Lasiochernes pavlekae Hlebec & Harvey, 2024

Hlebec, Dora, Harms, Danilo, Kučinić, Mladen & Harvey, Mark S., 2024, Integrative taxonomy of the pseudoscorpion family Chernetidae (Pseudoscorpiones: Cheliferoidea): evidence for new range-restricted species in the Dinaric Karst, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 200 (3), pp. 644-669 : 659-665

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad083

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:29E3CDDB-9FD8-4586-B3EE-BAEDFC9D10D4C

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11279837

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/31744372-0C0D-660E-FF4A-FB8EFEBC3E48

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Lasiochernes pavlekae Hlebec & Harvey
status

sp. nov.

Lasiochernes pavlekae Hlebec & Harvey , sp. nov.

Zoobank registration: http://zoobank.org/ NomenclaturalActs/ B1738410-6E08-448A-8BD0- F5CFF08AABD9 ( Figs 10–14 View Figure 10 View Figure 11 View Figure 12 View Figure 13 View Figure 14 )

Type material: Holotype ♂ ( CBSSI608 ), CROATIA: Dubrovnik-Neretva County: Pelješac, Orebić, Čagjina jama cave, 42°58ʹ37.6″N, 17°09ʹ18.7″E, 107 m a.s.l. (cave entrance), 3 November 2016, F. Belak GoogleMaps . Paratypes 1♂ ( CBSS292 A) , 4♀♀ ( CBSSI292 B, CBSSI292 C, CBSSI292 D, CBSS32 ), same data except 14 November 2018, F.Šarc ; 2♀♀ ( CBSSI293 , CBSS43 ), same data except 14 November 2018, P. Visković .

Additional material examined: 1♂ ( CNHM470 About CNHM ), 42°50ʹ48.8″N, 17°38ʹ12.1″E, 415 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Pelješac , Ston , Vukasi, Bijelo jezero, 29 March2019, B. Jalžić GoogleMaps ; 1♂ ( CBSS312 A), 42°84ʹ72.7″N, 17°63ʹ64.7″E, 410 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Pelješac , Ston, Crno jezero, 29 March 2019, A. Kirin; 2♂♂, 1♀ ( CBSS37 , CBSSI346 , WAMT160123 ), 42°58ʹ45.8″N, 17°17ʹ45.6″E, 275 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Pelješac , Orebić , Oskorušno, Jama više vodospreme, 23 April 2019, V. Sudar GoogleMaps ; 1♀ ( CBSS344 N), same data except 11 October 2022, B. Jalžić; 1♀ ( CBSS54 ), same data except 23 April 2019, L. Ružanović ; 1♂ ( CNHM657 About CNHM ), 42°55ʹ08.4″N, 17°23ʹ12.8″E, 250 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Pelješac , Trstenik , Čućin Vrh, Prnčeva špilja, 10 November 2020, B. Jalžić; GoogleMaps 1♂, 1♀ ( CNHM780 About CNHM , CNHM781 About CNHM ), same data except 11 October 2022 GoogleMaps ; 3♂♂ ( CBSS502 A, CBSS502 B, WAMT160122 ), same data except 10 November 2020 GoogleMaps , M. Pavlek; 1♂ ( CBSSI319 ), 42°97ʹ85.4″N, 17°12ʹ90.9″E, 53 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Pelješac , Orebić , Kučište, Šimunkovića špilja, 29 April 2019 , M. Jagić; 1♂ ( CBSS64 ), 42°52ʹ28.9″N, 17°36ʹ59.4″E, 434 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Pelješac , Ston , Sparagovići, Vranja jama, 16 November 2018 GoogleMaps , P. Visković; 1♂, 2♀♀ ( CNHM628 About CNHM , CNHM625 About CNHM , CNHM627 About CNHM ), 42°40ʹ37.9″N, 18°08ʹ10.3″E, 103 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Dubrovnik , Rožat , Vilina špilja-Izvor Omble cave, 29 June 2020 GoogleMaps , B. Jalžić; 1♂ ( CBSSI533 ), 42°73ʹ46.2″N, 16°91ʹ06.9″E, 100 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Lastovo , Radaš do, Rača, 10 September 2018 , M. Lukić; 1♂, 1♀ ( CNHM779 About CNHM , CNHM778 About CNHM ), 42°45ʹ29.2″N, 17°29ʹ16.8″E, 190 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet , Babino Polje , Blato, Dočina špilja, 23 February 2021 GoogleMaps , B. Jalžić; 1♂ ( CBSSI423 ), 42°73ʹ17.8″N, 17°54ʹ24.1″E, 128 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet , Babino Polje, Jama pod Sv. Spasom, 19 June 2021, A. Ćukušić; GoogleMaps 1♂, 1♀ ( CBSSI424 A, CBSSI424 B), 42°76ʹ44.4″N, 17°47ʹ10.7″E, 55 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet, Babino Polje, Blato, Mala spila, 16 October 2021, M. Pavlek; 1♀ ( CNHM513 About CNHM ), same data except 28 September 2019, B. Jalžić; 1♂ ( CBSSI458 ), 42°76ʹ13.3″N, 17°43ʹ08.0″E, 265 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet , Babino Polje , Goveđari, Male ponte, 16 June 2021 , A. Ćukušić; 1♀ ( CBSSI595 A), same data except 14 February 2021 , T. Rožman ; 1♀ ( CBSS436 I), 42°45ʹ30.2″N, 17°26ʹ10.0″E, 201 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet , Babino Polje , Goveđari , Špilja kod Nerezinog dola, 16 October 2021 GoogleMaps , N. Kuharić; 1♂ ( CBSSI453 ), 42°76ʹ71.1″N, 17°45ʹ36.1″E, 102 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet, Babino Polje, Blato, Špilja na Strmici, 17 June 2021, H. Cvitanović; 1♀ ( CBSSI99 A) same data except 20 October 2015, M. Pavlek; 1♀ ( CBSSI430 ), 42°76ʹ46.8″N, 17°47ʹ20.4″E, 79 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet , Babino Polje , Blato, Velika špilja, 16 June 2021 GoogleMaps , M. Pavlek; 1♀ ( CBSS433 ) same data except 06 October 2021 GoogleMaps , I. Čupić; 1♀ ( CBSSI534 A), 42°75ʹ25.5″N, 17°55ʹ11.6″E, 210 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Mljet , Babino Polje, Movrica, 15 June 2021 GoogleMaps , M. Pavlek; 1♂, 1♀ ( CBSSI91 , CBSSI188 ), 43°77ʹ42.6″N, 15°34ʹ97.1″E, 15 m a.s.l. (cave entrance): Šibenik-Knin County, Kornati , Gustac Islet , Vjetruša, 18 April 2018 , T. Čuković and A. Ćukušić .

