Austropurcellia fragosa Popkin-Hall, Jay & Boyer

Jay, Katya R., Popkin-Hall, Zachary R., Coblens, Michelle J., Oberski, Jill T., Sharma, Prashant P. & Boyer, Sarah L., 2016, New species of Austropurcellia, cryptic short-range endemic mite harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi) from Australia's Wet Tropics biodiversity hotspot, ZooKeys 586, pp. 37-93 : 44-49

Taxon classification Animalia Opiliones Pettalidae

Austropurcellia fragosa Popkin-Hall, Jay & Boyer sp. n. Figs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Material examined.

Holotype. Male (QM 102445 [ex QM 38121]), Roaring Meg Creek, 16.074°S, 145.416°E, coll. K. Aland and G. B. Monteith 1.v.2015, QM 38121.

Paratypes. 5 males, 2 females, same collecting data as holotype, QM 38121, Macalester SEM stub M30.10.

Additional material.

2 females, 4 juveniles, McDowall Range 17 km N Daintree, 16.100°S, 145.333°E, coll. G. B. Monteith 27.xi.1985, QM berlesate 684.

1 male, 2 females, Roaring Meg Creek 6 km W Cape Tribulation, 16.083°S, 145.4°E, coll. G. B. Monteith, D. Yeates, G. Thompson 5.x.1982, QM berlesate 448, Macalester SEM stubs M22.11, M22.12.

1 female, Roaring Meg Creek 6 km W Cape Tribulation, 16.067°S, 145.400°E, coll. G. B. Monteith, D. Yeates, G. Thompson 5.x.1982, QM berlesate 453, Macalester SEM stubs M22.9, M22.10.

Diagnosis.

Distinguished from congeners by convex anal plate with long, narrow scopula emerging from anterior quarter of anal plate and occupying a rectangular indented area for its entire length. Distinctive ungranulated areas cause ventral sutures to appear fused.

Description.

Pettalid with tergite VIII bilobed (Fig. 13). Length of male holotype (Fig. 12) 2.0 mm, width at widest point in posterior third of prosoma 1.2 mm, width at ozophores 0.8 mm. Most of body surface covered in microstructure of tubercles and granules (Fig. 13). Posterior ventral body margin flexed anteriorly. Dorsal transverse sulci present and distinct by lack of granulation (Figs 13A, 14A). Dorsal longitudinal sulcus lacking granulation, with adjacent band of elongated granules flanking dorsal longitudinal sulcus (Figs 13A, 14A). Granulation medially absent in anterior portions of sternites II-VI; area of absent granulation approximately equal to width of gonostome (Fig. 13B).

Ozophores relatively tall and conical, of type III sensu Juberthie (1970) (Figs 13A, 15B). Coxae of legs I and II mobile, coxae of remaining legs fixed. Male coxae II–IV meeting in the midline (Fig. 13B). Male gonostome small, subtriangular, wider than long (Fig. 13B). Spiracles circular and C-shaped with slightly recurved edges (Fig. 15A), as found in "open circle" type of Giribet and Boyer (2002). Anal region of " pettalid type" ( Giribet and Boyer 2002). Anal plate convex and largely ungranulated, with light granulation along anterior margin (Fig. 14B). Long, narrow scopula emerging at anterior quarter of anal plate and extending past posterior margin of anal plate (Fig. 14B). Scopula inset into rectangular area at center of anal plate (Fig. 14B). Three anal pores visible, located between lobes of tergite VIII (Fig. 14B).

Chelicerae (Fig. 16A) short and relatively robust. Proximal article of chelicerae with dorsal crest, without ventral process. Median article with prominent apodeme. Chela with two types of dentition typical in pettalids (Fig. 16A). Measurements of cheliceral articles of male paratype from proximal to distal (in mm): 0.70, 0.76, 0.24. Palp (Fig. 16B) with prominent ventral process on trochanter. Measurements of palpal articles of male paratype from proximal to distal (in mm): 0.22, 0.27, 0.15, 0.22, 0.23.

Legs with all claws smooth, without ventral dentition or lateral pegs (Fig. 17). All tarsi smooth (Fig. 17). Distinct solea present on ventral surface of tarsus I (Fig. 17A). Metatarsi I and II heavily ornamented on proximal half, with smooth distal half (Fig. 17A, B). Remaining metatarsi with full ornamentation (Fig. 17 C–F). Male tarsus IV completely divided into two tarsomeres (Fig. 17D, E). Adenostyle with relatively robust, blunt claw, wide base, and small pore at apex on lateral (external) side (Fig. 17D). Long seta on lateral surface of adenostyle from below pore to above apex (Fig. 17D, E); very short seta rising from adenostyle base below pore (Fig. 17D) (example with adenostyle features labeled, Fig. 5).

Measurements from male paratype of leg articles from proximal to distal (in mm): leg I [trochanter damaged], 0.51, 0.17, 0.33, 0.18, 0.35; leg II [trochanter damaged], 0.38, 0.18, 0.27, 0.14, 0.30; leg III 0.14, 0.29, 0.18, 0.24, 0.12, 0.26; leg IV [trochanter damaged], 0.42, 0.23, 0.29, 0.17, 0.31. Width measurements from male paratype of leg articles from proximal to distal (in mm): leg I [trochanter damaged], 0.16, 0.16, 0.16, 0.14, 0.20; leg II [trochanter damaged], 0.15, 0.15, 0.17, 0.12, 0.12; leg III 0.16, 0.16, 0.15, 0.17, 0.12, 0.13; leg IV [trochanter damaged], 0.18, 0.17, 0.19, 0.14, 0.15.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the first declension form of fragōsus, from Latin, meaning “roaring” or “crashing”, a reference to the type locality, Roaring Meg Creek.