Tenuipalpus farasanensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FAAC4C59-8C10-4A3E-A728-93123C1B45BE

Diagnosis: Dorsum with six pairs of opisthosomal setae: c1, c3, d3, f3, h1 and h2 present, d1, e1, e3 and f2 absent, third pair of propodosomal setae sc2 shorter than first and second pairs v2 and sc1, dorsal setae v 2, sc1, c1 and d3 are longest.

Description of female (n=7)

Dorsum (Fig. 1): Colour in life red, propodosoma wider than proximal section of opisthosoma. Length of body from setae v2-h1 215 (210–220); width from sc2-sc2 125 (125–130). Propodosoma anteriorly deeply notched, with two long medial lobes, and without lateral lobes. Propodosoma with, broken, longitudinal striations. All dorsal setae short (except setae v2, sc1, c1, d3 and h2 longest), not more than 20 long; setae v2, sc1 and sc2 serrate; opisthosoma with longitudinal to transverse striations, opisthosomal pores present laterally between setae d3 and f3. Setae c1 and d3 longer than other dorsal opisthosomal setae, all dorsal setae lanceolate serrate, except h2 which is flagelliform, whip-like. Setal lengths: v2 36 (36–43), sc1 36 (36–43), sc2 16 (16–20), c1 46 (36–46), c3 13 (13–16), d3 38 (25–38), f3 13 (13–16), h1 15 (15–18), h2 110 (105–111). Distance between dorsal setae: v2-v2 23 (22–25), sc1-sc1 93 (90– 98), c1-c1 34 (31–36), c3-c3 136 (132– 137), d3-d3 126 (117–126), f3-f3 65 (68–72), h2-h2 28 (26–30), h1-h1 15 (13–16).

Venter (Fig. 2): Propodosoma with longitudinal striations laterally, area posterior to coxae II with few transverse striae; area between setae 3a and 4a smooth. Ventral plate smooth. Setae 1b, 1c, and 2b long and subequal in length, setae 1a, 3a2, 4a1 and 4a2 flagelliforme and elongate, seta 3a1 short. Setal lengths: 1a 57 (52–57), 1b 39 (36– 40), 1c 40 (34–41), 1d 26 (21–27), 2b 36 (33–37), 2c 25 (23–28), 3a1 23 (19–23), 3a2 49 (48–51)), 3b 32 (27–32), 4a1 57 (53–57), 4a2 49 (44–49), 4b 32 (29–33), ag 25 (20–25), g1 21 (18–23), g2 21 (19–23), ps2 16 (16–20), ps3 16 (16–20).

Gnathosoma (Fig. 3–4): Palpi one-segmented, with single eupathidium ul 10 (10–16), one pair of subcapitulum setae m 11 (11–13); distance between setae m -m 13 (8–13).

Legs (Fig. 5-8): Legs measured from trochanter to tarsus; leg I 112(111–117); leg II 101 (100–106); leg III 90 (89–94) and leg IV 93 (92–96); Number of setae on leg I-IV (from coxa to tarsus, solenidion in parenthesis): coxae 3-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femur 4-4-2–1; genu 2-2-1-1; tibiae 4-4-3-3; tarsus 8(1)-8(1)-5-5.

Description of male (n=1) (Fig. 9–16).

Dorsum (Fig. 9): Length of body from setae v2-h1 182; width from sc2-sc2 98. Propodosoma anteriorly deeply notched and wider than opisthosoma, with broken striation; all dorsal setae short (except setae v2, sc1, c1, d3 and h2), not more than 21 long; setae v2, sc1 and sc2 lanceolate serrate, sc2 shorter than v2 and sc1; opisthosoma divided into two parts by few transverse striae; area posterior setae c1 with few broken striae; posterior part of opisthosoma with broken longitudinal striae and smooth area medially; opisthosomal with a pair of pores laterally between setae e3 and f3, setae c1 and d3 longer than dorsal lateral setae, setae d1, e1, e3 and f2 absent, all opisthosomal setae lanceolate serrate; setae d3 longer than dorsal lateral setae, h2 flagelliform. Setal lengths: v2 34, sc1 41, sc2 16, c1 22, c3 15, d3 46, f3 21, h1 21, h2 82. Distance between dorsal setae: v2-v2 21, sc1-sc1 69, c1-c1 34, c3-c3 103, d3- d3 75, f3-f3 42, h2-h2 30, h1-h1 13.

Venter (Fig. 10): Ventral cuticle medially smooth, propodosoma with longitudinal striations laterally. Genital and ventral plates smooth. Setae 1b, 1c, and 2b long and subequal in length, other setae smooth; setae 1a, 3a1, 3a2, 4a1 and 4a2 flagelliform, seta 3a1 short. Setal lengths: 1a 49, 1b 38, 1c 39, 1d 33, 2b 38, 2c 35, 3a1 15, 3a2 46, 3b 31, 4a1 54, 4a2 51, 4b 32, ag 18, g1 15, g2 15, ps2 13, ps3 13μ.

Gnathosoma (Fig. 11–12): Palpi one segmented, with single eupathidium ul 14; one pair of subcapitulum seta m 10; distance between setae m -m 12.

Legs (Fig. 13–16): Legs measurement from trochanter to tarsus; leg I 111, leg II 98, leg III 85 and leg IV 90. Number of setae on leg I–IV similar to female legs.

Type material. Holotype (KSMAAS22-Ten-Ten-H) and six paratype females (KSMAAS22-Ten-Ten-P1–6), and one paratype male (KSMAAS22-Ten-Ten-P7), from Salvadora sp. ( Salvadoraceae), Farasan, Jazan, Saudi Arabia, 16.41395°N, 42.06662°E, May 15, 2022, coll. M. Kamran, E.M. Khan and N.A. Elgoni.

Etymology: The specific epithet ( farasanensis) is derived from the type locality/ Island, Farasan (Saudi Arabia).

Remarks: The new species, Tenuipalpus farasanensis sp. nov., is distinguished from all known species of the genus Tenuipalpus by having six pairs of dorsal opisthosomal setae c1, c3, d3, f3, h1 and h2 present, d1, e1, e3 and f2 absent, while all others Tenuipalpus species have seven to ten pairs of opisthosomal setae.