Neopantopsalis psile, Taylor, Christopher K. & Hunt, Glenn S., 2009

Taylor, Christopher K. & Hunt, Glenn S., 2009, New genus of Megalopsalidinae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Monoscutidae) from north-eastern Australia, Zootaxa 2130, pp. 41-59 : 54-57

Neopantopsalis psile n. sp.

( Figs. 24–32 )

Material examined. Male holotype. Kroombit Tops (Calliope Range), 45 km SSW Calliope, Queensland, 24°24’S 150°56’E, 9 – 19 December 1983, G. Monteith & G. Thompson, open forest (QM S2865; measured). Paratypes. 1 male, Kroombit Tops (Beauty Spot 98), 24°26’S 150°43’S, 9 – 19 December 1983, G. Monteith & G. Thompson, rainforest (QM S2582; measured); 1 male, Kroombit Tops (Northern Escarpment), 9 – 19 December 1983, V. E. Davies & J. Gallon, open forest (QM S2588; measured), 1 male, Kroombit Tops (Upper Kroombit Ck.), 24°22’S 151°02’E, 9 – 19 December 1983, G. Monteith & G. Thompson, open forest (QM S2818; measured).

Other material examined. 8 males, 2 females, 0.6 km SE Blue Mt., 930 m, 21°36’S 148°58’E, 4 October 1999, G. B. Monteith, rainforest, pyrethrum, trees and logs (QM S52050 ); 5 males (including 1 minor male), 6 females, ditto, 4 October – 17 December 1999, D. & I. Cook, rainforest, intercept trap (QM, unnumbered; minor male, females measured); 1 male, ditto, pitfall (QM S74321); 2 males (including 1 minor male), 1 female, ditto, 17 December 1999 – 23 March 2000, Monteith, intercept trap (QM S74266; males measured); 3 males, 7 females, ditto, rainforest, pitfall (QM S57792 ; 3 males, 2 females measured); 3 males, 3 females, ditto, 23 March 2000, G. Monteith, rainforest, pyrethrum, trees (QM, unnumbered; 2 females measured); 2 males, Mt. Macartney, 900 m, 20°50’S 148°34’E, 19 November 1992, Monteith, Thompson & Janetzki, pyrethrum (QM S74276 ; measured).

Diagnosis. This species is readily distinguished from all species except N. pentheter by the absence of armature on the dorsal prosomal plate, and from N. pentheter by the absence of white markings on the dorsal prosomal plate.

Description. MAJOR MALE ( Figs. 24–31 ; N = 10). Prosoma length 2.21 (1.64–2.94), width 2.54 (2.13–3.09). Dorsal prosomal plate orange-brown; lateral margins around and posterior to ozopore iridescent white. Dorsal prosomal plate unarmed. Ocularium iridescent white, unarmed. Metapeltidium and dorsum of opisthosoma purple-brown, with tan punctures laterally. Venter of prosoma cream medially; coxae dark brown anterodistally. Venter of opisthosoma light chocolate.

Chelicerae. Segment I 9.47 (7.96–11.27), 10.70 (8.93–12.50). Segment I golden-orange, darkening to orange-brown distally; segment II orange-brown, fingers golden-yellow. Both segments evenly denticulate, segment I with distinctly larger denticles dorsally than ventrally. Fingers bowed, long ( Fig. 26 ).

Pedipalps. Femur 1.36 (1.14–1.51), patella 0.56 (0.49–0.65), tibia 0.86 (0.74–0.95), tarsus 1.84 (1.60–2.00). White, femur with purple blush. No armature or apophysis. No plumose setae ( Fig. 30 ). Aciculate ornamentation over almost entire tarsus. Claw with ventral row of small spines.

Legs. Femora 5.98 (5.19–6.96), 11.17 (10.15–13.23), 5.12 (4.75–6.10), 7.20 (6.47–8.27); patellae 1.20 (1.13–1.35), 1.32 (1.18–1.38), 1.08 (0.94–1.24), 1.21 (1.03–1.30); tibiae 6.10 (5.19–7.28), 11.86 (10.81–14.35), 5.41 (4.65–6.66), 7.61 (6.59–9.31). Retrolateral distal ends of coxae, trochanters and proximal ends of femora iridescent white; remainder of legs banded golden yellow and darker brown. Leg I with proventral longitudinal row of hypertrophied spines from femur to proximal end of tibia, not dwindling medially on femur ( Fig. 27 ). Dorsal row of shorter stouter spines on proximal half of femur I. All femora with small scattered denticles; remaining segments unarmed except few dorsal denticles on patella I.

