Zalmoxis bendis, 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 bendis

description: Zalmoxis bendis sp. nov.
Figs. 15–17
Types. Male holotype (MHNG) from East Kalimantan Province, Berau District, near Kampung Suaran, ca. 40 km north of Tanjungredeb, Borneo (2º 4’ 46” N, 117º 24’ 36” E), Indonesia, 50 m elevation, collected 1 October 2008 by P.J. Schwendinger. 1 female paratype (MHNG), same collecting data as holotype. 1 male (dissected for genitalia and mounted on SEM stub MCZ 124592) and 1 female (used for DNA extraction [ex MCZ DNA104063-2]), same collecting data as holotype (MCZ 124591). 2 male (1 used for DNA extraction [ex MCZ DNA104065-1]; 1 mounted on SEM stubs MCZ 124594–124595) and 1 female (mounted on SEM stubs MCZ 124594, 124596) paratype (MCZ 124593) from East Kalimantan Province, Berau District, Hutan Mayang Mangurai, ca. 15 km southwest of Tanjungredeb, Borneo (2º 6’ 13” N, 117º 24’ 5” E), Indonesia, 20 m elevation, collected 30 September 2008 by P.J. Schwendinger. 2 female paratypes (NMP) from East Kalimantan Province, Berau District, Hutan Mayang Mangurai, ca. 15 km southwest of Tanjungredeb, Borneo (2º 6’ 13” N, 117º 24’ 5” E), Indonesia, 20 m elevation, collected 30 September 2008 by P.J. Schwendinger.
Etymology. The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to a goddess of the Getae (or Thracians). Bendis was the goddess of the moon, the hunt, and healing.
Diagnosis. Distinguished from congeners in the sexually dimorphic tarsus III, which bears five tarsomeres in females, and four tarsomeres in males with the most proximal article greatly incrassate.
Description. Total length of male holotype (female paratype [MCZ 124591] in parentheses) 1.38 (1.37), greatest width of prosoma 0.68 (0.65), greatest width of opisthosoma 1.04 (1.06); length-to-width ratio 1.32 (1.29). 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 “V” shape. Mesotergum and free tergites without regular belts of setose tubercles (Fig. 15).
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, not braced posteriorly by row of tubercles. Opisthosomal sternites with regular belts of low setose tubercles tapering medially. Anal plate without prominent tubercles (Figs. 16 a–b).
Chelicerae (Fig. 16 c) 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. 16 d) robust and spined ventrally and/or ventrolaterally, typical of zalmoxids. Palpal tarsus with two pairs of megaspines.
Legs (Figs. 17 a–f) finely granulated. Trochanters, patellae, and tibiae of all legs bearing irregular rows of setose tubercles. Leg I (Fig. 17 a) trochanter with one small tubercle ventrally. Femur IV of both sexes (Figs. 17 e–f) with ventral row of tubercles. Femur of male leg III (Fig. 17 c) with prominent two ventromesal tubercles. Tarsus of male leg III bearing four tarsomeres and sexually dimorphic, with most proximal tarsomere greatly incrassate. Tarsus of female leg III (Fig. 17 d) with five tarsomeres. Male leg IV (Fig. 17 e) not sexually dimorphic, neither elongated nor armed. Metatarsi I–IV divided distally, with calcaneus less ornamented but generally more setose. Calcaneus of metatarsus IV in both sexes with prominent dorsal tubercle. Tarsal claws I–IV smooth, unmodified. Tarsal segmentation 3: 5: 4: 5 (male) or 3: 5: 5: 5 (female).
Appendage measurements of holotype (length/width):
TrFePaTiMtTaTotalLeg I0.13/0.110.44/0.100.24/0.130.30/0.120.39/0.070.44/0.091.94Leg II0.14/0.140.60/0.100.32/0.140.44/0.120.47/0.070.74/0.082.71Leg III0.15/0.180.51/0.120.28/0.170.37/0.150.44/0.140.52/0.192.27Leg IV0.18/0.200.63/0.120.33/0.180.49/0.130.62/0.090.59/0.102.84Palp0.15/0.140.40/0.140.20/0.130.24/0.18—0.25/0.111.24ProximalSecondDistalChelicera0.40/0.200.57/0.210.15/0.04
Appendage measurements of female paratype (NMP) (length/width):
TrFePaTiMtTaTotalLeg I0.14/0.110.41/0.110.24/0.140.28/0.130.39/0.060.42/0.081.88Leg II0.15/0.140.59/0.130.31/0.140.44/0.130.48/0.060.78/0.062.75Leg III0.15/0.150.44/0.130.24/0.160.33/0.140.46/0.070.46/0.062.08Leg IV0.17/0.170.57/0.120.31/0.180.45/0.140.62/0.090.58/0.082.70Palp0.15/0.130.35/0.120.18/0.120.23/0.15—0.24/0.101.15ProximalSecondDistalChelicera0.34/0.170.49/0.160.14/0.04
Penis (Fig. 16 e) with two pairs of setae on rutrum and three pairs of setae on pergula (one ventral and median, one ventrolateral, one lateral). One small ventrolateral pair of setae posterior to pergula. Rutrum without lateral extensions, smaller than stragulum, with distal margin directed ventrally. Pergula protruding ventrally.
Distribution. Known from two sites in East Kalimantan Province, Borneo, Indonesia.
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 44-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3280.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/208539