Roncocreagris blothroides ( Beier, 1962 )

Reboleira, Ana Sofia P. S., Zaragoza, Juan A., Gonçalves, Fernando & Oromí, Pedro, 2013, On hypogean Roncocreagris (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae) from Portugal, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3670 (2), pp. 283-299 : 285-289

Roncocreagris blothroides ( Beier, 1962)

( Figs 2–11 )

Microcreagris blothroides Beier 1962: 25 –26, fig. 1.

Roncocreagris blothroides (Beier) : Mahnert 1976: 212.

Material. Portugal, Sicó massif, district of Leiria, three caves: Santiago da Guarda, Gruta da Cerâmica (39º55ʹ36.57ʺN, 8º31ʹ0 3.63ʺW; 355 m. a.s.l.), 29.VIII.2009, 1 3 ( DZUL), 28.XI.2009, 6 Ƥ (2 DEUA, 1 DZUL, 1 MNHN, 1 MNCN, 1 SR), 1 3 ( DEUA), 21.III.2010, 3 Ƥ (1 DZUL, 1 MCNB, 1 SR), 27.XII.2010, 2 Ƥ (1 DEUA, 1 SR), 1 3 (SR), 10.VI.2011, 2 Ƥ (1 DEUA, 1 DZUL), 1 3 ( DEUA); Redinha, Gruta de Santa Maria da Estrela (39º55ʹ41.15ʺN, 8º32ʹ59.4ʺW; 380 m. a.s.l.), 8.III.2009, 2 Ƥ (1 DEUA, 1 DZUL), 1 3 ( DEUA); 11.VI.2009, 2 Ƥ (1 DEUA, 1 SR); 28.XII.2009, 1 3 ( DEUA); Abiúl, Algar da Confraria I (39°55ʹ51.01"N, 8°31ʹ35.64"W; 420 m. a.s.l.), 22.VII.2007, 1 Ƥ ( DEUA). All specimens lgt. A.S.P.S. Reboleira.

Diagnosis. No eyes or eye-spots. Extreme troglomorphic adaptations. Carapace usually with 18 setae, of which 4 on posterior margin. Tergite I with 4 setae. Galeal chelicera short in both sexes, with 3–5 tiny apical rami. Pedipalp: femur ratio about 8.0, femur roughly same length as the patella and almost as long as the movable chelal finger; chela+ ratio about 8.0 in males, 7.0– 7.8 in females; chelal hand maximum width distal of middle, ratio movable finger/hand+ about 1.7; trichobothrium ist about halfway between ib and it, ratio ib–ist / ist–it 0.9–1.2; ratio isb–ist / ib–isb 0.8–1.0.

Description. Males, followed by females in square brackets. Large species ( Fig. 2 ). Opisthosoma and legs yellowish. Carapace, chelicerae and pedipalps pale brown.

Carapace markedly longer than broad ( Fig. 3 ). Without eyes or eye-spots. Anterior margin moderately prominent medially, with blunt, low epistome with some tiny denticles ( Fig. 4 ). Chaetotaxy: 18–19 setae, formula 4:4:6:4–5. Four microlyrifissures in ocular zone, two between median and posterior zones.

Coxal area. Manducatory process with 3 setae. Anterior process of coxa I long and apically pointed; medial process straight, with some low tubercles ( Fig. 5 ). Pedipalpal coxa with 7 setae, pedal coxa I 5–7, II: 5–6, III: 3–4, IV: 6.

Tergal chaetotaxy I–X: 3–5:6:6–7:7–8:7:7:7:7:7:7 [4–6:6–7:6–7:7–8:7–8:7–10:7–8:7–8:6–8:7]. Male genital area with 10–11 setae on sternite II; sternite III with 11–16 setae, 6 of them along posterior margin of genital opening. Female genital area with 5–6 microsetae on sternite II, sternite III with 8–10 setae. Sternal chaetotaxy IV– X: 7–8:11:11–12:11–12:10–11:9–10:9 [6–7:10–11:10–11:11–13:10–11:10:9], each sternite VI and VII with 2 discal setae (included in sternal formula). Segment XI: 9–10 setae, including 6 TS. Chaetotaxy of stigmata of sternites III and IV 1–3 and 1–3 respectively. Anal cone with two dorsal and two ventral setae.

Chelicerae ( Figs 6–7 ). Palm with 6 setae, subgaleal seta 0.63–0.68 from base of movable finger. Galea short (length 0.04 mm), apically with 3–5 short rami, about same length and shape in both sexes. Fixed finger with 10– 15 medium or small teeth, two medial teeth of them larger than the others; movable finger with 8–13 teeth, one large and blunt medial tooth, the others medium or small, dental row ending proximad to subgaleal seta. Rallum with 7–8 blades, all unilaterally pinnate on anterior face, basal blade about half length of others. Serrula exterior with 33–36 blades, serrula interior 27–31 blades.

