Toliaranella, Lorenz & Loria & Harvey & Harms, 2022

Lorenz, Michelle, Loria, Stephanie F., Harvey, Mark S. & Harms, Danilo, 2022, The Hercules pseudoscorpions from Madagascar: A systematic study of Feaellidae (Pseudoscorpiones: Feaelloidea) highlights regional endemism and diversity in one of the " hottest " biodiversity hotspots, Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 80, pp. 649-691 : 649

Toliaranella gen. nov.

Type species.

Toliaranella pumila sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Toliaranella gen. nov. differs from all other Malagasy feaellids by the presence of a perforated organ above the coxal spines and smallest body size of any Malagasy groups. Like Antsirananaella gen. nov. and Mahajanganella gen. nov., it differs from Cybella by having platelets on the pleural membrane (absent in Cybella ), from Iporangella by the presence of specialized setae on the movable chelal finger (absent in Iporangella ), from Feaella (Difeaella) and Feaella (Feaella) by the presence of four anterior carapaceal lobes (two and six, respectively), from Feaella (Tetrafeaella) in continental Africa by having a less pronounced depression on the base of coxa I and on top of coxa II (distinctly more pronounced in Feaella (T.) cf. mucronata ) and from the Australian species presently attributed to Feaella (Tetrafeaella) by having fewer coxal spines (one pair versus three or four in the Australian taxa).

Etymology.

This genus is named after the former Toliara Province, where all specimens were collected. The gender is feminine.

Description.

The following description is based on holotype and allotype. - Carapace (Figs 18A , 20A , 21A , 22A , 23A , 24A ): Strongly granulate, all four anterior lobes with same distance to each other and rounded at tips. - Pedipalps (Figs 17A, B , 19A-C , 20C, D , 21C, D , 22C, D , 23C, D , 24C, D ): Terminal teeth with 7-8 teeth on both the fixed and the movable fingers (including 1 large tooth on fixed finger). - Coxal region (Figs 17B , 18B, C ): Pedipalpal coxae each with one spike laterally near base; coxae I with basal depression, each side with one small coxal spine; slightly more cranial of coxal spine one novel organ on each side: rose-shaped, not granulate but perforated organ (Fig. 18B, C ) filling the base of the depression; coxae II with irregular shaped spines framing depression of coxae I.

Included species.

Toliaranella fisheri sp. nov.; Toliaranella griswoldi sp. nov.; Toliaranella mahnerti sp. nov.; Toliaranella meridionalis sp. nov.; and Toliaranella pumila sp. nov.

Distribution.

Members of this genus are localized to the southern part of Madagascar in the Androy, Anosy and Atsimo-Andrefana Regions (formerly Toliara Province) where the main landscape is covered by arid spiny bush vegetation.

Figures

Figure 17. Toliaranella gen. nov.. Specimen used for imaging: T. griswoldi sp. nov. holotype (CAS 9071500). A dorsal overview; B ventral overview; C lateral overview. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 18. Toliaranella gen. nov., scanning electron micrographs. Specimens used for imaging: A T. griswoldi sp. nov. male paratype (ZMH-A 0016740); B, C T. meridionalis sp. nov. male paratype (ZMH-A 0016753). A carapace, dorsal view; B sternum ventral overview; C coxal spines and perforated organ in detail (highlighted in red). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C).

Figure 19. Toliaranella, gen. nov., scanning electron micrographs. Specimen used for imaging: T. pumila sp. nov. male paratype (ZMH-A 0016722). A right chela from ventral with specialized setae in a group in detail (highlighted in red); B left chela with double trichobothrium dt in detail (highlighted in red); C left chela from medial with terminal teeth in a compact group in detail. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 20. Drawings of Toliaranella pumila sp. nov.: A carapace from dorsal; B leg IV; C left chela from dorsal with trichobothrial pattern; D right pedipalp from dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A - C); 0.4 mm (D).

Figure 21. Drawings of Toliaranella fisheri sp. nov.: A carapace from dorsal; B leg IV; C left chela from dorsal with trichobothrial pattern; D right pedipalp from dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A - C); 0.4 mm (D).

Figure 22. Drawings of Toliaranella griswoldi sp. nov.: A carapace from dorsal; B leg IV; C left chela from dorsal with trichobothrial pattern; D right pedipalp from dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A - C); 0.4 mm (D).

Figure 23. Drawings of Toliaranella mahnerti sp. nov.: A carapace from dorsal; B leg IV; C left chela from dorsal with trichobothrial pattern; D right pedipalp from dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A - C); 0.4 mm (D).

Figure 24. Drawings of Toliaranella meridionalis sp. nov.: A carapace from dorsal; B leg IV; C left chela from dorsal with trichobothrial pattern; D right pedipalp from dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A - C); 0.4 mm (D).