Tyrannochthonius multicavus, Hou & Feng & Zhang, 2023

Hou, Yanmeng, Feng, Zegang & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Diversity of cave-dwelling pseudoscorpions from Guizhou in China, with the description of twenty-four new species of the genus Tyrannochthonius (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae), Zootaxa 5262 (1), pp. 1-158 : 79-87

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5262.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F05805FD-BC5B-4236-BF04-C6AA5C37F2D7
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7799108
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/FD7487B1-FFD8-FF8C-FF20-5ECA3E10FE1E
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Tyrannochthonius multicavus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Tyrannochthonius multicavus sp. nov. ‹Ũ栖Ɵṁae›

Figs 62–69 View FIGURE 62 View FIGURE 63 View FIGURE 64 View FIGURE 65 View FIGURE 66 View FIGURE 67 View FIGURE 68 View FIGURE 69

Type material. Holotype ♂ (Ps.- MHBU-HBUARA#2021-204 - 01 ): China, Guizhou Province, Pingtang County, Tangbian Town, Xinhong Village , Xiaohui Cave , under stones and on the cave walls in the deep zone (Temperature: 15°C, Humidity: 80%) [25°38′43.65″N, 106°45′46.81″E], 888.6 m a.s.l., 3 August 2021, Zegang Feng, Hongru Xu, Liu Fu & Nana Zhan leg. GoogleMaps Paratypes: 1 ♂ (Ps.- MHBU-HBUARA#2021-204 - 02 ), 2 ♀ (Ps.- MSWU-HBUARA#2021- 204 - 03 & HBUARA#2021-204-04), all with the same data as the holotype; GoogleMaps 2 ♂ (Ps.- MHBU-HBUARA#2021-205 - 01 & HBUARA#2021-205-02), 5 ♀ (Ps.- MSWU-HBUARA#2021-205 - 03 –HBUARA#2021-205-07) Tangbian Town , Bailu Village, Weier Cave, under stones in the deep zone [25°38′8.52″N, 106°43′8.16″E], 919.3 m a.s.l., all with the same collection date and collectors as the holotype; GoogleMaps 9 ♂ (Ps.- MHBU-HBUARA#2022-513 - 01 –HBUARA#2022- 513-09), 5 ♀ (Ps.- MSWU-HBUARA#2022-513 - 10 –HBUARA#2022-513-14), Luodian County, Bianyan Town , Dahao Village , Da Cave, under stones in the deep zone [25°40′5.91″N, 106°41′23.07″E], 930 m a.s.l., 09 August 2022, Yanmeng Hou, Lu Zhang, Jianzhou Sun & Wenlong Fan leg. GoogleMaps ; 5 ♂ (Ps.- MHBU-HBUARA#2022-514 - 01 – HBUARA#2022-514-05), 2 ♀ (Ps.- MSWU-HBUARA#2022-514 - 06 & HBUARA#2022-514-07), Luodian County, Bianyan Town , Dashang Village , Qixia Cave, under stones in the deep zone [25°37′55.58″N, 106°42′23.24″E], 956 m a.s.l., 10 August 2022, Yanmeng Hou, Lu Zhang, Jianzhou Sun & Wenlong Fan leg. GoogleMaps

Etymology. The specific name is derived from a combination of the Latin word “ multus ” and “ cavus ”, meaning numerous and cavernous, respectively, which refers to the species found in several caves.

Diagnosis (J ♀). Moderately sized troglomorphic species with elongated appendages; carapace without eyes or eyespots; anterior margin of carapace thin, finely denticulated, epistome small and represented by a slight bump; posterior margin of carapace with 2 setae; tergites I–IV each with 2 setae. Pedipalps slender, femur 6.79–7.08 (♂), 6.53–7.21 (♀) times longer than broad; chela 7.53–8.20 (♂), 7.05–8.38 (♀) times longer than broad; both chelal fingers without intercalary teeth.

Description. Males (holotype and paratypes) ( Figs 64F View FIGURE 64 , 66A View FIGURE 66 , 67A–F View FIGURE 67 , 68 View FIGURE 68 , 69 View FIGURE 69 ).

Colour: generally pale yellow, chelicerae, pedipalps and tergites slightly darker, soft parts pale.

