Paratemnoides politus Hou, Zhao & Zhang, 2024

Hou, Yanmeng, Zhao, Lingchen & Zhang, Feng, 2024, Five new species of the genus Paratemnoides Harvey, 1991 (Pseudoscorpiones, Atemnidae) from China, Biodiversity Data Journal 12, pp. e 124585-e 124585 : e124585-

Paratemnoides politus Hou, Zhao & Zhang sp. nov.

Materials

Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: recordedBy: Chi Jin; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; occurrenceID: 94E993C0-3DAE-501B-9753-EA39FF342ED6; Taxon: scientificName: Paratemnoides politus ; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Mengla; locality: Menglun Town, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden ; verbatimElevation: 605 m; verbatimCoordinates: 21 ° 54.552 ′ N, 101 ° 16.831 ′ E; Event: year: 2018; month: 7; day: 13; Record Level: institutionID: the Museum of Hebei University (MHBU); institutionCode: MHBU-YNBN 180601

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: recordedBy: Chi Jin; individualCount: 1; sex: 1 male; lifeStage: adult; occurrenceID: E933A3C0-F822-5B0A-BC2D-316D99C7757D; Taxon: scientificName: Paratemnoides politus ; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Mengla; locality: Menglun Town, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden ; verbatimElevation: 605 m; verbatimCoordinates: 21 ° 54.552 ′ N, 101 ° 16.831 ′ E; Event: year: 2018; month: 7; day: 13; Record Level: institutionID: the Museum of Hebei University (MHBU); institutionCode: MHBU-YNBN 180602

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: recordedBy: Chi Jin; individualCount: 13; sex: 13 females; lifeStage: adult; occurrenceID: BA6D9A9B-7CAD-533A-9EA0-0250EE7AF89A; Taxon: scientificName: Paratemnoides politus ; Location: country: China; stateProvince: Yunnan; county: Mengla; locality: Menglun Town, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden ; verbatimElevation: 605 m; verbatimCoordinates: 21 ° 54.552 ′ N, 101 ° 16.831 ′ E; Event: year: 2018; month: 7; day: 13; Record Level: institutionID: the Museum of Hebei University (MHBU); institutionCode: MHBU-YNBN 180603–15

Description

Males (holotype and paratype) (Fig. 7 A, Fig. 8 A – E, G – I, Fig. 9 A – C, E – H and K – M). Colour: anterior half of carapace, tergites and chelicerae brown, but paler in posterior half of carapace; pedipalps reddish-brown, paler and paler from fingertips to trochanter; remainder yellowish-brown.

Carapace (Figs 8 , 9 A): 1.16–1.18 × longer than broad; surface smooth, without furrow; anterior half slightly darker than posterior half; with two distinct eyespots situated near anterior margin of carapace; anterior margin with six setae, posterior margin with nine setae, 52 in total, each seta acicular and very slightly curved.

Chelicera (Fig. 9 B – C and E): much smaller than carapace length; surface smooth; four setae (sbs absent; bs shorter than others) and two lyrifissures (exterior condylar lyrifissure and exterior lyrifissure) present on hand; movable finger with one slightly curved galeal seta; bs and es dentate apically, is and ls long and acute. Fixed finger with four large retrorse teeth and four small apical teeth, movable finger with a long broadly dentated subapical lobe and one small sub-terminal tooth; galea present, shorter and with three larger lateral branchlets and one small terminal dentation (Fig. 9 C). Serrula interior connected to fixed finger for entire length, proximally modified to form velum, serrula exterior with 22 blades, the basal one longest; lamina exterior present. Rallum composed of four blades, the basal two blades shorter than others, the distal one dentated anteriorly, remainder smooth (Fig. 9 E).

Pedipalp (Fig. 8 B, D – E, Fig. 9 F and M): stout, trochanter 1.46–1.50 ×, femur (base distinctly wider than terminal) 1.94–2.00 ×, patella 1.80–1.93 ×, chela with pedicel (without pedicel) 2.67–2.87 × (2.43–2.62 ×), hand with pedicel (without pedicel) 1.65–1.77 × (1.41–1.52 ×) longer than broad; movable chelal finger 0.67–0.69 × (0.78–0.81 ×) longer than hand with pedicel (without pedicel) and 0.42–0.43 × (0.46–0.47 ×) longer than chela with pedicel (without pedicel). Setae generally long and acuminate. Prolateral surface of femur and patella light yellow and granular; trochanter with one well-developed conical dorsal tubercle and a rounded ventral tubercle. Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable chelal finger with four trichobothria: eb and esb situated at base of fixed finger on retrolateral face, esb slightly distal to eb; ib and isb situated at base of fixed finger on prolateral face, isb slightly distal to ib; est in the middle of fixed finger; et near sub-distal of fixed finger; est closer to esb than to et; it distal to est and proximal to et; ist slightly proximal to est; it closer to ist than to fingertip; distance between est and esb further than that of ist and isb; distance between it and fingertip further than distance between ist and isb; b and sb situated at base of movable finger on retrolateral face; t in the middle of movable finger and at same level as it; sb slightly closer to b than to st; st closer to sb than to t (Fig. 9 M). Venom apparatus only present in fixed chelal finger, venom ducts curved and short, terminating in inflated nodus ramosus between et and est, very close to et. Both chelal fingers with a row of acute teeth, spaced contiguously along the margin, slightly rounded proximally: fixed chelal finger with 37–38 teeth; movable chelal finger with 48–50 teeth (nearly as large as teeth on fixed chelal finger); without accessory teeth (Fig. 9 M). Femur without long tactile setae. Movable chelal finger straight in lateral view (Fig. 8 D and Fig. 9 M).

