Gonyleptellus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1935)

Ázara, Ludson Neves De & Kury, Adriano Brilhante, 2019, The mosaic tiled harvestmen-taxonomic review of Gonyleptellus Roewer, 1930 (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae: Gonyleptinae), Zootaxa 4623 (2), pp. 201-238 : 226-234

Gonyleptellus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1935) revalidated, comb. nov.

( Figs 18–21 , 23C, D , 24)

Progonyleptoides pustulosus Mello-Leitão 1935a: 385 , fig. 14; Mello-Leitão 1935b: 106; B. Soares 1945: 364; Soares & Soares 1949: 209 [considered a junior subjective synonym of Gonyleptes cancellatus Roewer, 1917 by Soares & Soares (1982); synonymy disclaimed here].

Stephanocranion serrulatum Mello-Leitão 1940: 14 , fig. 17; Soares & Soares 1949: 213 [junior subjective synonym of Gonyleptes cancellatus Roewer 1917 by Soares & Soares (1982)]. Syn. nov.

Gonyleptes cancellatus: Soares & Soares, 1982: 18 (in part)

Type data. Progonyleptoides pustulosus : ♂ holotype ( MNRJ 42427 , examined), from Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis: Jussaral. Stephanocranion serrulatum : ♂ holotype ( MLPC, lost), from Rio de Janeiro, Mangaratiba .

Other material examined. 50 specimens (24 ♂, 25 ♀, 1 J). Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Itaguaí [-22.8669°, - 43.7789°], 24.vi.1948, J.P. Mattos leg. , 1 ♂ ( MNRJ-HS 86 ); Itatiaia , 1.xi.2008, M. Monné & M. Monné leg. , 1 ♂ ( MNRJ 2687 ), 3-5.ix.2002, A.C. Mendes leg. , 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 2686 ); Itatiaia, Parque Nacional de Itatiaia , [-22.4525°, -44.6068°, 850 m], iii.2006, A.P. Pinto leg. , 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 2640 ), 4-7.ix.1993, F.A.G. Mello leg. , 5 ♂ 4 ♀ ( MNRJ 18932 ), 13.viii.2002, S. Menezes leg. , 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 2688 ), 7.vi.2017, L.F. Peixoto leg. , 1 ♂ ( MNRJ 2682 ); Itatiaia, Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, Sede [-22.4525°, -44.6068°, 850 m], A. Giupponi, E.H. Wienskoski & D.R. Pedroso leg. , 2 ♂ 3 ♀ 1 J ( MNRJ 18890 ); Itatiaia, Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, Casa do Pesquisador [-22.6081°, -44.4545°, 806 m], A.P. Pinto, A. Carelli & J. Botero leg. , 1 ♂ 2 ♀ ( MNRJ 2677 ), 1.ix.2015, A.P. Pinto & O.S. Molina leg. , 2 ♂ 2 ♀ ( MNRJ 2683 ), vii.2015, A.P. Pinto leg. , 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 8712 ), vii.2015, A.P. Pinto leg. , 2 ♂ 2 ♀ ( MNRJ 19742 ); Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Lago Azul , 10.x.1959, O. Nunes leg. , 1 ♂ ( MNRJ-HS 304 ); Mendes, Centro Marista ( Açude ) [-22.509750°, -43.754583°, 551 m], 27.xi.2014, R.L.C. Baptista & A. Prado leg. , 4 ♀ ( MNRJ 2678 ) , 2 ♂ ( MNRJ 2680 ), 25.ii.2015, R.L.C. Baptista & A. Prado leg. , 1 ♂ ( MNRJ 2684 ), 30.viii.2014, R.L.C. Baptista & A. Prado leg. , 1 ♂ ( MNRJ 2685 ); Mendes, Fazenda Ponte Alta [-22.511611°, -43.761583°, 510 m], 30.viii.2014, R.L.C. Baptista & A. Prado leg. , 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 2679 ); Mendes, Centro Marista ( Cruzeiro ) [-22.511611°, -43.761583°, 652 m], 24.viii.2014, R.L.C. Baptista & A. Prado leg. , 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 2681 ); Rio de Janeiro, Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca [-22.9320°, -43.4436°, 140 m], 7.ix.1951, A. Lemos de Castro leg. , 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 2689 ), H. Berla leg. , 2 ♂ 1 ♀ ( MNRJ 5197 ); Rio de Janeiro, Parque Nacional da Tijuca [-22.9500°, -43.2833°, 540 m] , 1 ♂ ( MNRJ-HS 939 ) .

Etymology. From the Latin adjective pustulosus (covered with pimples or blisters).

Type locality. Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis, Jussaral [-22.9500°, -44.2666°] .

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 24 ). Brazil, RJ: Itaguaí (new record), Itatiaia (new record), Mangaratiba, Mendes (new record), Rio de Janeiro (new record) and Nova Friburgo (new record).

