Megalopsalis atrocidiana, Taylor, Christopher K., 2013

Taylor, Christopher K., 2013, Further revision of the genus Megalopsalis (Opiliones, Neopilionidae), with the description of seven new species, ZooKeys 328, pp. 59-117 : 74-77

Megalopsalis atrocidiana sp. n. Figs 8, 9 a–c

Material examined.

Male holotype. Central Queensland, Mt Dalrymple, 21°03'S, 148°38'E, 1200 m, 21 December 1992-10 January 1993, ANZSES Expedition, flight intercept trap (QM S35935).

Paratype. 1 female, ditto (QM S35935).

Diagnosis.

Megalopsalis atrocidiana differs from all other long-legged Enantiobuninae in the presence of transverse rows of spines on the opisthosoma (Fig. 8a); these are present in reduced form in the females as well as the males.

Description.

MALE (N = 1). Prosomalength 2.18, width 1.26; total body length 2.66. Body medium brown; darker mottling on prosoma. Dorsal prosomal plate sharply denticulate; denticles along posterior margins of prosomal segments. Lateral spines on each side of metapeltidium. Ocularium with high spines. Ozopore large. Opisthosoma with transverse rows of spines on raised mounds along midlines of first four segments. Coxae golden brown with dark brown patches distally; venter of opisthosoma light grey-brown.

Chelicerae. Segment I 1.40, segment II 2.53. Segment II darker than segment I; distal end of segment I white. Both segments evenly denticulate. Cheliceral fingers long, mobile finger angular crescent-shaped.

Pedipalps. Femur 1.15, patella 0.53, tibia 0.63, tarsus 1.42. Proximal half of femur brown, distal half of femur to tibia white, tarsus tan. Unarmed; no apophysis on patella. Plumose setae present medially (Fig. 9c). Microtrichia on distal three-quarters of tarsus; claw with ventral tooth-row.

Legs. Femora -, 6.77, 3.48, 5.41; patellae -, 1.19, 1.01, 1.11; tibiae -, 7.89, 3.24, 5.03. Golden brown. Trochanters with robust spines on prolateral face. Leg I not preserved. Femora of remaining legs denticulate; patellae with longitudinal rows of small denticles; remaining segments unarmed. Tibia II with seven or eight pseudosegments; tibia IV undivided.

Penis (Figs 8 d–e). Left anterior bristle group slightly reduced, remaining bristle groups well developed. Glans of medium length, edges converging in ventral view.

Spiracle (Figs 9 a–b). Dense curtain of robust reticulate spines extending partway across spiracle; terminations of spines multifurcate but not palmate; lace tubercles in lateral corner, with small number of reticulate spines at lateral end of posterior margin.

FEMALE (Fig. 8c; N = 1). Prosoma length 1.5, width 2.3; total body length 3.48. Anterior propeltidial area tan, remainder of propeltidium mottled medium brown. Ocularium with row of denticles on each side. Mesopeltidium medially medium brown, laterally tan with black mottling; small denticles medially. Metapeltidium and first three segments of opisthosoma medially medium brown with black patches on edge of medial area, laterally tan mottled with black. Metapeltidium and first four segments of opisthosoma with transverse rows of small denticles. Posterior part of opisthosoma tan mottled with black. Coxae patched tan and dark brown; venter of opisthosoma grey with longitudinal rows of dark brown patches.

Chelicerae. Segment I 0.77, segment II 1.65. Segment I tan with dark brown lateral patches proximodorsally; segment II golden brown with tan fingers. Unarmed.

Pedipalps. Femur 1.28; patella 0.59; tibia 0.72; tarsus 1.60. Femur dark brown on proximal half, tan on distal half with golden brown patch on distalmost end; patella and tibia each golden brown proximally, tan distally; tarsus tan. Unarmed; no apophysis on patella.

Legs: Femora 3.56, 6.77, 3.40, -; patellae 1.17, 1.23, 1.11, -; tibiae 3.84, 7.69, 3.24, -. Banded tan and medium brown; longitudinal dorsal rows of denticles on femora and patellae. Tibia II with eight pseudosegments; leg IV not preserved.

Etymology.

From the Latin atrox, cruel, and the goddess Diana. The transverse rows of mounds on the opisthosoma are reminiscent of the figure known as Diana of Ephesus, while the epithet ‘cruel’ refers to the addition of a spine on each of the mounds.