Zalmoxis princeps, Sharma, Prashant P., 2012

Sharma, Prashant P., 2012, New Australasian Zalmoxidae (Opiliones: Laniatores) and a new case of male polymorphism in Opiliones, Zootaxa 3236, pp. 1-35 : 6-10

Zalmoxis princeps sp. nov.

Figs. 1–4

Types. Male holotype ( MNHN [ex MCZ DNA 102358]) from Port Boisé Bay (22° 20' 31.3" S, 166° 57' 33.3" E), New Caledonia, 1 m elevation, collected 29 April 2007 by J. Murienne and P.P. Sharma from sifted litter . 5 male (2 used for DNA extraction [ex MCZ DNA 102358], dissected for genitalia, and mounted on SEM stub MCZ 124546; 1 mounted on SEM stubs MCZ 124547–124548; 2 in ethanol) and 4 female (4 in ethanol; 1 used for DNA extraction and leg IV mounted on SEM stub MCZ 124547) paratypes ( MCZ 124549 [ex MCZ DNA 102358]), same collecting data as holotype. 1 female paratype (used for DNA extraction [ex MCZ DNA 102354]) from Pic du Grand Kaori (22° 16' 47.2" S, 167° 53' 41.1" E), New Caledonia, 237 m elevation, collected 17 April 2007 by J. Murienne and P.P. Sharma from sifted litter ( MCZ 124550). One male paratype (used for DNA extraction [ex MCZ DNA 102355]) from Forêt Nord (Kwa Neie) (22° 19' 22.5" S, 166° 54' 54.2" E), New Caledonia, 197 m elevation, collected 17 April 2007 by J. Murienne and P.P. Sharma from sifted litter ( MCZ 124551) .

Additional material studied. 6 juveniles, same collecting data as holotype . 1 juvenile (used for DNA extraction) from Pic du Grand Kaori (22° 16' 46.6" S, 167° 49' 40.5" E), New Caledonia, 254 m elevation, collected 17 April 2007 by J. Murienne and P.P. Sharma from sifted litter ( MCZ DNA 102353) . 1 juvenile from Port Boisé Bay (22° 20' 26.0" S, 166° 57' 32.1" E), New Caledonia, 2 m elevation, collected 29 April 2007 by J. Murienne and P.P. Sharma from sifted litter . 1 female and 3 juveniles from Port Boisé Bay (22° 20' 31.3" S, 166° 57' 33.3" E), New Caledonia, 10 m elevation, collected 29 April 2007 by J. Murienne and P.P. Sharma from sifted litter.

Etymology. The specific epithet, an invariable noun in apposition, refers to the embellished armature of the legs and opisthosomal sternites in males of this species. From Latin, “ princeps , principis ” meaning “first, chief, sovereign”.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from congeners by embellished armature of male leg IV, particularly spiny tubercles on femur and tibia; sternite 7 armed with two enlarged tubercles; anal plate armed with seven enlarged tubercles, three of these massive; rutrum with long lateral extensions; and flattened pergula with eight setae.

Description. Total length of male holotype (female paratype [MCZ 124549] in parentheses) 3.18 (2.46), greatest width of prosoma 1.05 (1.04), greatest width of opisthosoma 2.26 (1.74); length-to-width ratio 1.41 (1.41). Body campaniform, dark orange to brown (in alcohol, depending on incidence of light), almost entirely with dense microgranulate surface microstructure (sensu Murphree 1988). Eyes present on low, well-developed ocularium. Ocularium wider than long, removed from anterior margin of carapace, without spines or tubercles. Anterior margin of carapace with two pairs of pegs above coxae of leg I and single median peg. Scutal grooves of mesotergum distinctly “V” shaped. Free tergites with regular belts of setose tubercles ( Fig. 1 ).

Ventral prosomal complex of male with coxae II and III meeting in midline, coxae I and IV not so. Anterior and posterior margins of coxae III with tubercular bridges to adjacent coxae, and coxae I–III with setose tubercles. Coxae IV of male greatly enlarged, with setose tubercles concentrated on anterior margin. Genital operculum subtriangular. Spiracles not concealed, anterior to row of tubercles. Opisthosomal sternites 3–6 and 8 with regular belts of setose tubercles, with tubercles enlarging laterally. Sternite 7 with two enlarged tubercles flanking the midline. Anal plate armed with nine tubercles: three greatly enlarged setose tubercles on transverse midline of segment, with two smaller pairs of setose tubercles flanking longitudinal midline, arranged anterior and posterior to greatly enlarged tubercles, and one small anterior-most pair ( Fig. 2 ).

