Neopantopsalis pentheter, 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 : 51-54

Neopantopsalis pentheter n. sp.

( Figs. 17–23 )

Material examined. Male holotype. Springbrook Repeater, 1000 m, south-east Queensland, 28°15’S 153°16’E, 14 March – 15 May 1997, G. Monteith, rainforest intercept (QM S74246; measured).

Paratypes. 2 males, ditto, 29 February – 11 April 1992, D. J. Cook, rainforest intercept (QM S25056 ; measured); 3 males, ditto, 15 May – 30 August 1997, G. B. Monteith, rainforest intercept (QM S35852 ); 1 male, ditto, 19 February – 6 April 1995, G. B. Monteith, intercept trap (QM S38908 ; measured); 1 male, 2 females, ditto, 31 October – 31 December 1997, G. Monteith, rainforest, intercept (QM S56748 ; females measured); 4 males (including 2 minor males), 1 female, ditto, 14 March – 15 May 1997, G. Monteith, rainforest intercept (QM S74246; measured); 5 males (including 2 minor males), ditto, 21 December 1996, G. B. Monteith, pyrethrum, dead trees (QM S74260; minor males measured).

Other material examined. 1 male, Binna Burra, Lamington National Park, 28°11’S 153°11’E, 11 February 1981, Y. Lub[in?], RR, VED (QM S2844); 10 males (including 1 minor male), Binna Burra, 28°11’S 153°11’E, 27 March 1976, RR, VED (QM S2835); 1 male, Lamington National Park, south-east Queensland, 28°13’S 153°08’E, 24 March 1973, J. Wessels, Plant Path D.P.I., on road at night (QM S2821; measured); 2 males, Tullawallal, Binna Burra, 950 m, south-east Queensland, 28°12’S 153°12’E, 9 January – 6 April 1995, G. B. Monteith, intercept trap (QM S74334); 5 males (including 4 minor males), 1 female, Nagarigoon, Lamington National Park, 28°12’S 153°12’E, 8 April 1976, Queensland Museum Party (QM S2864; 3 minor males, 1 female measured); 1 male, Wishing Tree Circuit, O’Reillys, Lamington National Park, 28°14’S 153°08’E, 16 January 1990, T. Churchill, night collection (QM S16527 ); 2 males (including 1 minor male), Lower Ballunjui Falls, 500 m, south-east Queensland, 28°12’S 153°12’E, 3 December 1995, G. B. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees (QM S74242 ; minor male measured); 2 males, 4 females, Mt. Asplenium, 1290m, south Queensland, 28°09’S 152°26’E, 20 December 1992 – March 1993, G. Monteith, intercept & pitfall (QM S27468 ; 2 males, 3 females measured); 1 male, ditto, 30 January 1993, G. B. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs (QM S74239 ); 1 male, Mt. Chingbee, 720 m, 12km SE Rathdowney, south-east Queensland, 17 December 1982, Monteith, Yeates & Thompson, pyrethrum in rainforest (QM S2867); 1 male, Mt. Huntley, 1250 m, Queensland, 28°08’S 152°26’E, 29 – 30 January 1993, G. B. Monteith (QM S49375); 1 male, Mt. Matheson, Nightcap Ra., 800 m, New South Wales, 28°32’S 153°18’E, 23 April 2002, G. B. Monteith, pyrethrum, tree trunks (QM S74335); 1 male, Mt. Superbus, Teviot Brook track, 825 m, south-east Queensland, 28°14’S 152°29’E, 8 March 1990, T. Churchill, night (QM S15903 ; measured); 1 male, Mt. Superbus, 8 February 1990, T. Churchill, night collecting, raining, rainforest, active on foliage etc. (QM S16522 ); 12 males (including 6 minor males), 1 female, Mt. Superbus summit, 1300 m, 8 – 9 February 1990, Monteith, Thompson & Janetski (QM S35943; 2 minor males measured); 1 male, Mt. Tamborine, Curtis Falls, south-east Queensland, 27°58’S 153°12’E, 27 April 1988, J. Gallon (QM S15434 ); 1 male, 2 females, Nothofagus Mtn., 1100–1280 m, via Woodenbong, New South Wales, 28°23’E 152°37’E, 4 – 6 February 1982, G. Monteith & D. Yeates (QM S2877; measured); 1 male, Spicer’s Peak summit, 1200 m, south-east Queensland, 28°06’S 152°24’E, 30 – 31 December 1993, G. B. Monteith (QM S73816 ); 1 male, Tooloom Scrub, Tucker Box Rd., 28°28’S 152°23’E, 3 February 1983, D. Clyne (QM S2849).

Diagnosis. The white ‘face’ of Neopantopsalis pentheter is unmistakeable, and allows it to be easily distinguished from all other Neopantopsalis species. It is also distinguishable from all other species except N. psile by the absence of denticles on the dorsal prosomal plate except for some small armature at the apex of the lateral mounds.

Description. MAJOR MALE ( Figs. 17–21 ; N = 10). Prosoma length 2.22 (1.80–2.88), width 2.45 (2.15–2.81). Anterior propeltidial area dark brown; ocularium and medial part of median propeltidial area white; lateral part of median propeltidial area and posterior propeltidial area dark brown. Ocularium and dorsal prosomal plate unarmed except for denticles at apex of lateral mound. Lateral shelves white. Metapeltidium sclerotised except for lateral corners, forming a round sclerotised area with dorsal prosomal plate. Dorsum of abdomen lighter brown. Venter purple-brown, with white spots.

