Paraluederwaldtia ankeri Carvalho & Kury 2023, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Carvalho, Rafael N.
name: Kury, Adriano B.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Opiliones
Gonyleptidae
Paraluederwaldtia
Paraluederwaldtia ankeri

description: Paraluederwaldtia ankeri sp. nov.
(Figures 5a–d, 6 a–f, 7 a–j, 8 a–e, 9a–d)
Type data
Paraluederwaldtia ankeri: J holotype (MNRJ 360), ♀ paratype (MNRJ 361), from BRAZIL, state of Rio de Janeiro, Nova Friburgo, Campo do Coelho, Fazenda Campestre, 22.361°S, 42.678°W, 1087 m, 26–28 January 2020, Carvalho, R. N. et al. leg.; J paratype (MNRJ 60212), from BRAZIL, state of Rio de Janeiro, Nova Friburgo, Campo do Coelho, Fazenda Campestre, 11 November 2018, Kury, A. B. and Pedroso, D. R leg.
Geographic distribution
BRAZIL: state of Rio de Janeiro: Nova Friburgo.
Etymology
The species name honours our friend, the zoologist Arthur Anker, who was with us when most of the type series was collected and made fine pictures of the holotype.
Diagnosis
Paraluederwaldtia ankeri sp. nov. can be distinguished from Paraluederwaldtia bituberculata by the following characters: (1) Ch bulla with proximal margin unarmed (Figure 7a); (2) scutal area I with a pair of conspicuous tubercles (Figure 7a); (3) dorsal free tergites with a transversal row of tubercles increasing in size towards the medial portion (Figures 7a, f); (4) Ti III centrally swollen; (5) Cx IV prodorsal apophysis with its distal portion parallel to the medial body axis (Figure 7a); (6) Tr IV prodorsal distal portion covered by a transversal apophysis (Figures 7a, g–h); (7) Ti IV dorsally covered by acuminated tubercles (Figures 7g –h, j).
Redescription
MNR] 360 (male) for the external body illustrations and description; DS, measurements: CW 2.9, CL 2.2, AW 5.3, AL 3.0; Legs I–IV measurements in Table 3; Right/left tarsal (distitarsal) counts: 6(3)/6(3) – 10(3)/9(3) – 7/7 – 7/7. MNR] 60212 (male) for genitalic illustrations.
Dorsum. DS gamma type, as wide as long, with AS lateral margins convex (widest at area II and thickest at area III) and posterior margin sinuous (Figures 6a–b, 7a, f). DS anterior portion with two rows of six or seven acuminated tubercles (Figure 7a). Carapace tuberculate on central and lateral regions (Figures 7a, f). Cheliceral sockets shallow, with a small apophysis in the centre (Figure 7a). Ocularium conical (in dorsal view), high (ca. 6× the diameter of the eyes), with an apical curvature for the anterior portion and perpendicularly placed on the anterior portion of the carapace (Figures 6a–b, 7a–b, f). Ocularium armed with a pair of divergent spines (ca. 5× the diameter of the eyes) (Figures 6a–b, 7ab, f). AS lateral borders with a row of ordinary tubercles, with a prominent tubercle at the centre, at scutal areas II–IV height (Figure 7a). Mesotergum is divided into four clearly defined scutal areas (Figures 5a–d, 6a, 7a). Scutal areas I and IV divided into left and right halves by a median groove (Figures 6a–b, 7a–b, f). Scutal area II posterior-lateral border slightly invades scutal area III (Figures 5a–d, 6a, 7a). All scutal areas are tuberculate, with all tubercles individually covered and surrounded by lighter spots (Figures 5a–d, 6a, 7a). Scutal area I with a pair of prominent tubercles (ca. 2× the ordinary tubercles) (Figures 7a, f). Scutal area II with a transversal central row of prominent tubercles (ca. 2× the ordinary tubercles) (Figures 7a, f). Scutal area III with a pair of outstanding subconical spines (ca. 11× the ordinary tubercles) (Figures 6a–b, 7a, d, f). Scutal area IV with a paramedian row of four prominent tubercles (ca. 2× the ordinary tubercles) (Figure 7a). DS posterior border with a transversal row of ordinary tubercles, with a paramedian pair of prominent tubercles (Figures 5a–d, 6a, 7a). Free tergites I–III with a transversal row of prominent tubercles (Figures 5a–d, 6a, 7a).
Venter. Cx I–III parallel to each other, each with ventral longitudinal rows of 7–11 setiferous tubercles (Cx I rows with comparatively higher and sharper tubercles). Cx II with a retroventral distal row of four acuminate tubercles. Cx III with a retroventral distal row of seven acuminate tubercles. Cx IV much larger than the others (directed obliquely) (Figure 6c). Stigmatic area Y-inverted-shaped, clearly sunken in relationship to Cx IV̾s distal part (Figure 6c). Cx IV covered by ordinary tubercles (Figure 6c). Intercoxal bridges are well marked (Figure 6c). Stigmata are visible (Figure 6c). Free sternites with a transverse row of ordinary tubercles. Anal operculum covered by ordinary tubercles.