Opisthosoma: generally typical, all setae long, acuminate and biseriate; pleural membrane longitudinally striate, without setae. Tergites I – V and XI undivided and others incompletely divided, each anterior half of tergite darker than posterior half, tergal chaetotaxy I – XI: 10: 11: 12: 13: 14: 7–7: 8–7: 8–7: 7–7: 9–8: 7–6, tergites X and XI each with two long tactile setae. All sternites (except sternite XI) divided, sternal chaetotaxy IV – XI: 5–5: 9–9: 8–7: 8–8: 8–8: 7–8: 9–8 (2 T): 8–7 (4 T). Anus (tergite Ⅻ and sternite Ⅻ) without raised rim. Anterior genital operculum with 17 setae on each side, posterior margin with eight setae. Male genitalia (Fig. 8 C, Fig. 9 K and L): lateral apodemes (a) relatively small; the hooked branch (br) well-developed, bowed distally and terminating in a plate-like tip; the proximal part with a nearly pale sclerotised bar (c), distinctly curved; the longitudinal fold of medial diverticula (d) vestigial; the ejaculatory canal atrium (e) not well-developed, curved distally; the lateral rods (f) short and diverging proximally; the tip of dorsal apodeme (g) completely joined; the ventral diverticulum (h) bilobed; genital atrium without genital setae.

Legs (Fig. 8 G – I and Fig. 9 G – H): generally typical, fairly smooth, slightly stout; junction between femora and patellae I and II oblique. Femoropatella of leg Ⅳ 2.74–2.82 × longer than deep; tibia 3.00 × longer than deep; with basal tactile setae on tarsal segment: tarsus 2.92–3.07 × longer than deep (TS = 0.12–0.13); subterminal tarsal setae arcuate and acute. Arolium slightly shorter than claws, not divided; claws smooth.

Adult females (Fig. 7 B, Fig. 8 F, Fig. 9 D and I – J): Mostly same as the males, but a little larger and darker. Carapace: 1.12–1.13 × longer than broad; anterior margin and posterior margin each with six setae, 62 in total. Chelicera: hand with four setae; galea with four larger branchlets and one small branchlet; serrula exterior with 23 blades, the basal one longest; rallum composed of four blades, the distal one dentated anteriorly, remainder smooth. Pedipalps: stout, trochanter 1.48–1.54, femur 1.92–2.00, patella 1.92, chela (with pedicel) 2.71–2.72, chela (without pedicel) 2.47–2.48, hand (without pedicel) 1.51 × longer than broad, movable chelal finger 0.68–0.69 × (0.79–0.81 ×) longer than hand with pedicel (without pedicel) and 0.42 × (0.46–0.47 ×) longer than chela with pedicel (without pedicel). Opisthosoma: female genitalia: simple, spermathecae provided with separated median cribriform plates. Legs: femoropatella of leg Ⅳ 2.71–2.74 × longer than deep; tibia 2.81–2.86 × longer than deep; with basal tactile setae on tarsalc segment: tarsus 2.93–3.31 × longer than deep (TS = 0.12).

