Hernandarioides plana F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1905

Kury, Adriano B. & Quintero, Diomedes, 2014, Characterization of the genus Hernandarioides F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1905 (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae, Ampycinae), Zootaxa 3838 (2), pp. 242-246 : 243-245

Hernandarioides plana F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1905

Hernandarioides plana F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1905: 574 , pl. 54 figs. 1–1a; Kury & Alonso-Zarazaga 2011: 53. Hernandarioides planus [unjustified emendation]: Kury 2003: 105.

Kaluga elongata Goodnight & Goodnight 1942: 18 , fig. 33 [junior subjective synonym of Hernandarioides plana F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1905 by Goodnight & Goodnight (1947: 15)].

Type data. Hernandarioides plana : ♀ holotype ( BMNH, examined), from Panama, Bugaba. Kaluga elongata : ♀ holotype ( AMNH, not examined), Panama, Chiriqui. Casita Alta.

Other material examined. 1 ♂ ( MIUP AK 004) from Panama, Prov. Chiriquí: Jurutungo, Parque Internacional La Amistad ( PILA), Distrito Renacimiento, 1800–2110 m, 13–16 March 2006, R.Miranda leg. See map in Fig. 13 .

Description, male (MIUP AK 004). Measurements. CL = 2.1, CW = 3.0, AL = 3.0, AW = 4.7. Appendages: Fe I = 1.8, Ti I = 1.6, Fe II = 3.1, Ti II = 2.0, Fe III = 2.9, Ti III = 2.1, Fe IV = 4.4, Ti IV = 2.4. Dorsum. Dorsal scutum gammashaped, widest at area II ( Figs. 1 , 6). Mesotergum divided into 4 ill-defined areas, areas 3–4 partially fused to each other (Fig. 6). Areas with transverse rows of small setiferous tubercles (Figs. 6, 7). Free tergites I–III each with a row of acuminate setiferous tubercles, free tergite II with central spine much larger than the others (Figs. 6, 7). Venter. Free sternites, stigmatic area and coxae II–IV irregularly covered with minute granules. Coxa I with 1 row of robust setiferous tubercles plus some scantily placed. Stigmatic area attenuate Y-shaped, stigmata small. Coxae I–III oriented transversely, coxa IV oblique. Pedipalpus. Articles only moderately elongate. Trochanter with 1 ventral setiferous tubercle; femur with a ventral row of 3 small setiferous tubercles; patella unarmed. Tibia-Tarsus flattened ventrally, each with 2 rows of spines: ventro-mesal and ventro-ectal IiIi. Legs. Femora I–II straight, III–IV arched ( Fig. 1 ). Podomeres I–IV without significant armature. Metatarsus I with calcaneus thickened. Femora III and IV (latter larger) arched, each with 2 rows of pointed tubercles, ventro-ectal and ventro-mesal. Tibia III with 2 ventral rows of setiferous tubercles. Coxa IV with dorso-lateral uniramous spiniform apophysis, pointed backwards. Trochanter IV short, with short retroapical spiniform apophysis. Tibia IV slightly incrassate at distal half, with 6 longitudinal rows of setiferous tubercles ( Fig. 8 ). Metatarsus IV incrassate, densely covered with setiferous tubercles, loosely arranged into rows ( Fig. 9 ). Tarsal counts: 6(3)-6(3)/ 8(3)-8(3)/6-6/6-6. Color (in alcohol): (see also Figs. 1–5 ). Body, coxae I–IV and Tr IV Strong Orange (50). Mesotergal areas lighter – Brilliant Orange (49). Body with some black mottling, strongest on free tergites I–III. Legs I–III Dark Greenish Yellow (103). Leg IV Deep Reddish Brown (41). Genitalia: ( Figs. 10–12 ). Ventral plate elongate, roughly subrectangular, but with proximal constriction and narrowing distally. Ventral plate also apical cleft creating two lobes and strongly projected dorsally in basal half. Distribution of macrosetae asymmetrical in number and/or insertion. Latero-proximal = two pairs, with apex slightly spatulate; Latero-distal = one or two pairs, short, straight, laterosubdistal; Dorso-lateral = one pair, near the insertion of glans in the follis; Ventral = two pairs, minute, positioned as a rectangle on ventral surface of VP. Follis roughly cubic, well-developed. Glans elongate, with stylus sinuous, inserted at its ventro-apical region. Sexual dimorphism: armature and proportions of body and tergites similar in both sexes. Spiniform processes of coxa to tibia IV more strongly developed in male. Femur IV slightly incrassate distally in male. Metatarsus IV clavate only in male. Remark: The male MIUP AK 004 is here assigned to H. plana because all subtle details in granulation and shape of posterior margin of dorsal scutum and free tergites match exactly the female holotype.

Most genera of Ampycinae are poorly known, but Hernandarioides does not seem to be especially closely related to any other genus. Hernandarioides differs from the complex Ampycus Simon / Hexabunus Roewer / Pirunipygus Roewer , because those genera have diamond–shaped ventral plate, canoe-shaped erect stylus and four pairs of latero-distal macrosetae. Hutamaia Soares & Soares differs from Hernandarioides in having free tergite III armed instead of II, stout hooked dorsal apophysis on Tr II, strong retrolateral armature on Tr IV, pyriform ventral plate, oblique in relation to truncus, with the macrosetae displaced distally, very thin follis and stylus erect and much elongate. Glysterus Roewer , possesses free tergite III in males with stout armature (which may be bi- or trifurcate), trochanter IV with inner armature, metatarsus IV sinuous and armed. Penis (undescribed) is significantly different in pattern of macrosetae and shape of stylus and ventral plate. Hernandarioides looks similar to Nesopachylus Chamberlin , (only one species from Panama), both with unarmed scutum, prominent medial apophysis on free tergite II, leg IV roughly granular, but without further conspicuous armature, and metatarsus IV incrassate. Nesopachylus differs by having long dorsal and latero-proximal macrosetae, a pyriform ventral plate and a canoe-shaped stylus, much elongate and not nearly as sinuous as in Hernandarioides , with marginal serrations, and also follis much narrower than truncus).

This study was supported by grant # 562149/2010-4 (PROTAX – OPESC project) and scholarship # 477502/2012-1 (Universal 14/2012) from CNPq, and grant E-26/111.705/2012 (APQ1) from FAPERJ to ABK. The authors wish to thank Osvaldo Villarreal for his useful suggestions and comments to the draft. Amanda Mendes and an unknown referee improved the original manuscript with insightful criticism.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 13. Hernandarioides plana F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1905. ♂ (MIUP AK 004), from Jurutungo. 6. Habitus, dorsal view; 7. Habitus, lateral view; 8. Left Mt-Ta IV, prolateral view; 9. Left Pa-Ti IV, prolateral view. Penis, distal part: 10. Dorsal view; 11. Lateral view; 12. Ventral view; 13. Western Panama, showing the three localities of the specimens of H. plana cited in the literature. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 1 – 5. Hernandarioides plana F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1905. ♂ (MIUP AK 004), from Jurutungo. 1. Habitus, dorsal view; 2. Body, lateral view; 3. Free tergites and sternites, posterior view; 4. Left leg IV, dorso-retrolateral view; 5. Habitus, frontal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.