Troglosiro longifossa, Sharma, Prashant & Giribet, Gonzalo, 2005

Sharma, Prashant & Giribet, Gonzalo, 2005, Troglosironidae) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 1053, pp. 47-60 : 49-57

Troglosiro longifossa sp. nov.

Figs. 1–35

Types. Male holotype (MNHN [ex MCZ DNA 100867]) from Gîte Kanua (S 22°21’, E

166º58’), Port Boisé, New Caledonia, 20 m elevation, collected 21 November 2001 by G.B. Monteith (Queensland Museum Berlesate 1043, from sieved rainforest litter). 2 male (1 dissected for genitalia, 1 used for DNA extraction following the non­destructive protocol described in Boyer et al. 2005) and 4 female (2 dissected for genitalia) paratypes (MCZ 65204 [ex MCZ DNA 100867]), same collecting data as holotype; 1 male and 1 female paratypes mounted on SEM stubs (MCZ 65206, 65207, 65208), same collecting data as holotype. 1 male paratype (MCZ 62505) from a human dung trap, Gîte Kanua (S 22°21’, E 166º58’), Port Boisé, New Caledonia, 20 m elevation, collected 28–29 January 2002 by G.B. Monteith. 1 female paratype (MCZ 51944 [ex MCZ DNA 101587]), same locality as holotype, collected 18 November 2002 by G.B. Monteith (Queensland Museum Berlesate 1087, from sieved rainforest litter).

Additional material studied. 3 females and 3 juveniles ( MCZ DNA 100867), same collecting data as holotype.

Material examined for comparison. T. aelleni Juberthie, 1979: 2 syntypes (1 male and 1 juvenile) ( MHNG) from the Grotte d’Adio, New Caledonia, collected 2 April 1977 by Aellen & Strinati.

T. raveni Shear, 1993: 3 male paratypes and 3 juveniles (FMNH) from Col des Roussettes, near Bourail, New Caledonia, 500 m elevation, collected 7 August 1978 by S. and J. Peck; 1 female paratype (FMNH) from Berlese of litter from dry forest, Col des Roussettes, New Caledonia, 490 m elevation, collected 29 May 1987 by N.I. Platnick and R. Raven.

T. juberthiei Shear, 1993: 6 male and 2 female paratypes (FMNH) from Berlese of litter from montane forest, Riviere Bleue, New Caledonia, 280 m elevation, collected 21 May 1987 by N.I. Platnick and R. Raven.

T. platnicki Shear, 1993: 3 male and 6 female paratypes, and 4 juveniles (FMNH) from Col de Mouirange, 30 km East of Noumea, New Caledonia, collected 30 August 1978 by S. and J. Peck (FM[HD]#78­260, from Berlese of leaf litter near pond).

Comparative specimens from 6 other morphospecies not decribed at present.

Etymology. The specific epithet, an invariable noun in apposition, refers to the length of the sternal opisthosomal depression in the males of this species. Derived from Latin, longus meaning long, and fossa meaning ditch, trench or channel.

Diagnosis. Troglosironid with distinct opisthosomal ventral depression along the midline extending from sternites 3 through 7, widest and deepest in sternite 5. Two pairs of sternal exocrine gland pores arranged in parallel across the edges of sternal depression delimiting the anterior and posterior portion of opisthosomal sternite 3 ( Figs. 10–11 ). Proximal article of chelicerae with dorsal crest ( Fig. 13 ); distal article of chelicerae with regular dentition ( Fig. 14 ). Penis with four ventral microtrichia; six dorsal microtrichia with bases distant from the midline of the penis ( Figs. 31–32 ).

Description. Total length of male holotype (female paratype [MCZ 65204] in parentheses) 1.86 (1.81), width across ozopores 0.95 (0.89), greatest width 1.06 (1.01) between second and third opisthosomal segments ( Figs. 1–3 ); length­width ratio 1.75 (1.79).

Body oval, dark orange to reddish brown (in alcohol) depending on incidence of light. Body almost entirely with a dense tuberculate­microgranulate surface microstructure.

