Rhaucus vulneratus Simon 1879
Creators: name: García, Andrés F.
name: Kury, Adriano B.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Opiliones
Cosmetidae
Rhaucus
Rhaucus vulneratus

description: Rhaucus vulneratus Simon, 1879
(Figs 1a–b, 2–5, 18a, 19a–b, 22)
Rhaucus vulneratus Simon, 1879: 213; Pickard-Cambridge, 1905: 572; Roewer, 1912a: 78; Roewer, 1923: 349, fig. 400; Mello- Leitão, 1923: 113; Mello- Leitão, 1932: 57, fig. 23; Mello- Leitão, 1933: 110; Kury, 2003: 83.
Rhaucus (Rhaucus) vulneratus: Sørensen, 1932: 355.
Raucus vulneratus [subsequent incorrect spelling]: González-Sponga, 1992: 427.
Neorhaucus aurolineatus Pickard-Cambridge, 1905: 572; Roewer, 1912a: 25; Roewer, 1923: 305; Kury, 2003: 74. New synonymy
Type material. ♂♀ syntypes of Rhaucus vulneratus (MNHN, examined by photograph); ♂ holotype of Neorhaucus aurolineatus (BMNH 1891.8.1.958–959 Coll. Keyserling, examined).
Distribution and habitat. COLOMBIA, Boyacá Department: Toca. Cundinamarca Department: Bogotá, La Calera, Mosquera, San Antonio del Tequendama, Subachoque, Zipaquirá. Between 2300 and 3600 m a.s.l., especially in the Northern Andean páramo ecoregion (Figs 22, 24b).
Diagnosis. Five orange transverse stripes on DS (sometimes divided or rarely absent, contrasting with all other species of Rhaucus), the anterior one V-shaped and delimiting the anterior border of area I (Figs 2a, 18a); a pair of short tubercles in area III (Figs 2c–d; contrasting with taller tubercles in all other species of Rhaucus); prolateral row of tubercles of same size in legs III and IV weakly developed (Figs 3d–e) (increasing in size distally in R. quinquelineatus, strongly developed in R. florezi sp. nov.).
Redescription. Male (ICN-AO-437)
Measurements: CL=2.1, CW=3.2, AL=3.8, AW=4.3, BaCh=0.7, FeL III=3.8, FeL IV=4.8, TiL III=2.8, TiL IV=3.5. Intraespecific variation of body and appendages measurements in Table 1.
Species n Measurements (max–min, in mm)
CL CW AL AW BaCh Rhaucus vulneratus 6 2.0–2.1 3.0–3.6 3.2–3.8 3.8–4.3 0.7–0.8 Rhaucus quinquelineatus 7 2.0–2.3 2.9–3.6 3.0–3.6 3.8–4.2 0.7–0.8 Rhaucus serripes 7 2.0–2.1 3.4–4.2 3.4–4.0 5.0–5.3 0.5–0.6 Rhaucus robustus 3 2.0–2.3 4.0–5.0 4.0–4.8 5.2–5.6 0.8–1.0 Rhaucus florezi 4 2.1–2.2 3.2–4.1 2.8–3.1 5.0–5.2 0.7–0.9
continued.
Species n Measurements (max–min, in mm)
FeL III FeL IV TiL III TiL IV Rhaucus vulneratus 6 3.2–3.8 4.4–5.2 2.3–3.2 3.1–3.6 Rhaucus quinquelineatus 7 4.1–4.6 5.3–6.1 2.5–3.0 3.4–4.1 Rhaucus serripes 7 4.2–6.0 6.0–8.0 2.8–4.2 4.0–4.6 Rhaucus robustus 3 4.0–5.5 5.0–7.5 3.0–3.7 4.0–5.0 Rhaucus florezi 4 3.6–4.1 4.7–5.0 2.2–2.9 3.1–4.0 Dorsum (Figs 1a–b, 2a, 2c–e, 3a–b, 18a): Dorsal scutum alpha type, granulate (Figs 1a, 2a), with five orange transverse lines that vary in length and shape (Figs 1a, 18a). Abdominal scutum widest at level of groove II; areas I–IV granulate. Carapace with a few granules on the anterolateral region (Figs 2a, 3a). Ocularium low without median depression, armed with a cluster of granules (Figs 2c–e, 3a–b). Lateral margins of DS with a few minute granules on the medial region (Figs 2a, 3a). Mesotergum faintly delimited, divided into four areas: area I with a pair of medium-sized paramedian tubercles; area II and IV with a pair of small paramedian tubercles; area III with a pair of paramedian, mammilliform, medium-sized tubercles (Figs 2c–d, 3a–b). Posterior border of scutum substraight and with a row of tubercles. Free tergites I-III with a row of granules (Figs 2a, 2d, 3a–b).
