Mahajanganella heraclis, 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

Mahajanganella heraclis sp. nov.

Type material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Province de Mahajanga [Boeny Region]: Holotype ♂ (CAS 9071835 [BLF3599]), allotype ♀ (ZMH-A0016698), paratypes: 6 ♂, 6 ♀, (CAS 9071835 [BLF3599, BLF3597]), 4 ♂, 4 ♀ (ZMH-A0016699 - ZMH-A0016706), Parc National d’Ankarafantsika, Foret de Tsimaloto, 16°13′41″S 46°8′37″E, 2-8 April 2001, B.L. Fisher, Griswold et al.

Additional material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Mahajanga Province [Boeny Region]: 23 ♂, 18 ♀, 29 nymphs (CAS 9008212 [BLF3571]), Parc National d'Ankarafantsika , 16°17′56″S 46°48′47″E, 26 March-1 April 2001, Fisher, Griswold et al .; 4 ♂, 2 ♀, 11 nymphs (CAS 9072477 [BLF6506]), Parc National de Namoroka , 16°22′36″S 45°19′36″E, 8-12 November 2002, Fisher, Griswold et al .; 2 ♂, 2 nymphs (CAS 9071651 [BLF6446]), Parc National de Namoroka , 16°28′00″S 45°21′00″E, 4-8 November 2002, Fisher, Griswold et al .

Diagnosis.

Largest female body length of Mahajanganella gen. nov. (2.15 versus 2.03-2.08); robustest pedipalps of this new genus measured in ratios (e.g., femur 1.64/1.62 ♂/♀ times longer than broad versus 1.69-1.75/1.69-1.74 ♂/♀); e.g., femur 1.14 ♂ and ♀ times longer than tibia versus 1.27/1.21-1.27/1.27 ♂/♀; e.g., femur 1.02/1.06 ♂/♀ longer than chela versus 1.12/1.19-1.14/1.19 ♂/♀); anteriomedial lobes distinctly pointed and moderate carapace cuticle above second eyes (in other species of Mahajanganella gen. nov. distinctly more granulate carapace especially above second eyes).

Etymology.

This species is named after the divine hero Herakles (lat. Hercules) who, in Greek mythology, is known for his power and courage. He is often portrayed with a mace, which resembles the strong pedipalps of this species. It is to be treated as a noun in apposition.

Description.

The following description is based on holotype and allotype. - Carapace (Fig. 14A ): 1.28-1.49 (♂), 1.21-1.36 (♀) times longer than broad. - Pedipalp (Fig. 14C, D ): Femora very robust 1.50-1.68 (♂), 1.56-1.69 (♀) times longer than broad. See trichobothrial pattern in genus description. Chelal fixed finger with 10 teeth in the OR, 15 in the MR and 11 in the IR; movable finger with 9 teeth in the OR, 12 in the MR and 8 in the IR. Terminal teeth with 7 equally sized and 1 larger tooth on the fixed finger, and 8 equally sized teeth on the movable finger. - Dimensions (mm): Holotype ♂: Body length 1.74; abdomen length 1.17, width (without pleura) 0.95, (with pleura) 1.08; carapace length 0.50, width 0.38. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.25; femur length 0.47, width 0.28; patella 0.39; chela (without pedicel) 0.43; hand length 0.10, width 0.13; movable finger 0.35. Leg I: trochanter 0.08; femur 0.17; patella 0.17; tibia 0.12; tarsus 0.22. Leg IV: trochanter 0.14; femur 0.12; patella 0.23; tibia 0.21; tarsus 0.22. Allotype ♀: Body length 2.19; abdomen length 1.57, width (without pleura) 1.25, (with pleura) 1.41; carapace length 0.55, width 0.45. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.25; femur length 0.52, width 0.32; patella 0.47; chela (without pedicel) 0.48; hand length 0.10, width 0.15; movable finger 0.42. Leg I: trochanter 0.09; femur 0.22; patella 0.16; tibia 0.17; tarsus 0.30. Leg IV: trochanter 0.16; femur 0.14; patella 0.34; tibia 0.33; tarsus 0.30.

Variation.

Body length 1.67-1.84 (♂), 2.06-2.22 (♀); abdomen length 1.13-1.26 (♂), 1.42-1.59 (♀); width (with pleura) 1.04-1.13 (♂), 1.32-1.46 (♀); width (without pleura) 0.92-1.05 (♂), 1.14-1.30 (♀); 1.13-1.28 (♂), 1.17-1.32 (♀) times longer than broad; carapace length 0.50-0.58 (♂), 0.55-0.61 (♀); width 0.37-0.40 (♂), 0.43-0.48 (♀); 1.28-1.49 (♂), 1.21-1.36 (♀) times longer than broad. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.17-0.25 (♂), 0.22-0.26 (♀); femur length 0.41-0.47 (♂), 0.50-0.57 (♀); width 0.26-0.28 (♂), 0.30-0.36 (♀); 1.50-1.37 (♂), 1.56-1.68 (♀) times longer than broad; patella 0.38-0.41 (♂), 0.39-0.50 (♀); chela (without pedicel) 0.42-0.45 (♂), 0.46-0.53 (♀); hand length 0.08-0.10 (♂), 0.09-0.11 (♀); width 0.12-0.13 (♂), 0.14-0.16 (♀); 0.62-0.83 (♂), 0.56-0.73 (♀) times longer than broad; movable finger 0.31-0.35 (♂), 0.37-0.42 (♀); femur 1.05-1.21 (♂), 1.08-1.16 (♀) times longer than patella; femur 0.95-1.09 (♂), 1.02-1.12 (♀) times longer than chela.

GenBank Code.

OP589970. The species differs from all congeners by more than 6.5% in the H3 dataset.

Habitat.

The specimens were found in sifted litter of tropical dry forest at an elevation of 135 m.

Distribution.

Presently known only from the type locality (BLF3599) and from three additional locations (BLF3571, BLF6506 and BLF6446) in the Boeny Region (formerly Mahajanga Province).

Figures

Figure 14. Drawings of Mahajanganella heraclis 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).