Megalopsalis sublucens, Taylor, Christopher K., 2013

Taylor, Christopher K., 2013, Further revision of the genus Megalopsalis (Opiliones, Neopilionidae), with the description of seven new species, ZooKeys 328, pp. 59-117 : 86-89

Megalopsalis sublucens sp. n. Figs 17, 18 b–c

Material examined.

Male holotype. SW Tasmania, Franklin River, below Goodwin’s Peak, January 1983, ANZSS Expedition (QM S2857).

Paratypes. 1 male, 1 female, as above (QM S2857).

Diagnosis.

Megalopsalis sublucens can be readily distinguished from other Megalopsalis species by the absence of a pedipalpal patellar apophysis or enlarged chelicerae, in combination with the presence of ventral brush-like bristles on distitarsi III and IV. It can also be distinguished from other species except Megalopsalis stewarti by the presence of a lateral protrusion on the left side of the glans near the shaft-glans junction (Fig. 17c).

Description.

MALE (N = 2). Prosoma length 1.34 (1.33-1.34), width 1.99 (1.98-2.00); total body length 2.66 (2.59-2.72). Dorsum entirely unarmed. Dark tan stripes from ocularium to anterior margin, remainder of anterior iridescent white. Median propeltidial area white with dark brown patches. Posterior propeltidial area mottled dark brown. Lateral shelves dark brown anteriorly, iridescent white around and posterior to ozopores. Ocularium golden-brown with anterior face silver. Mesopeltidium, metapeltidium and first four segments of opisthosoma medially yellow-brown edged with dark brown with medial iridescent white spots; laterally iridescent white with dark purple mottling. Posterior of opisthosoma white with purple mottling. Venter of prosoma cream, coxae mottled black distally; opisthosoma purple-brown with transverse rows of iridescent white spots.

Chelicerae. Segment I 0.68, segment II 1.65 (1.57-1.73). Yellow-cream with tan mottling; not particularly enlarged compared to female. Segment I unarmed, segment II with proximodorsal denticles only. Fingers long, apotele closely opposed to finger of segment II.

Pedipalp. Femur 1.13 (1.11-1.15), patella 0.54 (0.50-0.58), tibia 0.70, tarsus 1.35 (1.32-1.38). Banded dark brown and yellow-brown; unarmed; no apophyses. Tooth-comb on apotele.

Legs. Femora 3.50 (3.42-3.58), 6.26 (6.13-6.38), 3.28, 5.44 (5.19-5.69); patellae 1.17 (1.13-1.20), 1.27, 1.02, 1.13 (1.06-1.20); tibiae 3.15 (3.07-3.22), 5.48, 3.08, 4.70 (4.50-4.90). Banded dark brown and yellow-brown, with prominent iridescent white spots around accessory spiracles on tibiae. No denticles, but robust spinose setae on all legs to tibiae. Brush-like bristles intermittently present on ventral side of distitarsi III and IV. Femur II not pseudosegmented, tibia II with six pseudosegments, tibia IV with two pseudosegments.

Penis (Figs 17 c–d). Left anterior bristle group reduced, but left posterior group well-developed. Glans short, triangular in dorsal view, dorsoventrally flattened, dorsal edge in plane with shaft.

Spiracle (Figs 18 b–c). Sparse spines, reticulate basally with reticulations fading terminally, extending across spiracle; terminations of spines palmate, anastomosing; no lateral lace tubercles.

FEMALE (N = 1). Prosoma length 1.40, width 2.03; total body length 4.45. As for male except for following. Ocularium iridescent white. Venter of opisthosoma duller.

Chelicerae. Segment I 0.75, segment II 1.32. Unarmed.

Pedipalps. Femur 1.01, patella 0.50, tibia 0.64, tarsus 1.27.

Legs. Femora 2.32, 4.45, 2.28, 3.56; patellae 0.82, 1.01, 0.93, 0.95; tibiae 2.43, 4.30, 2.35, 3.44. Tibia IV undivided.

Etymology.

From the Latin sublucens, gleaming faintly, in reference to the iridescent patches covering part of the dorsum.

Comments.

Those measurements for which a range is not given in the description of the male were only preserved in the holotype.

While Megalopsalis sublucens possesses brush-like bristles on distitarsi III and IV as found in Megalopsalis stewarti , Megalopsalis tasmanica and species of the Megalopsalis serritarsus -group, the number of bristles is reduced and they are proportionately more widely spaced and less regular. This may be related to Megalopsalis sublucens ' smaller size.