Homolophus pallens ( Kulczyński, 1901 )

Snegovaya, Nataly Yu. & Cokendolpher, James C., 2021, Further studies on harvestman genus Homolophus (Opiliones: Phalangiidae), with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4908 (3), pp. 301-353 : 342-344

Homolophus pallens ( Kulczyński, 1901)

Figures 14 , 30

Phalangium pallens Kulczyński, 1901: 320 , 361–363

Opilio pallens — Roewer 1911: 41, pl. 3, fig. 8; Roewer 1912: 136, pl. 3, fig. 23; Roewer 1923: 776, fig. 949; Roewer 1956: 293

Euphalangium transbaicalicum (nec Kulczyński, 1901)—sensu Staręga 1964: 1964, figs. 18–19; Šilhavý 1972: 101–102 (misidentified)

Homolophus pallens — Tsurusaki et al. 2000: 83–84

Homolophus przewalskii (nec Staręga, 1978)—sensu Tchemeris et al. 1998, 192–193, figs. 8–14; Snegovaya 2012: 7–9, figs. 26–30 (misidentified)

Diagnosis. This species differs from all species, including the most closely related, H. nordenskioeldi (L. Koch, 1879a) and H. arcticus Banks, 1893 , by the following: body covered with different sized denticles, from large (mostly in rows on abdomen) to microdenticles; penis with very long and slender truncus and even more slender glans (in lateral view). In dorsal view penis truncus broad and only slightly less wide distally until slender (same as glans width) at apex.

Type Locality. Mongolia, Tuguruk , [now Mongolia, Gobi-Altai Aimak, Tugreg (= Tuguruk), ca. 45°50’N, 94°59’E)] .

Distribution. Russia (S. Siberia), Kazakhstan, and here newly recorded from Mongolia ( Fig. 14 ).

Specimens Examined. MONGOLIA, Ulan Bator (formerly Urga), Khursu Mt. , 31.07– 27.08.1925, leg. P. Kozlov (1 male, ZIN) .

Description. Large harvestman; male body rectangular, with rounded corners; heavily sclerotized body cuticle, less slender, 1.6 times longer than wide; length 8.0 mm, width 5.0 mm. Body covered with different sized denticles, from large, whitish-cream color (mostly in rows on abdomen) to darkly colored microdenticles. Body with longitudinal indistinct light-colored dashed stripe running entire length; body color yellowish orange to various shades of brown and black. Ocularium low, slightly wider than long, not large, its length from anterior margin of cephalothorax, with 8–9 denticles on each side. Legs not very long, angular in cross-section, I and III pair swollen, segments of legs covered with black-tipped denticles. Leg lengths (mm): I 2.8 + 1.5 + 3.7 + 4.5 + 6.5 = 19.0, II 7.5 + 2.0 + 5.7 + 5.4 + 9.0 = 29.6, III 4.0 + 1.8 + 3.2 + 5.5 = 14.5, IV missing. Pedipalps thickened and noticeably armed, Fe ventrally covered with large pointed denticles, dorsally and laterally with smaller denticles. Pa and Ti dorsally and ventrally with pointed denticles. Ta ventrally with strip of sensory microdenticles. Pedipalp segment lengths (mm): 2.0 + 1.0 + 1.4 + 2.1 = 6.5. Chelicerae enlarged (sexually dimorphic) with some tabby marks, both segments dorsally / anteriorly with black-tipped denticles. Cheliceral basal segment ventrally smooth without bulge, length 2.5 mm, distal segment length 3.7 mm. Penis with very long and slender truncus and even more slender glans (in lateral view). In dorsal view, penis truncus broad and only slightly less wide distally until slender (same as glans width) apex. Penis long, truncus dorsoventrally flattened, only slightly bowed, recurved in lateral view, length (mm): truncus 6.0, glans 0.65, stylus 0.1.

Female unknown.

Comments. Specimen almost 100 years old, colors likely faded.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Distribution of some Homolophus species in the Palearctic: Central and Inner Asia. Data for pale colored symbols taken from literature; identifications not verified.

FIGURE 30. Homolophus pallens (Kulczyński, 1901), male: A, body, right lateral; B, ocularium, dorsal; C, body, dorsal; D, femur I, dorsal; E, right pedipalp, ectal; F, right pedipalp, mesal; G, right chelicera, ectal; H, right chelicera, mesal; I, penis, dorsal; J, penis, lateral; K, penis glans, dorsal; L, penis glans, lateral.