Venter (Figs 2b, 4h): Stigmatic area with a few granules. Stigmata large, oval and transverse. Coxa I with two parallel rows of tubercles increasing in size distally and with an anterior smooth space for the pedipalps to rest (Fig. 4h); coxa II longer than coxa I, granulate; coxa III longer than I and II, granulate, with posterior margin sigmoid; coxa IV strongly backward, granulate (Fig. 2b). Genital operculum slightly granulate.
Pedipalps (Figs 4a–d): Coxa with one meso-distal granule dorsally and ventrally. Trochanter with one dorsal short tubercle and two ventral tubercles fused at base (mesal tubercle taller); femur compressed, dorsally with a row of aligned triangular setiferous tubercles of different sizes –not reaching the distal portion–, ventrally with three basal, fused large setiferous tubercles, three individual conical large setiferous tubercles, two partially fused large setiferous tubercles, and two small tubercles. Patella distally depressed, with dorsal granules; tibia depressed, spoon-shaped, dorsally granulate, with lateral borders tuberculate and some spiniferous tubercles at distal portion (Figs 4a–b); inner surface slightly striated (Fig. 4c). Tarsus long, conical, with some dorsal granules and ventrally with two rows of thickened setae (Fig. 4d).
Chelicera (Figs 2, 4e–f): Chelicera swollen. Basichelicerite rectangular, with dispersed granules, one group of tubercles of different sizes on the proximal border, one large ecto-distal tubercle, and one medium-sized, mesodistal tubercle. Hand with one tubercle near the joint of the movable finger. Fixed finger with the inner surface finely grooved. Movable finger with one conical, sub-basal tooth and with the inner surface at distal portion dentate (Fig. 4f).
Legs (Figs 2a–b, 3c–e, 4g –i): Coxae I–II each with an irregular dorsal anterior and dorsal posterior process (Fig. 4g); coxa III with one sub-distal retrolateral granule; coxa IV coarsely granulate (Figs 2a, 3a, 4h), with a prominent anterolateral clavi inguines (ci) and a posterolateral multicapitate apophysis (mca) (Fig. 4i). Trochanter I–II dorsally with some minute granules and ventrally with some tubercles; trochanter III with one prodorsal tubercle and one retrolateral robust tubercle; and ventrally with a few lateral granules; trochanter IV with one group of prodorsal granules and one group of retrolateral granules (one of them larger and ventrally projected) (Figs3d– e). Femora I–IV sigmoid, granulated; III–IV ventrally with two longitudinal sigmoid rows of conical tubercles all along its length, of different sizes, and one prolateral and one retrolateral row of tubercles (dorsally evident) (Figs 3d–e). Patellae I–IV dorsally granulate, curved; patella IV with some distal retrolateral granules (Fig. 3e). Tibiae I– IV granulate; tibiae III–IV sigmoid, with two longitudinal sigmoid rows of conical tubercles of same size all along its length (the distal-most tubercle of tibia III fused, visible in retrolateral view) (Fig. 3d), tibia IV the same, slightly more granulate than tibia III (Fig. 3e). Metatarsus I–IV with one ventrodistal seta. Tarsi I–II with one smooth claw; tarsi III–IV with 2 subparallel smooth claws and tarsal process (Fig. 3c). Tarsal counts: 6(3)–6(3)/ 12(3)–12(3)/9–?/10–9. Intraspecific variations in Table 2.
Color (in ethanol): Carapace Dark Brown (59), reticulated in the ocularium. Lateral and posterior border of dorsal scutum and free tergites Deep Brown (56). Transverse lines of carapace Vivid Orange (48). Pedipalps, coxae I–IV, chelicera and trochanters Strong Brown (55), reticulated. Legs I–IV Strong Reddish Brown (40). This species has the darkest carapace, more evident in living specimens (Figs 1a–b).
Male genitalia (Figs 5a–e): VP of penis subrectangular with concave distal border; VP with two lateral, elongated, dense patches of type 4 microsetae, separated by a narrow longitudinal space (Figs5c, 5e). VP with two apical MS C curved and laterally inserted; two MS D, the most distal (D1) large and straight following the same lateral row as MS C, and the other (D2) smaller, inserted dorso-laterally on the middle third of VP (Fig. 5a); two MS A straight and laterally inserted, near to D2 (Fig. 4b); two small MS E volcano-shaped on the ventral face (Fig. 5e); one small MS B volcano-shaped inserted laterally at the base of the VP (Fig. 5c). Glans mostly smooth; stylus long, falciform, papillae-like wattle barbels, finger-like dorsal process slender (Fig. 5d). Remarks: Fig. 5a shows three MS A in one individual, while Fig. 5b shows two MS A in one side and one MS A in the other side of ventral plate of another individual. The predominant condition in other specimens of R. vulneratus and other species of Rhaucus is the presence of only two MS A.
