaura (Mahnert, 2003) (Dahei Cave); S. B. martii (Mahnert, 2003) and B. titania (Mahnert, 2003) (Guoquan Cave); T. B. xiaoensis Li et Liu, 2017 (Xiao Cave); U. B. juanxuae Mahnert et Li, 2016 (Dao Cave); V. B. cavernarum Mahnert et Li, 2016 (Ert Long Cave); W. B. chinacavernicola (Schawaller, 1995) (Xian Nin and Chao-Tian caves).

FIGURE 7. Tu Cave, type locality of Bisetocreagris aspera sp. nov., A. Entrances; B. Area where B. aspera sp. nov. specimens were collected.

FIGURE 8. Live individuals of Bisetocreagris aspera sp. nov. (A: male; B: female) under the rock.

FIGURE 9. Bisetocreagris aspera sp. nov., A. Holotype male, dorsal view; B. Paratype female, dorsal view.

FIGURE 10. Bisetocreagris aspera sp. nov., holotype male (A–F, H–I), female (G). A. Carapace, dorsal view; B. Eye area, lateral view; C. Right chelicera, dorsal view; D. Right chela, lateral view; E. Right pedipalp, dorsal view; F. Male genitalia; G. Female genitalia; H. Right leg I, lateral view; I. Right leg IV, lateral view.

FIGURE 11. Bisetocreagris aspera sp. nov., holotype male (A–G, I–M), female (H). A. Carapace, dorsal view; B. Right chelicera, dorsal view; C. Rallum; D. Movable finger of chelicera, showing galea; E. Galea; F. Subterminal tarsal seta; G. Male genitalia, ventral view; H. Female genitalia, ventral view; I. Right chela, dorsal view; J. Right chelal fingers, retrolateral view; K. Right pedipalp, minus chela, dorsal view; L. Right leg I, lateral view; M. Right leg IV, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (C–D, F), 0.25 mm (B, G–H), 0.5 mm (A), 1 mm (I–M).