Neoscotolemon pictipes ( Banks, 1908 )

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 : 113-117

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5563.1.11
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6503A62D-DA9D-447F-A89F-50436E2D522A
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14605644
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3F08821F-FFEB-FFCE-FF61-B8C4FAD58A86
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Neoscotolemon pictipes ( Banks, 1908 )
status

Treatment

Neoscotolemon pictipes ( Banks, 1908) View in CoL

( Figs 1–6 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 , Table 1 View TABLE 1 )

Scotolemon pictipes Banks 1908: 38 View in CoL , fig. 3; 1909: 171.

Neoscotolemon pictipes View in CoL : Roewer 1912a: 150; 1923: 113, fig. 113 a, b; Goodnight & Goodnight 1942a: 4; Rambla 1980: 2; Kury 2003: 26.

Type material. Holotype: ♀ ( MCZ 26121 About MCZ , examined), CUBA, near Havana, C.F. Baker leg.

Other material examined. CUBA: 6 ♂ (one photo voucher and one SEM voucher), 9 ♀ (one photo voucher and one SEM voucher) ( MACN-Ar 46949 ), Artemisa, San Antonio de los Baños, forest next to Ariguanabo River [22.89538°, -82.502977°], 15-Jan-2011, A. Pérez-González, A. L. Carbajal de la Fuente & L. F. de Armas leg. • 1 ♂, 2 ♀, ( CZACC), Artemisa, San Antonio de los Baños, marginal forest of Ariguanabo River , 4-May-1984, L. F. Armas leg.

Comparative diagnosis. Neoscotolemon pictipes can be distinguished from the rest of the species in the genus by the coarse granulation of the mesotergal areas, free tergites, and anal operculum, which lack any notably pointed tubercles ( Figs 1A, C View FIGURE 1 ; 2A, B, D, F View FIGURE 2 ; 6A, B, D, E, G, H View FIGURE 6 ). Neoscotolemon pictipes can also be easily separated from N. armasi spec. nov. by the absence of a pseudochela in the pedipalp tarsus of males ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 vs. Fig. 8E View FIGURE 8 ). In N. pictipes , the wide calyx in the penis ventral plate, dorsally open and with a pair of wings ( Fig. 5B, F View FIGURE 5 ), distinguishes it from N. cotilla which has a narrow and reduced calyx, without wings ( Fig. 20A, B View FIGURE 20 ).

Redescription. Male (MACN-Ar 46949). Body measurements: Total body length 2.60, carapace length 0.96, scutum magnum length 2.25, carapace maximum width 1.40, abdominal scutum maximum width 1.94. Appendage measurements in Table 1 View TABLE 1 .

Dorsum: Outline slightly hourglass-shaped with an Eta (η) shape, with a constriction slightly posterior to eye level ( Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 ; 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Carapace with scattered granules, wider than long, with a rounded and marked frontal hump; anterior border slightly convex, each lateral corner with two or three small granules ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Cheliceral sockets not marked ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). 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 ( Figs 1C View FIGURE 1 ; 2A, D View FIGURE 2 ). Abdominal scutum in lateral view convex ( Figs 1C View FIGURE 1 ; 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Sulcus I deep and well-marked, in dorsal view, curved to the posterior body region ( Fig. 2A, D View FIGURE 2 ). Mesotergal areas coarsely granulated and not well defined ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Mesotergal areas I–II with larger medial conical setiferous granules ( Fig. 2A, D View FIGURE 2 ); mesotergal areas III–IV with two rows of larger conical setiferous granules, medial granules slightly longer than lateral granules ( Fig. 2A, D View FIGURE 2 ). Mesotergal area V with two rows of small conical setiferous granules ( Fig. 2A, D View FIGURE 2 ). Lateral borders with two rows of granules, the inner row consisting of setiferous granules ( Fig. 2A, D View FIGURE 2 ). Ozopore with an oval, narrow, and elongated orifice with a descending channel that extends toward the posterior region ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). Free tergites granulated; with two rows of setiferous granules, granules of posterior row longer than anterior row; free tergite I–II with medial setiferous granules slightly longer and more conical than lateral granules ( Fig. 2A, D, F View FIGURE 2 ).

Venter: Coxae I–IV with setae and small granules; coxa I with setiferous granules ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ); anteroposterior borders of coxa III with a row of strong granules connecting with coxae II and IV, respectively ( Fig. 2B, C View FIGURE 2 ). Posterior border of the spiracular area and free sternites I–IV with a row of setiferous granules; free sternite V and anal operculum with several conspicuous setiferous granules ( Fig. 2B, D, F, G View FIGURE 2 ). Spiracles not concealed ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ).

Chelicerae: Basichelicerite unarmed, with an elongated and slightly marked bulla ( Fig. 3E, F View FIGURE 3 ). Cheliceral hand with sparse setae and small frontal setiferous granules ( Fig. 3E–G View FIGURE 3 ). Movable finger with a medio-distal lamina bearing sub-square teeth; fixed finger with a proximal conical tooth ( Fig. 3G View FIGURE 3 ).

