Phrynus alfonsoi Joya 2021, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Joya, Daniel Chirivi
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Amblypygi
Phrynidae
Phrynus
Phrynus alfonsoi

description: Phrynus alfonsoi sp. nov.
Figures. 4–6, 17–18. Table. 2, 6.
Holotype (Female): MEXICO. Guerrero: Municipio Ayutla, Tepango (16.902433, -99.094850): Loc 15, 317 masl, 22 June 2007, O. Francke, A. Ballesteros, L. Escalante, H. Montaño (CNAN-T01383).
Paratypes (5 females, 5 males): MEXICO. Guerrero: Municipio Ayutla, Tepango: Loc 15, 317 masl, 22 June 2007, O. Francke, A. Ballesteros, L. Escalante, H. Montaño, two females, three males (CNAN-T01445). Municipio José Asueto, Colonia Agua de Correa (17.64491, -101.51822): 72 masl, 1 August 2008, O. Francke, H. Montaño, J. Ponce, A. Quijano, three females, two males (CNAN-T01446).
Distribution. MEXICO: State of Guerrero. (Fig. 18).
Etymology. The species is dedicated to my father, Alfonso Chirivi. My scientific contributions were not being possible without his support.
Diagnosis. Phrynus alfonsoi sp. nov. is distinguished from most of Phrynus species by having only one conspicuous tooth in the ectal row on the base of chelicerae, with an acuminated apex (Fig. 4F). Does not exhibit an inconspicuous spine in the dorsomedial area of the pedipalp tarsus, Pd2 similar in size to Pd4, Fv3 shorter than Fv5, Td1 is very small with the same size as Td4, Tv3 shorter than Tv1 (Fig. 5). The female genitalia have tubular and elongated gonopod bases, with sclerites of the gonopods claw-like, sticking out of the gonopod bases, and curved at the apical region, the sclerites are placed on the medial portion of the gonopod bases (Fig. 17B). In the male genitalia, the LoL 2 present projections with widened bases, and the LoD thin (Fig. 6).
Species comparisons: The species P. alfonsoi sp. nov. is morphologically similar to P. jalisco, however, the female genitalia are different, in P. jalisco the gonopod bases are more elongated, the sclerites are thicker and have a pronounced inward curvature, the sclerites are placed on the apex of the gonopod bases (Fig. 17F). These differences are also visible in the female genitalia of specimens of P. jalisco from different localities (Armas et al. 2014: fig. 3A–C) in which the inward curvature is always present. Phrynus alfonsoi sp. nov. is also similar to P. aliciae sp. nov., however, in this species, the base of sclerite of gonopod of the female genitalia is more straight and surrounding the lateral margin of the base (Fig. 17C) in P. alfonsoi sp. nov. the base is smaller. Phrynus operculatus has a similar female genital but in this species, the sclerite of the female gonopod is smaller with a less pronounced curvature at the apical region (Fig. 17A). In the male genitalia of P. operculatus and P. aliciae sp. nov. the projections on LoL 2 are tubular (Fig. 3B, 9B) while in P. alfonsoi sp. nov. the base of projection is wider. The LoD in P. operculatus is thicker than in P. alfonsoi sp. nov. (Fig. 3C, 6C, Table 6).
The spine Pd1 is conspicuous, and frequently accompanied by a Pd1a and Pd1-a (Fig. 5D) that is similar in P. aliciae sp. nov., P. jalisco, and P. operculatus. Tv1 is longer than Tv3 (Fig. 5E) different from the other species here studied. Td1 is minute (Fig. 5F) which differs from P. operculatus.
Description. Female (CNAN-T01383): Total length 11.9 mm. Carapace and opisthosoma color brown, pedipalps and legs brown with red tonalities. Dimensions of prosoma, opisthosoma, pedipalps segments, and all leg femora are provided in Table 2.
Carapace. The frontal margin is almost straight, with one slightly pronounced lobe at each side, lobes are not joined in the middle area. Carapace presents a group of granules widely spaced; anterior, lateral, and posterior margins with a white border, posterior margin concave. Lateral and anteromedial eyes clearly visible, ocular tubercle black (Fig. 4A).
Sternum. Tri-segmented; all segments clearly sclerotized, the area around segments is a little less sclerotized. Tritosternum projected anteriorly, elongated, conical, with six setae on the basal region, four on the medial region, three on the distal region, and two more on the apex. Second segment (tetrasternum) oval with two setae on the medial region. Third segment (pentasternum) oval, slightly smaller than the second segment, with two setae on the medial region. Metasternum longitudinally divided, with two setae on the posterior margin of each half (Fig. 4B).
Abdomen. Oblong, color dark brown. Presents patches of light coloration on both sides of each tergite. The carapace is wider than the abdomen (Fig. 4C).
Chelicera. The mesal row of the basal segment of chelicerae with three teeth, the first is bilobed, placed in the proximal portion, lobe 1b bigger than 1a, followed by one tooth shorter in the medial portion, and the third, bigger than the others, placed in the distal region (Fig. 4D). The ectal row with one conspicuous tooth (tooth 2) with an acuminated apex, placed in the medial region. There is a small keel on the most proximal region (tooth 1) (Fig. 4F). The mobile segment of chelicerae with four teeth, the first is the biggest, the second and third are similar in size, and the fourth is the smallest.
