Phalangium martensi, Snegovaya & Cokendolpher & Zamani, 2021

Snegovaya, Nataly Yu., Cokendolpher, James C. & Zamani, Alireza, 2021, Further studies on harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) from Iran, with the descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4984 (1), pp. 73-86 : 75-77

Phalangium martensi spec. nov.

Figs 2A–K

Type material. IRAN: Khuzestan Province: Holotype male ( ZMMU), Dezful, Qaleh Shadab (Shahiun), Bazargah, 32°36’N, 48°28’E, 549 m a.s.l., Alireza Zamani leg. January 2019 . Paratype. 1 male ( RCNS), with same data as for holotype .

Etymology. The specific name “ martensi ” is the genitive of the family name of our colleague Prof. Dr Jochen Martens, one of the world’s leading authorities on Opiliones .

Diagnosis. The new species has long legs, all of about the same thickness, with longitudinal rows of fairly large denticles ( Figs 2A–B, D ). Pedipalp slender, long, all segments only with setae ( Figs 2E–F ); chelicera with large rigid dorsal horn ( Figs 2A–B, G–H ). The penis has a thin truncus with a wide base, tapering sharply from 1/3 of the penis length ( Fig. 2I ); the glans is triangular in lateral view ( Figs 2J–K ).

Comparative remarks. Judging from the presence of a hard dorsal horn on the second segment of the chelicera, the new species is most similar to P. savignyi Audouin, 1826 and can be distinguished by the following characteristics: longer legs (Body Leg Index = 2.13) and different shape of femur I which is cylindrical ( Figs 2A–B ), in contrast to the fusiform shape in P. savignyi , and especially by not having the 1st pair of legs thickened; longer and more slender palps ( Figs 2E–F ); different structure of the penis ( Figs 2I–K ). The new species is also similar to P. kopetdaghensis Tchemeris & Snegovaya, 2010 , but different in the following features: longitudinal rows of spiky denticles located on the legs ( Fig. 2D ) (vs. blunt denticles); femur I has a cylindrical shape, in contrast to the fusiform shape in P. kopetdaghensis ; a rigid dorsal horn on the second segment of the chelicera (unlike the softer horn in P. kopetdaghensis ) and the structure of the penis (truncus with a wide base and sharply tapering to 1/3 of its length distally), and with thinner distal part, the so-called “spoon” of the penis [i.e. upper third of the distal part ( Fig. 2I )], and by having longer and thinner pedipalps ( Figs 2E–F ).

Description. Male. Body length 4.7, width 3.0. Body medium-sized: coloration light brown, dorsally with dark brown saddle pattern. Transverse rows of small denticles located along boundaries of tergites ( Fig. 2A ). Eye mound large (length 0.6, width 0.6, height 0.45) and round, with 6–7 large black-tipped denticles and with several denticles on either sides ( Fig. 2C ); 3–4 teeth located in front of eye mound ( Figs 2A, C ). Legs long, 1st pair not thickened, femora with longitudinal rows of spiky denticles ( Figs 2A–B, D ). Lengths of leg segments: I - 6.4+1.3+4.6+7.0+8.7 = 28.0; II - 10.0+1.4+7.8+8.7+18.2 = 46.1; III - 6.0+1.4+4.5+7.6+10.8 = 30.3; IV - 7.7+1.5+5.6+10.2+13.6 = 38.6. Pedipalp slender, long, all segments with only setae ( Figs 2E–F ); segment lengths: 4.3+1.0+2.2+4.6 = 12.1. Chelicera with large horn-shaped (2.8 long), rigid dorsal outgrowth (= apophysis) on second segment; basal segment dorsally with several teeth (= acute tubercles); second segment with teeth and setae dorsally and with setae laterally ( Figs 2G–H ). Basal cheliceral segment 1.9 long, second segment 4.5 long. Abdomen, coxae and legs light yellow (sandy) in color. Coxae with bristles ( Fig. 2B ). Penis small (2.6 long), thin truncus with a wide base. Glans somewhat triangular in lateral view, with 2 pairs of distal setae ( Fig. 2K ). Glans 0.4 long, stylus 0.15 long. Penis light yellow (sandy) in color, with darker edging in apical part. The penis of the paratype is the same shape, color, and size as that of the holotype. The paratype also does not differ from the holotype in other features of the body.

Female. Unknown.

Habitat. Mountainous and sparsely vegetated, mostly with low bushes.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran.

Figures

FIGURES 2A–K. Phalangium martensi spec. nov., holotype male. A, B Habitus (A dorsal, B lateral). C Eye mound, dorsal. D Femur I, dorsal. E, F Right pedipalp (E mesal, F lateral). G, H Right chelicera (G mesal, H lateral). I, J Penis (I dorsal, J lateral). K Close-up of penis glans, lateral. Scale lines: A, B, D–H: 1 mm; C, I–J: 0.5 mm; K: 0.1 mm