Dimensions (length / breadth or, in the case of the legs, length / depth in mm; ratios in parentheses). Males (females in parentheses): body length 3.31–3.63 (4.58–4.65). Carapace 0.97–1.00 / 0.82 – 0.86 (1.03 / 0.91–0.92). Pedipalp: trochanter 0.41–0.45 / 0.28 – 0.30 (0.43 / 0.28–0.29), femur 0.68–0.78 / 0.35 – 0.39 (0.71–0.72 / 0.36 – 0.37), patella 0.72–0.79 / 0.40 – 0.41 (0.73–0.75 / 0.38 – 0.39), chela (with pedicel) 1.36–1.49 / 0.51 – 0.52 (1.41–1.44 / 0.52 – 0.53), chela (without pedicel) 1.24–1.36 (1.29–1.31), hand (with pedicel) 0.84–0.92 (0.87–0.88), hand (without pedicel) 0.72–0.79 (0.75), movable finger length 0.58–0.62 (0.59–0.61). Leg I: trochanter 0.17–0.18 / 0.15 – 0.16 (0.17–0.19 / 0.16), femur 0.26–0.28 / 0.20 – 0.22 (0.27–0.28 / 0.21 – 0.22), patella 0.41–0.44 / 0.18 – 0.19 (0.43–0.45 / 0.18 – 0.19), tibia 0.37–0.38 / 0.13 (0.39–0.40 / 0.14), tarsus 0.30–0.31 / 0.09 – 0.10 (0.33 / 0.10). Leg IV: trochanter 0.32 / 0.18–0.22 (0.33 / 0.20–0.22), femoropatella 0.85–0.93 / 0.31 – 0.33 (0.92–0.96 / 0.34 – 0.35), tibia 0.60–0.63 / 0.20 – 0.21 (0.59–0.60 / 0.21), tarsus 0.38–0.43 / 0.13 – 0.14 (0.41–0.43 / 0.13 – 0.14).

Diagnosis

This new species is characterised by (see taxon discussion for more details): carapace 1.16–1.18 (♂), 1.12–1.13 (♀) × longer than broad; with two distinct eyespots; palpal femur 1.94–2.00 (♂), 1.92–2.00 (♀), chela with pedicel 2.67–2.87 (♂), 2.71–2.72 (♀) × longer than broad, chela without pedicel 2.43–2.62 (♂), 2.47–2.48 (♀) × longer than broad; only prolateral surface of femur and patella granular; fixed chelal finger with 37–38 teeth; movable chelal finger with 48–50 teeth; serrula exterior with (♂ ♀) 22–23 blades.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective polio (- a, - um), meaning smooth and referring to the characters of smooth pedipalps, only prolateral surface of femur and patella granular.

Distribution

China (Yunnan) (Fig. 16 ).

Taxon discussion

Paratemnoides politus sp. nov. is similar to P. trisulcus sp. nov., but differs by stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.39 × longer than broad).

