Fissiphallius tucupi, Tourinho, Ana Lúcia & González, Abel Pérez, 2006

Tourinho, Ana Lúcia & González, Abel Pérez, 2006, On the family Fissiphalliidae Martens, 1988, with descriptions of two new Amazonian species (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores), Zootaxa 1325, pp. 235-254 : 242-244

Fissiphallius tucupi n. sp.

Figs 2, 4, 6, 8 , 10, 13–14 , 19–22

Type material. Male holotype ( INPA 907), Brazil, Amazonas State, Castanho municipality, between km 81 and 83 of the BR­319 highway, 3.60665ºS, 06.19784ºW, 10–16.X.2005, Ana Tourinho, Rodrigo Dias & Sergio Marques de Souza leg. Paratypes: 7 males, 5 females ( INPA 908), 5 males, 4 females, 2 juveniles ( INPA 909), 8 males, 6 females ( INPA 910), 1 male, 11 females ( INPA 911), 1 male ( INPA 912), Ana Tourinho leg., 11 females ( INPA 913), 3 males, 2 females ( MNRJ 17815), with the same data as the holotype.

Etymology. Noun in apposition. Tucupi is a Tupi word, used for a regional manioc soup, which is prepared with duck or fish and which is widely consumed in the Amazon region.

Diagnosis. Eye mound armed with a pair of long and sharp spiniform median aphophyses very close to each other ( Figs 2, 4 ). Clearly distinguished from congeneric species by its male genitalia: rutrum with slightly bifid apex, truncus ventrally with a rounded protuberance proximally of pergula ( Figs 19–21 ).

Description of male holotype. Measurements. Total length: 2.8. Carapace region of scutum: 1.3 long, 1.1 wide. Scutum: 1.5 long, 2.0 maximum width. Pedipalp: 2.4 long. Legs: 7.1/4.9/6.3/4.0 long.

Dorsal view. Anterior border of prosoma with a pair of very small tubercles on each side ( Fig. 2 ). Scutal areas I–IV each with a row of very small tubercles (almost indiscernible). Lateral margin of dorsal scutum armed with 16 sharp­pointed tubercles on each side, these increasing in length posteriorly (variation: 12–17/13–17), posterior margin armed with 15 small tubercles, the median one largest ( Figs 2, 4, 8 ). Free tergites I–III armed with sharp­pointed tubercles: free tergite I with 15, II with 13 and III with 11, the median one always larger than others (variation: 11– 15 /11–13/7–11).

Ventral view. Posterior margin and sternites armed with tubercles increasing in length laterally. Sternites IV and V with two pairs of larger median tubercles ( Fig. 6 ). Anal operculum with two rows of tubercles, anterior row with four sharp­pointed tubercles, posterior row with five tubercles, the median one largest ( Figs 6, 8 ).

Chelicerae. Without remarkable armature. Bulla short and well marked. Fingers without teeth.

Pedipalps. Coxa with one ventral tubercle and two small dorsal protuberances. Femur ventrally with ventral tubercles, two basal and one distal setiferous tubercle, one distal setiferous tubercle in mesal region. Patella mesally with one setiferous tubercle. Tibia mesally and ectally with one row of three setiferous tubercles. Tarsus with two setiferous tubercles on each side; small setae scattered. Tarsal claw long and strong ( Figs 13–14 ).

Legs. I–IV tuberculate. Posterior margin of coxae II–III armed with ventral tubercles ( Fig. 6 ). Coxa IV with sharp­pointed dorsal tubercles ( Fig. 2 ). Trochanters I–IV with one retrolateral sharp­pointed tubercle ( Figs 6 , 10 ). Femur IV with two rows of seven sharppointed ventral tubercles larger than others. Patellae with sharp­pointed distal tubercle. Tibia with one larger tubercle ( Fig. 10 ). Tarsi tuberculate, anterior and posterior margins with a row of tubercles. Tarsal formula: 4(2), 5(3), 6, 5.

Penis. Stragulum with only short distal cleft. Apical portion of stragulum in the shape of a “parrot bill” ( Figs 19–20 ). Rutrum medially with slightly bifid apex and three pairs of setae ( Figs 19, 21 ). Pergula laterally with two pairs of setae ( Figs 19, 21 ). A pair of setae present proximally of pergula and a rounded protuberance at same level as stragulum basis ( Figs 20–21 ).

Color (in 75% ethanol). Body yellowish, carapace region of scutum with reticulated brown stains and with yellow stripes behind eye mound ( Fig. 2 ). Lateral borders and median region of scutal areas I–IV with brown stains. Posterior margin of dorsal scutum and free tergites and sternites with brown lateral stains. Anal operculum brown, with yellow stain in the middle. Pedipalps and chelicerae pale yellow. Trochanters of legs yellow, femora and tibiae brown. Coxae I–IV yellow, coxa IV with brown dorsal stains.

Description of the female paratype. Very similar to the male, different in the following features: legs considerably shorter, armature of free tergites and sternites shorter, tubercles on free sternites all of the same length.

Measurements. Total length: 2.1 Carapace region of scutum: 0.9 long, 0.8 wide. Scutum: 1.5 long, 2.1 maximum width. Pedipalp: 2.3 long. Legs: 5.1/3.9/5.2/3.0 long. Tarsal formula: 4(2), 5(3), 6, 5.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 22 ).

Figures

FIGURE 22. Northern South America showing the localities of the six nominal species of Fissiphallius. F. s t u r m i Martens, F. spinulatus Martens, F. sympatricus Martens (pentagon), F. martensi Pinto­da­Rocha (triangle), F. t u c u p i n. sp. (star), F. c h i c o i n. sp. (circle). Dotted lines = country boundaries, thin lines = rivers.

FIGURES 1 – 8. Fissiphallius chicoi n. sp., male holotype (1, 3, 5, 7); Fissiphallius tucupi n. sp., male holotype (2, 4, 6, 8). Body (1 – 2 dorsal view, 3 – 4 lateral view, 5 – 6 ventral view, 7 – 8 posterior view). Scale bars = 0.1 mm (1, 3, 5, 7), 0.5 mm (2, 4, 6, 8).

FIGURES 9 – 14. Fissiphallius chicoi n. sp., male holotype (9, 11 – 12); F. t u c u p i n. sp., male holotype (10, 13 – 14). 9 – 10 right leg IV, lateral view; 11 – 12 right pedipalp (11 ectal view, 12 mesal view); 13 – 14 right pedipalp (13 ectal view, 14 mesal view). Scale bars = 1.0 mm (9, 11 – 12), 0.5 mm (10, 13 – 14).

FIGURES 16 – 21. Fissiphallius chicoi n. sp., male holotype (16 – 18); F. t u c u p i n. sp., male holotype (19 – 21). Penis (16, 19 dorsal view, 17, 20 lateral view, 18, 21 ventral view).