Tanystylum paramexicanum, Müller & Krapp, 2009

Müller, Hans-Georg & Krapp, Franz, 2009, The pycnogonid fauna (Pycnogonida, Arthropoda) of the Tayrona National Park and adjoining areas on the Caribbean coast of Colombia 2319, Zootaxa 2319 (1), pp. 1-138 : 52

Tanystylum paramexicanum n.sp.

Fig.24

Material: Holotype: 5.—Fem. (gravid) ( SMF 1489 ), coral rubble, 30 m, 19.II.1986.

Etymology: The species epithet refers to its relationship with Tanystylum mexicanum Child, 1979 .

Description of female holotype: Trunk circular, all segments completely fused; crurigers smooth and without setae. Ocular process about 1.6 times as high as broad, with a short terminal tip. Eyes rather large, distinctly pigmented. Abdomen rather long and nearly vertical, 6 short setae in distal half; abdomen surpasses 4 th crurigers by 1/3 of its length. Proboscis enlarged and bottle-like in its proximal half, distally broadly tubular with obtuse end.

Cheliphores one-articled, 1/6 length of proboscis, distally round, with 3–4 short setae. Palp 6-articled, 4th article strongly elongate, 3 rd article very short, separation line between both very obvious; 6 th article slender, two times as long as 5 th, with 16 relatively short setae oriented laterally, ventrally and distally. Oviger with 10 articles, 4th and 5 th prolonged; terminal article with a pair of large denticulate spines.

Legs slender in comparison with other species in the genus. Coxa 1 on distal rim with small roundish tubercles in an antero-lateral, dorsal and postero-lateral position, which bear apically a short seta; coxae 1–3 of equal length; femur with a conspicuous dorsodistal tubercle, which bears 5 setae; tibia 2 just slightly longer than tibia 1, both with densest setation dorsally; tarsus as long as broad, ventrally with robust spine and 3 short setae; propodus moderately curved and slender; sole without pronounced heel, 2 robust spines and 2 short setae in proximal half; distal half with 7 short setae or spines; main claw slender, feebly curved and 1/2 length of propodus; auxiliaries also feebly curved, 1/4 length of propodus.

Measurements: Largest species of genus in the research area: Trunk length 0.96, width (across 1 st crurigers) 0.83; abdomen 0.46; proboscis 0.75. Leg 3: Coxa 1, 0.33; coxa 2, 0.34; coxa 3, 0.34; femur 0.92; tibia 1, 0.90; tibia 2, 0.98; tarsus 0.15; propodus 0.58; main claw 0.31; auxiliaries 0.16.

Male: unknown.

Remarks: The new species is related to Tanystylum calycirostrum Schimkewitsch, 1889 from Bermuda as well as to Tanystylum mexicanum Child, 1979 from the Pacific coast of Mexico. Both of these species are known from males only.

From T. calycirostrum the new species is distinguished by the lack of tubercles on the crurigers, the broadly tube-like terminal part of the proboscis, the longer cheliphores, distinctly separated articles 3 and 4 of palps, a prolonged distal palp article and longer setae on femora and tibiae (cf. Child 1979: 23, Fig. 8 ). From T. mexicanum the new species is easily distinguished by the lack of tubercles on the crurigers, a longer tubiform terminal part of the proboscis, a longer cheliphore, a 6-articled palp with a prolonged terminal article, and longer setae on the leg articles (comp. Child 1979: 32, Figs.11 a-h.).

Distribution: Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Ammothella gertrudae n. sp., subadult. A lateral, B dorsal, C cheliphore, D leg 3.

FIGURE 11. Ammothella panamensis Child, 2004: A female leg 3 with ovules, B male leg 3, C tarsus and propodus of male leg 3, D male palp.

FIGURE 24. Tanystylum paramexicanum n. sp., female: A dorsal, B lateral, C proboscis ventral, D palp, E oviger, F terminal 5 oviger articles, enlarged, G leg 3, H tarsus and propodus of leg 3, enlarged.