Paratemnoides politus sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. assimilis by slightly stouter appendages (♂) (e. g. chela with pedicel 2.67–2.87 × vs. 2.60 × longer than broad; chelal hand with pedicel 1.65–1.77 × vs. 1.88 × longer than broad; femoropatella of leg IV 2.71–2.74 × vs. 2.50–2.60 ×, tibia of leg IV 2.81–2.86 × vs. 3.00 × longer than deep); from P. borneoensis by the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 24), larger body size and stouter pedipalps (♀) (e. g. body length 4.58–4.65 mm vs. 3.50 mm; palpal femur 1.92–2.00 × vs. 2.27 × longer than broad, length 0.71–0.72 mm vs. 0.68 mm); from P. curtulus by the arrangement of trichobothria (e. g. distance between est and esb further than that of ist and isb vs. shorter to that of ist and isb) and the slender chela (♂) (chela with pedicel 2.67–2.87 × vs. 2.19 × longer than broad, length 1.36–1.49 mm vs. 1.05 mm); from P. guangdongensis sp. nov. by stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.20 × longer than broad) and fewer movable chelal finger teeth (♂) (48–50 vs. 54–56); from P. indicus by the trait of eyespots (with two distinct eyespots vs. eyespots absent), the number of setae on the carapace (52 vs. 46), more movable chelal finger teeth (48–50 vs. 42) and the body size (e. g. body length (♂) 3.31–3.63 mm vs. 4.02 mm, (♀) 4.58–4.65 mm vs. 4.06 mm); from P. japonicus by the trait of eyes (with two distinct eyespots vs. eyespots absent), the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 18) and larger body size and stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. body length 3.31–3.63 mm vs. 2.97 mm; palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.40 × longer than broad, length 0.68–0.78 mm vs. 0.81 mm); from P. laosanus by larger body size and stouter pedipalps (e. g. body length (♀) 4.58–4.65 mm vs. max. 4.00 mm; palpal femur length (♀) 0.71–0.72 mm vs. 0.77 mm; hand with pedicel (♀) 1.66–1.67 × vs. 1.79 × longer than broad, length 0.87–0.88 mm vs. 1.00 mm; chela without pedicel (♂) 2.43–2.62 × vs. 2.20–2.30 × longer than broad) and more chelal fingers teeth (fixed finger with 37–38 vs. 33 teeth, movable finger with 48–50 vs. 44); from P. mahnerti by the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 19), relative position of trichobothrium st (st situated closer to sb than to t vs. midway between sb and t), more chelal fingers teeth (fixed finger with 37–38 vs. 31 teeth, movable finger with 48–50 vs. 39), the number of setae on the carapace (52 vs. 40) and larger body size (e. g. body length (♂) 3.31–3.63 mm vs. 2.02 mm, (♀) 4.58–4.65 mm vs. 3.05 mm); from P. pallidus by slightly larger body size (♀) (e. g. body length 4.58–4.65 mm vs. 4.30 mm), stouter pedipalps (♀) (e. g. palpal femur 1.92–2.00 × vs. 2.20 × longer than broad) and the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 25); from P. parvus sp. nov. by stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.11–2.36 × longer than broad) and more movable chelal finger teeth (♂) (48–50 vs. 41–42); from P. philippinus by the slender chela (♂) (chela with pedicel 2.67–2.87 × vs. 2.20 × longer than broad), the trait of eyespots (with two distinct eyespots vs. without eyespots) and the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 26); from P. plebejus by stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.11 × longer than broad), more fixed chelal finger teeth (♂) (37–38 vs. 32) and the trait of pedipalp (prolateral surface of femur and patella granular only vs. almost entire surface granular); from P. pococki by larger body size and slender pedipalps (♀) (e. g. body length 4.58–4.65 mm vs. 3.87 mm; palpal femur 1.92–2.00 × vs. 2.20 × longer than broad, length 0.71–0.72 mm vs. 0.62 mm; movable chelal finger length 0.59–0.61 mm vs. 0.46 mm); from P. redikorzevi by the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 20), larger body size and slender pedipalps (e. g. body length (♂) 3.39–3.49 mm vs. 3.00 mm, (♀) 4.58–4.65 mm vs. 3.00–4.00 mm; chela without pedicel (♂) 2.43–2.62 × vs. 2.30–2.40 × longer than broad); from P. robustus by the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 26), smaller body size and stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. body length 3.31–3.63 mm vs. 3.80 mm; palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.28 × longer than broad, length 0.68–0.78 mm vs. 0.91 mm); from P. salomonis by the trait of eyespots (with two distinct eyespots vs. eyespots wanting), the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 23) and slightly slender appendages (e. g. chela with pedicel 2.67–2.87 × vs. 2.60 × longer than broad; tarsus of leg IV 2.92–3.07 × vs. 3.20 × longer than deep); from P. sinensis by stouter pedipalps (e. g. palpal femur (♂) 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.30 × longer than broad, chela with pedicel (♂) 2.67–2.87 × vs. 2.40–2.50 × longer than broad) and the arrangement of trichobothria (distance between est and esb further than that of ist and isb vs. nearly equal to that of ist and isb); from P. sumatranus by the number of serrula exterior blades (22 vs. 24) and larger body size and stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. body length 3.31–3.63 mm vs. 2.50 mm; palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.26 × longer than broad, length 0.68–0.78 mm vs. 0.61 mm; movable chelal finger length 0.58–0.62 mm vs. 0.47 mm); from P. yunnanensis sp. nov. by stouter pedipalps (♂) (e. g. palpal femur 1.94–2.00 × vs. 2.17–2.41 × longer than broad) and relative position of trichobothria t and it (t distal to it vs. basal to it) ( With 1906, With 1907, Beier 1932, Beier 1935 a, Beier 1935 b, Redikorzev 1938, Beier 1951, Morikawa 1953, Sivaraman 1980, Sivaraman 1981, Mathew and Joseph 2019).

Figures

Figure 7. Paratemnoides politus sp. nov. A holotype male, habitus (dorsal view); B paratype female, habitus (dorsal view). Scale bars: 2.00 mm.

Figure 8. Paratemnoides politus sp. nov., holotype male (A – E, G – I), paratype female (F) A carapace (dorsal view); B left chela (lateral view); C male genital area (ventral view); D left chelal fingers (lateral view); E left pedipalp (dorsal view); F female genital area (ventral view), with eggs; G tarsus of left leg IV (lateral view); H left leg I (lateral view); I left leg IV (lateral view). Scale bars: 0.50 mm (A, B, E, F, H, I); 0.20 mm (C, D, G).

Figure 9. Paratemnoides politus sp. nov., holotype male (A – C, E – H, K – M), paratype female (D, I, J) A carapace (dorsal view); B left chelicera (dorsal view); C male galea; D female galea; E rallum; F left pedipalp (dorsal view); G left leg I (lateral view); H left leg IV (lateral view); I female genital area (ventral view); J spermatheca; K male genital area (ventral view); L male genital organ; M left chelal fingers (lateral view), with details of trichobothrial pattern. Scale bars: 0.50 mm (A, F – H); 0.20 mm (I, K); 0.10 mm (B – E, J, L, M).

Figure 16. Type localities of Paratemnoides species in China.