Neoscotolemon armasi, Pérez-González & Mamani & Proud, 2025

Pérez-González, Abel, Mamani, Vanesa & Proud, Daniel N., 2025, On the genus Neoscotolemon (Opiliones: Laniatores: Samooidea incertae sedis) with the description of one new species, Zootaxa 5563 (1), pp. 109-165 : 121-126

Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AC5C636E-117C-43CA-94F0-CE4F4B8A16C2

( Figs 7–11 , Table 2 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ ( CZACC), CUBA, Isla de la Juventud, Nueva Gerona, Presa El Abra [approx. 21.855°, -82.824°], Apr-1974, L. R. Hernández leg.

Etymology. The species epithet is a patronym, honoring the Cuban zoologist Luis F. de Armas in recognition of his enormous and fundamental contribution to arachnology and natural history of Central America and the Caribbean.

Comparative diagnosis. Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov. is distinguished from all other species of Neoscotolemon by the male pedipalp with markedly reduced spines and an enlarged tarsus ending in a pseudochela Figs 7E ; 8B, C, E ), as well as a row of five long pointed setiferous tubercles on free tergite III ( Figs 7F ; 8A ) and the presence of a lateral U-shaped cleft in the penis between the basal macrosetae B2 and B3 ( Fig. 11D ). Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov. differs from N. cotilla by having a wide calyx in the penis ventral plate, which is dorsally open rather than a narrow and closed one as in N. cotilla ( Fig. 11B vs. Fig. 20B ), and from males of N. spinifer and N. tancahensis by lacking enlarged setiferous pointed tubercles in the lateral regions of free tergite III ( Figs 7A ; 8A vs. Figs 22A ; 23A ; 24A ; 29A ; 30A ; 31A ).

Description. Male (holotype, CZACC). Body measurements: Total body length 2.87, carapace length 0.93, scutum magnum length 2.21, carapace maximum width 1.34, abdominal scutum maximum width 1.89. Appendage measurements in Table 2 .

Dorsum: Outline slightly hourglass-shaped with an Eta (η) shape, with a constriction posterior to eye level ( Figs 7A ; 8A ). Carapace granulated, wider than long; frontal hump not well marked; anterior border slightly convex, each lateral corner with two conical tubercles ( Figs 7A ; 8A ). Cheliceral sockets not marked ( Figs 7A ; 8A ). Eyes separated, slightly posterior to the medial region of the carapace, located at the base of a poorly defined ocularium with a wide base and apically armed with a long, forward-slanted spiniform apophysis; ocularium extends from the posterior of the carapace to just before the frontal hump ( Fig. 7E ). Abdominal scutum in lateral view convex ( Fig. 7E ). Sulcus I deep and well-marked, in dorsal view curved to the posterior body region ( Figs 7A, E ; 8A ). Mesotergal areas coarsely granulated and not well defined ( Figs 7A, E ; 8A ). Mesotergal areas I–II with a medial row of small conical setiferous granules; mesotergal areas III–IV with a row of small conical setiferous granules ( Figs 7E ; 8A ). Mesotergal area V with a posterior row of conical setiferous granules, the medial granule slightly longer ( Figs 7A, E ; 8A ). Lateral borders with two rows of granules ( Fig. 8A ). Free tergites granulated; free tergites I–II with a posterior row of conical setiferous granules and a long pointed medial tubercle; free tergite III with a row of five long setiferous tubercles, medial tubercle longer than lateral ones ( Figs 7A, E, F ; 8A ).

Venter: Coxae I–IV with setae and small granules; coxa I with setiferous granules; lateroanterior and posterior borders of coxa III with a row of strong granules connecting with coxae II and IV, respectively ( Fig. 7B, C ); posterior border of the spiracular area and free sternites I–V with a row of setiferous granules ( Fig. 7B, D ); anal operculum with setiferous tubercles ( Fig. 7B, D–F ). Spiracles not concealed ( Fig. 7D ).

Chelicerae: Basichelicerite unarmed, with an elongated and slightly marked bulla ( Fig. 8F ). Cheliceral hand with sparse setae and frontal setiferous granules ( Fig. 8F–H ). Fixed finger with a large proximal conical tooth followed by a few small conical teeth; movable finger with a distal row of few small conical teeth ( Fig. 8G, H ).

