Promitobates difficilis (Mello-Leitão, 1931), Mello-Leitao, 1931

Bragagnolo, Cibele & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2012, Systematic review of Promitobates Roewer, 1913 and cladistic analysis of Mitobatinae Simon, 1879 (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae), Zootaxa 3308, pp. 1-48 : 16-17

Promitobates difficilis (Mello-Leitão, 1931)

( Figs. 4 B, 7B, 9B, 11B, 13B, 15A, 16D–F)

Batomites difficilis Mello-Leitão, 1931b: 141 , fig. 11; 1935a: 109 (cit.); [ BRAZIL, Santa Catarina; 3 lectotype, 8 Ƥ paralectoptypes, here designated, MNRJ 11395, examined].

Promitobates difficilis: B. Soares, 1945b: 368 (cat.); Soares & Soares, 1949b: 237 (cat.); Kury 2003: 151 (cat.; syst.).

Diagnosis. Three areas on dorsal scutum; area III with a pair of apophyses tapered on apex. It can be distinguished from the other species by the dorsal scutum with tiger-like stripes and by the sulphurous yellow tubercles on dorsal scutum.

Male redescription. Measurements (n=8). Dorsal scutum maximum width 3.9–4.5 (4.3); dorsal scutum total length 3.9–4.7 (4.6); prosoma length: 1.4–1.9 (1.7); length of external apophysis of coxa IV 0.8–1.6 (1.5); femur IV length 15.5–34.3 (34.1). Tarsal formula: 7; 13–16; 8–9 (8); 8.

Dorsum ( Figs. 4 B, 7B). Anterior margin of prosoma with frontal hump with scattered small tubercles and one or two tubercles at corners. Ocularium with a pair of spiniform apophyses (apex rounded) divergent and directed anteriorly. Prosoma with tubercles behind ocularium and arranged in “V”. Area I with two median transverse rows of tubercles and small tubercles up to the posterior groove. Area II with transverse rows of tubercles up to the posterior groove. Area III with a pair of high spiniform apophyses tapered on apex, scattered tubercles on median region, and a row of tubercles up to the posterior groove. Lateral margin of dorsal scutum with a row of tubercles that is placed from ocularium to area II and 2–4 enlarged tubercles. Posterior margin of dorsal scutum with a row of tubercles increasing in size to the corners and two spiniform paramedian apophyses. Free tergites with small tubercles at corners. Anal operculum unarmed.

Chelicera. Segment I with two small tubercles; II unarmed.

Pedipalp. Trochanter with granulated dorsal hump and one small ventral spine. Femur with a small ventral basal spine and an enlarged prolateral subapical spine. Tibial setation: mesal IiIi; ectal IiIi/IIi. Tarsus setation: mesal IIi; ectal IiIi/IIi.

Venter. Coxa I with median row of five setiferous tubercles, four apical tubercles; trochanter I with one median tubercle. Coxa II with a median row of eight small tubercles and two apical tubercles; trochanter II with one median tubercle. Coxa III with small tubercles, roughly distributed in rows, the anterior one and the posterior one with tubercles increasing in size distally; trochanter III with median tubercle. Coxa IV with scattered tubercles and one row of tubercles on posterior margin; genital area unarmed; free sternites with one row of small granules; anal operculum unarmed.

Legs ( Fig. 9 B). Coxa I with one posterior dorso-basal apophysis; coxa II with one anterior dorso-basal apophysis and one posterior; coxa III with an anterior dorso-basal apophysis; coxa IV densely tuberculated, with one small internal apophysis and one external apical bifid apophysis. Trochanters I–III with small scattered tubercles; IV with a dorsal subapical apophysis, an external basal apophysis, and a small internal pointed tubercle. Femur IV more than 10 times longer than dorsal scutum, straight, with minute tubercles.

Coloration ( Fig. 15 A). Dorsal scutum with black tiger-like stripes; sulphurous yellow tubercles on prosoma, dorsal scutum and posterior margin; black apophyses on area III and apex of coxa IV.

Penis ( Fig. 16 D–F). Sides of ventral plate convex, slightly curved apically, and corner of anterior margin rounded and directed ventrally; three pairs of distal setae, median smallest; three pairs of basal setae arranged in “V” and one pair of small ventral basal setae. Stylus unarmed, apex straight and swollen. Ventral process shorter than stylus, with spoon-shaped apex with serrate margins slightly directed ventrally.

