Neogonyleptes pedrazai, Pérez-Schultheiss, 2022

Pérez-Schultheiss, Jorge, 2022, Two new species of Neogonyleptes Roewer, 1913 (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae: Pachylinae) from the Nahuelbuta mountain range, Chile, Zootaxa 5168 (3), pp. 361-374 : 367-371

Neogonyleptes pedrazai sp. nov.

( Figs. 1B , 4–5 , 6B )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BCD6167E-89C5-4040-8076-38E7E58586E5

Type series. Holotype ♂ ( MNHNCL): CHILE, Biobío Region: Caramavida, Los Alamos , Arauco, 37°41’10’’S 73°15’50’’W, 23-VIII-2019, E. Flores coll., on earth wall . Paratypes, 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MNHNCL): Cañete, Los Alamos , Arauco, 37°48’33’’S 73°24’41’’W, 10-VIII-2019, E. Flores coll., under logs . Paratypes 1 ♂ 2 ♀ ( MNHNCL): Tucapel Bajo, Cañete , Arauco, 37°45’20’’S 73°26’34’’W, 26-VIII-2019, E. Flores coll., under logs . Paratype ♀ ( MNHNCL): Caramavida, Los Alamos , Arauco, 37°41’10’’S 73°15’50’’W, 23-VIII-2019, E. Flores coll., on earth wall .

Etymology. The species is named after Mauricio Pedraza, in recognition of his permanent support during our fieldwork in the Nahuelbuta mountain range.

Distribution. Known only from three localities in the Nahuelbuta mountain range, Biobío Region, southern Chile ( Fig. 7 ).

Diagnosis. Neogonyleptes pedrazai sp. nov. is closely related to N. floresi sp. nov., although with slightly more robust body and legs ( Figs. 1A–B ). Frontal hump high, with raised granules, only slightly lower than ocularium, ( Fig. 4D ). Area III+IV with a large single median apophysis, proximally broad, not narrowed, and apically divided in two apophyses ( Fig. 4A , it is narrowed in N. floresi ). Coxa II ventrally without a defined row of ventral granules. Opisthosomal segment II with genital portion parallel-sided proximally, and stigmatic portion with convergent, curved lateral margins ( Figs. 4B , 6B ). Leg IV: prolateral distal apophysis of coxa reaches 2/3 of trochanter length, apically curved backwards and with a proximal, retrodorsal blunt apophysis, not present in N. floresi ( Figs. 4A–C ); femur with proximal and subdistal slender apophyses on the retrolateral margin ( Figs. 5C–D ); tibia with two major apophyses, one proximal-retrolateral, the other retroventral ( Figs. 5A–D ).

Description of the male holotype. Measurements: Table 1 .

Coloration: Dorsal scutum and free tergites brownish black, with fine olive-yellow mottling. Prosoma covered with small, scattered, olive-yellow spots, forming a well-defined band on the midline, from the frontal hump to the posterior margin, where they disperse; scattered olive-yellow, diffuse spots on lateral prosoma and lateral margins of dorsal scutum, reaching the base of the area III+IV apophysis. Ventrally brownish black with fine olive-yellow mottling, coxae I–IV almost completely covered with small, scattered, olive-yellow spots, except for the apical area of coxa IV and distal apophyses; genital portion of sternite II diffusely stained olive-yellow, stigmatic area brownish black. Chelicerae, pedipalps and legs I–III olive yellow, with some areas partially covered by a fine dark reticle of variable intensity, but more intense on trochanter, femur and tibia (ventral and lateral sides only) of pedipalp. Leg IV dark brown, almost black on coxa, trochanter and femur of some specimens; coxa with about a dozen vertical olive-yellow irregular stripes in proximal lateral surface, and a yellowish transverse band at the femur-patella and patella-tibia joints, and at the apex of the tibia; metatarsus yellowish.

Dorsum ( Fig. 4A ): Anterior margin of carapace with a prominent frontal hump, unarmed, with four or five high scattered setiferous tubercles. Ocularium raised, slightly narrower than 1/3 of the prosomal width, with two small conical paramedian dorsal apophyses, located slightly behind eye level ( Fig. 4D ). Dorsal scutum outline gammatype. Scutum areas I–II unarmed; areas I–III+IV with well-defined scattered setiferous granules, area I divided into left and right halves. Area III+IV provided with a large median apophysis directed backwards, bifurcated approximately at the distal 2/5 of its length, with a setiferous granule on each side of its base. Lateral margins of the dorsal scutum smooth, with a row of nine small setiferous granules that cover the mid-bulge of the scutum approximately up to in front of the origin of the apophysis of area III+IV; granules separated from each other by a variable distance, generally greater than three times their diameter and with the last three tubercles bigger. Free tergites unarmed, each with a transversal row of rounded setiferous granules. Dorsal anal plate with nine prominent setiferous granules over the surface, with a submarginal shallow transverse groove, and an irregular row of 4–5 setiferous granules on the distal margin.

Venter ( Fig. 4B ): Coxae I–IV and stigmatic area smooth, covered with scattered fine hairs; coxa I with a longitudinal row of 6–7 setiferous granules (absent on coxa II). Opisthosomal segment II ( Fig. 6B ): genital portion proximally parallel sided, slightly narrowed just before the genital operculum; stigmatic section with lateral margins entirely curved. Free sternites I–III smooth, with a row of 3–4 flat setiferous tubercles on each side; free sternite IV with a transverse row of three spaced setiferous tubercles on each side.

