Indohya jessicae Harvey & Burger, 2023

Harvey, Mark S., Burger, Mieke A. A., Abrams, Kym M., Finston, Terrie L., Huey, Joel A. & Perina, Giulia, 2023, The systematics of the pseudoscorpion genus Indohya (Pseudoscorpiones: Hyidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 5342 (1), pp. 1-119 : 76-80

Indohya jessicae Harvey & Burger , n. sp.

( Figs. 1–3 , 5 , 39 , 40 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:972586A2-BF67-479D-881C-FA15611FB8E9

Material examined. Holotype female. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Koodaideri, 120.9 km NW. of Newman , 22°30′57″S, 118°58′35″E, 20 March 2014, troglofauna trap, J. Cairnes, T. Sachse ( WAM T133678 ).

Other material. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 tritonymph, Koodaideri, 119.4 km NW. of Newman , 22°31′03″S, 118°59′49″E, 20 March 2014, troglofauna trap, J. Cairnes, T . Sachse ( WAM T133676 ); 1 deutonymph, Koodaideri, 119.6 km NW. of Newman , 22°31′03″S, 118°59′41″E, 19 March 2014, troglofauna trap, J. Cairnes, T . Sachse ( WAM T133677 ); 1 protonymph, Koodaideri, c. 114 km NW. of Newman , 22°32′40″S, 119°03′19″E, 11 August–11 October 2015, troglofauna trap, N. Watson, C. Cole ( WAM T139291 ) .

Diagnosis. Indohya jessicae belongs to a group of Indohya species that have 12 setae on the carapace and no eyes. It differs from I. anastomosa , I. aquila and I. humphreysi by the presence of 4 setae on tergite I (only 2 setae in I. anastomosa , I. aquila and I. humphreysi ). It differs from I. arnoldstrongi , I. cockingi and I. finitima by having numerous pointed teeth on the fixed chelal finger, and from I. cribbi and I. lynbeazleyae by the partially granulate pedipalpal femur and smooth patella (femur and patella granulate in I. cribbi and I. lynbeazleyae ). It differs from I. damocles and I. sagmata by its less narrow pedipalpal segments [e.g. chela (with pedicel) less than 4.5 × longer than broad; femur less than 6.0 × longer than broad, vs. chela (with pedicel) at least 5.0 × longer than broad; femur at least 6.5 × longer than broad], and from I. scanloni by its larger size [e.g. chela (with pedicel) 1.81 (♀) mm, vs. 1.395 (Ô), 1.505 (♀) in I. scanloni ].

It also differs from all other Indohya species for which sequence data are available by two synapomorphies in COI mtDNA: at base 208 there is a substitution to G; and at base 585 there is a substitution to T. The four sequenced specimens differ from all other sequenced specimens of Indohya by 17.5–25.7% (Table 2).

Description (adult). Colour ( Fig. 39 ): Cephalothorax and pedipalps deep red-brown, legs and abdomen yellow-brown.

Setae and cuticle: setae long, mostly straight and acicular; most cuticular surfaces smooth and glossy.

Chelicera: surface smooth; hand with 5 (♀) setae, movable finger with 1 sub-medial seta, all setae acuminate; galea present, long, slender and slightly curved; fixed finger with 13 small teeth (♀), each approximately same size; movable finger with 9 small (♀) teeth, each approximately same size; with 2 dorsal and 1 ventral lyrifissures; lamina exterior absent; rallum with 7 blades, all blades with anterior spinules, basal blade shorter than others.

Pedipalp ( Fig. 39B ): long and slender; trochanter smooth, 2.43 (♀) ×; femur slightly broadened distally, basal third lightly granulate, without dorsal tactile seta, with 3 stout retrolateral setae near base, 5.36 (♀) ×; patella broadened distally, smooth, pedicel not strongly pronounced but basal portion slimmer than distal portion, with several small lyrifissures situated basally on dorsal surface, 3.38 (♀) ×; chela ( Fig. 40C ): hand ovoid, with dorsal, prolateral and retrolateral faces lightly granulate, chela (with pedicel) 3.89 (♀) ×, chela (without pedicel) 3.71 (♀) ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.61 (♀) × longer than broad, movable finger 1.33 (♀) × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 8 trichobothria, eb, esb and isb in straight row at base of finger, ib situated dorsally at the end of the chelal hand, isb at the basal end of the fixed finger, ib situated on dorsum of chelal hand, it closer to et than to est, et slightly distal to it; movable finger with 4 trichobothria, sb closer to b than to st, st situated much closer to t than to sb, ratio sb–st / sb–b = 1.65 (♀), t acuminate. Both fingers straight in lateral view. Fixed finger smooth, movable finger with several prolateral and retrolateral granulations basally. Chelal teeth ( Figs. 40D, E ) juxtadentate, fixed finger with 77 (♀) teeth, teeth 1–6, 42–43, 45, 48, 52–54, 57–77 pointed, remainder rounded, movable finger with 40 (♀), low, but discernible teeth. Venom apparatus present only in movable chelal finger, venom duct long, terminating in nodus ramosus between sb and st.