Diagnosis: Lasiochernes pavlekae sp. nov. differs from other Lasiochernes species by the presence of dense setation patterns on all pedipalpal segments (♂, ♀), slightly more setose in males ( Figs 10A, B View Figure 10 , 11A, B View Figure 11 ), and a normal posterolateral margin at coxa IV ( Fig. 10C, D View Figure 10 ). Pedipalpal setation is absent in Lasiochernes jalzici sp. nov. ( Figs. 7 View Figure 7 , 8 View Figure 8 ) and pronounced basally on the prolateral face of the male femur in Lasiochernes marinae sp. nov. ( Figs 4 View Figure 4 , 5 View Figure 5 ).

Paratype: CBSS32 (DNA voucher CROBD583 ; GenBank ON 841917) served as the reference sequence, because the amplification of the COI gene fragment from the holotype was unsuccessful.

Other sequenced material: CBSSI 312A (DNA voucher CBSSI 312A; GenBank OQ 330000); CBSSI 319 (DNA voucher CBSSI 319; GenBank OQ 330001); CBSSI 595A (DNA voucher CBSSI 595A; GenBank OQ 330002); CBSSI 533 (DNA voucher CBSSI 533; GenBank OQ 330003); CBSSI 534A (DNA voucher CBSSI 534A; GenBank OQ 330004); CBSSI 91 (DNA voucher CBSSI 91; GenBank OQ 330005); CNHM 470 (DNA voucher CROBD 269; GenBank ON842238); CNHM 657 (DNA voucher CROBD 767; GenBank ON842072); CBSS 37 (DNA voucher CROBD 588; GenBank ON842232); CBSS 436I (DNA voucher CROBD 1194; GenBank ON841949); WAMT 160123 (DNA voucher CROBD 599; GenBank CROBD 599; GenBank ON842212); CBSS 54 (DNA voucher CROBD 607; GenBank ON842045); CBSS 64 (DNA voucher CROBD 617; GenBank ON842194); CNHM 627 (DNA voucher CROBD 670; GenBank ON842271); CNHM 628 (DNA voucher CROBD 671; GenBank ON842142); and CNHM 779 (DNA voucher CROBD 1015; GenBank ON842083). See the Supporting Information, Appendix S6 for a list of diagnostic nucleotides in the barcode fragment of the COI gene. Uncorrected pairwise genetic distances (p -distances) between Lasiochernes pavlekae sp. nov. and other Lasiochernes species are listed in the Supporting Information, Appendix S9. Positions refer to the alignment available in the Supporting Information, Appendix S10.

