Afrogarypus haddadi Neethling 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Neethling, J. A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Pseudoscorpiones
Geogarypidae
Afrogarypus
Afrogarypus haddadi

description: Afrogarypus haddadi sp. nov.
Figs 1–3
Holotype: 1♀, SOUTH AFRICA, Eastern Cape, Port Saint Johns, Cremorne Estate Forest, 31°36’S, 29°32’E, 107 m a.s.l., Coastal Forest, Leaf litter sifting, leg. J.A. Neethling, 12.X.2015 (NMBAP 00465).
Paratype: 1♂, Same data as holotype (NMBAP 00464).
Non-type material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 3♀, 2 Tritonymphs, Dwesa Nature Reserve, 32°18’S, 28°50’E, 31 m a.s.l., Coastal Forest, Leaf litter sifting, leg. J.A. Neethling & L. Hugo-Coetzee, 5.IV.2019 (NMBAP 00402); 8♀, 5♂, 1 Tritonymph, Port Saint Johns, Cremorne Estate Forest, 31°36’S, 29°32’E, 107 m a.s.l., Coastal Forest, Leaf litter sifting, leg. J.A. Neethling, 12.X.2015 (NMBAP 00259); 7♀, 3♂, Port Saint Johns, Silaka Nature Reserve, 31°39’S, 29°30’E, 221 m a.s.l., Coastal Forest, Leaf litter sifting, leg. J.A. Neethling, 13.X.2015 (NMBAP 00266).
Etymology: The species is named after Charles R. Haddad for his mentorship and outstanding contributions to the field of Arachnology.
Diagnosis: Small species (chela length ♀ 0.74–0.80 mm, ♂ 0.66–0.72 mm), with a deep sulcus located dorsally just before the fixed finger on the chelae of both females and males; cheliceral hand with five acuminate setae; female galea with five rami, male galea simple with no rami; rallum present as a simple single blade. Differs from Afrogarypus carmenae, A. castigatus, A. minutus, A. pseudotriangularis sp. nov., A. purcelli, A. robustus and A. triangularis by the presence of a well-developed sulcus on the dorsal surface of the chelae. Differs from Afrogarypus megamolaris and A. subimpressus by having a deep, narrow sulcus on the dorsal surface of the hand, with the dorsal surface protruding well above the bulge at the base of the fixed chelal finger, while both latter possess a wider, shallow sulcus with the dorsal surface of the hand at the same level as the bulge or protruding only slightly above it. Further differs from Afrogarypus megamolaris by not having any fused teeth at the base of the chelal fingers of females, compared to having fused teeth at the base of both female chelal fingers, and having five rami on the female galea, compared to nine in A. megamolaris. Further differs from Afrogarypus subimpressus by trichobothrium isb being situated midway between est and ist, compared to isb being distinctly closer to est than ist, and having five rami on the female galea, compared to eight in A. subimpressus. Differs from Afrogarypus excelsus and A. impressus by size (pedipalp femur length ♀ 0.47–0.49 mm ♂ 0.39–0.41 mm, compared to ♀ 1.34–1.42 mm ♂ 1.40–1.45 mm in A. excelsus and ♀ 1.26–1.35 mm ♂ 1.04–1.12 mm in A. impressus); pedipalp femur ratio (♀ 2.58–2.61 ♂ 2.56–2.60, compared to ♀ 3.43–0.51 ♂ 3.41–3.49 in A. excelsus and ♀ 3.31–3.40 ♂ 3.25–3.29 in A. impressus); the number of rami on the galea (five in A. haddadi sp. nov., nine in A. excelsus and A. impressus); and the arrangement of the chelal trichobothria (trichobothrium st distinctly closer to sb in A. haddadi sp. nov., compared to being situated midway between sb and t in A. excelsus and A. impressus).
Description: Carapace: Strongly sub-triangular, narrow furrow posterior to the eyes (Figs. 1A, C, 3H). Uniformly dark brown in female, becoming slightly lighter in colour posteriorly in male. Granular in texture in both sexes. Heavily constricted anteriorly into cucullus, constriction beginning at the medial furrow. Two pairs of corneate eyes situated on ocular tubercles, located about one-third away from the anterior edge. Six prominent acuminate setae located on anterior edge, row of acuminate setae (♀ 11– 15 ♂ 10–13), seated within rims, located on the posterior margin. Numerous small acuminate setae present on carapace.
