Toliaranella fisheri, Lorenz & Loria & Harvey & Harms, 2022

Lorenz, Michelle, Loria, Stephanie F., Harvey, Mark S. & Harms, Danilo, 2022, The Hercules pseudoscorpions from Madagascar: A systematic study of Feaellidae (Pseudoscorpiones: Feaelloidea) highlights regional endemism and diversity in one of the " hottest " biodiversity hotspots, Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 80, pp. 649-691 : 649

Toliaranella fisheri sp. nov.

Type material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Toliara Province [Anosy Region]: Holotype ♂ (CAS 9071590 [BLF5316]), allotype ♀ (ZMH-A0016730), paratypes: 6 ♂, 7 ♀, (CAS 9071590 [BLF5316]), 4 ♂, 4 ♀ (ZMH-A0016731 - ZMH-A0016738), Reserve Prive Berenty, Foret de Bealoka, 24°57′25″S 46°16′17″E, 3-8 February 2002, B.L. Fisher, Griswold et al.

Additional material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Toliara Province [Anosy Region]: 1 ♂, 1 nymph (CAS 9071750 [BLF5314]), Reserve Prive Berenty, Foret de Bealoka , 24°57′25″S 46°16′17″E, 3-8 February 2002, B.L. Fisher, Griswold et al. 76 ; ♂, 55 ♀,>100 nymphs (CAS 9071589 [BLF5426]), Reserve Prive Berenty, Foret de Malaza, Mandrare River , 25°00′28″S 46°18′22″E, 6 February 2002, Fisher, Griswold et al .; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 2 nymphs (CAS 9071578 [BLF5278]), Foret de Mahavelo, Isantoria River , 24°45′13″S 46°09′5″E, 31 January 2002, Fisher, Griswold et al .

Diagnosis.

Most similar to T. griswoldi sp. nov., but females with most slender femora of this new genus (1.71 × longer than broad versus 1.62-1.69) and different body size.

Etymology.

This species is a patronym honoring Brian Fisher who collected many Malagasy feaellids.

Description.

The following description is based on holotype and allotype. - Carapace (Fig. 21A ): 1.25-1.39 (♂), 1.27-1.39 (♀) times longer than broad. - Pedipalps (Fig. 21C, D ): See trichobothrial pattern in description of T. griswoldi sp. nov. Chelal fixed finger with 10 teeth in the OR, 13-16 in the MR and 10-13 teeth in the IR; movable finger with 8-10 teeth in the OR, 9-12 in the MR and 8-11 teeth in the IR. Fixed finger with 6-7 equally sized and one large terminal tooth, movable finger with 7 terminal teeth equal in size. - Dimensions (mm): Holotype ♂: Body length 1.56; abdomen length 1.10, width (with pleura) 1.00, width (without pleura) 0.85; carapace length 0.44, width 0.34. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.24; femur length 0.43, width 0.27; patella 0.36; chela (without pedicel) 0.39; hand length 0.09, width 0.12; movable finger 0.32. Leg I: trochanter 0.07; femur 0.16; patella 0.14; tibia; 0.13; tarsus 0.22. Leg IV: trochanter 0.15; femur 0.10; patella 0.25; tibia 0.26; tarsus 0.26. Allotype ♀: Body length 2.15; abdomen length 1.49, width (with pleura) 1.35, width (without pleura) 1.13; carapace length 0.57, width 0.44. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.24; femur length 0.60, width 0.33; patella 0.45; chela (without pedicel) 0.50; hand length 0.11, width 0.15; movable finger 0.41. Leg I: trochanter 0.10; femur 0.20; patella 0.16; tibia 0.15; tarsus 0.28. Leg IV: trochanter 0.19; femur 0.13; patella 0.30; tibia 0.31; tarsus 0.35.

Variation.

Body length 1.54-1.72 (♂), 1.83-2.15 (♀); abdomen length 1.07-1.16 (♂), 1.30-1.54 (♀); width (with pleura) 0.97-1.05 (♂), 1.16-1.38 (♀); width (without pleura) 0.83-0.92 (♂), 1.00-1.17 (♀); 1.23-1.29 (♂), 1.27-1.40 (♀) times longer than broad; carapace length 0.44-0.50 (♂), 0.51-0.58 (♀); width 0.34-0.38 (♂), 0.39-0.44 (♀); 1.25-1.39 (♂), 1.27-1.39 (♀) times longer than broad. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.23-0.27 (♂), 0.22-0.27 (♀); femur length 0.43-0.48 (♂), 0.51-0.60 (♀); width 0.26-0.29 (♂), 0.29-0.35 (♀); 1.59-1.78 (♂), 1.56-1.84 (♀) times longer than broad; patella 0.36-0.39 (♂), 0.41-0.47 (♀); chela (without pedicel) 0.39-0.43 (♂), 0.44-0.50 (♀); hand length 0.08-0.11 (♂), 0.10-0.12 (♀); width 0.11-0.13 (♂), 0.13-0.15 (♀); 0.67-0.92 (♂), 0.67-0.86 (♀) times longer than broad; movable finger 0.31-0.35 (♂), 0.36-0.41 (♀).

GenBank Code.

OP589962, OP589963. The species differs from all congeners by more than 3.7% in the H3 dataset.

Habitat.

Specimens were found in sifted litter (leaf mold and rotten wood) in gallery forest and spiny forest thicket at an elevation of 35-115 m.

Distribution.

Known from three localities along the Mandrare River in the Anosy Region (formerly Toliara Province) in southern Madagascar.

Figures

Figure 21. Drawings of Toliaranella fisheri sp. nov.: A carapace from dorsal; B leg IV; C left chela from dorsal with trichobothrial pattern; D right pedipalp from dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A - C); 0.4 mm (D).