Thaumatocranaus splendidus, Hara, Marcos R., Bragagnolo, Cibele & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2017

Hara, Marcos R., Bragagnolo, Cibele & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2017, Revision of Thaumatocranaus Roewer, 1932, with description of two new species (Opiliones: Laniatores: Gonyleptoidea), Zootaxa 4254 (4), pp. 457-472 : 466-470

Thaumatocranaus splendidus sp. nov.

( Figs 5 , 6 , 7 F, G)

Type material. COLOMBIA. Amazonas: Leticia (km 9 v. a a Taparacam, 84 m) , 30.v.1992, G. Aurat leg., male holotype (ICN AO 362).

Diagnosis. Thaumatocranaus splendidus sp. nov. resembles T. magnificus sp. nov. because of the median longitudinal groove of scutal area I inconspicuous, lateral margin of dorsal scutum with an external row of tubercles increasing in size posteriorly, becoming large, conical and slightly acuminated, and the robust, unbranched apophysis on free tergite III. It can be distinguished from T. magnificus sp. nov. by the femur III with a retroventral conical, acuminated, enlarged subapical apophysis and femur IV with retrodorsal apical spine strongly curved retrolaterally.

Etymology. From the Latin splendeo plus idus, meaning splendid, in reference to the coloration pattern of the dorsal scutum and the remarkable retroventral subapical apophysis on femur III.

Description. Male (holotype): Dorsum ( Fig. 5 A–E): Measurements: DSL 3.45; DSW 3.40; LI 8.65; LII 16.10; LIII 11.35; LIV 15.10. Carapace and scutal areas I–III with tubercles sparsely distributed. Median longitudinal groove of scutal area I inconspicuous. Lateral margin of dorsal scutum with an external row of tubercles increasing in size posteriorly, becoming large, conical and slightly acuminated. Free tergite III with a robust, unbranched apophysis.

Venter: Coxae I–IV tuberculate; coxae I–II with median and apical enlarged tubercles; coxa III with apical enlarged tubercles.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 5 A): Segment I with few dorsal tubercles on basal half of bulla; movable finger with 8–9 teeth; fixed finger with 7 teeth.

Pedipalps ( Fig. 5 F, G): Trochanter dorsal face with 1 tubercle; ventral face with1 pair of enlarged setiferous tubercles (prolateral largest). Femur dorsal face smooth, with 2–3 ventral tubercles. Patella–tarsus with few dorsolateral scattered setiferous tubercles. Tibial setation: prolateral II, retrolateral I. Tarsal setation: prolateral iiiI, IIi, retrolateral iII, IIi placed on distal half.

Legs ( Fig. 6 ): Coxa IV with 1 prolateral and 1 retrolateral, conical, apical apophyses, retrolateral one shortest and curved retroventrally. Trochanters I–IV with retrolateral slightly enlarged tubercles and 1 basoventral median enlarged tubercle. Trochanter IV with 1 prodorsal, enlarged, blunt subapical tubercle; retrolateral face with 1 median enlarged tubercle, and 1 apical, acuminated enlarged tubercle. Femora I–II dorsal face unarmed; ventral face with 2 rows of tubercles; ventroapical face unarmed. Femur III with 1 pair of dorsoapical spines (retrolateral largest); ventral face with 2 rows of tubercles, retrolateral one with 1–2 median slightly enlarged tubercles and 1 subapical, conical, acuminated, enlarged apophysis; ventroapical face unarmed. Femur IV slightly curved inwards (in dorsal view), with 1 pair of dorsoapical spines (retrolateral largest and curved retroventrally); ventral face with 2 rows of tubercles; ventroapical face unarmed. Patellae I–III unarmed; patella IV with 1 retrodorsal enlarged apical tubercle and 1 retroventral, acuminated, enlarged median tubercle. Tibiae I–III unarmed. Tibia IV dorso- and ventroapical faces unarmed; ventral face with 2 rows of tubercles, retrolateral one with 5 acuminated, large tubercles, far from each other. Metatarsi I, IV and tarsi III–IV normally built (not inflated); metatarsus IV almost straight. Tarsal segmentation: 6(3), 10(3), 7, 7.

Penis ( Fig. 7 F, G): Glans stylus sub cylindrical, subapically dorsally curved, with ventral subapical trichomes. Ventral plate with 3 pairs of long MS C (distal most pair longest and strongly curved inwards), 1 pair of MS D, 1– 2 MS E, 1 pair of MS A and 2 pairs of MS B.

Coloration: Oval, large depigmented (pale beige) pair of spots on scutal areas I–II and around the pair of spines on scutal area III. Body, subapical regions of trochanters I–III, most of trochanter IV (except for apical region), apexes of femora–tibiae I–IV, and basal to median regions of metatarsi I–IV dark brown; chelicerae, pedipalps and remaining parts of the body brown.

Female: Unknown.

Type locality. Colombia, Amazonas, Leticia.

Geographical distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Thaumatocranaus splendidus sp. nov. Male (holotype): A, habitus, dorsal view; B, ocularium, anterior view; C, right ozopore area, dorso-lateral view; D, anal operculum, posterior view; E, habitus, right lateral view; F, right pedipalp, retrolateral view; G, ditto, apex of femur – tarsus prolateral view. A, E at same scale; F, G at same scale. Scale bars: A, E, 1 mm; F, G, 0.5 mm; B – D, 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 6. Thaumatocranaus splendidus sp. nov. Male (holotype): A, right femur III, retrolateral view; B, apex of right femur III, dorsal view; C, right trochanter IV, dorsal view; D, apex of right femur IV, dorsal view; E, right trochanter – tarsus IV, dorsal view; F, ditto, ventral view. E, F at same scale. Scale bars: A, E, F, 1 mm; C, 0.5 mm; B, D, 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 7. Distal part of Thaumatocranaus spp. penises: A, T. mirabilis, dorsal view, B, ditto, right lateral view, C, ditto, ventral view; D, T. magnificus sp. nov., dorsal view, E, ditto, left lateral view; F, T. splendidus sp. nov., dorsal view, G, ditto, left lateral view. Abbreviations: Gl, glans; MS A – E, ventral plate macrosetae A – E; St, glans stylus; Vpl, ventral plate. A – C at same scale. D, E at same scale. F, G at same scale. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.