Abdomen: Wider than carapace and subovate. Tergites granular in texture in both sexes, uniformly dark brown in female, somewhat lighter in male. Tergites I and II each with a darker median spot. In both sexes the posterior edges of tergites I–XI are distinctly lighter in colour, tergite XII uniformly lighter in colour (Figs. 1A, C). Tergal setae acuminate and located on the posterior of each tergite, just above the lighter posterior edges. Sternite XII same colour as tergite XII in both sexes. In female, sternites VIII–XI well sclerotized and uniformly brown, rest of the sternites gradually become less sclerotized and more tan in colour moving from sternite VII to sternite II. Central tan-coloured region present on sternites III–VII, growing more pronounced from posterior to anterior sternites, giving these sternites a divided appearance. Male sternites IV–XI well sclerotized and uniformly brown, sternites II and III lighter in colour. Central tan-coloured region present on sternites IV–X, giving these sternites a divided appearance (Figs. 1B, D). Female operculum with 15 acuminate setae on the anterior genital plate, separated as seven setae distributed along the posterior margin of the genital plate, and a further eight setae clustered loosely alongside, near the centre. Male operculum with eight acuminate setae on the anterior genital plate, separated into six setae situated along the posterior margin of the genital plate, and two setae located near the centre. Male sternite III with 18 acuminate setae, separated into four setae located along the anterior margin of the sternite, at the edge of the genital opening, three setae located centrally behind these, and a further 11 setae distributed along the posterior margin of the sternite. Pleural membrane wrinkled-plicate, cream in both sexes. Light brown lateral sclerites, each with a central acuminate seta, present in male.
Tergal chaetotaxy: 10(13): 11(13): 14(13): 11(14): 13(13): 12(14): 12(14): 11(12): 15(16): 12(12): 12(8): 2(2).
Sternal chaetotaxy:?(?): 15(8): 7(18): 15(16): 22(24): 22(20): 17(17): 12(13): 10(11): 6(19): 6(8): 2(2).
Pedipalp: All segments granular in texture, dark brown and with small acuminate setae scattered over the surface, except the pedicels, in both sexes. Trochanter rounded in shape, distinct apophysis present ventrally, curved toward the main body of the trochanter. Femur thickset, 2.58–2.61 (♀) to 2.56–2.60 (♂) times longer than wide, constricted at pedicel, widening quickly to form base, then widening slightly before constricting again at end. Patella constricted and angled at pedicel, widening markedly into a cone, 2.35–2.44 (♀) to 2.27–2.29 (♂) times longer than wide. Slight bulge present at anterior lateral surface. Several small lyriform fissures present on a bulge on the dorsal surface, just distal of base. Disto-prolateral excavation present (Fig. 3B).
Chela: Uniformly dark brown in both sexes. Hand granular in texture up to base of movable finger, as well as over first third of dorsal surface of fixed finger. Well-developed dorsal sulcus present, located just proximal to the base of the fixed finger. Dorsal bulge located just anterior of sulcus. Dorsal surface of hand protruding well above the sulcus and anterior bulge. Female hand strongly convex on the dorsal and prolateral edge, less so on the ventral and retrolateral edge (Figs. 2A, B). Male hand smaller, markedly less convex dorsally and prolaterally (Figs. 2C, D). Both sexes with a short pedicel (pedicel 0.11–0.14 ♀ 0.15–0.19 ♂ times longer than chelal hand) and a prolaterally slanted posterior hand edge. Fingers narrow, same length as, to slightly longer than, hand (without pedicel) and curved slightly prolaterally. Venom apparatus present on both fingers. Fixed and movable chelal fingers with eight and four trichobothria respectively as in fig. 3A.
Chelal teeth strongly sclerotized, acute and retrorse in both sexes. Female fixed finger with 25–28 teeth. Four to five large teeth spaced along the fixed chelal finger with 21–23 smaller teeth interspersed between them. Five small, closely spaced teeth just behind venom apparatus, followed by large tooth (Fig. 3F). Further teeth are arranged in two rows, reducing in size proximally, still acute. Female movable finger with 11–13 nearly contiguous teeth. Proximal four to five reduced to small projections. Male fixed finger with 21–24 teeth. Three to five large teeth spaced along the fixed chelal finger with 18–19 smaller teeth interspersed between them. Four to five small, closely spaced teeth just behind venom apparatus, followed by large tooth (Fig. 3G). Further teeth are arranged in two rows, reducing in size proximally, still acute. Male movable finger with 10–12 nearly contiguous teeth. Proximal four to six reduced to small projections.