Chelicera. Basichelicerite elongate (Figures 6a, 7a); bulla well marked, with two ectal marginal setiferous tubercles (Figure 7a); hand not swollen.
Pedipalpus. Tr ventral with two geminate setiferous tubercles. Fe with a mesal apical setiferous tubercle and one ventral basal setiferous tubercle (Figure 6c). Pa unarmed (Figures 6a–b). Ti ventro-mesal and ventro-ectal faces with four setiferous tubercles (IiIi). Ta ventro-mesal face with three setiferous tubercles (IIi), ventro-ectal face with four (IiIi) setiferous tubercles.
Legs. Tr I–III each with several ventral tubercles. Fe I–II straight (Figure 6a). Fe and Ti I–II with prodorsal, proventral, retroventral and retrodorsal rows of small tubercles. Fe III sub-straight (Figures 6a, 7c). Fe III (Figure 7c) and Ti III covered by rows of tubercles. Fe III proventral and retroventral faces with a row of acuminated tubercles, prominent ones on the distal half. Fe III prodorsal and retrodorsal faces with a distal spur (prodorsal reduced, retrodorsal well-developed) (Figures 5a, 6a, 7c). Cx IV significantly expanded transversely (almost a quarter the size of AW) (Figures 6a, 7a). Cx IV distal portion reaching the scutal area IV/DS posterior border height longitudinally (Figures 5b, d, 6a, 7a). Cx IV longitudinally tuberculate between prodorsal and ventral faces (Figures 6a–c, 7a). Cx IV with a canine-tooth-shaped prodorsal apophysis, with a small accessory blunt branch (not visible in dorsal view) (Figures 5a–d, 6a–b, 7a, e–f). Cx IV with a short retrolateral apophysis, associated with a tiny secondary branch (Figures 5c, 6a, c, 7a, i–j). Tr IV rectangular (Figures 5a–d, 6a–c, 7a, g–j). Tr IV prolateral and retrolateral faces with a proximal conical apophysis (prolateral wider than retrolateral) (Figures 6a–c, 7a, g–j). Tr IV prodorsal distal portion with a transversal apophysis (Figures 7a, g–j). Tr IV retrolateral face with a short subconical apophysis on the distal portion (Figures 7g, i–j). Tr IV retrodorsal face with two subconical tubercles on the distal portion (Figures 7g, j). Tr IV ventral face tuberculate (Figures 6c, 7h–j). Fe IV sub-straight (Figures 5a–d, 6a–b, 7g –j). Fe IV dorsal face with (1) a conical spine (I, centrally curved to the retrolateral) and two prominent subconical tubercles on the proximal half, and (2) two prominent subconical tubercles interpolated by a subconical spine (I) on the distal half (Figures 7g –h, j). Fe IV prodorsal face with a row of ordinary tubercles and a broad spur on the distal portion (Figures 7g –h). Fe IV prolateral face with a row of tubercles (ordinary ones on proximal half, prominent ones on distal half) (Figures 7g –i). Fe IV proventral face with a row of subconical tubercles and a developed spur on the distal portion (Figures 7h–i). Fe IV ventral face with a pair of prominent subconical tubercles on the proximal quarter (Figures 7h–j). Fe IV retroventral face with (1) a pair of prominent subconical tubercles on the proximal third, (2) four conical spines on the central and distal thirds, and (3) a spur on the distal portion (Figures 7i–j). Fe IV retrolateral face with a sinuous row of six conical spines (IiIIII) and a spur on the distal portion (Figures 7g, i–j). Pa IV dorsally tuberculate with some prominent subconical tubercles (Figures 7g –h, j). Pa IV proventral with a row of four spines (IIiI) (Figures 7h–j). Pa IV retroventral with a spine (I) on the central portion (Figures 7i–j). Pa IV retrolateral with a prominent spine on the proximal third (Figures 7g, i–j). Ti IV covered by acuminated tubercles (Figures 7g –h, j). Ti IV proventral face with a row of acuminated tubercles (prominent on the distal third) and a spur on the distal portion (Figures 7h–i). Ti IV retroventral face with a row of eight spines (iiIIiIiI) and a spur on the distal portion (Figures 7i–j). Ti IV retrolateral face with a row of ten spines (iIIiIIIIii) (Figures 7i–j). Mt IV covered by tiny tubercles. Mt IV with proventral and retroventral distal spurs.