Pedipalps: Coxa elongated (i.e., remarkably longer than trochanter), proximally with one dorsomesal and one ventroectal setiferous granule ( Fig. 1A, B View FIGURE 1 ). Trochanter rounded, with three dorsal and one mesal pointed setiferous tubercles, plus three ventral pointed setiferous tubercles ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ). Femur dorsally convex; ventrally armed with a row of six small ectal setiferous pointed tubercles, with the fifth distal tubercle being longest ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ); ventroproximally with two long spines, fused at the base; mesal surface with a medial spine followed by one setiferous pointed tubercle ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ). Patella short, ventrodistally with one mesal spine and one ectal setiferous pointed tubercle ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ). Tibia ventromesally with three spines, increasing in size from proximal to distal ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ); ventroectally with one proximal spine, followed by one setiferous pointed tubercle and two spines fused at the base, the longest spine featuring a socket with an apical square-shaped projection ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ); ventral surface with several small granules ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Tarsus remarkably elongated, incrassate, and ventrally flattened ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ); ventromesally with one proximal setiferous pointed tubercle, followed by a row of five spines, the second and fifth spines being the largest ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ); ventroectally with three spines interspersed with two setiferous pointed tubercles ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Claw short, robust, and triangular (compared with females one) ( Fig. 3A–C View FIGURE 3 ). Setae of spines covered with microtrichia ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ).

Legs: Coxae II and IV with setiferous granules on dorsolateral surface ( Fig. 2A, D View FIGURE 2 ). Femurs I–IV with one retrolateral and one prolateral longitudinal row of ventral setiferous conical tubercles ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ). Metatarsus III in lateral view rectangular, swollen at calcaneus region ( Figs 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ; 6I View FIGURE 6 ); calcaneus occupies the distal region of the metatarsus, ventrally with rounded trichomes and some lateral sensilla chaetica flanking the calcaneus ( Fig. 4B, C, E View FIGURE 4 ); apical region of calcaneus with a high concentration of acuminate trichomes densely covering numerous aggregated pores (glandular openings) ( Fig. 4C, D View FIGURE 4 ). Tarsi III–IV without scopula and modified spatulate setae ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ). Tarsal formula: 4(2):7–8(3):5:5.

Color (specimen preserved in 80% ethanol): General body appearance dark brown; carapace and appendages light yellowish-brown and with dark brown reticulations; coloration at the chelicerae insertion level is lighter, creating a false appearance of a marked cheliceral socket ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ); lateral margin of abdominal scutum with the outer line dark brown and the inner line yellowish-brown ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ); abdominal scutum, mesotergal area V, and free tergites dark brown ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ); coxae I–IV yellowish-brown and with dark brown reticulations; posterior border of stigmatic area, free sternites, and anal operculum dark brown ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ).

Genitalia: General shape of penis tubular, with a blunt rectangular apex ( Fig. 5A, C View FIGURE 5 ); boundary poorly defined between pars basalis and pars distalis ( Fig. 5A, C View FIGURE 5 ). Pars distalis with a ventral plate ending in a deep calyx; calyx dorsally open with two thin laminar projections (wings) ( Fig. 5 B, F, J View FIGURE 5 ); dorsally, pars distalis with a medial deep neckline ( Fig. 5B, F View FIGURE 5 ). 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. 5B, F View FIGURE 5 ), and an apical row of three pairs (A1–A3) located on the ventrolateral region of the calyx ( Fig. 5D, E, G, H View FIGURE 5 ). Capsula externa with follis invaginated and not visible in resting position ( Fig. 5B, F View FIGURE 5 ). Capsula interna with two laminar conductors, arrow-shaped apically (i.e., medially pointed and with two lateral projections) ( Fig. 5B, C, F, I View FIGURE 5 ); conductors flank a shorter laminar pointed stylus ( Fig. 5B, D, F, J View FIGURE 5 ).

Female (holotype, MCZ 26171; MACN-Ar 46949). Body measurements: Total body length 2.98, carapace length 0.74, scutum magnum length 1.92, carapace maximum width 1.20, abdominal scutum maximum width 1.89. Appendage measurements in Table 1 View TABLE 1 . Female resembles male in the armature of the scutum magnum, but with granules slightly smaller ( Fig. 6A, B, D, E v s View FIGURE 6 . Fig. 6G, H View FIGURE 6 ). Female also differs from male by having a shorter pedipalp, with smaller spines; trochanter of pedipalp with a small dorsal tubercle; tarsus of pedipalp not elongated and enlarged, armed with four ventromesal spines and ventroectally with one setiferous tubercle between the two most distal spines; claw elongated, thin, and highly pointed ( Fig. 6B, E View FIGURE 6 ). Metatarsus III not swollen, lacking aggregated pores and associated setae, and without the deep intrusion of the astragalum by the calcaneus ( Figs 4G, H View FIGURE 4 ; 6C, F View FIGURE 6 vs. Figs 4C View FIGURE 4 ; 6I View FIGURE 6 ). Tarsal formula 4(2):7(3):5:5.

Distribution. The only precise locality known for this species is the marginal forest of the Ariguanabo River in San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa, Cuba ( Fig. 39 View FIGURE 39 ).

Spurious Record: Cuba, Pinar del Río, North of Viñales , September 16, 1913, F. E. Lutz ( AMNH, examined) ( Goodnight & Goodnight 1942a). This specimen is a female and belongs to an undescribed species (pers. obs.).