Cephalothorax: carapace ( Fig. 40A ) sub-rectangular; smooth; anterior margin slightly convex; epistome absent; lateral margins slightly convex; posterior margin straight; 1.33 (♀) × longer than broad; ♀ with 12 setae arranged 4: 4: 2: 2; without furrows; eyes absent. Manducatory process distally triangular, with 2 distal setae; pedipalpal coxa with 6 additional setae. Coxa I with anterior margin not modified; chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: ♀, 3: 5: 4: 6.

Legs: femora I and II much longer than patellae I and II, respectively; femora I and II with basal swelling; femora I and II each with 2 primary slit sensilla, 1 sub-basally directed longitudinally and 1 sub-distally directed transversely; junction between anterior femora and patellae perpendicular; junction between posterior femora and patellae slightly oblique; femora III and IV much smaller than patellae III and IV, respectively; femur + patella IV? (missing) (♀) × longer than broad; metatarsi shorter than tarsi; subterminal tarsal seta acuminate; claws smooth, arolium slightly shorter than claws; arolium not divided.

Abdomen: tergites not divided; tergal chaetotaxy ♀, 4: 4: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 4 (including 1 tactile seta): 2; arranged in single rows; sternal chaetotaxy ♀, 18: (2) 5 (2): (3) 4 (3): 10: 10: 10: 10: 10: 8: 6 (including 4 tactile setae): 2; setae of anterior genital operculum (sternite II) of ♀ minute; posterior tergites and sternites with several tactile setae; medial sternites without suture line; pleural membrane uniformly granulate; without setae; stigmatic helix present.

Genitalia: female: with large gonosac that is covered with scattered pores.

Dimensions (mm): female holotype ( WAM T133678 ). Body length (excluding chelicerae) 2.42. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.450 / 0.185, femur 1.180 / 0.220, patella 0.895 / 0.265, chela (with pedicel) 1.810 / 0.465, chela (without pedicel) 1.725, hand (without pedicel) 0.750, movable finger length 1.000. Carapace 0.765 / 0.575. Leg IV: missing .

Description (tritonymph). Colour: pale yellow-brown.

Chelicera: hand with 5 setae, movable finger with 1 sub-medial seta.

Pedipalp: trochanter 2.19 ×, femur 5.13 ×, patella 3.03 ×, chela (with pedicel) 3.76 ×, chela (without pedicel) 3.56 ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.60 × longer than broad, movable finger 1.24 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 7 trichobothria ( Fig. 40F ), eb, esb, est, et, ib, ist and it present; movable finger with 3 trichobothria; b, st and t present, st much closer to t than to b. Fixed chelal finger with 56 low, juxtadentate teeth, movable chelal finger with 28 low, juxtadentate teeth.

Cephalothorax: carapace 1.46 × longer than broad; with 12 setae, arranged 4: 0: 4: 2: 2, including posterior margin with 2 setae; smooth; without furrows; eyes absent. Coxal chaetotaxy 4: 3: 3: 4.

Legs: femur + patella IV 3.47 × longer than broad; metatarsi and tarsi not fused.

Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy 4: 4: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6: 4 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; sternal chaetotaxy 2: (?) 3 (?): (2) 4 (2): 8: 8: 8: 8: 8: 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 6 (including 4 tactile setae): 2.

Dimensions (mm): WAM T133676. Body length 1.75. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.295 / 0.135, femur 0.795 / 0.155, patella 0.560 / 0.185, chela (with pedicel) 1.185 / 0.315, chela (without pedicel) 1.120, hand (without pedicel) length 0.505, movable finger length 0.625. Carapace 0.590 / 0.405. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.555 / 0.160.

Description (deutonymph). Colour: Very pale, yellow-white.

Chelicera: hand with 5 setae, movable finger with 1 sub-medial seta.