Chelicerae ( Fig. 3 a) sexually monomorphic, with prominent bulla on proximal article. Proximal article with denticulate granulation basally and ventrally. Second article not incrassate, free of ornamentation, with dorsal margin bearing several setae. Distal article with delicate dentition, free of ornamentation. Palpi ( Fig. 3 b) robust and spined ventrally and/or ventrolaterally, typical of zalmoxids. Palpal tarsus with two pairs of megaspines.

Legs (I–IV; Fig. 3 c–g) finely granulated. Trochanter, patella, and tibia of all legs bearing irregular rows of setose tubercles. Leg I ( Fig. 3 c) femur with ventral row of small tubercles. Male leg IV ( Fig. 3 f) sexually dimorphic, incrassate, elongated, and heavily armored. Male trochanter IV and patella IV each bearing a large ventral tubercle. Male femur IV bearing dorsal and ventral rows of prominent tubercles, with ventral row enlarging distally. Male patella IV with a row of dorsal tubercles. Male tibia IV with one dorsal, one ventral, two mesal, and two ectal rows of tubercles enlarging distally. Calcaneus of male metatarsus IV with a ventral pair of distally-directed, hook-like tubercles. Metatarsi I–IV divided distally, with calcaneus less ornamented but generally more setose. Tarsal claws I–IV smooth, unmodified. Tarsal segmentation 3: 6: 5: 6 ( Fig. 3 ).

Appendage measurements of holotype (length/width):

	Tr	Fe	Pa	Ti	Mt	Ta	Total
Leg I	0.20/0.17	0.75/0.16	0.40/0.17	0.53/0.15	0.74/0.15	0.55/0.09	3.17
Leg II	0.30/0.22	1.07/0.15	0.57/0.20	0.94/0.16	1.20/0.07	1.30/0.07	5.38
Leg III	0.26/0.33	0.87/0.18	0.41/0.27	0.72/0.19	1.03/0.12	0.75/0.08	4.04
Leg IV	0.50/0.40	1.80/0.40	0.86/0.45	1.34/0.32	1.30/0.15	0.87/0.11	6.67
Palp	0.27/0.24	0.58/0.24	0.35/0.24	0.53/0.28	—	0.50/0.16	2.23
	Proximal	Second	Distal
Chelicera	0.39/0.21	0.45/0.26	0.30/0.05

Appendage measurements of female paratype (MCZ 124549) (length/width):

	Tr	Fe	Pa	Ti	Mt	Ta	Total
Leg I	0.20/0.17	0.70/0.13	0.35/0.16	0.49/0.15	0.74/0.07	0.59/0.08	3.07
Leg II	0.26/0.19	1.00/0.15	0.50/0.16	0.83/0.16	1.20/0.07	1.07/0.08	4.86
Leg III	0.24/0.25	0.87/0.16	0.38/0.23	0.64/0.16	0.91/0.09	0.65/0.10	3.69
Leg IV	0.34/0.23	1.05/0.18	0.64/0.25	0.94/0.18	1.21/0.10	0.76/0.10	4.94
Palp	0.24/0.24	0.64/0.24	0.32/0.21	0.55/0.25	—	0.47/0.16	2.22
	Proximal	Second	Distal
Chelicera	0.54/0.31	0.80/0.27	0.21/0.03

Penis ( Fig. 4 ) with two pairs of setae on rutrum and eight setae on pergula (one median pair, and two trios displaced laterally from midline). One pair of setae displaced from midline and posterior to pergula. Rutrum with long lateral extensions. Pergula flattened, not projecting ventrally.

Distribution. Known from three formerly contiguous forests in the southern province of New Caledonia: Pic du Grand Kaori, Forêt Nord, and Port Boisé.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Zalmoxis princeps sp. nov. (a) Male holotype, dorsal view; (b) Male holotype, ventral view; (c) Female paratype, dorsal view; (d) Female paratype, ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Zalmoxis princeps sp. nov. (a) Ventral view of male paratype; (b) Opisthosomal region of male paratype.

FIGURE 3. Zalmoxis princeps sp. nov. (a) Left chelicera of male paratype; (b) Left palp of male paratype; (c) Male left leg I; (d) Male left leg II; (e) Male left leg III; (f) Male left leg IV; (g) Female left leg IV.

FIGURE 4. Zalmoxis princeps sp. nov. (a) Pars distalis of male genitalia, dorsal view; (b) Pars distalis of male genitalia, ventral view.