Meghalaya annandalei, Giribet & Sharma & Bastawade, 2007

Giribet, Gonzalo, Sharma, Prashant P. & Bastawade, Deshbhushan B., 2007, A new genus and species of Cyphophthalmi (Arachnida: Opiliones) from the north-eastern states of India, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (4), pp. 663-670 : 665-667

MEGHALAYA ANNANDALEI SP. NOV. ( FIGS 2–5 )

Type material: Male holotype ( ZSI) from Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunāchal Pradesh, Dibang Valley District India, collected 10–13 September 1991 by D. B. Bastawade. One male paratype ( ZSI), with the same collecting data as the holotype .

Diagnosis: Medium-sized (c. 3.6 mm) cyphophthalmid with eyes located anteriorly to the ozophores ( Figs 2C , 3B ), a conspicuous opisthosomal ventral depression ( Figs 2C , 3C ), rhomboidal in shape, reaching the anterior part of the opisthosomal sternite V, and reaching its maximum width towards the posterior margin of opisthosomal segment 3. Tibia of leg III clearly enlarged, about twice as deep at the basal end when compared with the proximal end ( Fig. 4A ). Adenostyle large and robust, subtriangular, with cuticular ornamentation, and not fringing at the tip ( Figs 2C , 4B, C ). Ventro-retrolateral depression of tarsus IV of male deep, and occupying nearly all of the tarsal length ( Figs 2A, B , 4B, D ).

Description: Same as for diagnosis of genus and species. Body length, 3.62 mm; maximum body width, 2.00 mm at third opisthosomal segment; length/ width ratio, 1.8. Distance between ozopores, 1.95 mm. Opisthosomal sternal depression 0.80-mm long, 0.66-mm wide. Table 1 lists the appendage measurements of the holotype.

Adenostyle located in the distal half of the tarsus ( Fig. 4B, C ); 0.11 mm from base to tip, 0.13 mm at the base; large and robust, subtriangular, with cuticular ornamentation, and not fringing at the tip. Ventroretrolateral depression of tarsus IV of male deep, and occupying nearly all of the tarsus length ( Fig. 4B ).

Spermatopositor in dorsal view ( Fig. 5A, C ) with six pairs of long microtrichia on each side, bases fused at midline. Dorsal microtrichia basally smooth, apically serrated, and terminating with hair-like structures. Central pair of dorsal microtrichia significantly thicker than other pairs. Ventral side ( Fig. 5B, D ) smooth, without denticles or ornamentation. Distal margin of spermatopositor flattened, not semicircular. Five pairs of serrated ventral microtrichia on distal margin, all terminating in hair-like structures; first (central) pair reduced and bearing three hair-like structures, and fourth (second-to-outermost) pair reduced. One reduced, smooth pair of microtrichia on termini of distal margin, projecting towards the midline.

Female unknown.

Etymology: The species is named after Thomas Nelson Annandale (1876–1924), first director of the Zoological Survey of India from 1916 to 1924. He established the Institute by segregating it from the Indian Museum to become an independent research organization for zoological taxonomy and faunal surveys of British India, including Sri Lanka and Burma.

Figures

Figure 2. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., holotype. A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, lateral view. Arrows indicate the ventro-prolateral modification of the tarsus IV of males. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figure 3. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., holotype. A, detailed view of the prosomal ventral complex. B, detail of the left ozophore (o) and eye lens (l). C, detailed view of the opisthosomal sternal region. D, detailed view of the anal region. Scale bars = 500 Mm.

Figure 4. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., holotype. A, enlarged tibia III (t). B, metatarsus and tarsus IV bearing the thorn-like adenostyle, retrolateral view. C, metatarsus and tarsus IV bearing the thorn-like adenostyle, prolateral view. D, metatarsus and tarsus IV, ventral view. Scale bars = 100 Mm.

Figure 5. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., spermatopositor paratype. A, photograph, dorsal view. B, photograph, ventral view. C, line drawing, dorsal view. D, line drawing, ventral view. Scale bars = 300 Mm.