Neobisium ( Neobisium ), 1930

Gardini, Giulio & Gardini, Pietro, 2025, The epigean pseudoscorpions of the genus Neobisium from Corsica and Sardinia with description of a new species (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae), Zootaxa 5627 (1), pp. 93-127 : 124-125

Key to adults of the Neobisium ( Neobisium) species from Corsica and Sardinia.

( Neobisium carcinoides , N. simile and N. sylvaticum omitted: see Introduction).

1 - Chelal hand with oval profile, with its greatest width in the middle or in the proximal third. Small to large-sized epigean or subterranean species: pedipalpal femur 0.645–2.40, patella 0.46–2.06, movable chelal finger 0.60-2.48 mm length ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur/carapace lengths 1.05–2.06 ( ♂ ♀)................................................... 2

1’ - Chelal hand subcylindrical in shape, gradually widened towards the distal end. Very large-sized subterranean species: pedipalpal femur 4.23–4.62, patella 3.07–3.39, movable chelal finger 2.93–3.32 mm length ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur/carapace lengths 2.68–2.86 ( ♂ ♀). ( Subterranean species from Sardinia: Monte Albo )................... N. lulense Gardini, 1982

2 - Standard chaetotaxy of carapace and tergites: ocular and median rows of carapace with a total of about 12 setae, tergites I–IV with chaetotaxy 6–12:6–13:6–14:7–14.................................................................... 3

2’ - Increased chaetotaxy of carapace and tergites: ocular and median rows of carapace with a total of 23–24 setae, tergites I–IV with chaetotaxy 12–15:14–16:17:17–20. (Epigean species from Corsica)....................... N. major Callaini, 1982

3 - Fixed chelal finger homodentate......................................................................... 4

3’ - Fixed chelal finger irregularly heterodentate............................................................... 7

4 - Movable chelal finger with distinct but low, not pointed teeth, progressively lower towards the proximal part of the finger.. 5

4’ - Movable chelal finger (mostly) with very flattened, almost vestigial teeth in its proximal two-thirds, with dentition evident in the distal third from the trichobothrium t to the finger apex. (Epigean species from Corsica and Sardinia)............................................................................................ N. incertum Chamberlin, 1930

5 - Subterranean large-sized species: pedipalpal femur 1.71–2.60, patella 1.36–2.15, movable chelal finger 2.07–2.48 mm length ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur/carapace lengths 1.63–2.06 ( ♂ ♀); fixed and movable chelal fingers with 133–146 and 100–122 teeth, respectively; trichobothrium ist distal to the middle of the fixed chelal finger......................... 6

5’ - Epigean small-sized species: pedipalpal femur 0.645–0.74, patella 0.46–0.54, movable chelal finger 0.60–0.71 mm length ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur/carapace lengths 1.06–1.11 ( ♂ ♀); fixed and movable chelal fingers with 51–57 and 41–50 teeth, respectively; trichobothrium ist in the middle of the fixed chelal finger. ( Epigean species from Sardinia)................................................................................. N. gennargentui Callaini, 1983

6 - Preocular seta present; chaetotaxy of tergites I–IV: 5–6:6:6:6–7; manducatory process with 5 setae; chelal hand (dorsal view) with greatest width in the proximal third; pedipalpal femur 1.71–2.00, patella 1.36–1.60, chela with pedicel 3.14–3.23, movable chelal finger 2.07–2.40 mm length ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger lengths 0.81– 0.83 ( ♂ ♀), ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace lengths 1.63–1.84 ( ♂ ♀). ( Subterranean species from Sardinia: Monte Albo )..................................................................................... N. henroti Beier, 1956

6’ - Preocular seta absent; chaetotaxy of tergites I–IV: 4:4:4:4–5; manducatory process with 3–4 setae; chelal hand (dorsal view) with greatest width in the middle; pedipalpal femur 2.40–2.60, patella 2.06–2.15, chela with pedicel 3.66–3.75, movable chelal finger 2.45–2.48 mm length ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger lengths 0.98– 1.04 ( ♂ ♀), ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace lengths 2.06 ( ♂ ♀). ( Subterranean species from Corsica: Haute-Corse).......................................................................................... N. corsicum Gardini, 2023

7 - Anterior eyes at a distance approximately equal to their diameter from the edge of the carapace; ratio X/Y (diameter of the distal opening of the patella/length of the inner margin of the patella) = 0.34–0.63...................................... 8

7’ - Anterior eyes at a distance of approximately half their diameter from the edge of the carapace; ratio X/Y (diameter of the distal opening of the patella/length of the inner margin of the patella) = 0.71–0.93. (Epigean, occasionally subterranean, species from Corsica and Sardinia)............................................................ N. sublaeve ( Simon, 1879)

8 - Larger: pedipalpal femur 1.70–2.26, patella 1.17–1.71, movable chelal finger 1.88–2.36 mm length ( ♂ ♀); fixed and movable chelal fingers with 106–120 and 84–101 teeth, respectively ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace lengths 1.54– 2.20 ( ♂ ♀)........................................................................................... 9

8’ - Smaller: pedipalpal femur 1.11–1.20, patella 0.85–0.90, movable chelal finger 1.26–1.32 mm length ( ♂ ♀); fixed and movable chelal fingers with 75–83 and 64–67 teeth, respectively ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace lengths 1.24–1.40 ( ♂ ♀). ( Epigean species from Corsica)................................................... N. settei Callaini, 1982

9 - Carapace with 1 (rarely 2) preocular seta on each side and 6 (rarely 7) setae on posterior margin; chaetotaxy of tergites I–IV: 6–7:6–7:6–9:7–9 ( ♂ ♀); more slender pedipalps: pedipalpal femur 6.03–7.32 times as long as broad, patella 3.64–4.83 ×, chela with pedicel 4.77–6.45 × ( ♂ ♀)......................................................................... 10

9’ - Carapace with 2–4 preocular setae on each side and 11–14 setae on posterior margin; chaetotaxy of tergites I–IV: 8–12:11– 713:10–13:10–11 ( ♂ ♀); less slender pedipalps: pedipalpal femur 5.26–5.51 times as long as broad, patella 3.24–3.43 ×, chela with pedicel 3.82–4.46 × ( ♂ ♀). ( Epigean species from Corsica)................................ N. knoflachae n. sp.

10 - Smaller size and less slender appendages: pedipalpal femur 1.70–1.93 mm (6.03–6.25 times as long as broad), patella 1.17–1.38 mm (3.64–3.81 ×), chela with pedicel 4.77–5.25 ×, hand with pedicel 2.00– 2.14 × ( ♂ ♀); ratio X/Y (diameter of the distal opening of the patella/length of the inner margin of the patella) = 0.48–0.51 ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace lengths 1.54–1.72 ( ♂ ♀). ( Subterranean species from Sardinia: Monte Arcuerì )................... N. onnisi Gardini, 2024

10’ - Larger size and more slender appendages: pedipalpal femur 1.94–2.27 mm (6.36–7.32 times as long as broad), patella 1.40– 1.71 mm (4.05–4.83 ×), chela with pedicel 5.78–6.45 ×, hand with pedicel 2.48– 3.06 × ( ♂ ♀); ratio X/Y (diameter of the distal opening of the patella/length of the inner margin of the patella) = 0.34–0.39 ( ♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace lengths 1.73–2.20 ( ♂ ♀). ( Subterranean species from Sardinia: Supramonte )..................... N. sardoum Beier, 1956