Ozophores conical, of type 2 according to Juberthie (1970; see a re­definition of the types of ozophores in Giribet 2003). Eyes absent ( Fig. 15 ). Transverse opisthosomal sulci and mid­dorsal longitudinal opisthosomal sulcus inconspicuous ( Fig. 1 ). Posterior end of body evenly rounded. Opisthosomal sternites 3 through 7 deeply depressed along the midline without forming lateral rims on both sides of the depression ( Figs. 3–4 , 10 ). Depression widest and deepest in sternite 5, terminating abruptly at the anterior end of sternite 7, and features a few scattered setae. Two pairs of sternal pores aligned in parallel on the edge of sternal depression, delimiting the anterior and posterior portion of opisthosomal sternite 3, not on midline ( Fig. 11 ). Female opisthosomal sternites without modifications ( Fig. 5 ).

Coxae of legs I and II movable, coxae of legs III and IV fused ( Figs. 6–7 ). Ventral prosomal complex of male with coxae of legs II and IV meeting in the midline, but coxae I and III not so ( Fig. 6 ). Sternum absent. Gonostome ovoid, width greater than length. Ventral prosomal complex of females with only coxae II meeting in the midline ( Fig. 7 ).

Spiracles ( Fig. 12 ) in the shape of a closed circle. Opisthosomal sternites 8 and 9 and tergite IX fused in males and females, forming a corona analis ( Figs. 8–9 ). Anal plate without modifications. Anal plate 0.17 (0.16) long and 0.24 (0.23) wide. Anal gland pores absent.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 13 ) slightly protruding, with the dorsal crest visible from above ( Figs. 1–2 ); relatively stocky; with few setae. Granulation restricted to the proximal article, covering part of the surface between the dorsal crest and the anterior terminus. Proximal article of paratype used for SEM 0.56 long, 0.23 deep, with relatively small dorsal crest and single (posterior) ventral process. Second article 0.70 long, 0.14 deep, widest near the middle of its length. Distal article 0.23 long, 0.05 deep. Dentition uniform ( Fig. 14 ).

Palp ( Fig. 16 ) without ventral process on proximal end of trochanter; without conspicuous modifications. Length/width (length­width ratio in parentheses) of palpal articles from trochanter to tarsus of male paratype used for SEM: 0.21/0.08 (2.6); 0.33/ 0.07 (4.7); 0.23/0.08 (2.9); 0.26/0.07 (3.7); 0.23/0.07 (3.3); total length 1.26. Palpal claw 40 µm long.

Legs ( Figs. 17–20 ) robust; surface of all trochanters, femora, patellae, tibiae and metatarsi thickly and uniformly granulated.

Leg measurements of male paratype (MCZ 65204): length/width (length­width ratio in parentheses):

Tr Fe Pa Ti Mt Ta Total

Leg I 0.17/0.16 (1.1) 0.39/0.15 (2.6) 0.25/0.15 (1.7) 0.30/0.17 (1.8) 0.23/0.13 (1.8) 0.40/0.17 (2.3) 1.74

Leg II 0.15/0.14 (1.1) 0.33/0.13 (2.5) 0.21/0.14 (1.5) 0.26/0.17 (1.5) 0.19/0.11 (1.7) 0.29/0.12 (2.4) 1.43

Leg III 0.15/0.13 (1.2) 0.28/0.14 (2.0) 0.17/0.15 (1.1) 0.24/0.17 (1.4) 0.16/0.12 (1.3) 0.23/0.11 (2.1) 1.23

Leg IV 0.18/0.14 (1.3) 0.32/0.16 (2.0) 0.23/0.16 (1.4) 0.31/0.19 (1.6) 0.20/0.14 (1.4) 0.26/0.13 (2.0) 1.50 Leg measurements of female paratype (MCZ 65204): length/width (length­width ratio in parentheses):

Tr Fe Pa Ti Mt Ta Total

Leg I 0.16/0.16 (1.0) 0.38/0.14 (2.7) 0.24/0.15 (1.6) 0.30/0.15 (2.0) 0.19/0.13 (1.5) 0.33/0.15 (2.2) 1.60

