Huasteca kardia, Cruz-López & Francke, 2019

Cruz-López, Jesús A. & Francke, Oscar F., 2019, New species of the cave-dwelling genus Huasteca (Opiliones: Stygnopsidae: Karosinae) ı from Northern Oaxacaı Mexicoı with a SEM survey of the sexually dimorphic areas on legs and structures related to chelicerae in the genus, Journal of Natural History 53 (23), pp. 1451-1464 : 1453-1459

Huasteca kardia sp. nov.

Karos gratiosus (in part): Goodnight and Goodnight 1971: 35; Reddell 1981: 161; Kury and Cokendolpher 2000: 155; Kury 2003: 238.

( Figure 1 (d)ı 2 – 5ı 6(dıe)ı 7)

Type material

Holotype male (CNAN-T01302)ı Mexicoı Oaxacaı Huautla de Jiménezı Puente de Fierro caveı 18.15307Nı −96.85320Wı leg. O. Franckeı J. Mendozaı G. Contrerası R. Monjarazı 13 April 2015. Paratypes: female ( CNAN- T01303) same data as holotype; male ( CNAN- T01304)ı Huautla de Jiménezı Li Nita caveı 18.14770Nı − 96.79844Wı leg. O. Franckeı J. Cruzı J. Mendozaı G. Contrerası 12 April 2014 ; two females (CNAN-T01305)ı same locationı leg. J. Cruzı J. Mendozaı G. Contrerası D. Barralesı R. Monjarazı 11 April 2016.

Other material examined

Immature of H. kardia sp. nov. ı designated as paratype of K. gratiosus by Goodnight and Goodnight 1971 (AMNH)ı Millipede Caveı 8 km W of Huautlaı Oaxacaı Juneı 1965ı leg. W. Russell. Male of H. gratiosa (CNAN-SEM-Op0042)ı El Salitre caveı Xilitlaı San Luís Potosíı 21.38733Nı −98.98370Wı leg. O. Franckeı J. Cruzı G. Contrerası R. Monjarazı D. Barralesı 25 March 2011. Male of H. rugosa (CNAN-SEM-Op0207)ı Ojo de Agua caveı Tlilapanı Veracruzı 18.8065Nı −97.10148Wı leg. O. Franckeı J. Cruzı G. Contrerası 19 September 2016. Female of H. silhavyi (CNAN-SEM-Op0220)ı Ojo de Agua Grande caveı Amatlán de los Reyesı Veracruzı 18.92651Nı −96.87593Wı leg. P. Sprouseı 13 March 2007. Female of H. kardia sp. nov. (CNAN-SEM-Op0280)ı Puente de Fierro caveı Huautla de Jiménezı Oaxacaı 18.15307Nı −96.85320Wı leg. R. Paredesı A. Valdezı C. Santibáñezı J. Cruzı 20 September 2009.

Etymology

Noun in apposition from the Greek Καρδία ( kardia ) ‘ heart ’ ı in allusion of the shape of the lateral channels on mesotergum.

Diagnosis

Huasteca kardia sp. nov. is easily recognisable from the remaining members of the genus by the extreme modification of the lateral channels of scutumı running along the central portion of mesotergumı over areas II and III forming a pair of heart-shaped ditches ( Figure 1 (d)ı 6(dıe)). In additionı the dorsal ornamentation of scutum with one pair of paramedian humps on mesotergal areas I and II eachı and the extremely swollen patella II in males are exclusive characters of this species ( Figure 1 (d)ı 4(gıh)).

Description

Male holotype. Scutum zeta type (ζ) with the lateral projections on opisthosomal tergite 1 very elongateı with one pair of paramedian humps on mesotergal areas I and II eachı these humps are connected by the lateral channels which run over the mesotergumı forming two heart-shaped ditches on each side of scutum. Posterior corners of scutum and free tergites with lighter and rounded projections. Posterior margin of scutum and free tergites with a transverse row of small tubercles ( Figure 1 (d)ı 2(a)ı 6(eıd)). Venter covered by small tuberclesı lateral margins of stigmatic area poorly markedı genital operculum sub-triangular ( Figure 2 (c)). Chelicerae smallı with the bulla rounded and smoothı cheliceral fingers thinı fixed finger with three contiguous teethı cheliceral comb with 18 lamellae ( Figure 3 (a-d)). Pedipalp strongly armedı femur with a ventral row of six setiferous tubercles plus a mesoapical oneı patella with two mesal setiferous tuberclesı tibia with IiIi (1 = 3> 2 = 4) and II (1 = 2) tubercles on mesal and ectal sidesı respectivelyı and tarsus with III (1> 2> 3) on both sides ( Figure 3 (e)). Legs are slender covered by small tubercles and setae; the distalmost half of femur II slightly swollen and lighter on prolateral sideı patella II swollen and lighter prolaterallyı tibia II without modifications. Tarsal count: 4(2):8(3):6:6ı basitarsomeres I of legs III and IV approximately one-third of the length of their respective tarsus ( Figure 2 (a)ı 4(gıh)). Penis with the flimsy lamina convex apicallyı two pairs of macrosetae C and A forming a lateral rowı two pairs of macrosetae D on the base of follisı small macrosetae E1 and E2 at the same level of C2 and A1ı respectivelyı additional macrosetae E slightly below A2; lateral projection of follis lobed and apically blunt ( Figure 5 ).

Female

Similar to the maleı but without the modifications on legs II and stigmatic area broader ( Figure 2 (bıd)).

Natural history

All specimens were found walking alone on the floor and walls in the caves. In the same cavesı specimens of undescribed harvestmenı species of Stygnopsis sp. ( Stygnopsidae )ı Stygnomma sp. ( Stygnommatidae ) and a species of Gagrellinae (Sclerosomatidae) were found living in sympatry with H. kardia sp. nov.

Distribution

This species is known from three different caves of the Huautla cave systemı although it is probably found in other caves of this extremely large and deep system ( Figure 7 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus of Huasteca species. (a) male of Huasteca gratiosa. (b) male of Huasteca rugosa. (c) female of Huasteca silhavyi. (d) female of Huasteca kardia sp. nov. Scale bars = 0.5 cm.

Figure 2. Habitus and venter of Huasteca kardia sp. nov. (a) habitus holotype. (b) habitus female paratype. (c) venter holotype. (d) venter female paratype. Dotted line indicates swollen portions of leg II. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Figure 3. Chelicera and pedipalp of Huasteca kardia sp. nov. (a) chelicera frontal, male. (b) chelicera mesal, male. (c) cheliceral comb, male. (d) chelicera ectal, male. (e) pedipalp mesal. Scale bars = a and b: 150 µm, c: 50 µm, d and e: 250 µm.

Figure 5. Male genitalia of Huasteca kardia sp. nov. (a) dorsal. (b) lateral. (c) ventral. Macrosetae A-E indicated in the figures, adE = additional macrosetae E. Scale bars = 50 µm.

Figure 7. Distribution map of the species of Huasteca. Circles = Huasteca gratiosa, star = Huasteca rugosa, square = Huasteca silhavyi and triangles = Huasteca kardia sp. nov.