Description (adults)

Colour: Pedipalps, carapace and coxae deep red-brown; tergites and sternites brown, darker in female; legs yellow-brown ( Fig.10 View Figure 10 ).

Pedipalp ( Figs 11 View Figure 11 , 13A View Figure 13 ): All pedipalpal surfaces granulate; all segments setose, all setae long ( Figs 10A, B View Figure 10 , 12A, B View Figure 12 ); patella with several dorsal lyrifissures ( Fig. 11A, B View Figure 11 ); all segments robust, more robust in male; trochanter 1.71 (♂), 1.79 (♀), femur 2.18 (♂), 2.73 (♀), patella 2.13 (♂), 2.12 (♀), chela (with pedicel) 2.82 (♂), 3.00 (♀), chela (without pedicel) 2.66 (♂), 2.76 (♀), hand (without pedicel) 1.22 (♂), 1.39 (♀) × longer than broad, movable finger (without pedicel) 0.90 (♂), 0.97 (♀) × longer than hand. Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable chelal finger with four trichobothria ( Fig. 11A, B View Figure 11 ): eb and esb situated basally, est situated midway between esb and et, ib and ist situated subbasally, isb situated slightly posterior to est and closer to ist than to it, and it situated subdistally; t situated subdistally, st situated closer to t than to sb, and sb situated much closer to b than to st ( Fig. 11C, D View Figure 11 ). Venom apparatus only present in movable chelal finger, venom duct long, terminating in nodus ramosus basal to t. Pseudotactile setae absent. Chelal fingers not gaping; teeth slightly retrorse, juxtadentate; fixed finger with 44 (♂), 42 (♀) teeth, plus 4 (♂), 7 (♀) retrolateral accessory teeth and 5 (♂, ♀) distal prolateral accessory teeth; movable finger with 45 (♂), 43 (♀) teeth, plus 9 (♂), 7 (♀) retrolateral accessory teeth and 2 (♂), 6 (♀) distal prolateral accessory teeth; sense-spots arranged: fixed chelal finger with 12 (♂), 15 (♀) retrolateral from which 13 arranged at the base of the finger, 12 (♂), 9 (♀) prolateral, and movable chelal finger with 2 (♂), 4 (♀) retrolateral and 0 (♂, ♀) prolateral.

Chelicera: With five setae on hand and one subdistal seta (gs) on movable finger; setae es, bs and sbs strongly dentate, ls and is long and acuminate ( Figs 12A, B View Figure 12 , 13C View Figure 13 ); galea well-developed, long and thin with three distal and three medial rami (♂, ♀) ( Fig. 12D, E View Figure 12 ); with two dorsal lyrifissures and one ventral lyrifissure; rallum composed of three blades, all three dentate on anterior face ( Fig. 12C View Figure 12 ); serrula exterior with 19 (♂, ♀) blades; lamina exterior present.

Carapace: Granulate and sub-rectangular; 1.13 (♂) and 1.07 (♀) × longer than broad; eyes and eye-spot absent; with two transverse furrows, posterior furrow situated slightly closer to posterior margin than to anterior furrow, posterior furrow with small posteromedian furrow ( Fig. 10A, B View Figure 10 ); with 106 (♂), 102 (♀) setae including 7 (♂, ♀) setae near anterior margin and 13 (♂), 11 (♀) setae near posterior margin;

Coxal region: Maxillae rugose, coxae smooth; manducatory process pointed, with three apical acuminate setae, with one small sub-oral seta on medial edge, and 46 (♂), 49 (♀) additional setae. Chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: ♂: 28: 38: 41: 65; ♀: 34: 29: 50: 69.

Legs: femur + patella of leg IV 4.87 (♂), 5.27 (♀) × longer than deep; tarsus IV with long tactile seta located medially, TS ratio = 0.49 (♂), 0.51 (♀); arolium shorter than claws, claws simple ( Fig. 12G View Figure 12 ).