Penis ( Figs. 28–29 , 31 ). Anterior left bristle group significantly reduced, remaining bristle groups welldeveloped. Glans at low angle to shaft, subrectangular in lateral and ventral view. Pores on glans shallowly recessed, not raised on papillae ( Fig. 31 ). Stylus directed dorsad from glans.

MINOR MALE (N = 2). Prosoma length 1.23 (1.13–1.33), width 1.87 (1.78–1.96). As above, except considerably smaller size. Chelicerae. Segment I 2.10 (2.09–2.11), segment II 3.01 (3.00–3.02). Pedipalps. Femur 1.09 (1.08–1.10), patella 0.48 (0.46–0.50), tibia 0.70, tarsus 1.42. Legs. Femora 4.85, 7.92, 4.27 (4.23–4.30), 6.04 (5.88–6.19); patellae 0.95, 1.19, 0.95 (0.89–1.00), 1.10 (1.09–1.10); tibiae 4.65, 8.77, 4.32 (4.18–4.45), 5.93 (5.63–6.23). No enlarged spine row on femur I. [NB. Those measurements for which no range is given refer to segments that were only preserved in one of the two specimens available. Leg I was only preserved in the QM S74266 minor male, while the distal half of the pedipalp and leg II were only preserved in the other minor male specimen.]

FEMALE ( Fig. 32 ; N = 10). Prosoma length 1.43 (1.06–1.86), width 2.19 (1.98–2.33). Dorsum of prosoma anterior to ocularium dark brown; remainder of prosoma densely patched with iridescent silver on grey background, lateral shelves almost entirely silver. Dorsal prosomal plate unarmed. Ocularium cream, with darker shading along median groove, unarmed. Mesopeltidium, metapeltidium and opisthosoma with transverse rows of silver patches. Opisthosoma with grey background, lighter medially and posteriorly than anterolaterally, and dark brown patches laterally across segments. Venter of prosoma cream, with coxae dark brown distally; opisthosoma grey, with silver patches laterally.

Chelicerae. Segment I 0.76 (0.63–0.87), segment II 1.67 (1.49–1.78). Segment I dark brown dorsally, cream ventrally; segment II dark brown dorsoproximolaterally, remainder cream; both segments unarmed. Pedipalps. Femur 1.23 (1.13–1.34), patella 0.53 (0.49–0.55), tibia 0.77 (0.64–0.84), tarsus 1.56 (1.42–1.66). Banded cream and dark brown. Patella triangular distomedially, no distinct apophysis. Legs. Femora 4.28 (3.80–4.75), 7.68 (7.04–8.54), 4.02 (3.60–4.45), 5.73 (5.13–6.20); patellae 1.07 (0.94–1.20), 1.27 (1.19–1.42), 1.03 (0.91–1.18), 1.12 (1.00–1.25); tibiae 4.30 (3.84–4.70), 8.29 (7.62–9.23), 4.23 (3.80–4.58), 5.95 (5.41–6.58). Femora with longitudinal rows of small denticles dorsally, remaining segments unarmed; legs banded cream and dark brown.

Etymology. From the Greek psilos, bare or smooth, referring to the absence of armature on the dorsal prosomal plate.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Neopantopsalis psile n. sp., female (QM, Blue Mt., 23 Mar 2000, pyrethrum). 32. Dorsal view of body. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 24 – 29. Neopantopsalis psile n. sp., male. 24. Major male, dorsal view of body (QM S 2865). 25. Major male, lateral view of body and pedipalp (QM S 2818). 26. Cheliceral fingers, frontal view (QM S 2818). 27. Femur to tibia of left leg I, lateral view (QM S 2818). 28. Glans of penis, lateral view (QM S 2865). 29. Glans of penis, ventral view (QM S 2865). Scale bars = 1 mm, except Figs. 28 and 29 = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 30 – 31. Neopantopsalis psile n. sp., major male (QM, Blue Mt., 4 Oct – 17 Dec 1999, intercept trap). 30. Pedipalp, patella / tibia junction, prolateral view; 31. Glans of penis, lateral view; close-up to show sensory pore morphology.