Graemontia Lawrence, 1931

Schönhofer, Axel L., 2008, On harvestmen from the Soutpansberg, South Africa, with description of a new species of Monomontia (Arachnida: Opiliones), African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 109-109 : 114-115

Genus Graemontia Lawrence, 1931 Graemontia bicornigera Lawrence, 1963

Figs 3C, 3D , 4

Graemontia bicornigera: Lawrence 1963: 295 , fig.10.

Diagnosis: The species is easily distinguished in both sexes by the armature of leg I ( Fig. 4E ).

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: 2^Lajuma, evergreen montane forest, alt. 1300–1400 m, 1–4.iv.2001 , P. Schwendinger ( MHNG); 1ơ (holotype) 1^(paratype), Mariepskop , alt. 2440 m, iii.1960 ,

R.F. Lawrence ( NMSA, 7622), penis and genital operculum of male on microscope slide; 1^Makhado, alt. 1370 m, ii.1960, R.F. Lawrence ( NMSA, 7602) .

Comments: Sexual dimorphism is displayed by the prominent apophysis of the first article of the male chelicerae (Lawrence 1963: fig. 10d). The penis of the holotype is permanently mounted on a microscope slide and was slightly squeezed, so that no specific structures are detectable ( Fig. 4F ). For further investigation of genital morphology, additional collection is required. Comparison of the female paratype with the Lajuma material revealed no differences.

Figures

Fig. 3. General habitus of harvestmen from Lajuma: (A, B) Metabiantes leighi ^and ơ; (C, D) Graemontia bicornigera ^; (A, D) lateral aspect; (B, C) dorsal aspect. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 4. Graemontia bicornigera ^, Lajuma (A–E, G, H) and holotype, Mariepskop (F); (A) medial and (B–E) lateral aspects: (A, B) chelicerae; (C) ocularium, scale bar 0.1 mm; (D) palpus; (E) leg I; (F) penis, ventrolateral view, scale bar 0.2 mm. Scale bars: top left 0.2 mm, for A, B; bottom right 0.2 mm for D, E.