Charinus bromeliaea, Jocque, Merlijn & Giupponi, Alessandro Ponce De Leão, 2012

Jocque, Merlijn & Giupponi, Alessandro Ponce De Leão, 2012, Charinus bromeliaea sp. n. (Amblypygi: Charinidae); a new species of bromeliad inhabiting whip spider from French Guyana, Zootaxa 3158, pp. 53-59 : 55-57

Charinus bromeliaea sp. n. Jocque & Giupponi

( Figs 2–4 )

Type material. Holotype: Female ( MNRJ 09185), French Guyana, Savanna Roche La Virginie, (4°11'24.00"N, 52°08'60.00"W), collected on 20 august 2008 by M. Jocque in Achmea cfr. melionii bromeliads. Paratypes: 3 females ( MNRJ 09185), same data as the holotype.

Derivation of name. The name is based on the peculiar habitat of the animal.

Diagnosis. Total length: 5.2 mm. Charinus bromeliaea sp. n. can be distinguished from the remaining Charinus species by the median and lateral eyes reduced in comparison to average size for the genus (distinguishing it from C. quinteroi , C. bordoni , C. tronchoni , C. camachoi and C. pardillalensis ); basitibia IV divided in two articles (distinguishing it from C. gertschi , C. insularis and C. koepckei ); sternal plates narrow, convex and rounded, tritosternum greater than 3 times longer than wide. Charinus bromeliae sp. n. is similar to C. platnicki but is larger, has a lighter brown color and basal distitibial spine of pedipalp about 2/3 the size of the medial spine while in C. platnicki it is about 1/4. Basitibia and distitibia of leg IV have 15 trichobothria (1 + 14) compared to 18 (2 + 16) in C. platnicki and C. caribensis and 17 (1 + 16) in C. quinteroi .

MEASUREMENTS (in mm): Female holotype: cephalothorax: length: 2.12, width: 2.94; pedipalp: femur 1.59, tibia 1.62, basitarsus 0.81, distitarsus 0.54, tarsal claw 0.49.

Description. Color of specimen in alcohol is overall pale yellow-brown ( Fig. 2 A–B). Cephalothorax with linear stains, slightly darker lines radiating from fovea. Lateral and median eye edges bearing black stains. Legs slightly darker than overall color. Cephalothorax ( Fig. 2 A) flattened, wider than long (ratio a little over 4/5) with a posterior depression (opposite to median eye tubercle) from which a thin median groove starts that runs to a depression in between the pair of lateral humps situated behind lateral eye spots. Corners of anterior margin extending downwards in a wide, roundish boss. Median and lateral eyes reduced in comparison to average size for the genus.

Frontal process well developed, much longer than large, with blunt, rebordered apex. Sternum ( Fig. 2 B) consisting of 3 sclerotized parts: tritosternum with a round base and projecting anteriorly between palpal coxa in an elongated, forked tubercle, a little over 3 times longer than wide, with 2 apical (1 on each prong of the fork), 2 middle and 2 basal setae; central part rounded, convex, anteriorly with 2 strong setae, and 2 setulae laterally and 1 posteriorly; third sclerite rounded and convex, slightly smaller or equally large as second sclerite, with 2 large setae positioned centrally. Abdomen ( Fig. 2 A, B) oblong, with almost indistinguishable punctuations, finer than those on carapace. Chelicera with cheliceral furrow ( Figs. 3 A–D) bearing 4 internal teeth, the distal tooth bifid, the first cusp bigger than the second; fourth tooth twice as long as others and much stouter; relative teeth length (from tip to base) IV>Ia>Ib>III=II. Pedipalp: Trochanter Femur ( Fig. 3 B,C) bearing 2 or 3 dorsal spines (I>II>III); basal spine almost 2 times longer than median and the latter over 2 times longer than distal spine; femur ventrally with 3 spines on primary series (I>II>III); basal ventral spine curved inwards and considerably longer than median spine; distal ventral spine half as long as median ventral spine. Tibia ( Fig. 3 B, C) with 5 dorsal spines I<II>III>IV>V; spine IV 1 /3 longer than spine III; spine V approximately 1/3 the length of spine IV. Basitarsus ( Fig. 3 A–C) bearing 2 large dorsal spines, with the distal spine slightly longer than basal spine; basitarsus also bearing 2 smaller ventral spines, apical one approximately ¼ the length of the proximal dorsal spine. Distitarsus ( Fig. 3 A, B) long, with 2 curved spines in basal half; basal spine about 2/3 the size of distal one and this spine is ¼ the size of distitarsus; cleaning organ about ¾ the segment length. Claw ( Fig. 3 A–C) long, with an acute, curved tip. Legs with many small spines. Ventral corner of the prolateral face of femora II–IV projecting in a distinct spiniform process. Femur length I>II=III=IV=II. Tibia I with 23 articles. Tarsus (basitarsus + distitarsus) I with 25 articles. Leg IV: Basitibia with 2 pseudo-articles, 1 trichobothrium located on last pseudo-article. Distitibia with 1 basal, 3 median and 11 distal trichobothria ( Fig. 4). Genitalia: Female gonopods ( Fig. 5 ) small, a bit longer than wide, ballon-shaped with sucker-like prehensile structure with divergent rounded openings, without smooth sclerotized finger–like appendage, with numerous acuminated setae in particular along its posterior edge. Male gonopods unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Charinus bromeliaea sp. n. holotype (female). 1. Cephalothorax, dorsal view. 2. Cephalothorax, ventral view.

FIGURE 3. Tarsus of holotype (female); A. Tarsus of pedipalp, ventral, B. pedipalp ventral, C. pedipalp dorsal.

FIGURE 5. Gonopods of female, paratype.