Gasterapophus binatus, 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 : 99-103

Gasterapophus binatus , new species

( Figs. 1–3 , 7 a–d, Table 1)

Material examined. Holotype male, China: Hainan Province, Mt. Jianfengling , 860m, 18°44´N, 108°51´E, 26 May 2011, coll. C. Zhang (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0409) . Paratypes: 3 males (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0410–12), 5 females (MHBU-Opi- HNQ0413–17), same data as holotype ; 1 male (MHBU-Opi- HNQ0220), 4 females (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0221–24), Hainan Province, Mt. Diaoluo , 18°43´N, 109°52´E, 930m alt., 20 May 2011, coll. C. Zhang.

Diagnosis. Recognised by male stigmatic area medially with a pair of apophyses along the posterior margin, apical part of penile ventral plate attenuated and somewhat triangular, penis with ten lateral setae.

Description. Male: habitus as in Figs. 1 a–b, 2a. Carapace with one enlarged and two small setiferous tubercles on each side of front margin. Stigmatic area strongly extended and covering almost the whole of abdomen. Compressed free sternites IV–VII not easily visible. Posterior region of stigmatic area medially with a pair of large apophyses which are slightly curved forward. Both tracheal stigmata with a row of enlarged tubercles laterally. Inner edges of cheliceral fingers toothed as illustrated ( Fig. 1e ): articulated finger with two teeth; fixed finger with four teeth. Tarsus of pedipalpus with four medial (iIIi) and three ectal (IIi) setiferous tubercles ( Figs. 2f, g ). Femur IV with conspicuously enlarged granules ( Fig. 2e ). Tibia IV ventrally with many teeth which are arranged more or less in two longitudinal series, ventral side with three medial and two ectal conspicuously enlarged teeth distally ( Figs. 2c, d ). The remaining segments of leg unarmed, smooth, but with setae. Penis ( Figs. 7 a–d), apical part of ventral plate and ventral stylar lobe somewhat triangular; dorsal stylar lobe U-shaped; setae arranged as follow: six ventral setae, 10 lateral setae.

Female similar in size and shape to male ( Figs. 3 a–g). Inner edges of cheliceral fingers toothed as illustrated ( Fig. 3c ): articulated finger with two teeth; fixed finger with three teeth.

Colouration. Entire body rusty yellow; carapace and ocularium with blackish brown reticulations; lateral margins and opisthosomal areas of scutum, and free tergites banded with blackish brown; venter concolorous with dorsum, slightly lighter; coxae with dark brown reticulations; the first of the free sternites with lateral and central blackish brown patches; chelicerae and pedipalpi concolorous with the dorsum, and also with blackish brown reticulate markings above; legs brown to blackish as well as proximal tarsus, remaining segments of tarsus whitish yellow.

Measurements. Male holotype (female paratype): body 2.85 (2.65) long, 1.83 (1.90) wide at the widest portion, scutum 2.18 (2.10) long. Eye tubercle 0.23 (0.23) long, 0.40 (0.40) wide. Pedipalpus claw 0.28 (0.25) long. Penis 1.28 long. Measurements of left pedipalpus and legs as in Table 1.

Distribution. China: Hainan.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word “binare” meaning binate, refers to the numbers of apophyses on male stigmatic area.

Variation. Five male specimens (MHBU-Opi- HNQ0409–0412, 0220) were examined. Body 2.40–2.85 long, 1.54–1.83 wide at the widest portion, scutum 1.92–2.18 long. Ornamentations of the smallest male body (MHBU- Opi-HNQ0220) proportionally reduced, however, the most obvious changes are apophyses on stigmatic area and teeth on tibia IV ( Figs. 3h, j, k ). The pedipalpi of four male specimens resemble that of the male holotype (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0409). However, the left pedipalpus of another male (MHBU-Opi- HNQ0410) with normal shape as in holotype ( Figs. 2f, g ), but the right pedipalpus femur with three ventral setiferous tubercles, and other setiferous tubercles in trochanter and patella reduced sometimes ( Fig. 3i ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Gasterapophus binatus, 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. 2. Gasterapophus binatus, new species. Holotype male. a, body, lateral view (arrow indicates apophysis); b, left leg IV, prolateral view; c, patella, tibia, metatarsus and tarsus of right leg IV, retrolateral view; d, patella and tibia of right leg IV, ventral view; e, trochanter, femur and patella of right leg IV, prolateral view; f, left pedipalpus, mesal view; g, patella, tibia and tarsus of left pedipalpus, ectal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Gasterapophus binatus, new species. Paratype, a–g, female (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0413); i, male (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0410); h, j–k, male (MHBU-Opi-HNQ0220). a, b, body; a, dorsal view; b, ventral view; c, cheliceral fingers, frontal view; d, left leg IV, retrolateral view; e, trochanter, femur and patella of left leg IV, prolateral view; f, g, ovipositor; f, dorsal view; g, ventral view; h, venter of coxa IV, stigmatic area and free sternites (arrow indicates apophysis); i, right pedipalpus, ectal view; j, right leg IV, prolateral view; k, patella and tibia of right leg IV, ventral view. Scale bars: a, b, d, e, h–k = 1 mm; f, g = 0.3 mm; c = 0.2 mm. Arrow indicates apophysis.

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.