Progarypus smaugi, Bedoya-Roqueme & Tizo-Pedroso & Barbier & Lira, 2023

Bedoya-Roqueme, Edwin, Tizo-Pedroso, Everton, Barbier, Eder & Lira, André Felipe De Araújo, 2023, Two new cave-dwelling pseudoscorpion species (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) from Northeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 5293 (2), pp. 317-332 : 325-327

Progarypus smaugi sp. nov.

Figs. 3 – 4 , 15 – 24

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:003a5f97-862a-4dee-94d1-98722cbad9ff

Material examined. Male holotype: Pernambuco, Brazil: Meu Rei cave , 08°29’14.1”S, 37°16’48.8”W, 777 m a.s.l., 19-I-2016, Catimbau National Park , E. Barbier leg. ( LECA; Ps-016). Paratypes: Brazil: 3 males, Pernambuco, Meu Rei cave , 08°29’14.1”S, 37°16’48.8”W, 777 m a.s.l., 19-I-2016, Catimbau National Park , E. Barbier leg. ( LECA; Ps-017); 4 females, Pernambuco, Meu Rei cave, 08°29’14.1”S, 37°16’48.8”W, 777 m a.s.l., 19-I-2016, Catimbau National Park, E. Barbier leg. ( LECA; Ps-018) .

Diagnosis. Distribution of the trichobothria on the fixed finger chelal, being trichobothrium ist distal de est. Trichobothrium it proximal to est; ib near the level of isb. Nodus ramosus on movable finger chelal proximal to trichobothria t; the robust pedipalps, male femur 0.604 / 0.229 mm, 2.6× (female, 0.681 / 0.251 mm, 2.7×), patella 0.485 / 0.209 mm, 2.3× (female, 0.552 / 0.250 mm, 2.5×). Fixed finger with 39 pointed teeth, movable finger with 30 flattened teeth.

Adults. Carapace ( Figs. 3–4 ), and pedipalps reddish-brown, carapace in both male and female with pale posterior area, more evident in males than in females, all legs light yellow, all tergites divided (except XI), anterior tergites light-brown colors, chela pedipalpal darker reddish-brown ( Figs. 3–4 ).

Chelicera with five setae on hand, fixed finger with one apical tooth, and four subapical teeth, movable finger with tooth-like subapical lobe ( Fig. 16 ), rallum with three blade, first and second long toothed ( Fig. 17 ), gale long, with three apical branches ( Fig. 18 ), serrula exterior with 18 blades (female, with 20 blades).

Pedipalps robust ( Figs. 19–20 ), in both male and female strongly granulated, trochanter 1.3× (female, 1.2×) as long as broad, femur 2.6× (female 2.7×) as long as broad, chela with pedicel 3.2× (female 3.4×), chela without pedicel 3.0× (female 3.2×), inner margin of hand in female rounded ( Fig. 20 ). Movable finger chelal 0.518 mm (female 0.641 mm), fixed finger with 39 pointed teeth (female with 37 pointed teeth), movable finger with 30 flattened teeth (female with 32 flattened teeth) ( Fig. 21 ). Trichobothrium ist distal de est; trichobothrium it proximal to est; ib near the level of isb; trichobothrium st proximal to the middle of the finger, sb closer to b than to st, nodus ramosus on fixed finger distal of est, and in the movable finger chelal proximal to trichobothrium t ( Fig. 21 ), well-developed venom apparatus in both on the fixed finger and on the movable finger chelal ( Fig. 21 ).

Carapace triangular ( Fig. 15 ), squamose sculpturing, posteriorly reticulate, cucullus shorts, with an indistinct longitudinal furrow, with medial furrow and indistinct posterior furrow ( Fig. 15 ), four large eyes, all setae very short and acuminate, with approx. 38 setae (female approx. 36 setae), four setae on the anterior margin, one seta preocular on each side, with six to twelve setae on the posterior margin ( Fig. 15 ).

Coxal region: female and male with an apical lobe of coxa pedipalpal with two setae marginal, and three discal setae, approx. 26 setae (female approx. 28), coxa I ca. 22 setae (female ca. 26 setae), Coxa II ca. 24 setae (female ca. 28), Coxa III ca. 30 setae (female ca. 32 setae), Coxa IV ca. 34 setae (female ca. 36 setae).

