Filopalpus niger, Martens, 2022

Martens, Jochen, 2022, From the Ethiopian Bale Mountains hotspot-Filopalpinae subfam. nov., a new taxon of Laniatorean harvestmen based on external and genital morphology (Arachnida, Opiliones, Assamiidae), Zootaxa 5159 (2), pp. 221-244 : 238-239

Filopalpus niger sp. nov.

( Figs 66–70 )

Type material: Holotype (CJM 8985): ♀, ETHIOPIA, Oromia, Bale Mountains, W slope Web valley , W Dinsho, 3720 m a.s.l., leg. 7.2.2019; 07°03’33”N, 39°39’36”E.

Diagnosis: Chelicera rather stout, basal article in distal part markedly and distal article slightly inflated; pedipalp stout, few marked apophyses on Fe do and ve, no marked apophyses on Ta; coloration of body totally black.

Etymology: It refers to the black coloration of the body; adjective in nominative case.

Description. FEMALE. Body, dorsal side ( Figs 66–67 ): Relatively large species (3.3 mm), longish, slightly broadened towards posterior end, pear-shaped. Equipment with low and rounded apophyses all over but indistinct due to dark coloration, additional groups of low indistinct stump apophyses in an irregular para-median row of two each on the abdominal areae I–IV (la view), two markedly elevated pointed apophyses on the outer edge and three minute ones close to the centre of the frontal rim of prosoma; pointed apophyses of various sizes on the free tergites, smaller ones positioned laterally, larger ones centrally.

Tuber oculorum ( Figs 66–67 ): Small, situated close to dorsal rim of prosoma, equipped with few pointed apophyses, the largest one emerging from frontal mid-border of Tu oc, distinctly surpassing frontal rim of prosoma, a smaller one at rear end of Tu oc directed backwards, small indistinct ones on right and left side of Tu oc.

Color pattern ( Figs 66–67 ): Dorsal side blackish, on ventral side Cx brownish, contrasting black tubercles, sternites black with light narrow distal border, Op gen light yellow.

Body, ventral side: Generally with only slight armament; Cx equipped with densely set low tubercles, more inconspicuously ones on sternites, partly hidden by dark coloration, Op gen with minute tubercles, remainder of ve side with scattered low apophyses.

Legs: Generally brownish, tarsomeres lighter, without any pattern, size normal. All articles rounded in cross section, equipped with scattered small apophyses and fine setae interspersed causing a raw impression.

Chelicera ( Figs 69–70 ): Basal article rather slender, especially the proximal half, ve constriction of the basal article nearly absent, that of the do side rather shallow (la view), distal part rather inflated with few low apophyses topped with seta dorso-distally and ventrally, 2 nd article smooth, without apophyses, long setae frontally and around insertion of 3 rd article.

Pedipalp ( Fig. 68 ): Rather compact (in comparison to females of other species). Tr distally enlarged with one large ve apophysis with long seta on top; Fe smooth, from basis slightly broadened distally to close to distal end (la view), three small tubercle-like apophyses on do side, thee larger ones on ve side, all with short seta on top; Pt rather compact, slightly longer than Ti and markedly shorter than Fe, slightly curved to ventral side, continuously but slightly inflated towards distal end; Ti slightly shorter than Pt length, ventrally equipped with one markedly elevated apophysis with strong immovable seta on top, few additionally low apophyses with short seta on distal half; Ta cone-shaped without markedly elevated apophyses, few low ones present, one strong ve seta, few low additional ones on ve and do sides. Claw strong, nearly as long as Ta.

Male: Unknown

Measurements (female):

Body length: Including pointed apophyses on distal and proximal rim of scute, in parenthesis without apophyses but including free tergites 3.3 (3.0).

Leg II: Tr 0.25, Fe 0.7, Pt 0.5, Ti 1.5, Mt 1.4, Ta 1.3; total: 5.65.

Number of tarsomeres on legs I–IV (right and left leg): I 4/4, II 7/6, III 4/5, IV 6/6.

Distribution and habitat: Only known from the type locality at altitude of 3720 m.

Figures

FIGURES 66–70. Filopalpus niger sp. nov. Female paratype. Habitus in lateral view (66) and dorsal view (67). 68. Pedipalp in retro-lateral view. 69–70. Chelicera in retro-lateral view (69) and pro-lateral view (70). Scales: 66–67: 0.6 mm, 68: 0.5 mm, 69–70: 0.3 mm.