Zalmoxis zibelthiurdos, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Sharma, Prashant P.
name: Buenavente, Perry A. C.
name: Clouse, Ronald M.
name: Diesmos, Arvin C.
name: Giribet, Gonzalo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Opiliones
Zalmoxidae
Zalmoxis
Zalmoxis zibelthiurdos

description: Zalmoxis zibelthiurdos sp. nov.
Figs. 11–14
Types. Male holotype (MHNG [ex MCZ DNA104061]) from East Kalimantan Province, Sungai Wain Protection Forest, ca. 15 km north of Balikpapan, Borneo, (1º 8’ 36” N, 116º 50’ 59” E) Indonesia, 80 m elevation, collected 5 October 2008 by P.J. Schwendinger. 2 male and 4 female paratypes (MHNG), same collecting data as holotype. 2 male and 4 female paratypes (NMP), same collecting data as holotype. 4 male (1 in ethanol; 2 dissected for genitalia and mounted on SEM stub MCZ 124590; 1 mounted on SEM stubs MCZ 124587–124588) and 4 female (1 mounted on SEM stubs MCZ 124587, 124589) paratypes, same collecting data as holotype (MCZ 124586).
Etymology. The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to a god of the Getae (or Thracians). Zibelthiurdos was the god of storms and wielder of lightning—possibly a manifestation of Gebeleizis and/or the Greek god Zeus.
Diagnosis. Distinguished from congeners by the incrassate male metatarsus IV, more torose than the elongate metatarsus IV of Zalmoxis dammermani (Roewer, 1927); the prominent setose dorsal protuberance on the calcaneus of metatarsus IV in both sexes; and the male genitalia, wherein the pergula protrudes slightly and the rutrum bears two distal pairs of setae with the bases in close proximity.
Description. Total length of male holotype (female paratype [MCZ 124586] in parentheses) 1.50 (1.50), greatest width of prosoma 0.66 (0.65), greatest width of opisthosoma 1.04 (1.09); length-to-width ratio 1.44 (1.38). Body campaniform, yellow-orange to dark orange (in ethanol, depending on incidence of light), almost entirely with dense microgranulate surface microstructure. Eyes present on low, well-developed ocularium. Ocularium wider than long, removed from anterior margin of carapace, without spines or tubercles. Anterior margin of carapace with two pairs of pegs above coxae of leg I and single median peg. Scutal grooves of mesotergum indistinct, not forming obtuse “V” shape. Mesotergum and free tergites with seven regular belts of minute setose tubercles (Fig. 11).
Ventral prosomal complex of male with coxae II and III meeting in midline, coxae I and IV not so. Anterior and posterior margins of coxae III with tubercular bridges to adjacent coxae, and coxae I–III with setose tubercles. Coxae IV of male not greatly enlarged. Genital operculum sub-triangular. Spiracles not concealed, anterior to row of tubercles. Opisthosomal sternites with regular belts of low setose tubercles tapering medially. Anal plate without prominent tubercles (Fig. 12).
Chelicerae (Fig. 13 a) sexually monomorphic, with prominent bulla on proximal article. Proximal article with denticulate granulation basally and ventrally. Second article not incrassate, free of ornamentation, with dorsal margin bearing several setae. Distal article with delicate dentition, free of ornamentation. Palpi (Fig. 13 b) robust and spined ventrally and/or ventrolaterally, typical of zalmoxids. Palpal tarsus with two pairs of megaspines.
Legs (Figs. 13 c–g) finely granulated. Trochanters, patellae, and tibiae of all legs bearing irregular rows of setose tubercles. Leg I (Fig. 13 c) trochanter with one small tubercle dorsally. Femur IV of both sexes (Figs. 13 f–g) with ventral row of tubercles. Male leg IV (Fig. 13 f) sexually dimorphic, but not elongated or armed. Male metatarsus IV stocky, incrassate. Metatarsi I–IV divided distally, with calcaneus less ornamented but generally more setose. Calcaneus of metatarsus IV in both sexes with single large dorsal tubercle. Tarsal claws I–IV smooth, unmodified. Tarsal segmentation 3: 5: 5: 6.
Appendage measurements of holotype (length/width):
TrFePaTiMtTaTotalLeg I0.14/0.130.44/0.110.27/0.140.33/0.120.42/0.070.44/0.092.04Leg II0.15/0.160.66/0.130.35/0.150.47/0.130.48/0.070.81/0.072.92Leg III0.17/0.170.51/0.120.27/0.170.41/0.140.51/0.100.48/0.072.35Leg IV0.17/0.180.64/0.110.37/0.170.50/0.140.66/0.190.59/0.092.93Palp0.15/0.150.38/0.140.20/0.120.23/0.16—0.27/0.091.23ProximalSecondDistalChelicera0.42/0.200.56/0.190.16/0.04
Appendage measurements of female paratype (MCZ 124586) (length/width):
TrFePaTiMtTaTotalLeg I0.14/0.140.42/0.120.25/0.140.29/0.130.39/0.060.42/0.081.91Leg II0.16/0.150.59/0.130.34/0.150.43/0.140.45/0.060.80/0.062.77Leg III0.14/0.170.51/0.130.25/0.160.37/0.150.50/0.070.46/0.062.23Leg IV0.18/0.160.59/0.140.35/0.160.44/0.140.61/0.100.64/0.072.81Palp0.12/0.130.36/0.130.21/0.130.23/0.14—0.24/0.081.16ProximalSecondDistalChelicera0.40/0.200.50/0.170.20/0.04
Penis (Fig. 14) with two pairs of setae on distal part of rutrum with bases in close proximity, and three pairs of setae on pergula (one ventral, slightly displaced from midline; one lateral, one dorsolateral). One small ventrolateral pair of setae posterior to pergula. Rutrum of arrowhead shape, with lateral extensions. Pergula protruding slightly ventrally.
Distribution. Known only from type locality.
description: Published as part of Sharma, Prashant P., Buenavente, Perry A. C., Clouse, Ronald M., Diesmos, Arvin C. & Giribet, Gonzalo, 2012, Forgotten gods: Zalmoxidae of the Philippines and Borneo (Opiliones: Laniatores), pp. 29-55 in Zootaxa 3280 on pages 40-44, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3280.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/208539