Pedipalp. Trochanter: Prolateral face with four spines; spines Tr1 and Tr3 placed in the medial region, Tr2 placed near the ventral margin. Tr3 and Tr4 subequal in length. Spine lengths: Tr2>Tr1>Tr4ŻTr3. Dorsal oblique series of five setiferous tubercles. Dorsomedial area without spines but with one big tubercle (Fig. 4E). Femur: Ventral face with six major spines, Fv4, Fv3a, Fv4a, and Fv5a are small, and between Fv5 and Fv5a there are three tubercles, Fv8 small. Spine lengths: Fv1=Fv2>Fv5>Fv6>Fv3>Fv7>Fv4>Fv5a>Fv3a=Fv4a=Fv8 (Fig. 5A). Dorsal face with five major spines, Fd4 small with one tubercle on each side, there is a small spine Fd5a, one tubercle between Fd5–Fd5a and Fd6–Fd7, with a small spine Fd8, Fd1 and Fd2 share the same base, Fd3 is separated from Fd2. Spine lengths: Fd2>Fd3>Fd5>Fd6>Fd1>Fd7>Fd4=Fd5a>Fd8 (Fig. 5B). Patella: Ventral face with five major spines. With a conspicuous spine Pv1-a and one very small spine at each side, one conspicuous spine Pv1a, one very small spine between Pv1–Pv1a, there is a small spine between Pv2–Pv3, Pv3–Pv4, Pv4–Pv5, and Pv5–Pv6. Spine lengths: Pv2>Pv5>Pv1>Pv4>Pv6>Pv7>Pv1-a=Pv1a>Pv3 (Fig. 5C). Dorsal face with seven major spines, with one small spine Pd1a and Pd1-a, Pd8 is absent. Spine lengths: Pd5>Pd3>Pd2>Pd4>Pd6>Pd1>Pd7>Pd1-a=Pd1a (Fig. 5D). Tibia: Ventral face with three major spines, there is one tubercle between Tv1–Tv2, and one small spine between Tv2–Tv3. Spine lengths: Tv2>Tv1>Tv3 (Fig. 5E). Dorsal face with two major spines, between Td2–Td3 there is one tubercle, over Td3 there is one conspicuous spine, distal to Td3 there are two small spines, the most distal spine is a little bigger and here is named Td4, Td1 has less than a third of length of Td3, and is placed almost on the base of Td2. Spine lengths: Td2>Td3>Td1=Td4 (Fig. 5F). Tarsus-metatarsus: Internal face with two lines of dorsomedial bristles; suture between the tarsus and metatarsus is not visible. Tarsus without an inconspicuous spine on the proximal end of the dorsomedial surface.
Legs. Femora brown. Femora lengths: I>III>II>IV (Table 2). Leg I: Tibia with 30 segments and tarsus with 58 segments in the right leg; the left leg is missing. Leg IV: Basitibia with three segments. Basitibia-distitibia lengths: BT1>DT>BT3>BT2. Basitarsus and Telotarsus subequal in size. Tarsus tetramerous.
Female genitalia. Genital operculum pentagonal, it extends to the second segment of the opisthosoma. Gonopod bases cylindrical, dorsal surface poorly sclerotized; on the most proximal area, there is a strongly sclerotized line, joining both bases, the coloration is brown on the most proximal region and white overall dorsal surface. The sclerites of gonopods claw-like, the base is more than three times wider than the medial and apical regions, apex curved. Sclerite coloration brown (Fig. 17B, Table 6).
Variation. Type series measurements and the number of segments in the basitibia IV, Tibia I and tarsus I, are summarized in Table 2. Sternum: The number and position of setae from all segments of the sternum are variable. Pedipalp: Trochanter: line of dorsal tubercles varies between four and six tubercles. Femur: Ventral face: tubercles are constant in most individuals however the size is variable, as well as the size of spines Fv4, Fv3a, Fv4a, and Fv5a, which are always smaller than other spines but the relative sizes between them are variable. Dorsal face: the size and presence of tubercles mentioned in the holotype are variable. Patella: Ventral face: Tubercles and small spines were more conspicuous in larger sized individuals. Dorsal face: tubercles can be more conspicuous, in some individuals can be present tubercles between each spine, in larger specimens can be present a small spine Pd8. Tibia: Ventral face: between Tv2–Tv3 can be present two or three small spines. Dorsal face: tubercles between spines can be more conspicuous. Legs. The number of segments of the tibia and tarsus of leg I, was variable among the individuals, the number of tibial segments fixed at 30 and the tarsal segments between 58 and 64. In the observed specimens, the number of segments did not depend on sex, there are more tarsal segments in larger specimens (Table 2).
Male. Observed males are similar in size to females (Table 2) spination pattern as in females, genital operculum has the posterior margin oval and covers part of the third segment of the opisthosoma.
Male genitalia. (CNAN-T01445): LaM longer than Pi. LoL 1 a little longer than LoL 2, both densely covered with minute projections, in LoL 1, projections are tubular, thin, and elongated, placed close together, the insertion base is not visible; projections in LoL 2 are similar to LoL 1, but with a slightly broader base, the insertion base is partially visible. In dorsal view, the LoD elongated but shorter than LoL1 (Fig. 6, Table 6).
description: Published as part of Joya, Daniel Chirivi, 2021, Four new species of Phrynus, Lamarck (Arachnida: Amblypygi) from Mexico, pp. 151-183 in Zootaxa 4948 (2) on pages 158-163, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4948.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4620704