Promitobates bellus ( B. Soares, 1945 )

Bragagnolo, Cibele & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2012, Systematic review of Promitobates Roewer, 1913 and cladistic analysis of Mitobatinae Simon, 1879 (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae), Zootaxa 3308, pp. 1-48 : 13-16

Promitobates bellus ( B. Soares, 1945)

( Figs. 4 A, 7A, 9A, 11A, 13A, 15F, 16A–C)

Ancistrotellus bellus B. Soares 1945c: 90 , Figs. 8–9 ; 1949: 226 (cat.); Kury 2003: 151 (cat.; syst.). [ BRAZIL, São Paulo, Ubatuba, Fazenda Experimental; 3 holotype, MZSP 742 and 1 Ƥ paratype, MZSP 748, examined]. Promitobates bellus: Kury 2003: 151 (cat.; syst).

Diagnosis. Distinguished from the other species of Promitobates by dorsal scutum with few tubercles, and by the sulphurous yellow spiniform apophyses of the ocularium, standing out from the rest of body, which is dark brown.

Male redescription. Measurements (n=12). dorsal scutum maximum width 3.5–4.2 (3.8); dorsal scutum total length 3.7–4.3 (4.1); prosoma length 1.4–1.7 (1.6); length of external apophysis of coxa IV 0.7–1.5 (1.1); femur IV length 21.8–42 (32.1). Tarsal formula: 7–8 (8); 14–18; 8–9 (8); 7–8 (8).

Dorsum ( Figs. 4 A, 7A). anterior margin of prosoma with frontal hump with 2–4 small lateral tubercles. Prosoma unarmed, with two rows of tubercles behind the ocularium. Ocularium with two pointed apophyses slightly directed anteriorly and small tubercles next to them. Abdominal scutum with four areas. Areas I and II with few small scattered tubercles. Area III with two high spiniform apophyses slightly directed posteriorly. Areas III and IV with small tubercles on median region. Lateral margin of dorsal scutum with a row of tubercles placed from ocularium to area IV apophyses, and small scattered tubercles. Posterior margin of dorsal scutum with one row of tubercles, usually with one pair of slightly higher tubercles. Free tergites and anal operculum unarmed.

Chelicera. Segment I with small scattered tubercles; II unarmed.

Pedipalp. Trochanter with a small ventral spine. Femur with one small ventrobasal spine and one large prolateral subapical, spine. Tibial setation: mesal IiIi/IiiIi; ectal IiIi/IiiIi. Tarsus setation: mesal iIi; ectal IiIi.

Venter. Coxa I with one median row of five setiferous tubercles and four apical tubercles; trochanter I with two median tubercles. Coxa II with median row of 10 small setiferous tubercles and three apical tubercles; trochanter II with a high median tubercle and scattered small tubercles. Coxa III with small tubercles, roughly arranged in rows; trochanter III with median high tubercle and scattered small tubercles. Coxa IV with minute scattered tubercles; genital area with small scattered tubercles; free sternites each with one row of granules; anal operculum unarmed.

Legs ( Fig. 9 A). Coxa I with one posterior bifid tubercle; coxa II with one anterior and one posterior tubercle; III with one anterior tubercle; IV with few scattered tubercles, external apical bifid apophysis, slightly directed ventrally, with a small internal spiniform tubercle. Trochanters I–III with small scattered tubercles; IV with two dorsal tubercles, basal one rounded and apical one spiniform; one small internal apical spiniform apophysis. Femur IV more than 10 times longer than dorsal scutum length, straight with minute tubercles.

Coloration (in ethanol, Fig. 15 F). Dorsal scutum, apophyses of area III and legs dark brown; ocularium, grooves and tubercles of dorsal scutum yellowish.

Penis ( Fig. 16 A–C). Ventral plate concave, apex slightly curved, corner of distal margin rounded and directed dorsally; three pairs of distal setae, median one smallest; three pairs of long basal setae arranged in “V” and one pair of small setae placed more ventrally. Stylus unarmed and straight. Ventral process almost parallel to the stylus in lateral view, short shaft, spoon-shaped apex, with serrated margins directed ventrally.

Female redescription ( Figs. 11 A, 13A). Measurements (n=12): dorsal scutum maximum width: 3.6–4.3; dorsal scutum total length: 3.7–4.5; prosoma length: 1.4–1.7. Femur IV length: 10.7–15.1. Tarsal formula: 6–7; 14–17; 8; 8. Body more convex than male. Ocularium with one pair of apophyses higher than that on male and anteriorly directed. Area III with one pair of apophyses higher than those on male, posteriorly directed. External apophysis of coxa IV short and single-branched, internal apophysis absent. Trochanter IV unarmed; femur IV shorter than male.

Geographical distribution.: Northeastern Coastal Atlantic Rain Forest of São Paulo to southeastern Rio de Janeiro States ( Fig. 3 B).