Diagnosis (males). This species can be separated from all the other species of the genus by: pair of paramedian high spines on area III ( Fig. 18E ); area V with 13 medium-sized tiles plus two larger central ( Fig. 18A ); color of body and appendages darker (dark Grayish Brown) ( Figs 18 , 23C, D ). It can be distinguished from G. angeloi and G. pustulatus by possessing a long femur IV without a strong retrolateral row of spines on femur IV ( Figs 19 A–D, 20); from G. cancellatus by the lack of a pair of oval flecks on carapace ( Fig. 18 ); from G. bimaculatus by possessing metatarsus IV unarmed, lacking a retrolateral row of teeth all along its extension ( Fig. 19E ). It resembles G. cancellatus by sharing a retromedian trifid apophysis on trochanter IV ( Figs 19J, L ).

Redescription. Male (MNRJ 2684).

Measurements. DSL = 9.5 mm, DSW = 11.2 mm, femur IV = 18.3 mm, tibia IV = 13.7 mm, metatarsus IV = 22.0 mm.

Dorsum ( Figs 18A, E ). Anterior margin of carapace with a row of nine tubercles; laterally with granules; posterior margin with two tubercles. Frontal hump with two tubercles. Areas I–II with some granules concentrated on the margins; III with a pair of paramedian spines. Large and irregular tiles on areas I–IV; area V with 14 tiles (two medium-sized, central). Lateral margin with a row of eight tubercles on each side. Free tergites I–III granulous, I with 10 tiles (two medium-sized, central), II with 14 tiles (two medium-sized, central), III with 6 tiles (three medium-sized, central), additionally with a row of granules on all free tergites.

Chelicerae. Movable finger with 13 teeth and fixed finger with five teeth higher than the others.

Pedipalps ( Figs 19H, I ). Femur with four ventral and one mesal apical setiferous tubercles; patella with two ventral paramedian rows of very small setiferous tubercles, restricted to the apical portion. Tibia setation: ectal IiIi, mesal IiIi; tarsus ectal IiI, mesal IiIi.

Legs ( Figs 19 A–G, J–L, 20). Coxa IV with one boot-shaped retroapical apophysis with heel massive square and vamp short triangular, and one prolateral mid-sized (about 2/3 the length of the trochanter IV) straight apophysis with a subbasal tubercle ( Figs 19 J–L). Trochanters I–III with one ventral median tubercle, one retroventral and one proventral apical tubercle, plus one retrobasal and apical tubercle; IV with retrolateral apophysis curved frontwards, one apical acuminate tubercle, one promedian apophysis ( Figs 19 J–L). Femur IV long (1.9 times the length of dorsal scutum) and sub-straight, slightly curved prolaterally at basal portion; DO2 horizontally extended and with two branches, plus tubercles in all extension; proventral row of tubercles, ending with a medium-sized one; retroventral row ending in three medium-sized tubercles; retrolateral row of tubercles, one medium-sized basal RL1; retrodorsal row with short, enlarged horizontally tubercles at the median portion, basal and distal portion with tubercles ( Figs 19 A–D, 20). Patella and tibia IV with tubercles ( Figs 19F, G ). Metatarsus with tubercles ( Fig. 19E ). Tarsal segmentation: 6(3)/12(3)/7(3)/8(3).

Variation. The pustules of the areas I–III and free tergites may vary slightly in size and position both in males and females. Males (n = 24): posterior margin of carapace with a pair of tubercles, or one tubercle on right side. Beta male is similar to alpha male presenting all of the main structures, but with a reduction of the size of dorsal scutum, length of legs and reduction of armature. Females (n = 25): posterior margin of carapace with a pair of tubercles, or one tubercle on the left side.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Gonyleptellus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1935) reval., comb. nov., male (MNRJ 2684) and female (MNRJ 8712), habitus.A, B) Male, dorsal and ventral views, respectively; C, D) female, dorsal and ventral views, respectively; E) male, lateral view; F) female, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 19. Gonyleptellus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1935) reval., comb. nov., male (MNRJ 2684). A–D) Right femur IV:A) dorsal view, B) prolateral view, C) ventral view, D) retrolateral view; E) right metatarsus IV, ventral view; F, G) right patella and tibia, dorsal and ventral views, respectively; H, I) right pedipalp, dorsal and ventral views, respectively; J–L) apical portion of right coxa and trochanter IV: J) dorsal view; K) ventral view; L) prolateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 20. Gonyleptellus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1935) reval., comb. nov., male (MNRJ 2684). A–D) right femur IV: A) dorsal view; B) prolateral view; C) ventral view; D) retrolateral view. Colors indicate the following six armature rows: brown = DO, pink = PD, orange = PV, green = RV, blue = RL, red = RD. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 21. Gonyleptellus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1935) reval., comb. nov. (MNRJ 2687), distal part of penis. A) Dorsal view; B) ventral view; C) rigth lateral view; D) left lateral view. Scale bars: 100 μm.

FIGURE 23. Living specimens. A, B) Gonyleptellus pustulatus (Sørensen, 1884) comb. nov., male and female, respectively, from São Tomé, Conceição de Macabu, RJ, Brazil; C, D) Gonyleptellus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1935) reval., comb. nov., male and female, from Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Itatiaia, RJ, Brazil. Photos (A–D) by Adriano B. Kury.

FIGURE 24. Southeastern Brazil, showing known records of the species of Gonyleptellus in Rio de Janeiro State. Colored background areas are the WWF ecoregions. NT0150 = Alto Paraná Atlantic forests, and NT0160 = Serra do Mar coastal forests.