Opisthosoma: all tergites are divided (except XI); reticulate sculpture, all setae acuminate, pleural membrane strongly striated. Tergal chaetotaxy of holotype male, tergites I–XI: 6: 8: 8: 8: 6: 6: 4: 4: 6: 6: 4 [4ST]: 2, females paratypes, tergites I–XI: 6: 6–8: 6–8: 8: 6: 6: 6–4: 6–4: 6: 6: 4 [4ST]: 2, males paratypes, tergites I–XI: 6: 6: 8: 8: 6: 6–8: 6–8: 6–8: 6: 6–8: 4 [4ST]: 2, tergite XI with four setae tactile. Sternal chaetotaxy of the male holotype, sternites II–XII: 8(4): (1)6(1): (1)6(1): 8: 8: 8: 8: 8: 10: 10: 2, females paratypes, sternites II–XII: 6: (1)6(1): (1)6(1): 6–8: 6–8: 8: 8–10: 8–10: 10–12: 10: 2, males paratypes, sternites II–XII: 8(4): (1)6(1): (1)6(1): 6: 6–8: 8–10: 8–10: 8–10: 10–12: 10: 2, sternites XI with two setae tactile, pleural membrane III–X with one seta.

The genital region of the male holotype with eighth setae, and four discal setae on the anterior operculum ( Fig. 22 ), the posterior operculum with six marginal setae ( Fig. 22 ), internal genital structures, indistinctly visible ( Fig. 22 ). Genital region of the female paratype with six central setae on the anterior operculum, and six marginal setae on the posterior operculum.

Legs: all legs light-yellow ( Figs. 23–24 ), Leg I ( Fig. 23 ): trochanter 1.5× (female 1.7×), femur 2.8× (female 2.7×), patella 2.4× (female 2.6×), tibia 2.4× (female 2.6×), metatarsus 3.2× (female 3.3×), tarsus 3.3× (female 4.8×), Leg IV ( Fig. 24 ): trochanter 1.1× (female 1.2×), femur+patella 2.6× (female 2.7×), tibia 4.0× (female 4.1×), metatarsus 3.1× (female 3.2×), tarsus 3.7× (female 3.8×), subterminal setae smooth, arolium undivided and longer than claws ( Fig. 24 ).

Measurements (mm):Male holotype (Paratype in parentheses):body length 1.796(1.813); carapace 0.609 / 0.486 (0.612 / 0.489); Chelicerae; movable finger. pedipalps trochanter: 0.255 / 0.191 (0.257 / 0.193); femur: 0.604 / 0.229 (0.607 / 0.230); patella 0.485 / 0.209 (0.487 / 0.210); chela with pedicel 0.929 / 0.289 (0.931 / 0.290); chela without pedicel 0.873 / 0.289 (0.853 / 0.290), movable finger 0.578 (0.581). Leg I: trochanter 0.136 / 0.129 (0.137 / 0.131), femur 0.220 / 0.077 (0.225 / 0.079), patella 0.149 / 0.061 (0.151 / 0.063), tibia 0.159 / 0.065 (0.161 / 0.067); metatarsus 0.131 / 0.041 (0.133 / 0.043); tarsus 0.134 / 0.043 (0.136 / 0.045). Leg IV: trochanter 0.231 / 0.131 (0.235 / 0.133); femur+patella: 0.843 / 0.180 (0.845 / 0.183); tibia: 0.361 / 0.091 (0.365 / 0.093); metatarsus 0.219 / 0.071 (0.221 / 0.070); tarsus 0.189 / 0.051 (0.187 / 0.053).

Female paratypes: Body length 2.241 –2.250. Carapace 0.691–0.693/0.552–0.553; Chelicerae; movable finger. Pedipalps:trochanter 0.226–0.229/0.210–0.213; femur 0.681–0.683/0.251–0.253; patella 0.550–0.553/0.220–0.223; chela with pedicel1.091–1.093/0.321–0.323; chela without pedicel 1.031–1.033/0.321–0.323; movable finger 0.641 – 0.643. Leg I: trochanter 0.050–0.060/0.136–0.137; femur 0.263–0.265/0.080–0.090; patella 0.167–0.169/0.102– 0.103; tibia 0.215–0.217/0.080–0.090; metatarsus 0.203–0.206/0.060–0.070; tarsus 0.195–0.197/0.041–0.043. Leg IV: trochanter 0.230–0.231/0.130–0.133; femur+patella 0.803–0.805/0.251–0.253; tibia 0.532–0.533/0.110–0.112; metatarsus 0.316–0.319/0.060–0.070; tarsus 0.249–0.251/0.040–0.050.