Other material examined. BRAZIL. São Paulo: Ubatuba, (Fazenda Experimental), 1943, A. Zoppei leg., 1 3 ( MZSP 749); idem, 13.X.1985, R.L.C. Baptista leg., 1 3 ( MNRJ 6107); idem (Fazenda Capricórnio), 1.X.2004, G. Machado leg., 1 3 ( MZSP 29499); idem, (Moinho Comunitário, Rio da Fazenda), 7.IX.1989, A.B. Kury & R. Baptista leg., 1 3 & 2 Ƥ ( MNRJ 6513); idem, (Picinguaba), 13–16.X.1994, F.A.G. Mello & N. Carneiro leg., 1 Ƥ ( MZSP 17164); idem, 02.IX.2004, without collector name, 2 3 ( MZSP 29420); idem, 22.IV.1995, M. Vogt & M. Baptista leg., 23 & 1 Ƥ ( MNRJ 6921); idem, 14.IV.1999, V. Bonato leg., 1 3 & 1 Ƥ ( MZSP 29409); idem, (Picinguaba, Morro do Cuscuzeiro), 22.VII.1995, G. Machado leg., 1 3 ( MNRJ 5646); idem (Picinguaba), XII.1995, G. Machado leg., 1 3 & 1 Ƥ ( MNRJ 6988); idem (Praia das Toninhas), 06–08.III.2000, A.D. Brescovit leg., 3 3 & 6 Ƥ (IB 1736); idem, (Fazenda Angelim), 23°23’S – 45°03’W, 23–30.VII.2001, Equipe Biota leg., 1 3 (IB 3306) & 1 Ƥ (IB 3343); São Luiz do Paraitinga (Núcleo Santa Virgínia), 2.XI.1996, L.S. Rocha leg., 1 Ƥ ( MZSP 15824); Bananal (Serra da Bocaina), 26–27. X.1963, 1 Ƥ (HS 0526); Rio de Janeiro: Parati (Ponta da Joatinga), 16.IV.1997, F.H. Santos leg., 1 3 ( MZSP 19509); idem, 01.VI.1985, R.L.C. Baptista leg., 1 Ƥ ( MNRJ 6093); idem, (Estrada Parati– Cunha), 23°10’37’’S – 44°49’54’’W, XI.2005, M.B. da Silva & H.Y. Yamaguti leg., 1 3 & 1 Ƥ ( MZSP 29418). Angra dos Reis (near rio Mambucaba), 22°56’14’’S – 44°36’51’’W, XI.2005, M.B. da Silva & H. Y. Yamaguti leg., 2 3 ( MZSP 27396).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Geographical distribution of Promitobates spp ..

FIGURE 4. Dorsal view of males of Promitobates. A. P. bellus, (IBSP 3306); B. P. difficilis (MNRJ 11395, syntype); C. P. hatschbachi (MHNCI 0 164, holotype; D. P. intermedius (MZSP 14410). Scale bar, 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Lateral view of males of Promitobates. A and B. P. viridigranulatus, (A. MZSP 27401; B. MHNCI 6527); C. P. ale sp. n. (MZSP 27404); D. P. trapista sp. n. (MZSP 27406); E. P. weissbier sp. n. (MZSP 16171); F. P. l a g e r sp. n. (MNRJ 4545). Scale bar, 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Dorsal view of male coxa, trochanter and femur IV of Promitobates; A. P. bellus (IBSP 3306); B. P. difficilis (MNRJ 11395, syntype); C. P. hatschbachi (MHNCI 0 164, holotype); D. P. intermedius (MZSP 14410); E. P. n i g r i p e s (MZSP 27425); F. P. o r n a t u s (MZSP 27417). Scale bar, 1 mm.

FIGURE 11. Dorsal view of females of Promitobates. A. P. bellus (MZSP- 19509); B. P. dificillis (MNRJ- 11395, syntype); C. P. hatschbachi (MZSP 18811); D. P. intermedius (MZSP- 16764); E. P. n i g r i p e s (MZSP - 31029); F. P. ornatus (MZSP 27440). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 15. Photographs of living specimens of Promitobates. A. P. difficilis (SC - Joinville); B. P. or n at u s (SP - Paranapiacaba); C. P. viridigranulatus (PR - Guaratuba); D. P. ale sp. n. (SC - São Bento do Sul); E. P. l a g e r sp. n. (SP - Miracatu); F. P. bellus (SP – Ubatuba).

FIGURE 16. Distal part of penis of Promitobates. A – C. P. bellus (IBSP- 1736); A. dorsal view; B. lateral view; C. ventral view. D – F. P. difficilis (MHNCI- 6130); A. dorsal view; B. lateral view; C. ventral view. G – I. P. hatschbachi (MZSP- 943); A. dorsal view; B. lateral view; C. ventral view. Scale bar = 0,05 mm.