Homolophus betpakdalensis ( Gricenko, 1976 )

Snegovaya, Nataly Yu. & Cokendolpher, James C., 2021, Further studies on harvestman genus Homolophus (Opiliones: Phalangiidae), with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4908 (3), pp. 301-353 : 321-324

Homolophus betpakdalensis ( Gricenko, 1976)

Figures 12–14

Euphalangium betpakdalense Gricenko, 1976: 1401–1402 , figs. 1–6; Staręga 1978: 223; Gricenko 1979a: 38, fig. 37 Homolophus betpakdalensis — Cokendolpher 1987: 91; Staręga 2003: 96

Diagnosis. The species differs from all species, including the most closely related, H. vladimirae ( Šilhavý, 1967) and H. tibetanus ( Roewer, 1911) , by the following: very wide truncus and glans (easiest to see in lateral view) of penis with very short longitudinal ridge (alae) on each distolateral side of truncus, and truncus procurved in lateral view. Cephalothorax has many black-tipped denticles anteriorly (those on female are more extensive); rest of cephalothorax and all of abdomen dorsally with many dark colored microdenticles.

Type Locality. Kazakhstan, 50 km south of Dzhezkazgan mine, ca. 47°27’3”N, 68°0’45”E .

Distribution. Kazakhstan ( Fig. 14 ).

Specimens Examined. KAZAKHSTAN, Kostanay region , State Nature Reserve Altyn-Dala , Rakhmet, clay, 19.10.2013, leg T . M. Bragina (7 males, 3 females, RCNS) .

Description. Very large harvestmen; male body rectangular, with rounded corners; medium sclerotization of body cuticle, slender, 1.74 times longer than wide; length 9.4 mm, width 5.4 mm. Body colored dark yellow with light and dark spots; most of surface covered with small microdenticles. Legs, chelicerae and pedipalps brown. Entire surface of cephalothorax covered with small microdenticles. Anterior part of cephalothorax, sides around ocularium densely covered with large and small denticles. Single transverse row of white, large, denticles along each of 5 posterior tergite borders. Ocularium low, round to slightly longer than wide, not large, 1.7 times its length from anterior margin of cephalothorax, with 5–6 denticles on each side. Legs short, angular in cross-section, Fe I and III legs rather thickened, armed with longitudinal rows of sharp and large denticles. Leg lengths (mm): I 4.0 + 1.8 + 3.4 + 4.2 + 6.0 = 19.4, II 7.0 + 2.4 + 6.0 + 5.6 + 7.0 = 28.0, III 4.0 + 1.6 + 3.4 + 3.6 + 5.6 = 18.2, IV missing. Pedipalps large and slightly thickened (sexually dimorphic), Fe dorsally and ventrally with large denticles, laterally with smaller denticles. Pa dorsally and laterally with denticles, Ti dorsally and ventrally with denticles, about 1/2 to 2/3 Ta ventrally with strip of sensory microdenticles. Pedipalp segment lengths (mm): 2.0 + 1.0 + 1.0 + 1.7 = 5.7. Chelicerae enlarged (sexually dimorphic) with some tabby marks, basal segment dorsally and laterally with denticles, distal segment dorsally with some denticles and lower and on sides with many microdenticles. Cheliceral basal segment ventrally with blunt rounded bulge, length 2.6 mm, distal segment length 3.6 mm. Penis dorsoventrally flattened, with wide base, tapers slightly towards apex, with constriction at end which continues short distance without change in width; truncus with short longitudinal ridge (alae) on each distolateral side, procurved in lateral view; glans massive with 2 pairs of setae, 1 pair short thickened dorsal setae on small mount on each side. Penis medium-sized but thickened and, length (mm): truncus 3.0, glans 0.35, stylus 0.1.

Female differs from male in larger size and more rounded body shape, less slender, 1.73 times longer than wide. Anterior part of cephalothorax more rounded and densely covered with large and small denticles. Legs, chelicerae and pedipalps with fewer denticles. Female body length 9.0 mm, width 5.2 mm. Female specimen missing most legs. Pedipalp segment lengths (mm): 1.3 + 0.6 + 1.0 + 1.8 = 4.7. Cheliceral basal segment length 2.0 mm, distal segment length 2.5 mm.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Homolophus betpakdalensis (Gricenko, 1976): A, male body, dorsal; B, male ocularium, dorsal; C, female body, dorsal; D, female ocularium, dorsal; E, male right pedipalp, ectal; F, male right pedipalp, mesal; G, male right chelicera, mesal; H, male right chelicera, ectal; I, female right pedipalp, mesal; J, female right pedipalp, ectal; K, female right chelicera, ectal; L, female right chelicera, mesal.

FIGURE 13. Homolophus betpakdalensis (Gricenko, 1976), male: A, femur I, dorsal; B, penis, lateral; C, penis glans, lateral; D, penis, dorsal; E, penis glans, dorsal.

FIGURE 14. Distribution of some Homolophus species in the Palearctic: Central and Inner Asia. Data for pale colored symbols taken from literature; identifications not verified.