Salfacarus kirindiensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2010

Ma. Magdalena Vázquez G. & Hans Klompen, 2010, The genus Salfacarus (Acari: Opilioacarida) in Madagascar, Zootaxa 2482, pp. 1-21 : 8-11

Salfacarus kirindiensis Vázquez & Klompen n. sp.

( Figs. 1 , 13–19 )

Salfacarus legendrei Van der Hammen 1979 , in part

Diagnosis. Ovipositor with 2 pairs of large, tapering, spinose structures near its base. Movable digit of chelicera in males with only 1–2 ventral denticles (2–4 in females and 3–5 in other Malagasy species). Description. Based on observations on 7 females, 3 males. Immature instars unknown.

Gnathosoma. Chelicera ( Fig. 14 ). Basal segment with 1, fixed digit with 3 setae. Setae lightly barbed, rarely smooth. Dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissure well developed. Fixed digit with 1–2, movable digit with 2 teeth and a well developed terminal hook. Movable digit with 1–2 ventral denticles in the males, 2–4 in females. Internal surface of movable digit with a small sensillum.

Subcapitulum ( Fig. 15 ). All 4 pairs of paralabial setae present: pl1 small, conical; With’s organ (pl2) membranous; rutella (pl3) with 1 distinct row of 5 teeth, inserted dorso-laterally; pl4 very small, inserted dorsal on subcapitulum. With 4 circumbuccal (cb), and 7–10 median and subcapitular (vm (in part), lvm, ldm, vp, lvp) setae. Males appear to have fewer median and subcapitular setae than females (7–8 vs. 8–10). Lateral lips with distinct canals.

Palp ( Figs. 16-17 ). Trochanter with 5–6 ribbed, tapering (= r-type) setae; femur with 7–9 r and 9–12 papilliform (= p-type) setae; genu with 21–32 (higher numbers in males) r and 5–7 p-type setae. Tibia and tarsus partially fused. Tibia with 7 smooth (s-type) and 46 r-type setae. Palp tarsus with lyrifissures i π and i α. Setation including 3 s, 5 d (leaf-like), and approximately 15 ch, 8 sm and 9 v setae. Sexual differentiation indistinct or absent. Pretarsus in shape of a pair of well developed sessile claws.

Idiosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Anterior dorsal shield with 128–170 (N= 6) papilliform setae, and two pairs of eyes. Lyrifissures absent. Rostrum rounded. Remaining idiosoma with lyrifissures arranged in more or less transverse rows, and more than 200 papilliform setae. Setae predominantly mid-dorsal and mid-ventral. Anal valves each with 13–20 papilliform setae.

Sternitogenital region ( Figs. 18–19 ). Sternal verrucae in adults with 1 long, tapering, and 3–4 shorter setae each. Remaining sternal area with 2 pairs of long tapering and 4–8 pairs of papilliform setae, and 3 pairs of lyrifissures (two pairs very large, the third smaller; all different in shape and size from “standard” opisthosomal lyrifissures). Pregenital capsules each with 1 long tapering and 4–5 (female) or 3–4 (male) papilliform setae. Pregenital area and genital sclerite in male with, respectively, 4–5 papilliform and 11 ribbed, tapering setae. In female pregenital and genital area with, respectively, 3–5 papilliform and 0 setae. Ovipositor ( Fig. 13 ). Without long terminal setae, or very small structures on the ovipositor (setae, gland ducts). With two pairs of large, spinose lobes near base, tapering and bifid near their apex.

Legs. No leg I recovered. Tarsi II each with a dorsal bifurcate seta and two smooth sensilla resembling solenidia. Tarsi II–IV with an acrotarsus. Trochanters of legs III–IV divided. Pretarsi II–IV each with two pairs of setae and a pair of claws.

Collection information. Multiple numbers refer to multiple slides representing a single, dissected, individual. Holotype female ( OSAL 092006 –07 ), MADAGASCAR: Toliara, Forêt de Kirindy , 15.5 km 64° ENE Marofandilia, 100 m, 20°02’42”S 44°39’44”E, coll. Fisher, B L & Griswold, C E , 28 Nov – 3 Dec 2001, ex tropical dry forest; litter, leaf mold, rotten wood (EF19,BLF4600). Paratypes, same data as holotype: F ( OSAL007330–31 ), F ( OSAL007332–34 ), F ( OSAL006772–73 ), F ( OSAL006768–69 ), F ( OSAL006767– 68 ), F ( OSAL 092004 –05 ), M ( OSAL007335–36 ), M ( OSAL007337–38 ), M ( OSAL006770–71 ) .

Additional material (non-paratype): Some of the material included in S. legendrei was collected from Forêt de Andranomena, Morandawa region. Forêt de Andranomena is geographically close to Forêt de Kirindy, and we tentatively include this material in the new species (see discussion S. legendrei ).

Deposition of types. Holotype female at CAS ( CAS 18501) (2 slides OSAL 092006 –07). Other specimens at CAS, OSAL, UQRoo.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the collecting locality, the town of Kirindy.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Salfacarus kirindiensis n. sp. female, lateral view idiosoma. Legs omitted; ventral side shows internal structure (ovipositor). ly: “ standard ” lyrifissure.

FIGURE 12 – 13. Ovipositor. 12, Salfacarus antsirananensis n. sp. (OSAL 007755). 13, Salfacarus kirindiensis n. sp. (OSAL 007323).

FIGURES 14 – 17. Salfacarus kirindiensis n. sp., gnathosoma. 14, Chelicera, female, axial view (OSAL 006772); 15, Subcapitulum, female (OSAL 007324); 16, Palp tarsus, male, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) view (OSAL 007326); 17, Palp, male, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) view (OSAL 007326).

FIGURES 18 – 19. Salfacarus kirindiensis n. sp., sternitogenital region. 18, Female (OSAL 007323); 19, Male (OSAL 092000).