Pedipalps: Coxa elongated (i.e., remarkably longer than trochanter), armed with one dorsomesal and one dorsoectal protuberance ( Fig. 8A ); ventrally with two ectal setiferous granules ( Fig. 7C ). Trochanter rounded, with one dorsal pointed setiferous tubercle slanted forward ( Fig. 8C ); ventrally with three small mesal setiferous granules ( Fig. 8B ). Femur dorsally convex, ventrally with two distal small ectal setiferous tubercles, distal tubercle smaller than proximal ( Fig. 8C, D ); ventroproximally with two spines ( Fig. 8B–D ); ventromedial surface with one mesal spine fused laterally with a setiferous tubercle, followed by a distal setiferous tubercle ( Fig. 8B, D ). Patella short, ventrodistally with one mesal spine ( Fig. 8B ). Tibia ventromesally with three small spines, increasing in size from proximal to distal ( Fig. 8B ); ventroectally with one proximal spine, followed by one small setiferous tubercle and two spines fused at the base ( Fig. 8C ); ventral surface with small granules ( Fig. 8B ). Tarsus enlarged, incrassate, and ventrally flattened ( Figs 7E ; 8B, C ); ventromesally with a row of five spines, the second and fifth spines largest ( Fig. 8B ); ventroectally with three spines, the most distal spine largest ( Fig. 8C ); inner to the most distal spine, a long, sclerotized projection forms a pseudochela with the claw ( Fig. 8C, E ). Claw short, robust, with mesal margin straight, ectal margin proximally concave in contact with the distal projection of the tarsus, and distally with a convex projection ( Fig. 8E ).

Legs: Coxae II and IV with setiferous granules on dorsolateral surface ( Fig. 7C ). Metatarsus III swollen at calcaneus region ( Figs 9A, B ; 10A–C ), in lateral view with a rectangular shape; calcaneus extends from the third proximal region of the metatarsus ( Figs 9A, B ; 10B, C ), ventrally with paintbrush-shaped trichomes with multifurcate tips and some lateral sensilla chaetica ( Fig. 10E, F ); apical region of the calcaneus with a high concentration of acuminate trichomes densely covering numerous aggregated pores (glandular openings) ( Fig. 10D ). Tarsi III–IV without scopula and modified spatulate setae. Tarsal formula: 4(2):7(3):5:5.

Color (specimen preserved in 80% ethanol): General body appearance yellowish-brown ( Fig. 7 ); appendages light yellowish-brown; coloration at the chelicerae insertion level is lighter, creating a false appearance of a marked cheliceral socket ( Fig. 7A ); mesotergal areas I–III with an irregular sinusoidal brown line ( Fig. 7A ); mesotergal area V and free tergites dark yellowish-brown ( Fig. 7A, F ); coxae I–IV light yellowish-brown ( Fig. 7B, C ); posterior border of stigmatic area, free sternites, and anal operculum dark yellowish-brown ( Fig. 7B, D ).

Genitalia: General shape of penis tubular, with a blunt rectangular apex; boundary not well defined between pars basalis and pars distalis ( Fig. 11A, C ). Pars distalis with a ventral plate ending in a deep calyx ( Fig. 11B ); calyx dorsally opened, with two thin laminar projections (wings) ( Fig. 11B, D ); dorsally pars distalis with a medial deep neckline ( Fig. 11B ) and a lateral shallower neckline between the basal macrosetae B2 and B3 ( Fig. 11D ). Pars distalis armed with two groups of macrosetae bilaterally arranged: a basal row of four pairs (B1–B4) extending along the edge, from the dorsal neckline to the ventrolateral region ( Fig. 11B, D ), and an apical row (A1–A3) located on the ventrolateral region of the calyx ( Fig. 11D, E ). Capsula externa with follis invaginated and not visible in resting position ( Fig. 11B ). Capsula interna with two laminar conductors, arrow-shaped apically (i.e., medially pointed and with two lateral projections) ( Fig. 11B, D ); conductors flanked a shorter laminar pointed stylus ( Fig. 11B, D, E ).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 39 ).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov., holotype male (CZACC), habitus photos: A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Ventral view with detail of coxae; D. Ventral view with detail of free sternites; E. Lateral view; F. Posterior view. Scale bars: A, B = 2 mm; C = 200 μm; D, F = 500 µm; E = 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov., holotype male (CZACC), A. Drawing of habitus, dorsal view; B–E. Left pedipalp: B–D. Drawings: B. Mesal view; C. Ectal view; D. Femur, ventral view; E. Photo of tarsus and claw, ventral view. F–H. Drawings of left chelicera: F. Ectal view; G. Frontal view; H. detail of fingers. Black arrow indicates the sclerotized projection, which forms a pseudochela with the claw. Spines in green. Scale bars: A–F = 1 mm; G = 200 μm; H = 100 µm.