Female. Similar to male, but differs by having anterior part of carapace narrower and coda divergent, ocularium lower, abdominal scutum more strongly convex, free tergites and posterior area of scutum wider, tubercles of area III shorter, legs III–IV and associated rows of tubercles thinner, and chelicerae not hyperthelic (Figs2d–e). Female genitalia (Figs 5f–g): Ovipositor with 10 straight peripheral setae (curved at top), striated (Fig. 5f), divided in four rounded lobes (collapsed in photographs), the two anterior ones with more setae than posterior. Tip of setae irregular; tridentate (Fig. 5g).
Rhaucus
Number of tarsomeres
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rhaucus vulneratus
Rhaucus quinquelineatus! Rhaucus serripes! Rhaucus robustus " Rhaucus florezi! " Rhaucus vulneratus # $
Rhaucus quinquelineatus $! $ Rhaucus serripes $! " Rhaucus robustus!
Rhaucus florezi $ $
Rhaucus vulneratus % Rhaucus quinquelineatus! Rhaucus serripes! Rhaucus robustus
Rhaucus florezi! " Rhaucus vulneratus
Rhaucus quinquelineatus! Rhaucus serripes! Rhaucus robustus
Rhaucus florezi $ Other material examined. 43 specimens (15 males, 28 females) in 13 lots. COLOMBIA: Cundinamarca Department: Bogotá, 1♀ (ICN-AO-67), Páramo de Chisacá [4°22'N; 74°10'W], ii.1976, O. Castaño & P. Ureña leg.; 1♂ 2♀ (ICN-AO-238), Páramo Cruz Verde [4°34'N 74°1'W], 2600 m, v.2010, E. Florez & C. Mattoni leg.; 5♂ 1♀ (ICN-AO-437), Usme Vereda Corinto, Cerro Redondo, Páramo Parada del Viento [4°25'N 74°7'W], 3100 m, 17.v.2008, I. Morales leg.; 1♀ (ICN-AO-495), Usme, Páramo de Chisacá [4°17'N 74°12'W], 3600 m, 28.ii.1976, I. de Arevalo & R. Restrepo leg.; Mosquera, 1♂ 9♀ (ICN-AO-199), Desierto de Sabrinsky [4°40'50.33''N 74°14'57.74''W], 2600 m, 2.v.2002, C. Niño, J. Martínez & G. Mora leg.; 1♀ (ICN-AO-1020), Mondoñedo [4°40'N 74°14'W], 2600 m, 23.iii.2009, C. Cantor leg.; 1♂ 2♀ (ICN-AO-1034), Desierto de Sabrinzky, [4°40'N 74°14'W], 2650 m, 6.v.2012, D. Triana & S. Galvis leg.; 1♂ 1♀ (MNRJ 9098), same data as ICN-AO-1034; 2♂ 1♀ (ICN-AO- 1403), Sabrinsky [4.674983 -74.260131], 10.i.2014, J. Guerrero leg.; La Calera, 1♀ (ICN-AO-482), E.A.A.B. Club La Aguadora - Embalse de San Rafael [4°42'N 74°0'W], 2700 m, ix.2000, P. Barriga & D. Tobar leg.; Subachoque, 7♀ (ICN-AO-990), Páramo El Tablazo [5°1'N 74°10'W], 3200 m, 9.ii.2012, J. Martínez leg.; Zipaquirá, 2♂ 1♀ (ICN-AO-1197), Vereda Ventalarga, Represa Pantanoredondo [05°2'N 74°2'W], 3000 m, 27.iv.2003, E. Florez & UN biology students leg.; San Antonio del Tequendama, 1♂ (ICN-AO-1397), Los Tunos Natural Reserve [4°33'47.48''N 74°18'55.69''W], 2300 m, 28.v.2012, W. Galvis leg. Boyacá Department: Toca, 1♂ (ICN-AO-1183), Vereda La Chorrera [05°33'N 73°6'W], 20.xii.2012, D. Triana leg.
description: Published as part of García, Andrés F. & Kury, Adriano B., 2017, Taxonomic revision of the Andean harvestman genus Rhaucus Simon, 1879 (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cosmetidae), pp. 401-440 in Zootaxa 4338 (3) on pages 405-412, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4338.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1036862