Abdomen: Tergites I‒II partially divided, other tergites and sternites IV‒XI with broad medial suture line. Tergal chaetotaxy: ♂, 16: 18: 19: 25: 23: 22: 22: 21: 23: 15: 2: 2; ♀, 14: 16: 19: 22: 24: 23: 22: 21: 21: 16: 10: 2; setae lightly dentate. Sternal chaetotaxy: ♂, 46: (4) 28 [4 + 3] (4): (4) 19 (4): 24: 29: 29: 28: 28: 27: 14: 2; ♀, 33: (3) 13 (3): (4) 9 (4): 20: 26: 26: 23: 23: 21: 12: 2. Tergites and sternites without tactile setae. Pleural membrane wrinkled plicate, without setae.

Genitalia: Male with typical chernetid morphology; female with single T-shaped spermatheca, length of each receptaculum slightly shorter than median stalk ( Fig. 12F, H, I View Figure 12 ).

Dimensions (mm): Male holotype (CBSSI608), followed by 12 other males in parentheses: body length 3.600 (2.940 –4.015). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.575 / 0.335 (0.490–0.660/0.290– 0.390), femur 0.930 / 0.425 (0.775–1.120/0.335–0.490), patella 0.920 / 0.430 (0.770–1.050/0.380–0.510), chela (with pedicel) 1.520 / 0.540 (1.390–1.680/0.460–0.615), chela (without pedicel) 1.440 (1.290 –1.540), hand (without pedicel) length 0.660 (0.640 –0.800), movable finger length 0.770 (0.660 – 0.815). Carapace 1.090 / 0.960 (0.990–1.200/0.820–1.160). Leg IV (holotype): femur + patella 0.950 / 0.195, tibia 0.770 / 0.160, tarsus 0.495 / 0.105, TS = 0.490.

Dimensions (mm): Female paratype (CBSSI293), followed by 16 other females in parentheses: body length 4.950 (3.500 –5.100). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.625 / 0.350 (0.490–0.690/0.275–0.395), femur 1.010 / 0.370 (0.775–1.150/0.300–0.415), patella 0.890 / 0.420 (0.750–1.040/0.315–0.460), chela (with pedicel) 1.650 / 0.550 (1.330–1.780/0.430–0.600), chela (without pedicel) 1.520 (1.290 – 1.650), hand (without pedicel) length 0.765 (0.605 –0.790), movable finger length 0.790 (0.620 –0.860). Carapace: 1.190 / 1.110 (0.905–1.250/0.920–1.340). Leg IV (paratype): femur + patella 1.080 / 0.205, tibia 0.845 / 0.135, tarsus 0.510 / 0.105, TS = 0.510.

Remarks: Lasiochernes pavlekae has been recorded in seven caves on the Pelješac Peninsula, Vilina špilja-Izvor Omble cave, as well as 10 additional caves on islands (Mljet Island, Lastovo Island, and Gustac Islet in the Kornati archipelago). All of these locations are within a aerial distance of less than 50 km from the coast. Most caves range from 7 to 114 m in total length, with the exception of Špilja Crno jezero cave, which is 239 m long, and Vilina špilja-Izvor Omble cave, which streches 3050 m in length. The entrances of these caves are situated at elevations between 15 and 434 m above sea level. The majority of them harbour colonies of bats, including maternity colonies of the Mediterranean horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus euryale Blasius, 1853 ), the greater horseshoe bat [ R. ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774) ], Geoffroy’s bat [ Myotis emarginatus (E. Geoffroy, 1806) ], and the lesser mouse-eared bat ( M. blythii Tomes, 1857 ) ( Pavlinić et al. 2010).

Twelve haplotypes were found in the COI gene (p -distances = 0.18–1.09%) and two in 28S (p -distances = 0.36%), but other genes had one haplotype demonstrating that there is low genetic variability within this species despite some variation in the fast-evolving mitochondrial genome.

Etymology: This species is named for the Dr. Martina Pavlek, a Croatian biospeleologist and taxonomic specialist in subterranean spiders.

V

Royal British Columbia Museum - Herbarium

T

Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics

CNHM

Cincinnati Museum of Natural History

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Pseudoscorpiones

Family

Chernetidae

SubFamily

Lamprochernetinae

Genus

Lasiochernes

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