Eremocosta titania ( Muma 1951 )

Cushing, Paula E., Channiago, Felix & Brookhart, Jack O., 2018, Revision of the camel spider genus Eremocosta Roewer and a description of the female Eremocosta gigas Roewer (Arachnida, Solifugae), Zootaxa 4402 (3), pp. 443-466 : 460-462

Eremocosta titania ( Muma 1951)

Figs. 1G , 2W–Z , 3G , 4F , 5H

Eremorhax titania Muma 1951: 48 –50, figs. 34–38.

Eremopus titania ( Muma 1951) : Muma & Muma 1988: 11 –12. Eremocosta titania ( Muma 1951) : Harvey 2002: 451.

Type material. Male holotype and 2 male paratypes from Twenty-nine Palms, California, USA ( AMNH). Female allotype from 12 km northwest of Las Vegas , Nevada, USA ( AMNH). We were able to examine the male holotype and female allotype .

Other specimens examined. Males (16). USA: California, Imperial County, Ogilby Rd. N. of Highway 8, N 32.77447°, W 114.83692°, 74 m elev., 2002, coll. Dustin A. Wood ( DMNS ZA.16317) ; USA: California, Imperial County, Highway 534 (Ogilby Rd.) 3.7 mi S. junction Highway 78, N 33.03207°, W 114.90521°, 271 m elev., 22 May 2000, coll. Dustin A. Wood, collected at night while driving ( DMNS ZA.16322) ; USA: California, Kern County, Dove Springs 1, N 35.4308°, W 118.0244°, 1017 m elev., March 2003, coll. USGS, pitfall trap ( DMNS ZA.16315) ; USA: California, Kern County, Dove Springs 1, N 35.436°, W 118.0202°, 1081 m elev., June 2004, coll. USGS, pitfall trap ( DMNS ZA.16316) ; USA: California, Kern County, Dove Springs 1, N 35.4378°, W 118.039°, 1057 m elev., June 2003, coll. USGS, pitfall trap ( DMNS ZA.17170) ; USA: California, Riverside County, San Jacinto Mountains, Highway 74, Pinyon Pines Fire Station , N 33.88°, W 116.71°, 1219 m elev., 5 July 2005, coll. Wendell Icenogle, pavement near lighted building ( DMNS ZA.17218) ; USA: California, San Bernardino County, 5 miles NW Sunshine Peak, 29 Palms Marine Base , N 34.678°, W 116.463°, 1007 m elev., 17 May 2004, coll. G. Pratt ( DMNS ZA.15426) ; USA: California, San Bernardino County, 5 miles NW Sunshine Peak, 29 Palms Marine Base , N 34.678°, W 116.463°, 1007 m elev., 17 May 2004, coll. G. Pratt ( DMNS ZA.16320) ; USA: California, San Bernardino County, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center , N 34.3033°, W 116.30°, 773 m elev., July 1999, coll. USGS ( DMNS ZA.16327) ; USA: California, San Bernardino County, Joshua Tree National Park , N 33.90925°, W 115.85617°, 538 m elev., August 1999, coll. USGS, pitfall trap ( DMNS ZA.19260) ; USA: Nevada, Nye County, N 36.661°, W 115.994°, 1158 m elev., 20 July 1965, coll. Martin H. Muma, on road ( DMNS ZA.15427) ; USA: Nevada, Nye County, Mercury , N 36.65869°, W 115.99426°, 1149 m elev., 18 May 2010, coll. Paul Greger ( DMNS ZA.26870) ; USA: Nevada, Nye County , Nevada Test Site, Mercury, Jackass Flats off Jackass Flats Rd. , N 36.63619°, W 116.0756°, 878 m elev., 30 June-3 August 2011, coll. Paula E.

Cushing, pitfall trap ( DMNS ZA.26887); USA: Nevada, Nye County , Nevada Test Site, Mercury, Bldg #23-652, N 36.6569°, W 115.99426°, 1149 m elev., 18 May 2010, coll. Paul Greger, in building ( DMNS ZA.26888) ; USA: California, Riverside County, Blythe , 21 June 1978 ( UCD no number) ; USA: California, Riverside County, Blythe , 18 July 1980 ( UCD no number).

