Monomontia cf. versicolor Lawrence, 1963

Schönhofer, Axel L., 2008, On harvestmen from the Soutpansberg, South Africa, with description of a new species of Monomontia (Arachnida: Opiliones), African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 109-109 : 116-117

Monomontia cf. versicolor Lawrence, 1963

Figs 5E–G , 6A–D , 7F–I , 8C–H , 9A–F , 10A–F

Material examined (all NMSA material collected by R. F. Lawrence): SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: 3ơ 1^ 1 juv. (instead of 3ơ 2^; 1ơ holotype of M. versicolor , the reminder paratypes) Mariepskop , alt. 2010 m, iii.1960 ( NMSA, 7615); 1ơ Lajuma, in evergreen montane forest, alt. 1300–1400 m, 1–4.iv.2001, P. Schwendinger ( MHNG) ; 1ơ Entabeni forest, Makhado, ii.1960 ( NMSA, 7610); 1ơ Makhado , alt. 1370 m, ii.1960 ( NMSA, 7601) .

Comments: The penis of the holotype is deformed by mounting it on a microscope slide. We therefore investigated a paratype from Mariepskop to compare genitalia with material from Makhado and Lajuma.Although very similar in body shape and coloration, the males from the type locality differ from the Soutpansberg material by larger size, more elongated ocularium, lack of fine granulation on femur of the palps, smaller straight mediolateral spine on the palpal femur, and, to a lesser degree, shape of the penis. Characters such as dorsal spination on palps and basal article of chelicerae are variable within specimens from both localities. A validation of these clearly different forms should be a subject of the revision of the genus.

Figures

Fig. 5. Monomontia, general habitus, dorsal (A, B, D–F, H) and lateral (C, G, I) views: (A–D) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma: (A) ơ, (C, D) ^; (E–G) M. versicolor ơ: (E) holotype, Mariespskop, (F, G) Lajuma; (H, I) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. Scale bars = 1.0 mm; scale bar top left for A, B, E, F; at H for H and I.

Fig. 6. Monomontia, ơ headcaps, lateral view: (A–D) M. versicolor: (A, B) Mariepskop, holotype and paratype, (C) Lajuma, (D) Makhado; (E–H) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma, different individuals; (I) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. Scale bars = 0.2 mm, bottom left for A–D; at H for E–H; at I for I.

Fig. 7. Monomontia, ơ leg I and chelicerae: (A–E) M. aquilonaris: (A) holotype, (B–E) Lajuma; (F–I) M. versicolor, Lajuma; (K–M) M. neglecta sp. n, Makhado. (A, B, F, K) leg I, lateral view, (C, D, G, H, L, M) chelicera, (I, E) pincer, (C, E, H, I, L) lateral and (D, G, M) medial aspects. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 8. Monomontia, ơ palps: (A, B) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma; (C–H) M. versicolor: (C, D) Lajuma, (E, F) Mariepskop, (G, H) Makhado; (I, K) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. (A, B, I) palpus, (C–H, K) femur of palp; (B, D, F, H, K) lateral view, (A, I) medial view, (C, E, G) ventral view. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 9. Monomontia, penes: (A–F) M. versicolor: (A, B) Lajuma, (C, D) Makhado, (E, F) Mariepskop; (G, H) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma; (I, K) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. (A, C, E, G, I) dorsal and (B, D, F, H, K) lateral views. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Fig.10. Monomontia, glans penes: (A–F) M. versicolor: (A, B) Makhado, (C, D) Lajuma, (E, F) Mariepskop; (G, H) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma; (I, K) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. (A, C, E, G, I) lateral and (B, D, F, H, K) dorsal views. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.