Cephalothorax ( Figs 67C View FIGURE 67 , 68A View FIGURE 68 ): carapace 1.02–1.14 times longer than broad, gently narrowed posteriorly; surface smooth, without furrows; no traces of eyes; anterior margin slightly serrate; epistome small and represented by a slight bump, with 2 setae flanking base; with 18 setae arranged s4s: 4: 4: 2: 2, most setae heavy, long and gently curved, anterolateral setae much shorter than others; with two pairs of lyrifissures, first pair situated middle to the setae of ocular row, the second situated exterior to the sole pair of setae of posterior row. Chaetotaxy of coxae: P 3, I 3, II 3–4, III 5, IV 5; manducatory process with two acuminate distal setae, anterior seta less than 1/2 length of medial seta; apex of coxa I with small, rounded anteromedial process; coxae II with 8–10 terminally indented coxal spines on each side, set as an oblique row, longer spines present in the middle of the row, becoming shorter distally and proximally and incised for about half their length ( Fig. 68C View FIGURE 68 ); intercoxal tubercle absent; without sub-oral seta

Chelicera ( Figs 67D View FIGURE 67 , 68B View FIGURE 68 ): large, about as long as carapace, 2.27–2.42 times longer than broad; 5 setae and 2 lyrifissures (exterior condylar lyrifissure and exterior lyrifissure) present on hand, all setae acuminate, ventrobasal seta shorter than others; movable finger with one medial seta. Cheliceral palm with moderate hispid granulation on both ventral and dorsal sides. Both fingers well provided with teeth, fixed finger with 11–13 teeth, distal one largest; movable finger with 12–13 retrorse contiguous small teeth; galea represented by a very slight bump on movable finger ( Fig. 68B View FIGURE 68 ). Serrula exterior with 18–21 and serrula interior with 13–15 blades. Rallum with 7–8 blades, the distal one longest and recumbent basally, with fine barbules and slightly set apart from the other blades, latter tightly grouped and with long pinnae, some of which are subdivided ( Fig. 68E View FIGURE 68 ).

Pedipalp ( Figs 67A, B, E View FIGURE 67 , 68D View FIGURE 68 , 69A, B View FIGURE 69 ): long and slender, trochanter 1.20–1.47, femur 6.79–7.08, patella 2.40–2.86, chela 7.53–8.20, hand 2.65–2.94 times longer than broad; femur 2.39–2.68 times longer than patella; movable chelal finger 1.65–1.80 times longer than hand and 0.62–0.64 times longer than chela. Setae generally long and acuminate; 1 distal lyrifissure present on patella ( Figs 67E View FIGURE 67 , 68D View FIGURE 68 ). Chelal palm not constricted towards fingers, apodeme complex of movable chelal finger only slightly sclerotized, with weak granulation dorsally at base of fixed chelal finger. Fixed chelal finger and hand with 8 trichobothria, movable chelal finger with 4 trichobothria, ib and isb situated close together, submedially on dorsum of chelal hand; eb, esb and ist forming a nearly straight oblique row at base of fixed chelal finger; it slightly distal to est, situated subdistally; et slightly near to tip of fixed chelal finger, very close to chelal teeth; dx situated distal to et; sb closer to b than to st; b and t situated subdistally, t situated at same level as est and distal to b ( Fig. 69A View FIGURE 69 ). A tiny antiaxial lyrifissure present at base of fixed chelal finger (situated distal to ist). Both chelal fingers with a row of teeth, homodentate, spaced regularly along the margin, larger and well-spaced teeth present in the middle of the row, becoming smaller and closer distally and proximally: fixed chelal finger with 24–27 macrodenticles, slightly retrorse, long and pointed; movable chelal finger with 30–33 macrodenticles (markedly smaller than teeth on fixed chelal finger), continuous and retrorse, almost prostrate ( Fig. 69A View FIGURE 69 ). Chelal fingers straight in dorsal view; microsetae (chemosensory setae) present on dorsum of chelal hand ( Figs 67B View FIGURE 67 , 69B View FIGURE 69 ).

Opisthosoma: generally typical, pleural membrane finely granulated. Tergites and sternites undivided; setae uniseriate and acuminate. Tergal chaetotaxy I–XII: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2–4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 2: T2T: 0. Sternal chaetotaxy III–XII: 12–15: 11–13: 7–10: 7–10: 7–10: 7–9: 8–10: 7–10: 0: 2. Anterior genital operculum with 9–10 setae, genital opening slit-like, with 13–18 marginal setae on each side, 38–45 in total ( Fig. 67F View FIGURE 67 ).

Legs ( Fig. 69C, D View FIGURE 69 ): generally typical, long and slender. Fine granulation present on anterodorsal faces of femur IV and patella IV. Femur of leg I 1.78–2.07 times longer than patella and with 1 lyrifissure at the base of femur; tarsus 2.56–2.88 times longer than tibia. Femoropatella of leg IV 3.86–4.10 times longer than deep; tibia 5.90–7.38 times longer than deep; with basal tactile setae on both tarsal segments: metatarsus 3.86–4.43 times longer than deep (TS= 0.23–0.30), tarsus 13.60–15.60 times longer than deep and 2.39–2.71 times longer than metatarsus (TS= 0.23–0.25). Arolium slightly shorter than the claws, not divided; claws simple.