Females (17). USA: California, Imperial County, off California 78, 9 miles west of junction with California 86, N 33.13247°, W 115.98183°, 20 m elev. , 7 September 2010, coll. Wendell Icenogle, on highway in car headlights ( DMNS ZA.36259); USA: California: Inyo County, Saline Valley , May 1959, Sta. 63, coll. B. Banta ( CAS Casent 9033224); USA: California: Inyo County, Saline Valley , 15 August 1989, coll. B. Banta ( CAS Casent 9033229); USA: Inyo County, Saline Valley , 15 July 1959, coll. S. B. Banta ( CAS Casent 9033644); USA: California: Kern County, Yermo (east of Barstow ) , 19 May 1973, coll. F. Ennik ( CAS Casent 9033652); USA: California, Riverside County, Coachella Valley/ Sky Valley , near junction of Dillon and Aurora roads, N 33.90343°, W 116.35964° , 331 m elev., 18 May 2009, coll. John Rajoa, inside building ( DMNS ZA.36256); USA: California, Riverside County, east side of Palm Springs International Airport, on East Tachevah Dr. , 1/ 10 mile west of California 111, N 33.83768°, W 116.5089°, 122 m elev. , 2 September 2006, coll. Wendell Icenogle, on pavement near building with lights, 00:30 hr ( DMNS ZA.36268); USA: California, Riverside County, Headquarters Salton Sea State Recreation Area , N 33.51062°, W 115.91995°, - 64 m elev., 9 September 2004, coll. Wendell Icenogle, on concrete base of flood light feeding on insect at 24:00 hr ( DMNS ZA.36900); USA: California, San Bernardino County, Amboy Rd. 8.5 miles east of 29 Palms ( Adobe Rd. ), N 34.15°, W 115.90° , 1600 m elev., 4 July 2010, coll. Wendell Icenogle, on pavement beside outbuilding with light ( DMNS ZA.36270); USA: California, San Diego County, Ocotillo Wells ranger station, north of California 78, N 33.15354°, W 116.16731° , 47 m elev., 7 June 2008, coll. Wendell Icenogle, on ground near lights ( DMNS ZA.36260); USA: California, San Diego County, 1.5 miles south of center of Borrego Springs , N 33.2384°, W 116.3759° , 183 m elev., 8 October 2012, coll. Wendell Icenogle, crawling slowly across road ( DMNS ZA. 36269); USA: Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas , 15 July 1987, coll. B. DePew ( CAS Casent 9033514); USA: Nevada, Clark County, Kyle Canyon Rd. , Spring Mountains , 16 July 1979, coll. L. DeLuca ( CAS Casent 9033517); USA: Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas , 9 June 1986, coll. R. Ramsay ( CAS Casent 9033520); USA: Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas , 1 August 1985, coll. E. Hamilton ( CAS Casent 90335); USA: Nevada, Lyon County, Silver Springs , 17 July1963, coll. L. Warren ( CAS Casent 9033516); USA: Nevada, Nye County, Rock Valley , N 36.633°, W 116.313° , 853 m elev., 22 July 1965, coll. Martin H. Muma, kept alive until 3 August 1965 (DMNS ZA.15429).

Diagnosis. Eremocosta titania is related to E. calexicensis but differs in coloration, especially of appendages; fixed finger longer and narrower than E. calexicensis , MP of movable finger more robust as well (compare Figs. 2W & X with Figs. 2E & F ). Male E. titania are also generally smaller than male E. calexicensis . Female genital operculum club-shaped with long arms; distinct from operculum of E. titania . See also diagnosis above under E. calexicensis .

Measurements. Males (n = 16). TL 24.0–33.5; CL 7.1–10.4; CH 3.0–6.2; FNL 0.3–0.5; FNH 0.4–0.7; FFH 0.6–0.9; PL 20.0–35.0; PT 1.0–4.1; PMT 5.1–10.0; LI 12.0–25.0; LIV 24.0–33.0; PPL 4.0–5.4; A/CP 4.1–7.8; FNL/FNH 0.5–1.0; FFH/FNH 1.0–2.0; FFH/ CH 0.1–0.3.

Females (n = 17). TL 27.0–48.0; CL 8.6–13.9; CH 4.0–5.9; PL 20.0–37.0; PT 1.7–2.0; PMT 4.6–6.9; LI 12.0– 24.5; LIV 25.5–41.0; PPL 3.9–6.4; A/CP 4.5–6.3.

Description. Coloration. Male. Overall light yellow; appendages a bit darker with distal ends of femur and proximal ends of tibia a light purple-violet. Anterior margin of propeltidium dusky violet ( Fig. 5H ).

