Austropurcellia superbensis, Popkin-Hall, Zachary R. & Boyer, Sarah L., 2014

Popkin-Hall, Zachary R. & Boyer, Sarah L., 2014, New species of mite harvestmen from southeast Queensland, Australia greatly extend the known distribution of the genus Austropurcellia (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi), Zootaxa 3827 (4), pp. 517-541 : 533-535

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3827.4.5

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D05DBC97-6B96-4F40-A7D6-60BBD7D3F6D5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6139699

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2C0B87EA-887D-8131-FF37-4933D389388C

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Austropurcellia superbensis
status

sp. nov.

Austropurcellia superbensis View in CoL sp. nov.

Figures 20 – 22 View FIGURE 20 View FIGURE 21 View FIGURE 22

Diagnosis: Pettalid with relatively flat ozophores. Tergite VIII slightly but visibly bilobed. Adenostyle thin and blade-like, with small, wide, rounded distal projection. Distinguished from other Southeast Queensland Austropurcellia by its rounded posterior and by scopula emerging from center of anal plate.

Description: Male holotype (2.2 mm) about twice as long as its widest point (1.3 mm) in posterior third of prosoma, and about 3 times as long as width across ozophores (0.8 mm) ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 A – B). Body with most of surface showing a tuberculate-granular microstructure ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 ). Posterior margin of dorsal scutum distinctly bilobed ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 C). Transverse opisthosomal sulci distinct by lack of granulation. Sulci becoming more distinct posteriorly ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 B). Ozophores relatively flat ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 A, 21B), positioned at a 45º angle relative to the walking plane as typical in pettalids.

Coxae of legs I and II mobile. Coxae of remaining legs fixed. Male coxae II – IV meeting in midline ( Fig. 21 View FIGURE 21 A). Male gonostome small, subtriangular, wider than long, bordered on posterior margin by first opisthosomal sternite; male gonostome shorter than length of seam of contact of left and right coxae IV ( Figs. 20 View FIGURE 20 B, 21A). No female specimens available for examination.

Spiracle of “open circle” type of Boyer and Giribet (2002). Narrow band of granules separating spiracle from main granules and tubercles ( Fig. 21 View FIGURE 21 C). Ventral opisthosomal region without modifications or glandular pores ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 B). Anal region of “pettalid type’ ( Giribet & Boyer 2002) with tergite IX laterally covering sternite 9 and clearly meeting sternite 8 ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 D). Tergite VIII distinctly bilobed ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 D). Anal plate seemingly unornamented and largely obscured by scopula ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 D). Large scopula emerging in all directions in a “starburst” form from center of anal plate, extending to anterior margin of tergite VIII; scopular appearance possibly reflecting an artifact of preservation. Glandular pore present just below anal plate.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 E) short and relatively robust. Proximal article of chelicerae with dorsal crest, without ventral process. Two types of dentition, as typical in pettalids. Measurements from male holotype of chelicera articles from proximal to distal (given in mm): 0.57, 0.92, 0.30.

Palp ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 ) with a prominent ventral process on trochanter. Measurements from male holotype of palp articles from proximal to distal (given in mm): 0.30, 0.38, 0.23, 0.29, 0.31.

Legs with all claws smooth, without ventral dentition or lateral pegs. Legs I and II with partially ornamented metatarsus and smooth tarsus ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 A – B). Legs III and IV with ornamented metatarsus and smooth tarsus ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 C – D). Ventral side of tarsus I without solea ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 A). Male tarsus IV fully bisegmented ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 D). Adenostyle with a thin claw and a small, but wide, rounded base ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 D). Adenostyle projecting up at a 45º angle ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 D). Measurements from male holotype of leg articles from proximal to distal (given in mm): leg I 0.19, 0.63, 0.25, 0.47, 0.20, 0.47; leg II 0.20, 0.49, 0.22, 0.38, 0.16, 0.40; leg III [femur damaged], 0.38, 0.21, 0.34, 0.19, 0.35; leg IV 0.26, 0.49, 0.24, 0.42, 0.16, 0.41.

Type material: Australia, Queensland, Mount Superbus summit, 30 km SW Boonah; 28º14’S, 152º28’E 1300 m; Coll. G. Monteith, G. Thompson, H. Janetzki, Feb. 9, 1990; ♂ holotype; QM S 35939 View Materials .

Etymology: The specific epithet superbensis , a latinized adjective, refers to the type locality, Mount Superbus in Southeastern Queensland.

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