Etymology. The specific epithet ( smaugi ) derives its name from the mythical (fictional) dragon, the last of the great dragons remaining in Middle Earth, in the fantasy literary book “The Hobbit” written by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Brazil: Pernambuco, Meu Rei cave).

Remarks. According to the descriptions by Beier (1931a, 1932b, 1959, 1964) and the taxonomic key presented by Mahnert (2001), Progarypus smaugi sp. nov. differs from other species of Progarypus Beier, 1931 as follows: it differs from the type species of the genus Progarypus ramicola (Balzan, 1887) , from Paraguay, for the femur pedipalpal without pedicel, clearly separated, somewhat concave, femur pedipalps 0.720 / 0.160, patella 0.690 (0.540)/0.201, rallum of chelicera with three denticulate blades. It differs from Progarypus longipes Beier, 1964 by each tergite with six to eight very short marginal setae; pedipalps relatively very thinned, femur pedipalpal on the apical third with an extended tactile seta, scaly sculpture in the medial area and granular in the rest. Fixed finger chelal with 45 densely spaced teeth, finger movable chelal with 35 pointed teeth in apical third, but completely flat at the base, and Progarypus marginatus Beier, 1964 from Chile by the eb -esb -isb trichobothria at the base of the fingers, ist is closer to it than to ib; male femur pedipalpal 0.950 / 0.201, 4.7×, patella 0.801 / 0.240, 3.3×. Differ from Progarypus novus Beier, 1931 from Brazil by the carapace 1.5× as long as wide, gradually narrowing, with truncated anterior margin, and approximately net-like sculpturing. Pedipalps slender, femur 4.0×, as long as wide, sessile, patella 3.5×, chelal fingers slightly shorter than hand without pedicel 0.54 mm. It differs from Progarypus peruanus Beier, 1959 from Peru by the carapace as long as wide at the base, conically narrowed at anterior margin, densely granulated. Pedipalps almost as long as the body, femur without pedicel 4.3×, patella 3×, fingers clearly longer than hand chela with pedicel and as long as femur, tarsus IV shorter than tarsus I. It differs from Progarypus oxydactylus (Balzan, 1887) from Paraguay by the carapace clearly longer than wide, finely granulated, and reticulate at the base, pedipalps rather long and thin. Femur 4.1× times as long as wide, weakly pedicelled, finely granulated, and striated, patella 3.2× as long as wide, notably shorter than the femur. Similarly, it differs from the species Progarypus gracilis Mahnert, 2001 , Progarypus liliae Mahnert, 2001 , and Progarypus setifer Mahnert, 2001 from Brazil by the length of the femur pedipalps 0.7-1.0- 1.21 mm, by the distribution of the trichobothria est, ist, it, et, the length of the fingers of the pedipalpal hand. The new species resembles Progarypus nigrimanus Mahnert, 2001 , from Brazil however, it differs by the femur pedipalpal length 0.7–1.0 mm; at least one of trichobothrium est, ist, it, et proximal to st, finger relatively shorter, at most 1.3×, pedipalps bicolored, chelal hand darker than femur and patella, femur pedipalpal 4.7–5.3× (length 0.86 mm), patella 3.8–3.9× (length 0.78–0.79mm) longer than broad, carapace anteriorly with tessellated sculpturing.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Habitus: 1–2, Geogarypus gollumi sp. nov.; 1, female holotype, dorsal view; 2, male paratype, dorsal view. Habitus: 3–4, Progarypus smaugi sp. nov.; 3, female paratype, dorsal view; 4, male holotype, dorsal view.

FIGURES 15–24. Progarypus smaugi sp. nov. male holotype, dorsal view, unless stated otherwise: 15, carapace, dorsal view. 16, left chelicera, dorsal view. 17, left galea, lateral view. 18, left rallum, lateral view. 19, male holotype, right pedipalp aspect. 20, female paratype, right pedipalp aspect. 21, right chela, lateral view. 22, genital sternites, male genitalia, ventral view. 23–24, left leg I, lateral view, and left leg IV, lateral view.