Pharmacus cochleatus nauclerus subsp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D540A190-8DEE-4CDD-AA28-EA92A31550BF

Figs 1–2, 6, 17D, 18B

Diagnosis

A mid-sized cave wētā endemic to the Skippers Range in South Westland. Morphologically indistinguishable from Pharmacus cochleatus cochleatus comb. nov., but geographically separated and genetically distinct.

Pharmacus cochleatus nauclerus is sympatric with Pharmacus cristatus sp. nov. and with Notoplectron brewsterense comb. nov. It is easily differentiated from the former by its darker coloration and lack of prolateral apical spines on the fore and mid femora and from the latter by its darker colour, longer legs with more numerous spines on the hind tibiae and the presence of dorsal spines on the first hind tarsus segment.

Etymology

‘ Nauclērus ’ is Latin for ‘skipper’, after the Skippers Range in South Westland.

Material examined (see also Supp. file 1: Table S3)

Holotype NEW ZEALAND • ♂, adult; Westland (WD), Skippers Range; 44.50459° S, 168.12086° E; 1400 m a.s.l.; 7 Feb. 2019; D. Hegg leg.; on rock bluffs; night search; NMNZ AI.052288 (prev. MPN CW4412).

Paratype NEW ZEALAND • 1 ♀, adult; Westland (WD), Skippers Range High Point; 44.43914° S, 168.16515° E; 1600 m a.s.l.; 3 Feb. 2019; D. Hegg leg.; on scree and rock bluffs; night search; NMNZ AI.052289 (prev. MPN CW4376) .

Other material

NEW ZEALAND – Westland (WD) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 nymph; Skippers Range; 44.42005° S, 168.15399° E; 1360 m a.s.l; 2 Feb. 2019; D. Hegg leg.; on rock bluffs; night search; MPN CW4366, CW4378, CW4413

• 1 nymph; same collection data as for paratype; GenBank: OM293711; MPN CW4363 • 1 ♀; Skippers Range; 44.46821° S, 168.10095° E; 1200 m a.s.l.; 6 Feb. 2019; D. Hegg leg.; on rock bluffs; night search; GenBank: OM293713; MPN CW4374 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MPN CW4377, CW4410, CW4411 • 1 nymph; same collection data as for holotype; GenBank: OM293710; MPN CW4361 • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; CW4379, CW4380 .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. See Table 1.

Pharmacus cochleatus nauclerus subsp. nov. is morphologically identical to Pharmacus cochleatus cochleatus comb. nov. See the description for the latter.