Pedipalp: trochanter? (damaged) ×, femur 4.38 ×, patella 2.78 ×, chela (with pedicel) 3.57 ×, chela (without pedicel) 3.41 ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.48 × longer than broad, movable finger 1.29 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 6 trichobothria ( Fig. 40G ), eb, est, et, ib, ist and it present; movable finger with 2 trichobothria, b and t present. Fixed chelal finger 40 teeth. Fixed chelal finger low, or juxtadentate. Movable chelal finger 20 teeth. Movable chelal finger low, or juxtadentate.

Cephalothorax: carapace? (damaged) × longer than broad; with 12 setae, arranged 4: 0: 4: 2: 2; without furrows; eyes absent. Coxal chaetotaxy 3: 3: 3: 3.

Legs: metatarsi and tarsi not fused.

Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy? (abdomen in poor condition); sternal chaetotaxy? (abdomen in poor condition).

Dimensions (mm): WAM T133677. Body length 1.15. Pedipalp: trochanter?/0.085, femur 0.525 / 0.120, patella 0.375 / 0.135, chela (with pedicel) length 0.820 / 0.230, chela (without pedicel) length 0.785, hand (without pedicel) length 0.340, movable finger length 0.440. Carapace 0.475/? (poor orientation).

Description (protonymph). Colour: very pale, yellow-white.

Chelicera: hand with 4 setae, movable finger without seta.

Pedipalp: trochanter 2.07 ×, femur 3.58 ×, patella 2.50 ×, chela (with pedicel) 3.43 ×, chela (without pedicel) 3.27 ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.57 × longer than broad, movable finger 1.15 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 3 trichobothria ( Fig. 40H ), eb, ist and et present; movable finger with 1 trichobothrium, t present; fixed chelal finger with 28 low, juxtadentate teeth; movable chelal finger with 11 teeth.

Cephalothorax: carapace 1.16 × longer than broad; with 12 setae arranged 4: 0: 4: 2: 2; without furrows; eyes absent. Coxal chaetotaxy 1: 1: 1: 1.

Legs: metatarsi and tarsi not fused.

Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy not visible (abdomen damaged); sternal chaetotaxy not visible (abdomen damaged).

Dimensions (mm): WAM T139291 . Body length? (abdomen damaged). Pedipalp: trochanter 0.155 / 0.075 , femur 0.340 / 0.095, patella 0.225 / 0.090, chela (with pedicel) 0.515 / 0.150, chela (without pedicel) 0.490, hand (without pedicel) length 0.235, movable finger length 0.270. Carapace 0.320 / 0.275.

Distribution and remarks. Indohya jessicae is only known from three sites at Koodaideri, which is situated east of Wittenoom ( Fig. 5 ) and now known as “Gudai-Darri”. The species was previously known by WAM identification code Indohya ‘PSE150’.

Conservation assessment. Indohya jessicae has been collected from subterranean habitats at Koodaideri. The total extent of the subterranean habitat is unknown, and the surface terrain is not heavily dissected or constrained by mesas. It is possible that it’s distribution may extend further into the local area. There is a lack of sufficient data to determine whether this species meets the status of threatened using the criteria developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (2012).

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Jessica Cairnes, one of the collectors of most of the specimens of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Hyidae and other neobisioids, based on alignment of concatenated COI, 18S and 28S. Ultrafast bootstrap values are presented for nodes greater than 80%.

FIGURE 2. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Australian Indohya, using COI, 18S and 28S concatenated dataset. Bootstrap values are presented for all nodes. The genes amplified for each specimen are depicted with black squares in the gene matrix.

FIGURE 3. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Australian Indohya, using COI. Bootstrap values are presented for all nodes.

FIGURE 5. Maps of north-western Australia depicting recorded distributions of the subterranean species of Indohya from the Pilbara and Cape Range region.

FIGURE 40. Indohya jessicae Harvey & Burger, n. sp., holotype female (WAM T133678), unless stated otherwise:A, carapace, dorsal; B, left pedipalp, dorsal; C, left chela, retrolateral; D, right movable finger, chelal teeth, retrolateral; E, right fixed finger, chelal teeth, retrolateral; F, right chela, retrolateral, tritonymph (WAM T133676); G, left chela, retrolateral, deutonymph (WAM T133677); H, left chela, retrolateral, protonymph (WAM T139291). Scale lines = 0.5 mm (Figs. A–C, F–H), 0.2 mm (Figs. D, E).

FIGURE39. Indohyajessicae Harvey&Burger,n.sp., holotypefemale(WAMT133678):A, dorsal; B, ventral; C, cephalothorax, dorsal. Scale lines = 1.0 mm.