Leg II 0.12/0.13 (0.92) 0.33/0.13 (2.5) 0.21/0.14 (1.5) 0.25/0.15 (1.7) 0.20/0.11 (1.8) 0.27/0.11 (2.5) 1.38

Leg III 0.14/0.13 (1.1) 0.28/0.14 (2.0) 0.19/0.15 (1.3) 0.24/0.15 (1.6) 0.16/0.11 (1.5) 0.24/0.11 (2.2) 1.25

Leg IV 0.17/0.14 (1.2) 0.35/0.14 (2.5) 0.21/0.15 (1.4) 0.26/0.15 (1.7) 0.19/0.11 (1.7) 0.26/0.11 (2.4) 1.44 Tarsi ( Figs. 21–25 ) of all legs not appreciably ornamented. Tarsus I with a distinct solea ( Fig. 21 ); ventral concentration of setae not significant in other legs. Tarsus IV of males not divided, carrying a lamelliform adenostyle close to most basal region of tarsus ( Fig. 24 ). Adenostyle 60 m long, slightly curved, and acutely triangular ( Fig. 30 ). Tarsus IV of female without modifications ( Fig. 25 ). Tarsal claws I and IV smooth; tarsal claw II comb­like, with a special prolateral row of tooth­like projections; tarsal claw III with a pair of small lateral pegs near its thickest portion ( Figs. 26–29 ).

Penis ( Figs. 31–32 ) typical of troglosironids, with four ventral microtrichia; three dorsolateral microtrichia on each side; and six dorsal microtrichia, innermost pair somewhat distant from the midline. Apical microtrichia typical for genus, with enlarged and toothed bases fused in pairs. Ventral plate with gonopore large, semicircular, and toothed at the margin. Movable fingers with laterally protruding basal lobes and toothed margins.

Ovipositor ( Figs. 33–35 ) composed of two apical lobes and 24 circular articles (two ovipositors studied), each article with eight equally long setae. Two terminal articles before apical lobes longer than remaining articles; setae on second terminal article ca. three times longer than more proximal setae; setae on terminal articles also longer. Each apical lobe carrying a long terminal seta, a shorter subterminal seta, and a bi­ or trifurcated sensitive process. Receptacula seminis situated in an elongate chamber in the proximal half of each apical lobe.

Variation. Range of measurements in males (n=4) and females (n=8; in parentheses): Body length 1.72–1.81 (1.76–1.86), maximum width 1.01–1.06 (1.00–1.06).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Troglosiro longifossa sp. nov., male holotype 1, Dorsal view, 2, Lateral view, 3, Ventral view.

FIGURES 4 – 9. Troglosiro longifossa sp. nov. 4, Ventral view of male paratype; 5, Ventral view of female paratype; 6, Sternal region of male paratype; 7, Sternal region of female paratype; 8, Anal region of male paratype; 9, Anal region of female paratype.

FIGURES 10 – 16. Troglosiro longifossa sp. nov. 10, Detail of sternal depression of male paratype; 11, Detail of sternal pores; 12, Spiracle of male paratype; 13, External view of left chelicera of male paratype; 14, Detail of dentition of distal cheliceral segments; 15, Ozophore of male paratype; 16, Left palp of male paratype.

FIGURES 17 – 25. Troglosiro longifossa sp. nov. 17, Male left leg I; 18, Male left leg II; 19, Male right leg III; 20, Male right leg IV; 21, Detail of male left tarsus I; 22, Detail of male left tarsus II; 23, Detail of male right tarsus III; 24, Detail of male right tarsus IV; 25, Detail of female left tarsus IV.

FIGURES 26 – 30. Troglosiro longifossa sp. nov., male. 26, Left tarsal claw I; 27, Left tarsal claw 2; 28, Right tarsal claw III; 29, Right tarsal claw IV; 30, Detail of adenostyle.

FIGURES 31 – 35. Troglosiro longifossa sp. nov. 31, Total penis, dorsal view; 32, Total penis, ventral view; 33, Detail of ovipositor terminus; 34, Detail of expanded ovipositor terminus, dorsal view; 35, Total ovipositor view. Scale bars: Figs. 31 – 32 = 130 m, Figs. 33 – 34 = 800 m. MF: Movable finger.