Neopantopsalis camelus ( Forster 1949 )

Taylor, Christopher K. & Hunt, Glenn S., 2009, New genus of Megalopsalidinae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Monoscutidae) from north-eastern Australia, Zootaxa 2130, pp. 41-59 : 50-51

Neopantopsalis camelus ( Forster 1949) n. comb.

( Figs. 13–16 )

Macropsalis hoggi Pocock, 1902: 398 (partim).

Spinicrus camelus Forster, 1949: 64 –66, figs. 1–4, 9–10.

Material examined. Paratypes. 2 males, 1 juvenile, Tubrabucca, New South Wales, 31°59’S 151°27’E, 19 January 1948, R. T. M. P[escott] & A. N. B[urns] (MV K-8902).

Diagnosis. Neopantopsalis camelus is distinguished from all other species of Neopantopsalis except N. thaumatopoiois by the small, granular armature on the dorsal prosomal plate and the presence of pseudoarticulations in femur II. It is distinguished from N. thaumatopoios by having a less rugose ocularium, lateral humps less angular in profile, and shorter, more widely spaced spines on femur I.

Description. MALE. A full description of this species is given in Forster (1949), except for the following: Femur II with five pseudosegments ( Fig. 13 ). Penis with left anterior bristle group greatly reduced; stylus directed dorsad from glans ( Figs. 14–16 ).

Comments. Despite being included by Forster (1949) in his genus Spinicrus , there can be no doubting the distinction of Neopantopsalis camelus from other species assigned to that genus, particularly the type species S. tasmanicum . Together with the closely related N. thaumatopoios , N. camelus has a more southerly distribution than other species of Neopantopsalis .

The leg II used to ascertain the presence of pseudoarticulations in the femur was found detached in the paratype vial.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 16. Neopantopsalis camelus (Forster 1949) (all MV K- 8902). 13. Femur to tibia of right leg I, lateral view. 14. Total penis, ventral view. 15. Glans, ventral view. 16. Glans, lateral view. Scale bars for Fig. 13 = 1 mm, Fig. 14 = 0.5 mm, Figs. 15 – 16 = 0.1 mm.