Eusarcus sulcatus (Piza)

Hara, Marcos Ryotaro & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2010, Systematic review and cladistic analysis of the genus Eusarcus Perty 1833 (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae) 2698, Zootaxa 2698, pp. 1-136 : 106-108

Eusarcus sulcatus (Piza)

( Figs. 34, 46E,F, 51)

Goyazia sulcata Piza 1940a: 54 , fig. 2; 1940b: 312 (syst), fig. 1; (ma holotype; “ Anápolis , Goiás, Brazil; 1938; F. Lane leg.; MZSP 57 ”, lost), (3 ma & 7 fe “ allotypes ”; “ Três Lagoas , Jupiá, Mato Grosso [do Sul], Brazil; xii.1946; A. Zamith & A. Correa leg.; MZLQ, examined).

Eusarcus sulcatus: Mello-Leitão 1945: 156 (cat, cit); H. Soares 1945: 217 (cit); B. Soares 1946: 519 (cat); Piza 1947: 264 (syst, redescr ma, descr fe “ allotype ”), fig. 1; Soares & Soares 1954b: 262 (cat); H. Soares 1966b: 109 (cit); Kury 2003a: 170 (cat).

Material examined: BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Três Lagoas (Jupiá), A. Zamith & A. Correa leg., xii.1946, 3 ma & 7 fe ( MZLQ) . Tocantins: Palmas (Usina Hidrelétrica Lageado), D. Pecininni & Miriam leg., 05.i.2002, 2 ma & 1 fe ( IBSP 2342 ) ; idem, 1 ma ( MZSP 28946 ) ; Peixe, M.E.V. Calletto leg., 1–14.ii.2002, 1 fe ( IBSP 2371 ) . Without further data, 1 ma ( MNRJ 16136 ) .

Diagnosis: E. sulcatus resembles E. caparaoensis + and E. manero +, which have a conical, short, blunt prolateral basal apophysis on the male trochanter IV, and can be distinguished by: The presence of PAM; ocularium high, with 2 spines or a bifid median spine; median spine of scutal area III short; external row of tubercles on lateral margin of dorsal scutum increasing in size posterially, ending in 1–2 large pointed tubercles; trochanter IV only with 1 retrolateral apical apophysis besides prolateral basal apophysis; femur IV with 2 ventro-apical spines.

Note: The “ allotypes ” (in vial MZLQ) were not among the material used in the original description of the species, i.e. they are not “ allotypes ” according to the current edition of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature. These specimens were added seven years later in the description of the female. This material, as well as several vials in MZLQ collection containing identified specimens of this species perfectly fit the description provided by Piza (1940a). Therefore, we consider E. sulcatus as a valid species.

Redescription: Male (MZLQ): Dorsum ( Fig. 34A,B): Measurements: SL 3.20; SMW 3.10; femur I 1.50; II 2.60; III 2.00; IV 2.60. Median paracheliceral projection of similar-size as PAM. Anterior margin of prosoma with a row of 8 tubercles, 1 large one on each corner. Ocularium next to anterior scutal margin; high, with bifid median spine, 7 tubercles. Carapace with 22 scattered tubercles. Scutal area I with 14–16 scattered tubercles on each side; II with 21; III with 28 and a median spine short, curved backwards, not surpassing groove IV; IV with 25 tubercles. Lateral margin of dorsal scutum with an external regular row of enlarged tubercles increasing in size posterially, ending in 1 pointed tubercle. Posterior margin of dorsal scutum and free tergite I with an irregular row of 21, 16 tubercles, respectively; II–III with a regular row of 14, 11 tubercles, respectively. Anal operculum with 19 tubercles.

Venter: Coxa I with 21–22 tubercles, median and distal ones largest; II with 30–35, distal ones largest; III– IV irregularly tuberculate.

Chelicera: Segment I with 3–4 tubercles.

Pedipalpus: Trochanter dorsally inflated, with 2 tubercles. Femur dorsally with 5–6 aligned tubercles; ventrally with 1 large basal tubercle, 2–3 small aligned ones. Tibial setation: Prolateral and retrolateral IiIi. Tarsal setation: Prolateral IIi, retrolateral IiIi.

