Homolophus milkoi, Snegovaya & Cokendolpher, 2021

Snegovaya, Nataly Yu. & Cokendolpher, James C., 2021, Further studies on harvestman genus Homolophus (Opiliones: Phalangiidae), with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4908 (3), pp. 301-353 : 338

Homolophus milkoi sp. nov.

Figures 7 , 24 , 27

Diagnosis and Comparisons. Body very dark brown with broad white belt on anterior free tergites and wide bright white areas on sides of body. Numerous darker spots in rows on white areas of anterior part of abdomen. Coloring pattern distinctive and only known from new species and Homolophus gricenkoi Staręga & Snegovaya, 2008 (known only from NW Tajikistan). New species differs by having different pattern of white on body (white areas larger around sides of body, ocularium lacking white stripe) and body dark brown rather than black. They also differ in structure of penis. New species with glans more rounded, versus glans noticeably laterally compressed in H. milkoi (best seen in dorsal view).

Type Locality. Kyrgyzstan [= NW Kirgizia], Talas Mt. Ridge, Chon-Kashka-Suu gorge, 2900 m a.s.l., 42°10’N, 71°33’E .

Type M aterial. 08.09.2017, leg. D. Milko (male holotype, ZMMU) .

Distribution. Only known from type locality in Kyrgyzstan ( Fig. 7 ).

Etymology. The new species is named after famous researcher, zoologist, and entomologist Dmitry Anatolyevich Milko ( Fig. 24 ) of the Biological and Soil Institute of National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Description. Medium-sized harvestmen, male body rectangular, with rounded corners; medium sclerotization of body cuticle, less slender, 1.44 times longer than wide; length 4.8 mm, width 3.0 mm; body dark-brown with broad white belt across pro- and metapeltidium and wide bright white splotches, dots on sides of body which grow into entire regions anteriorly on anterolateral sides of abdomen and cephalothorax; preocular area and anterior edge of cephalothorax also with extensive white coloring. Body with transverse rows of small black-tipped denticles on borders of tergites. Venter, genital operculum, and coxae with only setae. Ocularium low, slightly wider than long, small, 1.5 times its length from anterior margin of cephalothorax with 6–8 black-tipped denticles (with subterminal short erect setae on each denticle) around both center dark lines (dark markings showing muscle attachments sites). Legs long, slender, cylindrical in cross-section, Fe not thickened. Leg lengths (mm): I 5.2 + 1.4 + 4.6 + 5.5 + 8.2 = 24.9, II 11.5 + 1.8 + 10.0 + 8.0 + 21.0 = 52.3, III 4.0 + 1.2 + 4.6 + 6.0 + 9.0 = 24.8, IV 6.5 + 1.2 + 5.6 + 8.0 + 13.2 = 34.5. Venter yellow, coxae light brown. Pedipalps not thickened, Fe only dorsally with some small denticles, other segments only ventrally with microdenticles. Pedipalp segment lengths (mm): 1.05 + 0.6 + 1.25 + 1.6 = 4.5. Chelicerae small, slender, with some tabby marks, without denticles. Cheliceral basal segment ventrally smooth without bulge, length 1.45 mm, distal segment length 1.65 mm. Penis short, truncus dorsoventrally flattened, bowed, recurved in lateral view, wide at base, tapering to glans; glans boat-shaped in lateral view and narrow; length (mm): truncus 2.13, glans 0.38, stylus 0.1.

Female unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Distribution of some Homolophus species in the Palearctic: Central and Inner Asia. Data for pale colored symbols taken from literature; identifications not verified.

FIGURE 24. Famous scientists: (left) Pyotr Kuz’mich Kozlov (1863–1935), a Russian traveler, geographer, ethnographer, archeologist, and explorer of Mongolia and Xîzàng (Tibet), for which Homolophus kozlovi sp. nov. is named; (right) Dmitry A. Milko, an entomologist, researcher, and zoologist from Kyrgyzstan for which Homolophus milkoi sp. nov. is named.

FIGURE 27. Homolophus milkoi sp. nov., male: A, body, dorsal; B, ocularium, dorsal, C, right chelicera, ectal; D, right che- licera, mesal; E, right pedipalp, ectal; F, right pedipalp, mesal; G, femur I, dorsal; H, penis, lateral; I, penis glans, lateral; J, penis glans, dorsal; K, penis, dorsal.