FIGURE 9. Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov., holotype male (CZACC), left metatarsus III photos: A. Prolateral view; B. Ventral view. Scale bars = 500 μm.

FIGURE 10. Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov., holotype male (CZACC), scanning electron micrographs of left leg III: A. Prolateral view; B. Metatarsus, prolateral view; C. Metatarsus, ventral view; D. Detail of trichomes concentrated around aggregated pores on apical region of calcaneus; E. Detail of trichomes and sensilla chaetica on proximal region of calcaneus; F. Detail of trichomes with multifurcate tips. Scale bars: A = 300 μm; B, C = 100 μm; D, F = 10 µm; E = 20 µm.

FIGURE 11. Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov., holotype male (CZACC), penis drawings: A, B. Dorsal view; C, D. Lateral view; E. ventral view. Stylus in green; conductors in red; blue arrows indicate the neckline between macrosetae B2 and B3. Abbreviations: B1–B4, basal macrosetae; A1–A3, apical macrosetae: W, wing. Scale bars: A, C = 500 μm; B, D, E = 100 μm.

FIGURE 20. Neoscotolemon cotilla (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1945), holotype male (AMNH), penis drawings: A, B. Dorsal view; C, D. Lateral view. Stylus in green; conductors in red.Abbreviations: B1–B4, basal macrosetae;A1–A2, apical macrosetae. Scale bars: A, C = 500 μm; B, D = 100 μm.

FIGURE 22. Neoscotolemon spinifer (Packard, 1888), major male (AMNH), habitus photos: A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 23. Neoscotolemon spinifer (Packard, 1888), holotype major male (AMNH), drawings of habitus, pedipalp, and chelicera: A–C. Habitus: A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view; C. Ventral view; D, E. Left pedipalp: D. Mesal view; E. Ectal view; F–I. Left chelicera: F. Mesal view; G. Ectal view; H. Frontal view; I. Detail of fingers. Spines in green. Scale bars: A–C = 2 mm; D–G = 1 mm; H, I = 500 μm.

FIGURE 24. Neoscotolemon spinifer (Packard, 1888), major male (USNM), scanning electron micrographs of habitus: A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Detail of spiracle; D. Posterior view; E. Lateral view; F. Detail of ocularium. Scale bars:A, B, D, E = 1 mm; C = 100 μm; F = 500 µm.

FIGURE 29. Neoscotolemon tancahensis (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1951), major male (MACN-Ar), habitus photos:A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 30. Neoscotolemon tancahensis (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1951), holotype major male (AMNH), drawings of habitus, pedipalp, and chelicera: A, B. Habitus: A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view; C, D. Left chelicera: C. Mesal view; D. Ectal view; E, F. Left pedipalp: E. Mesal view; F. Ectal view. Spines in green. Scale bars: A, B = 2 mm; C–F = 1 mm.

FIGURE 31. Neoscotolemon tancahensis (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1951), major male (USNM), scanning electron micrographs of habitus: A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Posterior view; D. Lateral view; E. Detail of ocularium. Scale bars: A–D = 1 mm; E = 500 μm.

FIGURE 39. Geographical distribution of the genus Neoscotolemon. Neoscotolemon pictipes (sky blue circle), N. armasi spec. nov. (orange star), N. bolivari (yellow square), N. cotilla (red triangle), and N. vojtechi (white circle) in Cuba; N. spinifer (magenta hexagon) in Southern Florida, United States of America, Cayman Islands (unconfirmed record, indicated by a question mark), and Jamaica (doubtful record, indicated by a question and exclamation mark); N. tancahensis (green inverted triangle) in Yucatán Peninsula, México and Belize.

Tables

TABLE 2. Appendage measurements (in mm) of Neoscotolemon armasi spec. nov., holotype. Tr—Trochanter, Fe— Femur, Pa—Patella, Ti—Tibia, Mt—Metatarsus, Ta—Tarsus, T—Total.

		Tr	Fe	Pa	Ti	Mt	Ta	T
♂ CZACC	Pedipalp	0.41	1.44	0.62	1.02	-	1.20	4.69
	Leg I	0.27	0.99	0.46	0.68	1.01	0.74	4.15
	Leg II	0.33	1.00	0.65	1.14	1.47	1.63	6.21
	Leg III	0.35	0.97	0.45	0.77	1.16	0.83	3.54
	Leg IV	0.43	1.44	0.61	1.08	1.72	1.08	6.38