Megalopsalis porongorupensis (Kauri, 1954) Kauri, 1954

Taylor, Christopher K., 2013, Further revision of the genus Megalopsalis (Opiliones, Neopilionidae), with the description of seven new species, ZooKeys 328, pp. 59-117 : 67-69

Megalopsalis porongorupensis (Kauri, 1954) comb. n. Figs 2a, 4

Spinicrus porongorupensis Kauri, 1954: 8-9, fig. 4c (incorrect original spelling).

Spinicrus porongorupense Kauri - Taylor 2004: 76 (spelling emended therein by W. Staręga).

Material examined.

5 males, Glenbourne, Old Ellensbrook Road, S of Gracetown, Western Australia, 33°53'S, 115°00'E, 27-28 October 1996, L. Marsh et al., pitfalls (WAM T72175 [2 measured]; T72184 [1 measured]); 2 males, ditto, 27-29 December 1997, L. Marsh et al., dry pitfalls (WAM T72152-3; measured); 1 male, ditto, 33°54'50"S, 115°00'57"E, 24-26 October 1998, L. Marsh et al., dry pitfall traps (WAM T72161; measured); 1 male, ditto, 33°54'32"S, 115°00'24"E, 20-23 October 2000, L. Marsh et al., dry pitfall traps (WAM T72200); 1 male, ditto, 33°54'40"S, 115°00'34"E, 24-26 October 1998, L. Marsh et al., dry pitfall traps (WAM T72173); 1 male, ditto, 25-27 October 2003, L. Marsh et al., dry pitfall traps (WAM T72198; measured); 1 male, ditto, 33°54'35"S, 115°00'15"E, 30 October– 1 November 1999, L. Marsh et al., dry pitfall traps (WAM T72155; measured); 3 males, ditto, 33°54'50"S, 115°00'57"E, 30 October– 1 November 1999, L. Marsh et al., dry pitfall traps (WAM T72143; 2 measured); 1 male, Pemberton, Crowea Block, Western Australia, 240 m, 17 December 1976, S. J. Curry, pitfall trap (WAM 90/1319); 2 males, ditto, 24 October 1977, S. J. Curry, ridge site, pitfall traps (WAM 90/1321-2); 1 male, ditto, 31 October 1977, S. J. Curry, ridge site, pitfall trap (WAM 90/1335); 1 male, ditto, 11 November 1977, S. J. Curry, ridge site, pitfall trap (WAM 90/1326); 1 male, Porongurup Range, Western Australia, 20 January 1932, E. W. Bennett (WAM 32/217); 1 male, Porongurup National Park, Porongurups, Western Australia, 34°40'55.8"S, 117°51'58.6"E, 570 m, 13 June 1996, S. Barrett, wet pitfalls (WAM T72214); 3 males, Mordalup Road, Unicup, Western Australia, 34°19'01"S, 116°31'49"E, 15 Oct 1999-31 Oct 2000, P. van Heurck, wet pitfalls (WAM T73035).

Diagnosis.

Megalopsalis porongorupensis is distinguishable from other members of the Megalopsalis minima -species group by the presence of denticulation on the pedipalp ( Kauri 1954).

Description.

MALE (N = 10). Prosoma length 0.81 (0.65-0.91), width 1.55 (1.41-1.74); total body length 1.94 (1.70-2.33). Dorsal prosomal plate including ocularium tan with dark mottling; unarmed. Ozopore large. Dorsum of opisthosoma tan with iridescent white spots and broad white median stripe.

Chelicerae. Segment I 1.35 (0.69-2.20), segment II 2.04 (1.23-3.00). Tan; heavily and uniformly denticulate. Cheliceral fingers medium length; mobile finger crescent-shaped (Fig. 4c).

Pedipalps. Femur 0.83 (0.75-1.00), patella 0.38 (0.31-0.45), tibia 0.45 (0.40-0.52), tarsus 1.05 (0.94-1.19). Tan. Femur and patella heavily denticulate, few scattered large setae only; tibia lightly denticulate proximally. Inner dorsal distal patella slightly bulging but no distinct apophysis. Microtrichia on distal part of tibia and tarsus; claw with ventral tooth row.

Legs. Femora 3.46 (3.08-3.92), 6.68 (6.00-7.34), 3.24 (2.92-3.48), 5.20 (4.65-5.67); patellae 0.73 (0.66-0.84), 0.84 (0.67-0.89), 0.66 (0.56-0.78), 0.80 (0.64-1.00); tibiae 3.16 (2.88-3.42), 7.12 (6.60-7.83), 3.03 (2.70-3.24), 4.78 (4.15-5.27).

Penis (Figs 4 d–e). Glans short, dorsal edge in line with shaft; stylus at 90° to glans and shaft. Left anterior bristle group reduced; waist in shaft behind bristle groups. Deep pores.

Spiracle (Fig. 2a). Spines almost entirely absent, residual reticulate bases only towards lateral corner; dense field of lace tubercles at lateral corner.

Comments.

Unfortunately, the type specimen(s) of Megalopsalis porongorupensis were not available for the present study. This species has been identified based on its original description by Kauri (1954), who clearly figured the denticulate pedipalp.

This species shows a relatively large degree of difference in cheliceral size between the largest and smallest individuals, but there is no clear clustering into a larger and a smaller morph.