Pedipalps ( Figs 8–10 ). Trochanter, femur, distal third portion of the patella and chelal hand with low granulation, more pronounced on paraxial faces. Lyrifissures as in Figs 8–10 . Femur with one tiny tubercle distad of middle on antiaxial face, 2–3 distal glandular pores present. Patella dorsally with one micropore at base of pedicel and 1–2 distal glandular pores. Chelal hand dorsally more or less parallel-sided, maximum width distad of middle; pedicel dorsal bears 2–3 dorsal micropores; antiaxial face with an irregular row of 3–5 glandular pores close to base of finger. Fixed finger with 139–148 teeth, most of them apically cusped, dental row reaching to level of trichobothrium esb; nodus ramosus short, reaching level of 3–5th distal teeth; trichobothrium it proximad to et, about half way between est and et; trichobothrium ist closer to the base of finger than to apex; distance between trichobothria ib and ist 0.9–1.2 times that between ist and it; distance between trichobothria isb and ist 0.8–1.0 times that between isb and ib. Chelal microsetae pattern (as defined by Zaragoza 2008): all groups present, Em: 4– 6 curved setae (same length as normal setae), Mm: 2–3, Im: 1. Movable finger with 132–141 teeth, most of them apically cusped, dental row shorter than on fixed finger, ending just distad of trichobothrium b; distance between trichobothria sb and st 1.3–1.8 times that between sb and b. One sensillum near tip of both fingers; one diploid sensillum pc close to dental margin and not raised, close to or slightly distad of trichobothrium sb.

Legs. Claws of legs I and IV with a tiny dorsal tooth proximad of middle ( Fig. 11 ), subterminal setae with 3–4 rami ( Fig. 12 ). Leg IV tibia with four long setae, TS ratio 0.33–0.49 for longest, basitarsus TS: 0.12–0.14, telotarsus TS: 0.21–0.38.

Measurements and ratios. Males, followed by females in square brackets. Body 3.08–3.1. Carapace 1.0–1.2/ 0.7–0.79 (1.4–1.5) [1.16–1.22/0.79–0.87 (1.4–1.5)]. Chelicera: palm 0.65–0.72/0.3–0.4 (2.1) [0.7–0.73/0.35–0.37 (2.0)], movable finger 0.41–0.45 [0.46–0.49]. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.93–1.02/0.23–0.24 (4.0–4.3) [1.02–1.04/ 0.24–0.26 (4.0–4.3)]; femur 1.84–2.12/0.23–0.26 (8.0–8.2) [2.0–2.09/0.29–0.3 (7.6–8.1)]; patella 1.75–2.1/0.26– 0.3 (6.8–7.1) [2.02–2.09/0.29–0.3 (6.8–7.2)], pedicel 0.44–0.5 [0.49–0.51], club 1.31–1.6/0.26–0.3 (5.1–5.4) [1.53–1.59/0.29–0.3 (5.1–5.5)], ratio club/pedicel: 3.0–3.2 [3.1–3.2]; chela+ 2.98–3.38/0.38–0.42 (7.9–8.1) [3.35– 3.44/0.44–0.48 (7.1–7.8)], chela - 2.82–3.16/0.38–0.42 (7.5–7.6) [3.15–3.23/0.44–0.48 (6.6–7.3)]; hand+ 1.15–1.26 (3.0–3.1) [1.28–1.31 (2.7–2.9)], hand - 0.99–1.04 (2.5–2.6) [1.07–1.1 (2.3–2.4)]; movable finger 1.85–2.15 [2.11– 2.19]; ratio finger/hand+ 1.6–1.7 [1.6–1.7)]; ratio chela+/carapace 2.8–3.0 [2.8–3.0]; femur/carapace 1.8 [1.6–1.8]; finger/femur 1.0 [1.0–1.1]; femur/patella 1.01–1.05 [1.0]; patella/hand+ 1.5–1.7 [1.5–1.6]. Leg I: femur 0.9–1.05/ 0.14–0.15 (6.4–6.9) [1.0–1.07/0.15–0.16 (6.6–6.7)]; patella 0.70–0.84/0.12–0.13 (6.0–6.5) [0.74–0.84/0.13–0.14 (5.7–6.2)]; tibia 0.86–1.02/.09–0.1 (9.4–10.7) [0.98–1.02/0.1 (10.2–10.4)]; basitarsus 0.47–0.56/0.08–0.09 (6.0– 6.6) [0.52–0.53/0.08 (6.5/6.7)]; telotarsus 0.60–0.71/0.07 (9.0–9.9) [0.66–0.7/0.07 (9.1–9.4)]; ratio femur/patella 1.3 [1.3–1.4]; telotarsus/basitarsus 1.3 [1.3]. Leg IV: femur+patella 1.58–1.78/0.21–0.22 (7.6–8.1) [1.7–1.8/0.21– 0.23 (7.5–8.8)]; tibia 1.55–1.79/0.13–0.14 (11.9–13.0) [1.68–1.74/0.14–0.15 (11.8–12.1)]; basitarsus 0.59–0.69/ 0.1–0.11 (6.1–6.5) [0.65–0.7/0.11 (6.0–6.4)]; telotarsus 0.71–0.84/0.08–0.09 (8.4–9.3) [0.82–0.87/0.09 (9.0–9.3)]; ratio femur+patella/tibia 1.0 [1.0]; telotarsus/basitarsus 1.2 [1.2–1.3].

