Zalmoxis derzelas, Sharma, Prashant P., Buenavente, Perry A. C., Clouse, Ronald M., Diesmos, Arvin C. & Giribet, Gonzalo, 2012

Sharma, Prashant P., Buenavente, Perry A. C., Clouse, Ronald M., Diesmos, Arvin C. & Giribet, Gonzalo, 2012, Forgotten gods: Zalmoxidae of the Philippines and Borneo (Opiliones: Laniatores), Zootaxa 3280, pp. 29-55 : 34-37

Zalmoxis derzelas sp. nov.

Figs. 5–8 , 22 e

Types. Male holotype ( NMP [ex MHNG PHI-79/117 ]) from moss and roots on a small cliff along a riverbank, in primary forest, Puerto Galera, Province of Orienal Mindoro, Mindoro Island, Philippines, 0–300 m elevation, collected 27–29 December 1979 by L. Deharveng and J. Crousset . 1 male paratype ( MHNG), same collected data as holotype . 2 male paratypes (1 dissected for genitalia and mounted on SEM stub MCZ 124585 ; 1 mounted on SEM stubs 124583–124584), same collecting data as holotype ( MCZ 124582 ).

Additional material studied. 1 subadult female, same collecting data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to a god of the Getae (or Thracians). Derzelas was the chthonic god of the afterlife.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from congeners in the slightly incrassate metatarsus III; and the male femur IV with a prominent ventrodistal tubercle, flanked distally by three small conical tubercles of equal size.

Description. Total length of male holotype 2.48, greatest width of prosoma 0.92, greatest width of opisthosoma 1.66; length-to-width ratio 1.49. Body campaniform, light brown (in ethanol, depending on incidence of light, and due to depigmentation over time), almost entirely with dense microgranulate surface microstructure. Eyes present on low, well-developed ocularium. Ocularium wider than long, removed from anterior margin of carapace, without spines or tubercles. Anterior margin of carapace with two pairs of pegs above coxae of leg I and single median peg. Scutal grooves of mesotergum slightly arcuate, not forming “V” shape. Mesotergum and free tergites without regular belts of setose tubercles ( Fig. 5 ).

Ventral prosomal complex of male with coxae II and III meeting in midline, coxae I and IV not so. Anterior and posterior margins of coxae III with tubercular bridges to adjacent coxae, and coxae I–III with setose tubercles. Coxae IV of male greatly enlarged, with setose tubercles concentrated anteriorly. Genital operculum sub-triangular. Spiracles not concealed, anterior to row of tubercles. Opisthosomal sternites with regular belts of low setose tubercles enlarging laterally. Anal plate armed with two rows of blunt setose tubercles: posterior row with three setose tubercles, flanking more prominent; anterior row with five setose tubercles, enlarging medially ( Figs. 6 , 22 e).

Chelicerae ( Fig. 7 a) sexually monomorphic, with prominent bulla on proximal article. Proximal article with denticulate granulation basally and ventrally. Second article not incrassate, free of ornamentation, with dorsal margin bearing several setae. Distal article with delicate dentition, free of ornamentation. Palpi ( Fig. 7 b) robust and spined ventrally and/or ventrolaterally, typical of zalmoxids. Palpal tarsus with two pairs of megaspines.

Legs ( Figs. 7 c–f) finely granulated. Trochanters, patellae, and tibiae of all legs bearing irregular rows of setose tubercles. Leg I ( Fig. 7 c) trochanter with one small tubercle dorsally and two small tubercles ventrally. Male metatarsus III ( Fig. 7 e) slightly incrassate along transverse axis. Male leg IV ( Fig. 7 f) elongated and armed; trochanter with two small tubercles enlarging distally on mesal surface; femur slightly arcuate with a prominent ventrodistal tubercle, flanked distally by three small conical tubercles of equal size; patella and tibia with bulbous setose tubercles. Metatarsi I–IV divided distally, with calcaneus less ornamented but generally more setose. Tarsal claws I–IV smooth, unmodified. Tarsal segmentation 3: 6: 5: 5.

Appendage measurements of holotype (length/width):

	Tr	Fe	Pa	Ti	Mt	Ta	Total
Leg I	0.13/0.12	0.48/0.10	0.28/0.12	0.33/0.11	0.49/0.06	0.44/0.007	2.15
Leg II	0.21/0.22	0.96/0.15	0.51/0.17	0.72/0.16	0.84/0.09	1.06/0.09	4.30
Leg III	0.16/0.16	0.52/0.11	0.28/0.15	0.41/0.12	0.59/0.10	0.44/0.07	2.40
Leg IV	0.25/0.14	0.68/0.10	0.34/0.13	0.59/0.10	0.68/0.06	0.39/0.05	2.93
Palp	0.17/0.19	0.44/0.19	0.29/0.16	0.29/0.21	—	0.35/0.13	1.54
	Proximal	Second	Distal
Chelicera	0.47/0.24	0.67/0.22	0.19/0.05

Penis ( Fig. 8 ) with two pairs of setae on rutrum and one pair of setae at the boundary with the pergula. Pergula with one pair of ventrolateral setae and one pair of dorsolateral setae projecting ventrally. One small ventrolateral pair of setae posterior to pergula. Rutrum of arrowhead shape, apical/distal portion with lateral extensions.

Distribution. Known only from type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Zalmoxis derzelas sp. nov. (a) Male holotype, dorsal view; (b) Male holotype, ventral view.

FIGURE 6. Zalmoxis derzelas sp. nov. (a) Ventral view of male paratype; (b) Opisthosomal region of male paratype.

FIGURE 7. Zalmoxis derzelas sp. nov. (a) Left chelicer of male paratype; (b) Right palp of male paratype; (c) Male right leg I; (d) Male left leg II; (e) Male left leg III; (f) Male left leg IV.

FIGURE 8. Zalmoxis derzelas sp. nov. (a) Pars distalis of male genitalia, dorsal view; (b) Pars distalis of male genitalia, ventral view.

FIGURE 22. Variation in anal plate armature; anterior end oriented up. (a) Zalmoxis cuspanalis Roewer, 1927; (b) Zalmoxis gebeleizis sp. nov.; (c) Zalmoxis kotys sp. nov.; (d) Zalmoxis mitobatipes (Roewer, 1926); (e) Zalmoxis derzelas sp. nov.