Amilenus deltshevi Dunlop & Mitov, 2009

Mitov, Plamen G., Perkovsky, Evgeny E. & Dunlop, Jason A., 2021, Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) in Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine), Zootaxa 4984 (1), pp. 43-72 : 51

Amilenus deltshevi Dunlop & Mitov, 2009

Figs 7–8

Material examined. UKRAINE: SIZK K-1915 (jointly with SIZK K-1914, and SIZK K-1916–1921). All from Rovno amber, Rovno Oblast (Region), Sarny District, Klesov, Pugach quarry; late Eocene. Syninclusions: SIZK K-1914, Acari , two Isopoda: Oniscoidea; SIZK K-1915, stellate hairs/trichomes; Collembola, Entomobryomorpha; Diptera : Chironomidae : Orthocladiinae ;? Sciaridae ; SIZK K-1916, two Collembola, Entomobryomorpha; SIZK K-1917: Collembola, Entomobryomorpha; SIZK K-1918, Collembola, Entomobryomorpha; Sciaridae ; SIZK K- 1919, Collembola, Symphypleona; Collembola, Entomobryomorpha, spider web; SIZK K-1920, worker ant Ctenobethylus goepperti (Mayr) ; SIZK K-1921, three Acari (one Oribatida ); Collembola, Entomobryomorpha; worker ant Ctenobethylus goepperti (Mayr) ; Diptera : Sciaridae and Chironomidae .

Description. SIZK K-1915 has only its ventral side clearly visible ( Fig. 7 ), as a larger air pocket hides the posterior abdomen ventro-laterally. Additionally, numerous air bubbles scattered throughout the resin obscure the view dorsally. However, the short apophyses (bearing a number of stout spines) typical for this fossil species on the inner (mesal) surface of the palpal patella are clearly visible ( Fig. 8 : black arrow); the tibia is slightly inflated distally ( Fig. 8 : white arrow) and also bears stout mesal spines in this distal region (for details see Dunlop & Mitov 2009). The specimen measures L: 1.625; abdomen width: 0.925; appendage lengths: palpal Ta: 0.42, the remaining palpal segments cannot be measured accurately; leg segments: Fe I: 2.25, Pa I: 0.25, Ti I: 2.75; Fe II: 2.75; Tr III: 0.12, Fe III: 1.25, Pa III: 0.25, Ti III: 1.0; Tr IV: 0.12, Fe IV: 2.0, Pa IV: 0.25, Ti IV: 1.72; the remaining segments could not be measured.

Remarks. Amilenus deltshevi Dunlop & Mitov was previously known from Bitterfeld and Baltic amber ( Dunlop & Mitov 2009; Elsaka et al. 2019). The present specimen is the first record from Rovno amber and another example of a harvestman species common to all three faunas ( Table 1 ).

Figures

FIGURES 7–8. Amilenus deltshevi Dunlop & Mitov, 2009, SIZK K-1915, from Rovno amber (Klesov, Pugach quarry, Ukraine), late Eocene. 7 Body, ventral side. 8 Detail of ventral body; note medial apophysis on the palpal patella (black arrow) and distal prominence of the palpal tibia (white arrow). Scale bars: 7: 1.0 mm; 8: 0.5 mm.