Gasterapophus singulus, Zhang & Lian & Zhang, 2015

Zhang, Chao, Lian, Wei-Guang & Zhang, Feng, 2015, Gasterapophus (Opiliones: Laniatores: Epedanidae), a new genus from Hainan Island, South China Sea, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 63, pp. 97-109 : 103-104

Gasterapophus singulus , new species

( Figs. 4–6 , 7 e–h, Table 2)

Material examined. Holotype male, China: Hainan Province, Mt. Bawangling , 450m alt., 19°12´N, 109°15´E, 30 May 2011, coll. C. Zhang (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0511) . Paratypes:

1 female, same data as holotype (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0512) ; 1 male (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0100), 2 females (MHBU-Opi- HNQ0101–02), Hainan Province, Mt. Yinggeling , 450m alt., 19°04´N, 109°31´E, 12 May 2011, coll. C. Zhang ; 2 males (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0065–66), 1 female (MHBU-Opi- HNQ0067), Hainan Province, Mt. Limu , 760m alt., 19°10´N, 109°44´E, 7 May 2011, coll. C. Zhang.

Diagnosis. Recognised by male stigmatic area medially with one apophysis along the posterior margin, tibia III of leg with two enlarged ventral teeth distally, apical part of penile ventral plate expanded and rounded (shaped somewhat as a spatula), penis with two lateral setae.

Description. Male: habitus as in Figs. 4a, b , 5a . Anterior margin of carapace with three similar setiferous tubercles at lateral angle. Stigmatic area with a median apophysis, triangular from lateral view. Both tracheal stigmata with a row of small tubercles laterally. Inner edges of cheliceral fingers toothed as illustrated ( Fig. 4e ): articulated finger with two teeth; fixed finger with four teeth. Tarsus of pedipalpus with two medial (II) and three ectal (IIi) setiferous tubercles ( Fig. 5g, h ). Patella III with one tubercle prolaterally ( Fig. 5c ). Patella IV enlarged, only with granules ventrally. Tibia III with two enlarged ventral teeth distally ( Fig. 5b, c ). Tibia IV ventrally with many teeth which are arranged more or less in two longitudinal series, each ventral side with three conspicuously enlarged teeth distally ( Fig. 5 d–f). Penis ( Fig. 7 e–h), apical part of ventral plate spatulate; ventral stylar lobe arc-shaped; dorsal stylar lobe U-shaped; setae arranged as follow: six ventral setae, two lateral setae.

Female similar in size and shape to male ( Fig. 6 a–g). Inner edges of fingers toothed as illustrated ( Fig. 6c ): articulated finger with two teeth; fixed finger with three teeth.

Colouration. Entire body rusty yellow; carapace and ocularium with pale brown reticulations; opisthosomal areas of scutum each with a transverse row of brownish band except for area I; lateral margins and free tergites banded with blackish brown; venter concolorous with dorsum, slightly lighter; coxae and genital operculum without conspicuous brownish reticulations; free sternites each with brownish bands; chelicerae and pedipalpus yellow with pale brown reticulations above; proximal tarsi I–IV and metatarsi III–IV of legs brown, distal tarsi whitish yellow, remaining segments of legs rusty yellow.

Measurements. Male holotype (female paratype): body 2.58 (2.05) long, 1.88 (1.70) wide at the widest portion, scutum 2.25 (1.80) long. Eye tubercle 0.25 (0.23) long, 0.43 (0.40) wide. Pedipalpus claw 0.28 (0.25) long. Penis 1.13 long. Measurements of left pedipalpus and legs as in Table 2.

Distribution. China: Hainan.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin “singulus” meaning individual, refers to the single apophysis on stigmatic area of male.

Variation. Four male specimens (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0511, 0100, 0065–0066) were examined. Body 2.35–2.62 long, 1.69–1.88 wide at the widest portion, scutum 2.00–2.25 long. One male (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0100) with reinforced teeth on patella III, tibia III and tibia IV ( Figs. 6 h–l).

Figures

Fig. 4. Gasterapophus singulus, new species. Holotype male. a, b, body; a, dorsal view; b, ventral view (arrow indicates apophysis); c, d, left chelicerae; c, medial view; d, ectal view; e, cheliceral fingers, frontal view. Scale bars: a, b = 1 mm; c, d = 0.5 mm; e = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 5. Gasterapophus singulus, new species. Holotype male. a, body, lateral view (arrow indicates apophysis); b, left leg III, retrolateral view; c, patella, tibia, metatarsus and tarsus of left leg III, prolateral view; d–e, left leg IV; d, prolateral view; e, retrolateral view; f, patella and tibia of left leg IV, ventral view; g, left pedipalpus, mesal view; h, patella, tibia and tarsus of left pedipalpus, ectal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 6. Gasterapophus singulus, new species. Paratype, a–g, female (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0512); h–l, male (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0100). a–b, body; a, dorsal view; b, ventral view; c, cheliceral fingers, frontal view; d, left leg IV, retrolateral view; e, left leg III, prolateral view; f–g, ovipositor; f, dorsal view; g, ventral view; h, left leg III, retrolateral view; i, patella and tibia of left leg III, prolateral view; j, left leg IV, prolateral view; k–l, patella, tibia and metatarsus of left leg IV; k, ventral view; l, retrolateral view. Scale bars: a, b, d, e, h–l = 1 mm; c, f, g = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 7. Penis, a–d, Gasterapophus binatus, new species, a, entire penis, dorsal view; b–d, penis tip; b, dorsal view; c, lateral view; d, ventral view; e–h, Gasterapophus singulus, new species, e, entire penis, dorsal view; f–h, penis tip; f, dorsal view; g, lateral view; h, ventral view. Scale bars: a, e = 0.5 mm; b–d, f–h = 0.2 mm. BS–basal sac; C–cavity; DSL–dorsal stylar lobe; G–glans; LS–lateral setae; S–stylus; SC–seminal canal; SL–stylar lobe; VP–ventral plate; VS–ventral setae; VSL–ventral stylar lobe.