Chelicera. Male. Deep VDC, similar to E. calexicensis but with slightly mesal orientation ( Fig. 1G ). Fixed finger slightly thicker than E. calexicensis , with no median dentition. Movable finger: MP-2 MSM-MM; distinct MPL ( Figs. 2W & X ). Fondal notch tiny with one RFA and two-three RFA on the ventral region of fixed finger; fondal teeth graded I, III, II, IV retrolaterally; I, II, III, IV prolaterally ( Fig. 3G ).

Setation. Male. Typical setation. L III, LIV with bacilli on anterior edge of coxa.

Coloration. Female. Overall slightly lighter than the male. Appendages the same as male.

Chelicera. Female. Fixed finger: FP-1 FSM-FM-FSD-FD. Movable finger: MP-2 MSM, proximal larger-MM; distinct MPL ( Figs. 2Y & Z ). One large RFA; fondal teeth graded II, I, III, IV retrolaterally, and I, II, tiny III, serrate IV prolaterally.

Setation. Female. Typical female cheliceral setation.

Genital operculum. Muma’s illustration is accurate (1951, fig. 43). Club-shaped with long arms ending in oval shaped wings ( Fig. 4F ).

Distribution. USA California and Nevada. Eremocosta titania ranges from the northern Mojave Desert to the Sonoran Desert west of the Colorado River. It is sympatric in part of its range with the closely related E. calexicensis .

Discussion. Specimens from the more northern regions, Nevada, Northern California have a darker coloration than those found in regions of Southern California but male cheliceral dentition and female genital operculum remains relatively constant.

Figures

FIGURE 1. VDC on the fixed finger of the right chelicera of male Eremocosta. Refer to Figure 2 for scale. A) Eremocosta bajaensis (holotype from CAS).B) Eremocosta calexicensis (holotype from USNM).C) Eremocosta formidabilis (IBUNAM). Note the more proximal locationof the VDC on the fixed finger of thisspecies.D) Eremocosta gigas (holotype from SMK).E) Eremocosta gigasella (DMNS ZA.35465). F) Eremocosta striata (DMNS ZA.21079). G) Eremocosta titania (DMNS ZA.15427).Arrows point to an internal carina in the VDC of some species.

FIGURE 2. Retrolateral (left) and prolateral (right) cheliceral views of the right chelicera of Eremocosta species. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. See text for collection abbreviations. A & B) Eremocosta bajaensis male (holotype from CAS). C & D) Eremocosta bajaensis female (IBUNAM). E & F) Eremocosta calexicensis male (holotype from USNM). G & H) Eremocosta calexicensis female (allotype from USNM). I & J) Eremocosta formidabilis male (IBUNAM). K & L) Eremocosta gigas male (holotype from SMK). M & N) Eremocosta gigas female (IBUNAM CNAN Sol00114). O &P) Eremocosta gigasella male (DMNS ZA.35465). Q & R) Eremocosta gigasella female (DMNS ZA.17350). S & T) Eremocosta striata male (DMNS ZA.21079). U & V) Eremocosta striata female (DMNS ZA.25451). W & X) Eremocosta titania male (DMNS ZA.15427). Y & Z) Eremocosta titania female (DMNS ZA.36256).Arrows in K, O, and S point to MD tooth (see text).

FIGURE 3. Fondal teeth on right fixed fingers of male specimens illustrated in Fig. 2. See Fig. 2 for scale. A) Eremocosta bajaensis (holotype from CAS).B) Eremocosta calexicensis (holotype from USNM).C) Eremocosta formidabilis (IBUNAM). D) Eremocosta gigas holotype from SMK). E) Eremocosta gigasella (DMNS ZA.35465). F) Eremocosta striata (DMNS ZA.21079).G) Eremocosta titania (DMNS ZA.15427).

FIGURE 4. Genital opercula of females. Same specimens as illustrated in Fig. 2. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. A) Eremocosta bajaensis(IBUNAM).B) Eremocostacalexicensis (allotypefrom USNM).C) Eremocosta gigas (IBUNAM CNANSol00114). D) Eremocosta gigasella (DMNS ZA.17350). E) Eremocosta striata (DMNS ZA.25451). F) Eremocosta titania (DMNS ZA.36256).

FIGURE 5. Propeltidia of specimens illustrated in Fig. 2. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. A) Eremocosta bajaensis male (holotype from CAS). B) Eremocosta calexicensis male (holotype from USNM). C) Eremocosta formidabilis male (IBUNAM). D) Eremocosta gigas male (holotype from SMK). E) Eremocosta gigas female (IBUNAM CNAN Sol00114). F) Eremocosta gigasella male (DMNS ZA.35465). G) Eremocosta striata male (DMNS ZA.21079). H) Eremocosta titania male (DMNS ZA.15427).