Legs ( Fig. 34C–H): Coxa IV densely tuberculate, with 1 oblique prolateral apical apophysis, this conical, long, curved posterioad and ventrad. Trochanters I–IV with scattered tubercles; I with 1 large ventro-basal tubercle; II with large retrolateral tubercles; III with enlarged pointed retrolateral apical tubercles; 1 high, pointed retrolateral apical tubercle; IV prolaterally with 1 basal apophysis, this conical, short, blunt, swollen in the middle; retrolaterally with 1 conical, short apical apophysis. Femur I with small PDS, RDS, ventrally with 2 rows of slightly enlarged tubercles; II–III with small PDS, medium RDS; III sinuous, ventrally with 2 rows of tubercles increasing in size distally, 2 large apical tubercles, prolateral one pointed, retrolateral one blunt; IV sinuous, tubercles of basal third enlarged, medium PDS, RDS; ventrally with 2 rows of tubercles increasing in size distally, prolateral ones becoming pointed, 1 pair of apical spines, prolateral one largest. Tibia III with a retrolateral row of enlarged tubercles; ventrally with 2 rows of tubercles increasing in size subapically, becoming pointed; IV ventrally with 2 rows of tubercles increasing in size distally, prolateral ones enlarged, becoming pointed, 2 apical spines, prolateral one largest; 1 retrolateral spine. Tarsal segmentation: 6, 7–8, 6, 6.

Penis ( Fig. 46E,F): Stylus with medio-ventral trichomes, apex slightly swollen; with angular medioventral projection. Ventral process of glans curved; apex blunt, thin. Ventral plate with concave sides; with 3 pairs of apically curved distal setae; 1 pair of short, straight median setae; 4 pairs of slightly curved basal setae.

Coloration: Brown; dark brown on prosoma, coxa IV, trochanter IV, femora, patella and distal parts of tibiae III–IV. Light brown on patellae of legs I–III, and on all tarsi.

Female (MZLQ): Dorsum: Measurements: SL 3.20; SMW 2.90; femur I 1.50; II 2.45; III 1.90; IV 2.40. Median paracheliceral projection smaller than PAM. Pedipalpus: Tibial setation: Prolateral IIi/IiIi, retrolateral IiIi. Tarsal setation: Prolateral IIi, retrolateral iiiIi/IiIi. Legs: Coxa II with 2–3 tubercles on retrolateral margin; IV densely tuberculate, with 1 oblique prolateral apical apophysis, this conical, short. Trochanter IV with scattered tubercles, retrolaterally with 1 short conical apical apophysis. Femur I with reduced PDS, RDS, with rows of similar-sized tubercles; II with reduced PDS, small RDS; III with reduced PDS, medium RDS; ventrally with 2 rows of tubercles increasing in size distally, prolateral ones enlarged, a large blunt prolateral apical tubercle; IV ventrally with 2 rows of tubercles increasing in size distally, prolateral ones enlarged, 1 prolateral apical spine, 1 large retrolateral tubercle. Tibiae III–IV only with rows of similar-sized tubercles. Tarsal segmentation: 6, 7, 6, 6. Coloration: Yellowish brown; dark brown on dorsal scutum edge and free tergites. Light brown on metatarsi and tarsi of legs.

Variation in males (n=5): Measurements: SL 3.20–3.40; SMW 2.90–3.30; femur I 1.40–1.50; II 2.50– 2.60; III 1.90–2.00; IV 2.40–2.60. Ocularium with 2 spines or a bifid median spine. Pedipalpus: Tibial setation: Prolateral IiIi/IIi, retrolateral IiIi/iiIi/IIi. Tarsal setation: Retrolateral IiIi/IIi. Femur I with reduced or small RDS; II with small or medium RDS. Tarsal segmentation: 5–6, 7–8, 6, 6.

Variation in females (n=6): Measurements: SL 2.90–3.40; SMW 2.80–3.20; femur I 1.30–1.50; II 2.30– 2.45; III 1.80–1.90; IV 2.30–2.40. Pedipalpus: Tibial setation: Retrolateral IiIi/iiIi. Femur I with reduced or small PDS, RDS; II with reduced or small PDS, small or medium RDS; III with reduced or small PDS. Tarsal segmentation: 5–6, 7–8, 6, 6.

Type locality: Brazil, Goiás, Anápolis .

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 51): Central Brazil. Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Tocantins .