Female redescription. ( Figs. 11 B, 13B). Measurements (n=4). dorsal scutum maximum width 3.9–4.6 (4.3); dorsal scutum total length 4.1–4.8 (4.5); prosoma length 1.3–2.0 (1.8). Femur IV: 11.2–15.5 (14.8). Tarsal formula: 7; 13–15; 8; 8. Body more convex than male. Apophyses of area III larger than that on male and slightly directed posteriorly. Posterior margin of dorsal scutum with one pair of median pointed apophysis; free tergites unarmed. Coxa IV with reduced external apical spiniform apophysis, internal apophysis absent. Trochanter IV with an internal spiniform tubercle; femur IV shorter than male.

Geographical distribution. Northern Atlantic Rain Forest of Santa Catarina to southeastern Paraná States ( Fig. 3 A).

Other material examined. BRAZIL. Santa Catarina: Joinville (Serra da Dona Francisca), 12.XII.2007, M.B. da Silva et al. leg., 2 3 & 2 Ƥ ( MZSP 27413). Paraná: Morretes (Porto de Cima), 18.VIII.1988, M.V. Segalla & Pollati leg., 1 3 ( MHNCI 6119); idem (Parque Estadual do Marumbi), 07.II.1988, R.L.C. Baptista leg., 1 3 ( MNRJ 6209); São José dos Pinhais (Usina de Guaricana), 7.VIII.1988, R. Pinto-da-Rocha, M.V. Segalla & J.C. Moura- Leite leg., 1 3 ( MHNCI 6130), Guaratuba (Usina de Guaricana), 04.II.1989, R. Pinto-da-Rocha et al. leg., 2 3 & 2 Ƥ ( MHNCI 6118); idem (Vila Cubatão), 07.II.1989, R. Pinto-da-Rocha et al. leg., 1 Ƥ ( MHNCI 6116); idem (Rio Bonito), 25°62’32’’S – 48°54’34’’W, XII.2005, M.B. da Silva et al. leg., 5 3 ( MZSP 27397); Ponta do Paraná (Reserva Ecológica da Ilha do Mel), 24.XI.1987, V. Moraes et al. leg., 1 3 ( MHNCI 6122); Limeira (Serra da Prata), 22.III.1992, M. Pichorin leg., 1 3 ( MZSP 29493); idem, 28.I.1992, 1 3 ( MZSP 29445); idem, 28.I.1992, 1 3 & 1 Ƥ ( MZSP 29405).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Geographical distribution of Promitobates spp ..

FIGURE 4. Dorsal view of males of Promitobates. A. P. bellus, (IBSP 3306); B. P. difficilis (MNRJ 11395, syntype); C. P. hatschbachi (MHNCI 0 164, holotype; D. P. intermedius (MZSP 14410). Scale bar, 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Dorsal view of male coxa, trochanter and femur IV of Promitobates; A. P. bellus (IBSP 3306); B. P. difficilis (MNRJ 11395, syntype); C. P. hatschbachi (MHNCI 0 164, holotype); D. P. intermedius (MZSP 14410); E. P. n i g r i p e s (MZSP 27425); F. P. o r n a t u s (MZSP 27417). Scale bar, 1 mm.

FIGURE 11. Dorsal view of females of Promitobates. A. P. bellus (MZSP- 19509); B. P. dificillis (MNRJ- 11395, syntype); C. P. hatschbachi (MZSP 18811); D. P. intermedius (MZSP- 16764); E. P. n i g r i p e s (MZSP - 31029); F. P. ornatus (MZSP 27440). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 15. Photographs of living specimens of Promitobates. A. P. difficilis (SC - Joinville); B. P. or n at u s (SP - Paranapiacaba); C. P. viridigranulatus (PR - Guaratuba); D. P. ale sp. n. (SC - São Bento do Sul); E. P. l a g e r sp. n. (SP - Miracatu); F. P. bellus (SP – Ubatuba).

FIGURE 16. Distal part of penis of Promitobates. A – C. P. bellus (IBSP- 1736); A. dorsal view; B. lateral view; C. ventral view. D – F. P. difficilis (MHNCI- 6130); A. dorsal view; B. lateral view; C. ventral view. G – I. P. hatschbachi (MZSP- 943); A. dorsal view; B. lateral view; C. ventral view. Scale bar = 0,05 mm.