Remarks. Beier (1962) described the tarsal claws of R. blothroides as lacking a dorsal tooth and used this as a characteristic to separate this species from R. cavernicola ; as did Mahnert (1976), based on Beier’s description. Zaragoza (2002) suggested that, due to the tiny size of the teeth in some Roncocreagris species, it was not difficult to imagine that Beier might have overlooked them in R. blothroides . Given the agreement in all other studied characters, we have no doubt that the specimens described above belong to R. blothroides , hence the absence/ presence of teeth on the tarsal claws is not a valid diagnostic character for this species.

Beier’s original diagnosis (1962) of R. blothroides stated that it bears 4 setae on the posterior margin of the carapace and 4 setae on tergite I. Of the 24 specimens checked, 16 coincide with this (4+4), two bear 4+3, two 4+5, one 4+6, one 5+4, and two 5+5. No specimens bear 6 or more setae on posterior margin of carapace, and this number of setae is very rare on tergite I. This pattern is important for separating taxonomic groups within the genus Roncocreagris .

The discal setae of the sternites are glandular with a visible duct, as first described and illustrated by Judson (1992) and also mentioned and illustrated by Zaragoza 2002.

The sensillum of the movable finger, near dental margin and close to the trichobothrium st, is diploid as mentioned and illustrated for other species by Judson (1992) and Zaragoza (2003), but it is not raised in this species.

Roncocreagris blothroides and R. cavernicola share the feature of being the only species to usually have 4 setae on the posterior margin of the carapace and on tergite I. They differ as follows: the chelal measurements and ratios are distinctly larger in R. blothroides than in R. cavernicola ; trichobothrium ist is medial with respect to ib / it, and it is medial with respect to est / et in R. blothroides , whereas in R. cavernicola ist is placed more basally and it is closer to est than to et; the male galea bears some rami apically in R. blothroides , but it is simple in R. cavernicola .

Distribution and habitat. All specimens of Roncocreagris blothroides were collected in the deepest parts of three caves, the two farthest separated by over 25 km. In addition to the type localities of Santa Maria da Estrela and Moura (= Arrifana) Caves, this species is newly recorded from Cerâmica and Confraria Caves, all of which are located in the Sicó karst massif ( Fig. 1 ).

Roncocreagris blothroides is an abundant pseudoscorpion in the studied caves, with up to ten individuals being found during a single cave visit. It was found inhabiting a temperature range of 13.6–16.6ºC at soil level. This species shares its habitat with some frequent troglophile springtails, such as Neelus murinus Folsom, 1896 , Willemia buddenbrocki Hüther, 1959 , Onychiurus insubraruis Gisin, 1952 , Onychiurus subgranulosus Gama, 1964 , Folsomia candida (Willem, 1902) , Proisotoma gisini Gama, 1964 and Tullbergia krausbaueri (Börner, 1901) ( Gama 1962, 1965).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of subterranean species of Roncocreagris Mahnert, 1974 in Portuguese caves. Cave numbers: 1, Arrifana (R. blothroides); 2, Santa Maria da Estrela (R. blothroides); 3, Confraria I (R. blothroides); 4, Algarinho (R. gespei); 5, Lapa (R. cavernicola); 6, Cerâmica (R. blothroides, R. borgesi); 7, Corujeiras (R. cavernicola); 8, Bolhos (R. occidentalis); 9, Javali (R. occidentalis).

FIGURE 2. Roncocreagris blothroides (Beier, 1962), Gruta da Cerâmica, Sicó massif, habitus of living specimen, dorsal view.

FIGURES 3 – 12. Roncocreagris blothroides (Beier, 1962), Gruta da Cerâmica, male. 3. carapace; 4. anterior margin of carapace; 5. anterior and medial processes of left coxa I; 6. left chelicera; 7. apex of movable finger of left chelicera, showing galea; 8. right pedipalp minus chela, dorsal view; 9. right chela, dorsal view; 10. right chela, lateral view; 11. claw of right leg IV; 12. subterminal tarsal seta of right leg IV. Scale bars (in mm): 0.10 (Figs 5, 7, 11, 12), 0.20 (Figs 4, 6), 0.30 (Fig. 3), 0.50 (Figs 8 – 10).