Chelicera: Hand with five long and acuminate setae (Fig. 3C). Female fixed finger with five teeth, male with four. Female movable finger with four teeth, male with three. Galea complex, with five rami (♀) (Fig. 3D), simple with no rami (♂) (Fig. 3E). Rallum with a single blade in both sexes. Serrula exterior with 13–15 lamellae (♀), 12–17 lamellae (♂). Lamina exterior present in both sexes.
Coxae and legs: Pedipalpal coxae somewhat lighter in colour than rest of pedipalps. Coxae I–IV tan. Legs I–IV brown to dark brown in colour. All legs diplotarsate with simple claws; arolium longer than claws.
Measurements (mm): Body length ♀ 1.41–1.51 ♂ 1.25–1.34; Carapace ♀ 0.47–0.49 x 0.55–0.59 (0.83–0.85) ♂ 0.46–0.50 x 0.54–0.56 (0.85–0.89); Chelicera ♀ 0.16–0.17 x 0.10–0.11 (1.55–1.60) ♂ 0.14–00.15 x 0.10–0.11 (1.36–1.40), movable finger length ♀ 0.10–0.11 ♂ 0.09–0.10; Pedipalps: femur ♀ 0.47–0.49 x 0.18–0.19 (2.58– 2.61) ♂ 0.39–0.41 x 0.15–0.16 (2.56–2.60), patella ♀ 0.39–0.40 x 0.16–0.17 (2.35–2.44) ♂ 0.32–0.34 x 0.14–0.15 (2.27–2.29), chela ♀ 0.74–0.80 x 0.25–0.28 (2.86–2.96) ♂ 0.66–0.72 x 0.20–0.23 (3.13–3.30), hand ♀ 0.38–0.39 x 0.25–0.28 (1.39–1.52) ♂ 0.32–0.35 x 0.20–0.23 (1.52–1.60), movable finger length ♀ 0.36–0.37 ♂ 0.32–0.34; Leg I: femur ♀ 0.20–0.21 x 0.09–0.10 (2.10–2.22) ♂ 0.18–0.19 x 0.08 (2.25–2.38), patella ♀ 0.11 x 0.08–0.09 (1.22–1.38) ♂ 0.10–0.11 x 0.08 (1.25–1.38), tibia ♀ 0.14–0.15 x 0.07 (2.00–2.14) ♂ 0.13–0.14 x 0.06 (2.17–2.33), metatarsus ♀ 0.09–0.10 x 0.05 (1.80–2.00) ♂ 0.08–0.09 x 0.05 (1.60–1.80), tarsus ♀ 0.10–0.11 x 0.04 (2.50–2.75) ♂ 0.09–0.10 x 0.03 (3.00–3.33); Leg IV: femoropatella ♀ 0.38–0.42 x 0.11–0.12 (3.45–3.50) ♂ 0.34–0.35 x 0.11–0.12 (2.92–3.09), tibia ♀ 0.27–0.31 x 0.08–0.09 (3.38–3.44) ♂ 0.23–0.25 x 0.07–0.08 (3.13–3.29), metatarsus ♀ 0.13–0.15 x 0.05 (2.60–3.00) ♂ 0.12 x 0.05 (2.40), tarsus ♀ 0.12–0.13 x 0.05 (2.40–2.60) ♂ 0.12–0.13 x 0.04 (3.00–3.25).
Remarks. Afrogarypus haddadi sp. nov. presents an interesting case in that, on first glance, the specimens examined appear to have reduced features such as those found in A. castigatus namely, the absence of trichobothrium isb and monotarsate legs I and II. While not absent, trichobothrium isb is reduced in Afrogarypus haddadi sp. nov., being much shorter than the rest of the trichobothria as well as having a smaller trichobothrial rim, and the tarsus and metatarsus on legs I and II, although appearing fused, still poses a slight separation.
Ecology. The species inhabits the leaf litter of high-moisture indigenous forests along the coast of the Eastern Cape province, within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot (Fig. 12), where they are quite abundant. Both adults and nymphs were collected during the months of April and October. Elevation: 31– 221 m.
description: Published as part of Neethling, J. A., 2024, Three new Geogarypidae (Pseudoscorpiones: Garypoidea) from South Africa, with an updated key to the country's geogarypid species, pp. 387-405 in Zootaxa 5443 (3) on pages 389-393, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5443.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/11045349