Zalmoxis gebeleizis, 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 gebeleizis

description: Zalmoxis gebeleizis sp. nov.
Figs. 1–4, 22 b
Types. Male holotype (PNM [ex MCZ DNA104059]) from the research station of the Philippine Endemic Species Conservation Program (PESCP), Sibaliw, Municipality of Buruanga, Province of Aklan, Panay Island (11º 49’ 11” N, 121º 58’ 0” E), Philippines, 450 m elevation, collected October 2008 by Cichosz & Einhaupl. 2 female paratypes (in ethanol), same collecting data as holotype (PNM [ex MCZ DNA104059]). 2 male (1 dissected for genitalia, mounted on SEM stub MCZ 124579; 1 mounted on SEM stubs 124576–124577) and 4 female (1 used for DNA extraction [ex MCZ DNA104060]; 1 mounted on SEM stubs MCZ 124576, 124578; 2 in ethanol) paratypes, same collecting data as holotype (MCZ 124575). 1 male paratype (in ethanol) (MNHG [ex MCZ DNA104058]) and 2 female paratypes (in ethanol) (MHNG [ex MCZ DNA104060]), same collecting data as holotype.
Etymology. Like the genus name, the specific epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to a god of the Getae (or Thracians, an ancient civilization of Indo-Europeans that inhabited the territory to the north and east of the Aegean Sea, and had extensive contact with the Greeks and Romans). Gebeleizis was the bearded god of thunderstorms and possibly a synonym or reincarnation of Zalmoxis.
Diagnosis. Distinguished from congeners in the armature of the anal plate, which bears a pair of large bifurcating, setose tubercles; and in the male genitalia, wherein the rutrum bears three pairs of setae, and the pergula is medially jointed and bears two ventrolateral pairs of setae.
Description. Total length of male holotype (female paratype [MCZ 124575] in parentheses) 2.55 (2.34), greatest width of prosoma 0.96 (0.88), greatest width of opisthosoma 1.68 (1.60); length-to-width ratio 1.52 (1.46). Body campaniform, reddish brown to dark brown (in ethanol, depending on incidence of light), lighter in color in the trochanters and distal tips of all legs, 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 distinctly forming obtuse “V” shape anteriorly in male, grooves less arcuate in female. Mesotergum and free tergites with regular belts of setose tubercles (Fig. 1).
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 greatly enlarged, with setose tubercles concentrated anteriorly. Genital operculum sub-triangular. Spiracles not concealed, anterior to row of tubercles. Opisthosomal sternites with regular belts of low setose tubercles. Anal plate armed with two rows of tubercles: posterior row with four setose tubercles, middle pair more prominent than flanking pair; anterior row with three large setose tubercles, flanking pair of tubercles bifurcating and with broad bases (Figs. 2, 22 b).
Chelicerae (Fig. 3 a) sexually monomorphic, with prominent bulla on proximal article. Proximal article with denticulate granulation basally and ventrally. Second article not incrassate, smooth, with dorsal margin bearing several setae. Distal article with delicate dentition, free of ornamentation. Palpi (Fig. 3 b) robust and spined ventrally and/or ventrolaterally, typical of zalmoxids. Palpal tarsus with two pairs of megaspines.
Legs (Figs. 3 c–g) finely granulated. Trochanters, patellae, and tibiae of all legs bearing irregular rows of setose tubercles. Leg I (Fig. 3 c) trochanter with one small tubercle dorsally and two tubercles ventrally. Male leg IV (Fig. 3 f) sexually dimorphic, elongated, and armed. Male trochanter IV with mesal row of three small tubercles enlarging distally, one prominent posterior tubercle. Male femur IV slightly arcuate, bearing ventral and ventrolateral row of tubercles, with single large ventral tubercle on subdistal portion. Male patella and tibia IV with bulbous setose tubercles. Metatarsi I–IV divided distally, with calcaneus less ornamented but generally more setose. Tarsal claws I–IV smooth, unmodified. Tarsal segmentation 3: 6: 5: 5.
Appendage measurements of holotype (length/width):
TrFePaTiMtTaTotalLeg I0.21/0.190.74/0.160.41/0.170.52/0.170.83/0.090.60/0.103.31Leg II0.22/0.211.00/0.140.42/0.160.78/0.160.97/0.081.08/0.084.47Leg III0.26/0.250.87/0.170.44/0.230.67/0.201.04/0.120.68/0.103.96Leg IV0.26/0.150.82/0.100.37/0.160.73/0.100.91/0.060.40/0.063.49Palp0.21/0.210.52/0.210.33/0.180.34/0.22—0.39/0.151.79ProximalSecondDistalChelicera0.56/0.270.75/0.240.24/0.05
Appendage measurements of female paratype (MCZ 124575) (length/width):
TrFePaTiMtTaTotalLeg I0.19/0.160.61/0.150.33/0.170.45/0.150.71/0.080.54/0.102.83Leg II0.23/0.200.95/0.150.48/0.180.74/0.160.92/0.081.06/0.094.38Leg III0.22/0.220.77/0.150.36/0.230.57/0.170.84/0.120.60/0.113.36Leg IV0.24/0.170.86/0.150.42/0.200.75/0.160.98/0.100.73/0.103.98Palp0.19/0.180.47/0.180.26/0.170.33/0.22—0.36/0.141.61ProximalSecondDistalChelicera0.45/0.240.67/0.230.22/0.04
Penis (Fig. 4) with three pairs of setae on rutrum and two ventrolateral pairs of long setae on pergula. One small ventrolateral pair of setae posterior to pergula. Rutrum of arrowhead shape, apical/distal portion with lateral extensions. Pergula flattened, not projecting ventrally, and disjointed medially.
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 31-34, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3280.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/208539