Chelicerae. Segment I 11.46 (9.00–15.27), segment II 12.98 (10.69–17.12). Proximal half of first segment gold, distal half and second segment chestnut. Both segments evenly covered with denticles. Cheliceral fingers sinuous ( Fig. 19 ).

Pedipalps. Femur 1.33 (1.19–1.52), patella 0.57 (0.54–0.69), tibia 0.83 (0.72–0.96), tarsus 1.74 (1.55–2.06). White, with black setae; smooth. No apophysis or hypersetose areas. Tarsal claw with small ventral spines.

Legs. Femora 5.87 (5.60–6.19), 11.30 (10.00–13.23), 5.56 (5.31–6.19), 7.07 (5.58–8.08); patellae 1.18 (1.05–1.35), 1.36 (1.25–1.55), 1.12 (0.93–1.27), 1.31 (1.19–1.47); tibiae 5.94 (5.56–6.66), 11.78 (10.77–13.77), 5.81 (5.44–6.62), 8.08 (7.31–9.00). Coxae with chestnut and white patches. Trochanters and bases of femora white, remainder of legs chestnut. Longitudinal row of long spines on proventral side of leg I femur, patella and proximal third of tibia. Longitudinal rows of shorter, stouter spines on retrolateral and dorsal sides. Other legs with longitudinal rows of spines on femora; remaining segments smooth except dorsal distal denticles on patella. Femur II not pseudosegmented; tibia II with 12 pseudosegments; tibia IV with four pseudosegments.

Penis ( Fig. 20–21 ). Both left bristle groups reduced. Stylus directed dorsad.

MINOR MALE ( Fig. 22 ; N = 8). Prosoma length 1.25 (0.96–1.58), width 1.95 (1.78–2.10). As for major form, but smaller, with humps less raised on dorsal prosomal plate. Chelicerae. Segment I 1.96 (1.17–3.64), segment II 3.03 (2.06–4.68). Pedipalps. Femur 1.10 (0.95–1.22), patella 0.47 (0.44–0.54), tibia 0.68 (0.60–0.75), tarsus 1.37 (1.23–1.47). Legs. Femora 5.30 (4.45–5.91), 9.18 (7.92–11.08), 4.83 (4.10–5.47), 6.32 (5.54–6.85); patellae 1.06 (0.94–1.17), 1.21 (1.10–1.30), 1.04 (0.98–1.16), 1.08 (0.99–1.18); tibiae 5.31 (4.50–6.13), 9.66 (8.16–11.54), 5.06 (4.25–5.88), 6.67 (5.63–7.54). Spine row on leg I much reduced. Tibia II with 12 or 13 pseudosegments; tibia IV with 4 or 5 pseudosegments.

FEMALE ( Fig. 23 ; N = 9). Prosoma length 1.42 (1.27–1.56), width 2.28 (2.13–2.44). Dorsum of prosoma anterior to ocularium cream with black medial point on anterior margin, remainder of propeltidium mottled grey-brown with silver patches. Ocularium grey-white, darker along medial groove. Ozopore with silver margins. Mesopeltidium, metapeltidium and anterior part of opisthosoma with silver darkening posterior to light grey-brown band across opisthosoma, or else medially medium brown and laterally silver. Posterior part of opisthosoma cream. Venter of prosoma white medially, with coxae dark brown distally; genital operculum light brown with dark brown margins; opisthosoma cream medially, medium brown, with cream patches laterally.

Chelicerae. Segment I 0.72 (0.56–0.83), segment II 1.34 (1.26–1.39). Segment I cream with silver reticulation, segment II brown. Both segments unarmed.

Pedipalps. Femur 1.13 (1.10–1.15), patella 0.55 (0.52–0.59), tibia 0.71 (0.67–0.75), tarsus 1.41 (1.34–1.49). Banded cream and dark brown. Patella triangular distomedially, no distinct apophysis.

Legs. Femora 3.32 (2.90–3.80), 6.16 (5.63–6.85), 3.20 (2.78–3.68), 4.78 (4.25–5.31); patellae 0.97 (0.84–1.08), 1.16 (1.11–1.20), 0.93 (0.83–1.00), 1.10 (1.01–1.15); tibiae 3.19 (2.88–3.72), 6.50 (5.94–7.62), 3.00 (2.75–3.56), 4.55 (4.06–5.38). Banded cream and dark brown. Femora with dorsal longitudinal rows of small denticles; remaining segments unarmed.

Etymology. From Greek pentheter , a mourner, referring to the white ‘face’ of this species.

Comments. The majority of female specimens available for this species are poorly preserved, and the variation in colour pattern described for the opisthosoma may represent variation in preservation rather than original differences in live coloration.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 23. Neopantopsalis pentheter n. sp. 17. Major male, dorsal view of body (QM S 74246). 18. Major male, lateral view of body and anterior limbs (QM S 74246). 19. Cheliceral fingers, frontal view (QM S 74260). 20. Tip of penis, lateral view (QM S 74246). 21. Tip of penis, ventral view (QM S 74246). 22. Minor male, lateral view (QM S 74260). 23. Female, dorsal view of body (QM S 74246). Scale bars = 1 mm, except Figs. 20 and 21 = 0.1 mm.