Colouration (in vivo). (Figures 5a–d): Ch and Pp glossier background Deep Greenish Yellow (100), with a honeycombed reticle in Dark Olive (108). Carapace background Strong Brown (55). Ocularium and mesotergum grooves Dark Reddish Gray (23). Ocularium spines, DS margins, paramedian pair of subconical spines on scutal area III and free tergites I–III background Blackish Red (21). Scutal areas I–IV background Deep Brown (56), with all tubercles individually covered and surrounded by lighter spots of Brilliant Orange Yellow (67). AS lateral portions Vivid Yellow (82). Apex of the paramedian spines on scutal area III and tubercles on free tergites I–III Strong Reddish Brown (40). Cx I–IV and Tr–Mt IV background a combination of Deep Brown (56) and Dark Brown (59). Tr–Mt I–III background Light Olive (106) with a honeycombed reticle in Deep Yellowish Brown (75). Tr I–III with a distal dorsal semicircle in Light Yellow (86). Cx–Fe IV apophyses and spines Dark Reddish Brown (44) with apex Vivid Reddish Orange (34), and tubercles Strong Orange (50). Pa–Mt IV spines and tubercles Deep Orange Yellow (69).
Penis. VP is divided into two regions: distal part trapezoidal (widest basally, with lateral margins curved ventrally), proximal part elliptical (Figures 8a, c). VP ventral surface totally covered with microsetae of type 1. All macrosetae cylindrical, inserted on lateral of VP: MS A1–A3 thick and acuminated, forming a triangle (A2 more dorsal than the others) in the basal part of the VP (Figures 8a–c); MS B1 short, inserted ventrally, proximal to A3 (Figures 8a–c); MS C1–C3 thick and acuminated, forming a triangle (C2 more dorsal than the others) in the distal part of VP (Figures 8a–c); MS D1 short, inserted on the lateral border of VP, as close to C3 as A1 (Figures 8a–b); MS E1–E2 very reduced, located on the laterodistal flange of VP–E1 between the height of MS C1–C2, E2 beside MS C3 (Figure 8c). Glans sac arising from the middle bulge on the podium, not extended as a dorsal process (Figures 8a–b, d–e). Stylus and its ventral process fused basally (forming a short pedestal) above the glans (Figures 8b, e). Stylus inserted on pedestal forming a 45° angle, with apical portion swollen and armed with a few small subdistal setae (Figures 8b, d–e). Stylus without any expansion or flattening, in situ reaching the distal border of VP (Figures 8a–b). Ventral process with almost the same stylus size, slightly bent to dorsal and with a ventro-apical flabellum (Figures 8a–b, d–e). Flabellum curved proximally, scallop-shaped with serrulations and spines, measuring about 20% of the ventral process stem length (Figures 8a–e).
Female (MNR] 361) (Figures 6d–f, 9a–b): DS, measurements: CW 2.8, CL 2.1, AW 4.9, AL 3.1; leg I–IV measurements in Table 4; right/left tarsal (distitarsal) counts: 6(3)/6(3) – 9(3)/ 9(3) – 7/7 – 7/7.
DS lambda type (Figures 6d, 9a). Ocularium elliptical and regular, lower than the male (Figures 6d–e, 9a–b). DS scutal area III with a paramedian pair of spines (Figures 6d–e, 9a). Cx IV narrower than male, with the prodorsal apophysis reduced to a conical spine (Figures 6d, 9a). Tr IV retroventral face with apophyses on proximal and distal portions (Figures 6a, c, 9a). Fe IV sub-straight, arched on the proximal portion towards the dorsal face, and thinner than the male (Figures 6a–c). Fe–Ti IV with armature restricted to (1) one spine on the distal quarter of the dorsal face; (2) two or three spines on the distal half of the proventral, retroventral and retrolateral faces; and (3) a prominent spur on the retrodorsal distal portion (Figures 6a–c).
Intraspecific variation. In the minor morph male (Figures 9c–d) (compared to major morph): (1) DS narrower, (2) ocularium with a pair of divergent spines (Figure 9c), (3) Cx IV prolateral and retrolateral apophyses reduced, (4) Fe IV thinner, showing dorsal face with a hook-shaped spine on the proximal half and retrolateral face with a sinuous row of seven conical spines (IiIIIIi) (Figure 9d). No material was available to analyse intraspecific variation among major morph males or females.
description: Published as part of Carvalho, Rafael N. & Kury, Adriano B., 2023, Rediscovery of the forgotten Paraluederwaldtia bituberculata (Mello-Leitão, 1922) (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae) and a review of the relationships of the genus Paraluederwaldtia Mello-Leitão, 1927, pp. 854-884 in Journal of Natural History 57 (1) on pages 868-874, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2023.2217547, http://zenodo.org/record/8224760