Zalmoxis falcifer, 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 : 20-25

Zalmoxis falcifer sp. nov.

Figs. 15–18

Types. Male holotype ( WAM [ex MCZ DNA105836]) from Bonaparte Archipelago, W.A. (14° 31' S 124° 55' E), Australia, collected August 2002 by M.S. Harvey . 1 male (used for DNA extraction [ex MCZ DNA105836], dissected for genitalia, and mounted on SEM stubs MCZ 124565–124566) and 1 female (in ethanol; legs mounted on SEM stub MCZ 124574) paratype, same collecting data as holotype ( MCZ 124567).

Etymology. The specific epithet, an invariable noun in apposition, refers to the gargantuan curved spine on tibia IV of males of the species. From Latin, “ falcifer , -era, -erum, itself from “ falx, falcis ” meaning “sickle” or alternatively a curved pole-arm historically used in combat by the Thracians and Dacians; and “ ferre ” meaning “to carry” or “to bear”.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from congeners by greatly incrassate tibia IV with a massively enlarged apophysis in males. Apophysis curved into a semicircle, ornamented with setose tubercles, and bearing four smaller tubercles on concave edge. Rutrum enlarged, rhomboid in dorsal aspect, with lateral extensions and bearing two pairs of setae.

Description. Total length of male holotype (female paratype [MCZ 124567] in parentheses) 2.28 (2.12), greatest width of prosoma 1.00 (0.85), greatest width of opisthosoma 1.74 (1.68); length-to-width ratio 1.31 (1.26). Body campaniform, dark orange to light brown (in alcohol, depending on incidence of light), almost entirely with dense microgranulate surface microstructure. 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 forming obtuse “V” shape. Area IV and margin of area V of mesotergum, and free tergites with belts of prominent setose tubercles ( Fig. 15 ).

Ventral prosomal complex with coxae II and III meeting in midline, coxae I and IV not so ( Fig. 16 a). Anterior and posterior margins of coxae III with tubercular bridges to adjacent coxae, and coxae I–III with low setose tubercles. Coxae IV greatly enlarged, with larger setose tubercles on anterior margin. Genital operculum sub-triangular. Spiracles not concealed, anterior to row of tubercles. Opisthosomal sternites armed with belts of low tubercles, except sternite 7, which bears one anterior and one posterior belt, with posterior belt of tubercles larger than anterior. Anal plate armed with eight prominent setose tubercles ( Fig. 16 a).

Chelicerae ( Fig. 16 b) sexually monomorphic, with prominent bulla on proximal article. Proximal article with denticulate granulation basally and ventrally. Second article not incrassate, smooth, free of ornamentation, with dorsal margin bearing several setae. Distal article with delicate dentition, free of ornamentation. Palpi ( Fig. 16 c) robust and spined ventrally and/or ventrolaterally, typical of zalmoxids. Palpal tarsus with two pairs of megaspines.

Legs (I–IV) finely granulated ( Fig. 17 ). Femora of legs I–II with ventral row of small tubercles ( Fig. 17 a, b). Male leg IV incrassate, elongated, and heavily armored ( Fig. 17 d, e). Coxa IV of male with single tubercle on mesal surface. Femur IV of male incrassate and bearing multiple rows of prominent tubercles on ventral and ventrolateral surfaces. Tibia IV of male greatly incrassate with a massively enlarged apophysis. Apophysis curved into a semicircle, ornamented with setose tubercles on both mesal and ectal surfaces, and bearing four smaller tubercles on concave edge. Metatarsus IV of male with ventral row of tubercles tapering distally. Calcaneus of male metatarsus IV with a small 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: 5: 5: 6 ( Fig. 15 ).

Appendage measurements of holotype (length/width):

	Tr	Fe	Pa	Ti	Mt	Ta	Total
Leg I	0.16/0.17	0.72/0.15	0.36/0.17	0.47/0.16	0.74/0.09	0.52/0.10	2.97
Leg II	0.22/0.20	1.00/0.16	0.48/0.20	0.85/0.17	1.09/0.09	0.87/0.10	4.51
Leg III	0.25/0.25	0.80/0.18	0.40/0.25	0.71/0.19	1.07/0.11	0.60/0.10	3.83
Leg IV	0.33/0.30	1.30/0.36	0.55/0.32	1.05/1.04	1.60/0.14	0.62/0.11	5.45
Palp	0.15/0.15	0.44/0.16	0.26/0.15	0.35/0.21	—	0.37/0.16	1.57
	Proximal	Second	Distal
Chelicera	0.45/0.23	0.66/0.20	0.19/0.04

Appendage measurements of female paratype (MCZ 124574) (length/width):

	Tr	Fe	Pa	Ti	Mt	Ta	Total
Leg I	0.20/0.17	0.69/0.13	0.36/0.16	0.46/0.14	0.78/0.08	0.53/0.08	3.02
Leg II	0.21/0.19	0.92/0.14	0.48/0.16	0.75/0.14	0.97/0.08	0.88/0.09	4.21
Leg III	0.23/0.19	0.82/0.14	0.38/0.20	0.62/0.16	0.98/0.09	0.57/0.09	3.60
Leg IV	0.25/0.20	1.06/0.16	0.40/0.17	0.74/0.15	1.22/0.11	0.61/0.08	4.28
Palp	0.16/0.15	0.44/0.15	0.25/0.15	0.35/0.18	—	0.37/0.14	1.57
	Proximal	Second	Distal
Chelicera	0.46/0.24	0.65/0.21	0.20/0.04

Penis ( Fig. 18 ) with two pairs of setae on rutrum and three pairs setae on pergula (one median pair at base of rutrum, and two pairs displaced laterally from midline). One pair of setae displaced from midline and posterior to pergula. Rutrum enlarged, rhomboid in dorsal aspect, with lateral extensions. Pergula projecting ventrally.

Distribution. Known only from type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Zalmoxis falcifer sp. nov. (a) Male holotype, dorsal view; (b) Male holotype, ventral view.

FIGURE 16. Zalmoxis falcifer sp. nov. (a) Ventral view of male paratype; (b) Left chelicera of male paratype; (c) Left palp of male paratype.

FIGURE 17. Zalmoxis falcifer sp. nov. (a) Male left leg I; (b) Male left leg II; (c) Male left leg III; (d) Male left leg IV, mesal view; (e) Male right leg IV, ectal view; (f) Female left leg IV.

FIGURE 18. Zalmoxis falcifer sp. nov. (a) Pars distalis of male genitalia, dorsal view; (b) Pars distalis of male genitalia, ventral view.