Adult females (paratypes) ( Figs 66B View FIGURE 66 , 67G View FIGURE 67 ). Mostly same as males, but a little larger; chaetotaxy of coxae: P 3, I 3, II 3–4, III 5, IV 4–5; tergal chaetotaxy I–XII: 2: 2: 2: 2: 3–4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 2: T2T: 0; sternal chaetotaxy IV–XII: 11–13: 7–9: 7–10: 7–9: 7–9: 9: 7–9: 0: 2; anterior genital operculum with 9–10 setae, posterior margin with 12–14 marginal setae, 21–24 in total; leg IV with a long tactile seta on both tarsal segments: metatarsus 3.25–4.29 times longer than deep (TS= 0.25–0.32), tarsus 14.20–15.40 times longer than deep and 2.45–2.73 times longer than metatarsus (TS= 0.20–0.27).

Dimensions (length/breadth or, in the case of the legs, length/depth in mm; ratios in parentheses). Males: body length 1.71–2.01. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.18–0.22/0.14–0.16 (1.20–1.47), femur 0.92–1.02/0.13–0.15 (6.79–7.08), patella 0.36–0.41/0.13–0.15 (2.40–2.86), chela 1.23–1.35/0.13–0.17 (7.53–8.20), hand 0.44–0.50/0.13–0.17 (2.65– 2.94), movable chelal finger length 0.79–0.84. Chelicera 0.46–0.53/0.19–0.22 (2.27–2.42), movable finger length 0.24–0.29. Carapace 0.49–0.53/0.44–0.49 (1.02–1.14). Leg I: trochanter 0.15–0.18/0.13–0.14 (1.07–1.29), femur 0.57–0.63/0.07–0.08 (7.13–8.43), patella 0.29–0.34/0.06–0.07 (4.14–5.33), tibia 0.23–0.26/0.05–0.06 (4.00–5.20), tarsus 0.61–0.70/0.05–0.06 (11.67–13.80). Leg IV: trochanter 0.22–0.26/0.14–0.16 (1.56–1.79), femoropatella 0.82–0.90/0.20–0.22 (3.86–4.10), tibia 0.59–0.63/0.08–0.10 (5.90–7.38), metatarsus 0.27–0.31/0.07 (3.86–4.43), tarsus 0.68–0.78/0.05 (13.60–15.60).

Females: body length 1.81–2.10. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.17–0.20/0.15–0.16 (1.13–1.27), femur 0.96–1.05/0.14– 0.16 (6.53–7.21), patella 0.37–0.41/0.13–0.17 (2.29–2.92), chela 1.30–1.42/0.16–0.20 (7.05–8.38), hand 0.47– 0.53/0.16–0.20 (2.58–2.94), movable chelal finger length 0.81–0.86. Chelicera 0.50–0.53/0.22–0.24 (2.17–2.32), movable finger length 0.27–0.29. Carapace 0.51–0.56/0.46–0.53 (1.04–1.13). Leg I: trochanter 0.14–0.17/0.13–0.15 (1.00–1.21), femur 0.55–0.61/0.07–0.09 (6.78–8.43), patella 0.28–0.34/0.07 (4.00–4.86), tibia 0.23–0.25/0.05–0.06 (3.83–5.00), tarsus 0.62–0.70/0.05–0.06 (10.67–14.00). Leg IV: trochanter 0.20–0.25/0.13–0.15 (1.43–1.71), femoropatella 0.80–0.88/0.19–0.23 (3.82–4.42), tibia 0.54–0.61/0.08–0.10 (6.00–7.00), metatarsus 0.26–0.30/0.07–0.08 (3.25–4.29), tarsus 0.71–0.77/0.05 (14.20–15.40).

Remarks. Tyrannochthonius multicavus sp. nov. is similar to T. harveyi in having the same number of setae on tergites I–III (2) and lacking intercalary teeth on both chelal fingers, but differs by the number of setae at the anterior margin of the carapace (6 vs. 4), a larger body size (body length min. 1.71 mm vs. max. 1.56 mm), the relative position of trichobothrium sb (sb closer to b than to st vs. midway between st and b), the number of setae on tergites IX and Ⅹ (2 vs. 4) and the proportion of movable chelal finger and chelal hand (1.65–1.80 vs. 2.29 times).

Tyrannochthonius multicavus sp. nov. can be distinguished from T. akaelus , T. antridraconis , T. chixing , T. ganshuanensis and T. zhai by lacking intercalary teeth on the fixed chelal finger ( Mahnert 2009; Gao et al. 2018, 2020).

Distribution. Known only from the Xiaohui, Weier, Da, and Qixia caves.