Euepedanus flavimaculatus, Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Lian, Wei-Guang, 2006

Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Lian, Wei-Guang, 2006, First record of the genus Euepedanus from China, with the description of a new species (Opiliones: Laniatores: Epedanidae), Zootaxa 1367, pp. 63-68 : 64-67

Euepedanus flavimaculatus sp. n.

Figs 1–12

Type material: Male holotype, CHINA: Hainan Island, Lingshui County, Diaoluo Nature Reserve, Mt Diaoluo, about 890 m alt., 18°43´N, 109°52´E, 17 Dec. 2003, Ming-Sheng Zhu and Jun-Xia Zhang leg. ( MHBU); one male and two female paratypes, same data as for holotype ( MHBU).

Additional material: Three females and one male, CHINA: Hainan Island, Ledong County, Jianfeng National Nature Reserve, 1000 m alt., 18°42´N, 108°52´E, 14 Dec. 2003, Ming-Sheng Zhu and Jun-Xia Zhang leg. ( MHBU); one female, from the type locality, 25 Dec. 1989, Ming-Sheng Zhu leg. ( MHBU).

Etymology: The specific epithet, composed of the Latin adjectives “flavus, -a, -um” meaning yellow and “maculatus, -a, -um” meaning spotted or stained, refers to the yellow spots situated on each side of the eye tubercle.

Diagnosis: This new species resembles Euepedanus dividuus (see Suzuki, 1969: figs 6–8) from Thailand in general appearance, but can be easily distinguished by the following characters: 1) The proximal segment of the chelicerae is not armed with relatively strong spines dorsally ( Figs 2–3 ); 2) the pair of spines on scutual area II of the opisthosoma is longer ( Fig. 1 ); 3) the penis distinctly differs in shape and structure ( Figs 7–10 ).

Description: Male (holotype) (habitus see Fig. 1 ): Coloration. Body and appendages rusty yellow. Carapace region and eye tubercle with dark brown reticulation; a domeshaped yellowish hump situated on both sides below eye tubercle. Lateral margins and opisthosomal areas of scutum, and free tergites banded with dark brown. Chelicerae and palpi dorsally reticulated with dark brown. Legs mostly rusty yellow, femora distally reticulated, patellae and tibiae entirely reticulated.

Dorsal scutum trapezoid in shape; widest portion of body at fourth scutal area. Eye tubercle long, oval, remote from anterior border of scutum, armed with a long median spine. A distinctly dome-shaped hump on each side below the eye tubercle. Opisthosomal region of scutum with four areas; first area divided into three zones (two narrower lateral ones and a wider posterior one); second area armed with a pair of long spines; first to third areas with a hair-tipped granule on each side; fourth area additionally with slightly larger hair-tipped granules arranged in a transverse row; each lateral margin of the scutum with a longitudinal row of large, rounded and distinctly translucent granules. Each free tergite with a transverse row of small hair-tipped granules spread over its entire width.

Ven t er. Coxa I with a transverse row of hair-tipped tubercles, these distinctly larger than the hair-tipped granules arranged in transverse rows on coxae II–IV. Several hairtipped granules additionally scattered over ventral surface of all leg coxae. Coxa III with a row of low humps along front and hind margins. Tracheal stigma clearly visible. A transverse row of very small hair-tipped granules running across each free sternite.

Chelicera ( Figs 2–4 ) strongly developed. Proximal segment relatively long, distodorsally swollen and armed with a few hair-tipped tubercles (see Fig. 3 ). Second segment large, armed with a row of four strong hair-tipped tubercles on prodorsal surface, the proximal three slightly bifid, the distal one largest and quadrifurcate. Fingers relatively short and strong, their cutting edges dentate (see Fig. 4 ).

Palpus ( Figs 5–6 ) relatively long, slender and armed with strong spines especially on femur. Trochanter with a single tubercle ventrally and dorsally. Femur dorsally with a longitudinal row of seven conical tubercles, ventrally with a row of seven setiferous tubercles, distally on prolateral side with two setiferous tubercles. Patella ventrally with two setiferous tubercles, medio-distally with two setiferous tubercles. Tibia with three prolateral and four retrolateral setiferous tubercles. Tarsus with three setiferous tubercles on both sides of ventral surface. Tibia and tarsus with several hair-tipped granules scattered between prolateral and retrolateral setiferous tubercles ventrally. Tarsal claw longer than tarsus, slightly curved.

Legs slender and relatively long. Femora I–IV straight. Tarsi III–IV with bare double claws, no scopulae. Tarsal formula (I–IV): 13/30/12 /14. Distitarsus of first leg with two tarsalia, that of second leg with three tarsalia.

Penis ( Figs 7–10 ) long, slender, its shaft widened distally, its apex somewhat triangular. Ventral and dorsal surface furnished with seven and three pairs of setae, respectively. For structure of glans see Figs 8–9 .

Female (habitus see Fig. 11 ). General appearance as in male, but lateral margins of dorsal scutum slightly curved, and posterior margin of abdomen more rounded; chelicerae slightly smaller than in male.

Ovipositor as illustrated in Fig. 12 ; each apical lobe with two ventral and three dorsal setae.

Measurements: Male holotype (female paratype in parentheses): Body 4.60 (5.00) long, 3.10 (3.49) wide at the widest portion; eye tubercle 0.91 (0.81) long, 0.42 (0.42) wide. Penis 2.87 long. Measurements of palpi and legs see Table 1 .

Distribution: Hainan Island, China.

Habitat: Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Euepedanus flavimaculatus sp. n., male holotype (1 – 10), female paratype (11 – 12). 1. Body, lateral view; 2. Left chelicerae, prolateral view; 3. Proximal segment of left chelicerae, retrolateral view; 4. Distal segment of left chelicerae, dorsal view; 5. Left palpus, prolateral view; 6. Same, retrolateral view; 7. Distal part of penis, dorsal view; 8. Same, lateral view; 9. Same, ventral view; 10. Total penis, ventral view; 11. Body, dorsal view; 12. Distal part of ovipositor. Scale lines: 0.2 mm (7 – 9, 12); 0.5 mm (2 – 4, 10); 1.0 mm (1, 5 – 6, 11).