† MUELLERIZOMUS DE FRANCESCO MAGNUSSEN &

S.P. MÜLLER GEN. NOV.

(FIGS 27–34)

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. o r g: act: 1E280AB6-17C2-4F05-A4C4-E021DF9F2722

Type species: † Muellerizomus palicaudatus De Francesco Magnussen sp. nov.

Remarks

Specimens of this genus show asymmetrical tarsal spurs and also differ from species of Protoschizomidae by the lack of a pair of setae at the base of the anterior process and the presence of a distinct stalk at the male flagellum. They also differ from members of Megaschizominae by having a smaller body size, lack of eight or nine setae on their anterior process and the presence of only one pair of setae on the tergites II -VII. Therefore, they are clearly members of subfamily Hubbardiinae . The specimens cannot be assigned to any extant genus because of their combination of characters.

Diagnosis

† Muellerizomus differs from all other hubbardiid genera by the following combination of characters: propeltidium with a single median seta followed by three pairs of setae; eye spots present or absent; metapeltidium not divided; body without clavate setae; pedipalp trochanter with a mesal spur (equivocal in † Mu. amandae); anterodorsal margin of femur of leg IV produced at an angle of ~90°; tergite II with one pair of setae; tergites X–XII not elongated; tergite XII with posterodorsal process; male flagellum dorsoventrally flattened; female flagellum with three annuli.

Etymology

The genus name is a patronym for private collector Patrick Müller, who provided the specimen and numerous others for examination, with the common suffix -zomus, from the last letters of Schizomus . It is masculine in gender.

Comparison

† M u e l l e r i z o m u s s h a r e s c h a r a c t e r s w i t h † Groehnizomus, but the latter has corneate eyes and a divided metapeltidium (eye spots and metapeltidium not divided in † Muellerizomus). Secozomus Harvey, 2001b from the Seychelles is also similar, but it lacks a posterodorsal process, and the anterodorsal margin of femur IV is angled at> 90°. For comparison with Recent genera, see the Supporting Information (Table S1).