Megalopsalis walpolensis, 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 : 73-74

Megalopsalis walpolensis sp. n. Figs 2b, 6

Material examined.

Male holotype. Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Knoll Drive, Walpole, Western Australia, 34°59'43"S, 116°43'12"E, 29 October 2006, M. L. Moir, A. Sampey (WAM T78848).

Paratype. 1 male, Mt Shadforth, Western Australia, 34°58'04"S, 117°16'47"E, 6 November 2006, M. L. Moir, D. Jolly, in leaf litter (WAM T78856).

Diagnosis.

The features of Megalopsalis walpolensis appear intermediate between those of Megalopsalis minima and Megalopsalis porongorupensis . It differs from Megalopsalis minima in lacking significant denticulation on the ocularium and propeltidium (Fig. 6a) and from Megalopsalis porongorupensis in lacking denticles on the pedipalps.

Description.

MALE (N = 2). Prosoma length 0.65 (0.55-0.74), width 1.44 (1.34-1.53); total body length 2.22 (2.13-2.30). Anterior propeltidial area cream, remainder of propeltidium golden-brown with mottled black patches on anterior corners of dorsal prosomal plate and lateral shelves. Prosoma mostly unarmed, except few small scattered denticles on lateral edge of dorsal prosomal plate near odoriferous glands. Odoriferous glands visible as black patches through cuticle. Ocularium dark golden-brown, with row of small low denticles around each eye. Mesopeltidium, metapeltidium and opisthosoma with transverse band of mottled black across golden-brown background of each segment, broken by tan or iridescent white spots. Coxae cream with mottled purple patches at distal ends; venter of opisthosoma cream dusted with purple, condensing to more solid patches laterally.

Chelicerae. Segment I 0.73 (0.67-0.79), segment II 1.42 (1.25-1.59). Segment I mottled purple on cream background with purple mottling more solid laterally than medially; scattered denticles dorsally. Segment II cream, mottled with purple proximally, densely denticulate proximally with denticles thinning until distal third is unarmed. Cheliceral fingers short, lateral margin evenly rounded.

Pedipalps. Femur 0.90 (0.89-0.91), patella 0.42 (0.40-0.44), tibia 0.50 (0.48-0.52), tarsus 1.11 (1.07-1.14). Cream banded with purple, with cream stripe down dorsal midline; unarmed. No patellar apophysis; black setae denser on medial side of patella but not hypersetose. Microtrichia on tarsus, except for proximal third, and distalmost end of tibia. Tooth-comb on claw.

Legs. Femora 3.48 (3.44-3.52), 6.20 (6.15-6.24), 3.33 (3.32-3.34), 5.05 (4.98-5.11); patellae 0.81 (0.78-0.83), 1.05 (1.03-1.06), 0.82 (0.81-0.83), 0.95; tibiae 3.42 (3.40-3.44), 6.95 (6.93-6.96), 3.16 (3.13-3.19), 4.90 (4.84-4.96). Trochanters white-cream mottled with purple, unarmed. Femora golden-brown proximally, with cream band beginning distad of halfway, followed by purple band, then cream distal end. Patellae dark cream dusted with black, tibiae and metatarsi banded cream and dusty black, tarsi cream. Femora and distal ends of patellae with broken rows of dorsal denticles, remaining segments unarmed. Tibia II with seven pseudosegments, tibia IV undivided.

Penis (Figs 6 c–d). Left anterior bristle group somewhat reduced, remaining bristle groups well-developed. Glans short, broad, triangular in dorsal view; roughly in line with shaft; dorsal side evenly convex; not significantly flattened distally. Deep pores.

Spiracle (Fig. 2b). Spines entirely absent; dense patch of lace tubercles at lateral corner.

Etymology.

From the type locality, Walpole, with the suffix -ensis indicating geographic origin.