Austropurcellia barbata, Popkin-Hall, Zachary R. & Boyer, Sarah L., 2014

Popkin-Hall, Zachary R. & Boyer, Sarah L., 2014, New species of mite harvestmen from southeast Queensland, Australia greatly extend the known distribution of the genus Austropurcellia (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi), Zootaxa 3827 (4), pp. 517-541 : 529-532

Austropurcellia barbata sp. nov.

Figures 15 – 19

Diagnosis: Pettalid with relatively tall and conical ozophores. Tergite VIII strongly bilobed, with lobes clearly visible in both ventral and dorsal view. Lobes of tergite VIII ornamented both dorsally and ventrally. Narrow scopula emerging from anal plate. Adenostyle thin and blade-like with a wide base. Distinguished from A. acuta sp. nov. by larger body (0.5 mm longer), larger and taller ozophores, narrower and more tapered central scopula, and presence of ornamentation on posterior areas of anal plate and lobes of tergite VIII.

Description: Male holotype (2.5 mm) about twice as long as its widest point (1.4 mm) in posterior third of prosoma, and about 3 times as long as width across ozophores (0.9 mm) ( Figs. 15 , 16 A – B). Body with most of surface showing a tuberculate-granular microstructure ( Fig. 16 ). Posterior end of dorsal scutum strongly bilobed ( Fig. 16 C). Transverse opisthosomal sulci distinct by lack of granulation ( Figs. 16 A – B). Sulci becoming more distinct posteriorly ( Figs. 16 C – D). Ozophores relatively tall and conical ( Figs. 15 A, 15C, 16A, 17B), positioned at a 45º angle relative to the walking plane as typical in pettalids.

Coxae of legs I and II mobile. Coxae of remaining legs fixed. Male coxae II – IV meeting in midline ( Fig. 16 B, 17C). Male gonostome small, subtriangular, wider than long, bordered on posterior margin by first opisthosomal sternite; male gonostome shorter than length of seam of contact of left and right coxae IV ( Fig. 16 B, 17C). No female specimens available for examination.

Spiracle round and C-shaped, with slightly recurved edges as found in “open circle” type of Giribet and Boyer (2002) ( Fig. 17 A). Ventral opisthosomal region without modifications or glandular pores ( Fig. 16 B). Anal region of “pettalid type’ ( Giribet & Boyer 2002) with tergite IX laterally covering sternite 9 and clearly meeting sternite 8 ( Fig. 16 D). Male tergite VIII strongly bilobed, with some longer hairs emerging from medial surfaces; lobes ornamented both dorsally and ventrally ( Fig. 16 C – D). Anal plate ornamented over entire surface ( Fig. 16 D). Thin scopula emerging and tapering posteriorly to posterior margin of tergite VIII and to setae emerging medially from each lobe. Glandular pore not visible ( Fig. 16 D).

Chelicerae ( Fig. 18 E) short and relatively robust. Proximal article of chelicerae with dorsal crest, without ventral process. Median article of chelicerae with very prominent apodeme. Measurements from male holotype of chelicera articles from proximal to distal (given in mm): 0.65, 0.83, 0.30.

Palp ( Fig. 18 F) with a prominent ventral process on trochanter. Measurements from male holotype of palp articles from proximal to distal (given in mm): 0.26, 0.39, 0.23, 0.32, 0.31.

Legs with all claws smooth, without ventral dentition or lateral pegs ( Fig. 18 A – D). Legs I and II with metatarsus ornamented in proximal half and smooth in distal half, starkly demarcated and resulting in the appearance of a “cuff” ( Fig. 18 A – B). Legs I and II with smooth tarsus ( Fig. 18 A – B). Legs III and IV with ornamented metatarsus and smooth tarsus ( Fig. 18 C – D). Ventral side of tarsus I with solea ( Fig. 18 A). Male tarsus IV fully bisegmented ( Fig. 18 D). Adenostyle with a thin claw on a wide base. Adenostyle projecting up and slightly distally ( Fig. 18 D). Measurements from male holotype of leg articles from proximal to distal (given in mm): leg I 0.17, 0.58, 0.23, 0.45, 0.21, 0.48; leg II 0.19, 0.56, 0.24, 0.46, 0.20, 0.47; leg III 0.18, 0.44, 0.19, 0.31, 0.18, 0.38; leg IV 0.27, 0.58, 0.23, 0.46, 0.18, 0.46.

Spermatopositor small, typical of pettalids ( Figs. 19 ). Dorsal surface with a single, V-shaped series of very long microtrichia, 7 on left and 8 on right side (a single spermatopositor examined); apical lobe with 6 long microtrichia; ventral surface with 4 microtrichia. Gonopore complex with two movable fingers in the shape of pronounced hooks pointing outward ( Fig. 19 B). No females available for examination.

Type material: Australia, Queensland, Lobster Creek, Conondale National Park; 26º40’S, 152º39’E, 200 m; Coll. D.E. Walter, Sep. 20, 1995; ♂ holotype; MCZ IZ 98682. Paratypes: Australia, Queensland, Lobster Creek, Conondale National Park; 26º40’S, 152º39’E, 200 m; Coll. D.E. Walter, Sep. 20, 1995; 3 ♂; MCZ IZ 30462 (ex MCZ 98682).

Etymology: The specific epithet barbata is a Latin adjective meaning “bearded” and refers to the whisker-like appearance of the scopula.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Austropurcellia barbata sp. nov., habitus of male holotype: A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view. Scale bars 500 µm.

FIGURE 16. Austropurcellia barbata sp. nov., male paratypes: A. Dorsal view of body, scale bar 500 µm; B. Ventral view of body, scale bar 500 µm; C. Ventral view of posterior, scale bar 100 µm; 39. Dorsal view of posterior, scale bar 200 µm.

FIGURE 17. Austropurcellia barbata sp. nov., male paratypes: A. Spiracle, scale bar 20 µm; B. Ozophore, scale bar 50 µm, C. Gonostome area, scale bar 200 µm.

FIGURE 18. Austropurcellia barbata sp. nov., male paratype: A. Tarsus I, scale bar 200 µm; B. Tarsus II, scale bar 100 µm; C. Tarsus III, scale bar 100 µm; D. Tarsus IV, scale bar 200 µm; D. Chelicera, scale bar 200 µm; E. Palp, scale bar 200 µm.

FIGURE 19. Austropurcellia barbata sp. nov., male paratype: A. Spermatopositor in dorsal view; B. Spermatopositor with dorsal microtrichia cut away to reveal mobile fingers, distal microtrichia, and ventral microtrichia. Scale bars 40 µm.