Acuclavella Shear, 1986

Richart, Casey H. & Hedin, Marshal, 2013, Three new species in the harvestmen genus Acuclavella (Opiliones, Dyspnoi, Ischyropsalidoidea), including description of male Acuclavella quattuor Shear, 1986, ZooKeys 311, pp. 19-68 : 34

Genus Acuclavella Shear, 1986

Acuclavella Shear, 1986: 13. Type species Acuclavella cosmetoides Shear, 1986.

Description.

The simple, distally tapering penis (Appendix VIII, Figure I) and short ovipositor (Appendix III, Figure 2) morphologies are conserved across species, with intraspecific variation seemingly as great as interspecific variation. Penis sheath with two sclerotized bands. Metatarsus of leg II with or without false leg articulations (Appendix IX). Distitarsi with three segments on legs I and II; distal end of legs III and IV with two constrictions, each comprised of two segments. All males with raised, glandular ( Shear 1986), setose mound dorsally on basal article of chelicerae, setae often capped with secretions (MorphBank image 822802); mounds lacking in females. Chela teeth diaphanous, with two heavily sclerotized teeth distally on fingers (MorphBank image 822817). All leg coxae with prolateral and retrolateral tubercles in the form of distended clusters of warts (MorphBank image 828524). Epistome of stomotheca horn-like, projecting outward (MorphBank image 828520) to strongly decurved (MorphBank image 82215), without apparent interspecific trends. Pseudotrachea of pedipalpal coxaphysis sclerotized ctenoid (MorphBank image 822815).

Key to the species of Acuclavella .

This dichotomous key should allow users to identify the new species described herein. However, discovery of new morphologies in northern Idaho not described by Shear (1986), and not ascribed to species herein, are currently of uncertain placement at the species level. These morphologies include females with pairs of spines on scute areas I-IV, individuals with three pairs of spines on scute areas I-III, and individuals with pairs of spines on scute areas I-II which are geographically and genetically distinct, but morphologically similar to Acuclavella quattuor . For the purposes of this work, the four species named by Shear (1986) are treated sensu stricto, and follow his diagnoses.