Chelicerae: Segment I with a globose bulla, abruptly defined, with a vestigial dorsal proximal blunt setiferous tubercle and a laterodistal seta; fixed finger with five triangular teeth, second to fourth larger, first and fifth smaller; movable finger with an irregular cutting edge, with three defined sub-triangular teeth, the two proximal largest.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 4F–G ): Coxa smooth, with a small seta on a dorsal prolateral bulge located in the proximal third; ventrally with two low setiferous tubercles, the proximal larger. Trochanter moderately inflated, ventrally with a setiferous tubercle in mid-position, and two smaller tubercles located proximally and ventro-retrolaterally. Femur with dorsal side unarmed, with tiny, scattered setae, without a subapical prolateral seta; ventral side with a poorly defined, proximoventral, setiferous granule, and retroventral margin with two setae spaced apart in the middle. Patella unarmed, slightly granular dorsally, with flat, setiferous granules. Tibia dorsally granular and tarsus smooth; setation of the tibia: prolateral iIiIi, retrolateral IiII (distal two close together, but without a common base). Tarsal setation: prolateral IIIiIiii, retrolateral iiiIiiiiIiii.

Legs: Trochanters I–IV ventrally with small scattered setigerous granules, more prominent on trochanter IV. Femora, patelae and tibiae I–III unarmed, with very low and scattered setiferous granules. Leg IV ( Figs. 4A–C , 5A–D ): Coxa IV with an apical prolateral apophysis as long as 2/3 trochanter IV; it is straight at its base and curved backwards and slightly downways in the distal third, with a short, blunt, proximal, retrodorsal apophysis; an apical, straight, conical, retrolateral apophysis. Trochanter IV twice as long as wide, dorsally with a prolateral proximal blunt triangular apophysis and a robust sub-distal prolateral major apophysis, smaller than the diameter of the trochanter, raised dorsally and apically strongly curved inwards; ventrally with some sparse conical granules and a slightly distal retrolateral tubercle. Femur IV substraight, shorter than twice the trochanter length, covered with small setiferous tubercles throughout, and a proximal, a subdistal and a distal slightly larger apophysis on the retroventral margin. Patella IV covered by scattered setiferous tubercles similar to those of the femur, denser and more pronounced dorsally; with a row of 3–4 retroventral larger tubercles. Tibia IV substraight, covered by scattered setiferous tubercles similar to those of the femur, but denser dorsally; proximal row of three retrolateral apophyses, the second the largest, and two subdistal apophyses on the ventral-retrolateral margin, the second the largest. Tarsal segmentation: 6(3)-6(3): 8(3)-7/9(2/3): 7-7: 7-7.

Penis ( Figs. 5E–G ): Ventral plate slightly hourglass-shaped, distal margin nearly straight, lateral margins slightly convex subdistally, and concave at level of truncus-glans transition; with a marginal row of four C macrosetae, one D macroseta, short and blunt, and basal group with two curved A macrosetae and one small B macroseta. Glans sac moderately wide. Stylus elongated, slightly curved basally, then straight and directed distally, without discernible trichomes, with a pair of small apical teeth. Ventral process of glans approximately 0.5 the length of stylus, proximal half directed distally, then abruptly curved 90° distoventrally, ending in a sharp, filamentary tip.

Variation: There are some differences in the distribution of spines of the tibia and tarsus of the pedipalp, with the following variations with respect to the pattern described on the holotype: tibia, retrolateral iiIi or iIii, tarsus, prolateral iIIiIii or iIiiiIii, retrolateral iIiiiIiii. The apophysis of area III+IV can be unusually long and narrow, with the apical apophyses slightly shorter (e.g., paratype male from Tucapel Bajo). The small proximal retrolateral apophysis in femur IV may be apically cleft, almost bifid (e.g., a paratype male from Cañete).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Living specimens. A, male of Neogonyleptes floresi sp. nov. (from Pérez-Schultheiss et al. 2019). B, male of Neogonyleptes pedrazai sp.nov. (Photo:Edgardo Flores).C, male of a presumed hybrid between Neogonyleptes sp.and Tumbesia sp. (Photo: Edgardo Flores). D, male of Tumbesia aculeata Roewer, 1930; red arrows indicate the diagnostic apophyses on the posterior border, shared with the putative hybrid specimen (Photo: Jorge Pérez-Schultheiss).

FIGURE 4. Neogonyleptes pedrazai sp. nov. A–E: Male holotype.A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view; D, ocularium, lateral view, along with the frontal hump; E, posterior view. F–G: Male paratype (Tucapel Bajo), right pedipalp. F, retrolateral view; G, pedipalp tibia and metatarsus, prolateral view.

FIGURE 5. Neogonyleptes pedrazai sp. nov. Male paratype (Tucapel Bajo).A–D: Right leg IV.A, prolateral view; B, retrolateral view; C, dorsal view; D, ventral view; E–G: Penis, distal end. E, dorsal view; F, lateral view; G, detail of stylus.

FIGURE 6. Opisthosomal segment II (detail). A, Neogonyleptes floresi sp. nov., male holotype; B, Neogonyleptes pedrazai sp. nov., male holotype. Abbreviations: Go: genital operculum; Gp: genital portion; Sp: stigmatic portion; S, spiracle. Scales: 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Localities of collection of Neogonyleptes floresi sp. nov. (red circles) and Neogonyleptes pedrazai sp. nov. (blue circles). Inset: depicted sector in Chile.