Indohya boltoni Harvey & Burger, 2023

Harvey, Mark S., Burger, Mieke A. A., Abrams, Kym M., Finston, Terrie L., Huey, Joel A. & Perina, Giulia, 2023, The systematics of the pseudoscorpion genus Indohya (Pseudoscorpiones: Hyidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 5342 (1), pp. 1-119 : 52-57

Indohya boltoni Harvey & Burger , n. sp.

( Figs. 1–3 , 4 , 22–23 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9594410D-D6DC-4871-A32D-9F95FEC04F11

Material examined. Holotype male. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 115 km NNW. of Newman, 22°19′04.32″S, 119°44′51.27″E, 24 March–28 April 2011, wet pitfall trap, midslope, staff from Phoenix Environmental Sciences ( WAM T112020 ).

Paratypes. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2 ♀, collected with holotype ( WAM T112021 , T112022 ) .

Other material. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 ♀, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°11′15.06″S, 119°05′57.09″E, 22 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, sandstone gorge, P. Bolton ( WAM T107548 ) ; 1 ♀, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°09′01.06″S, 119°05′46.08″E, 19 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, ironstone gorge, P. Bolton ( WAM T107568 ) ; 1 ♀, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°09′01.06″S, 119°05′46.08″E, 19 June–8 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, ironstone gorge, P. Bolton ( WAM T107572 ) ; 1 Ô, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°09′55.06″S, 119°06′22.02″E, 20 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, sandstone gorge, P. Bolton ( WAM T107589 ) ; 1 Ô, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°08′55.08″S, 119°05′19.07″E, 17 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, east facing ridge, P. Bolton ( WAM T107595 ) ; 1 Ô, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°08′55.08″S, 119°05′19.07″E, 17 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, east facing ridge, P. Bolton ( WAM T107598 ) ; 1 ♀, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°08′32.00″S, 119°06′54.01″E, 19 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, gully, P. Bolton ( WAM T107613 ) ; 1 ♀, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°08′00.08″S, 119°07′14.01″E, 20 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, minor drainage line, P. Bolton ( WAM T107620 ) ; 1 Ô, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°08′00.08″S, 119°07′14.01″E, 20 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, minor drainage line, P. Bolton ( WAM T107618 ) ; 1 Ô, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°09′55.06″S, 119°06′22.02″E, 20 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, sandstone gorge, P. Bolton ( WAM T110845 ) ; 1 Ô, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°08′55.08″S, 119°05′19.07″E, 17 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, east facing ridge, P. Bolton ( WAM T110846 ) ; 1 Ô, Abydos, ca. 64 km W. of Marble Bar , 21°08′55.08″S, 119°05′19.07″E, 17 June–28 July 2010, wet pitfall trap, east facing ridge, P. Bolton ( WAM T110847 ) ; 1 ♀, Christmas Creek, ca. 67 km SSW. of Nullagine , 22°26′27.20″S, 119°50′26.70″E, 14 April 2012, troglofauna scrape, 13 m, subterranean above water table, J.W. Quartermaine, S. R. Bennett ( WAM T132652 ) ; 1 Ô, same data ( WAM T137073 ) ; 1 tritonymph, same data ( WAM T137074 ) ; 1 Ô, same data ( WAM T137075 ) ; 1 deutonymph, same data ( WAM T137076 ) ; 1 protonymph, same data ( WAM T137077 ) ; 1 Ô, 1 ♀, Mt Dove , site PS06, 20°56′08.2″S, 118°27′50.0″E, 104 m, 14 March–21 April 2011, wet pitfall trap, under Ficus, A. Rakimov ( WAM T113350 ; specimens consumed during DNA extraction) ; 1 Ô, same data ( WAM T126383 ) ; 1 tritonymph, same data ( WAM T113280 ) ; 1 ♀, Mt Webber, 140 km SE. of South Hedland , COF01- MW155 , 21°32′40.02″S, 119°17′56.29″E, 18 June 2010, baited troglofauna trap, E.S. Volschenk, P. Langlands ( WAM T140302 ) ; 1 Ô, Nullagine , 21°53′02.83″S, 120°16′54.88″E, 28 April–12 June 2010, troglobite trap, Ecologia staff ( WAM T103476 ) ; 1 Ô, Nullagine , 21°48′19.67″S, 120°23′14.35″E, 12 June–23 July 2010, troglobite trap, Ecologia staff ( WAM T105049 ) ; 1 protonymph, Nullagine , same data ( WAM T110848 ) ; 1 Ô, ca. 19 km SW. of Nullagine , 22°00′35.3″S, 119°58′50.6″E, 7 May 2013, troglofauna trap, staff from Dalcon Environmental ( WAM T128113 ) ; 1 Ô, BlueSpec, 12 km NE. of Nullagine , 21°49′07.80″S, 120°12′15.30″E, 16 June 2012, under rocks/litter, M.K. Curran, S. R. Bennett ( WAM T127502 ) ; 1 Ô, BHP Main Rail, 208 km SSE. of Port Hedland , 22°11′39.54″S, 118°59′11.42″E, 23–30 April 2012, south facing aspect of gully, S. Catomore ( WAM T123599 ) ; 1 Ô, ca. 104 km 53.8° NE. of Tom Price , 22°07′22.90″S, 118°34′45.41″E, 16 February 2012, stygofauna haul, staff from Phoenix Environmental Sciences ( WAM T118293 ) ; 1 ♀, same data ( WAM T118294 ) ; 1 nymph, same data ( WAM T118292 ; specimen consumed during DNA extraction) ; 2 Ô, ca. 10 km W. of Wodgina , site WE10, 21°15′23.0″S, 118°36′50.2″E, 190 m, 14 March 2011, under Ficus, A. Rakimov ( WAM T113290 , T152501 ) ; 1 adult, same data ( WAM T129139 ; specimen consumed during DNA extraction) ; 1 protonymph, ca. 2.4 km NW. of Wodgina Mine Site , site H5, 21°09′59.4″S, 118°39′33.2″E, 19 March 2011, drainage line, A. Rakimov ( WAM T113397 ) ; 1 ♀, same data ( WAM T113398 ) ; 1 tritonymph, ca. 6 km W. of Wodgina , site WE14, 21°13′06.3″S, 118°38′03.5″E, 205, 14 March 2011, under Ficus, A. Rakimov ( WAM T114564 ) .

Diagnosis. Indohya boltoni is an epigean species with two pairs of eyes and 14 setae on the carapace ( Fig. 23A ), thus resembling I. cardo , I. julianneae and I. karenae . It differs from I. karenae by the less robust chelal hand [hand (without pedicel) 1.63–1.92 (Ô) ×, 1.62–1.86 (♀) × longer than broad, vs. 1.39 (♀) in I. karenae ], from I. cardo by the less prominent chelal teeth in the basal half of the fixed chelal finger ( Fig. 23D ), and from I. julianneae by its larger size [e.g. chela (with pedicel) greater than 1.0 mm, vs. less than 0.8 mm in I. julianneae ].

There are no unique nucleotide substitutions in COI mtDNA that distinguish this species from all other species of Indohya . The 20 sequenced specimens differ from all other sequenced specimens of Indohya by 11.7–28.2% (Table 2).

Description (adult). Colour ( Fig. 22 ): pedipalps and carapace red-brown, legs paler.

Setae and cuticle: Setae long, mostly straight and acicular; most cuticular surfaces smooth and glossy.

Chelicera: surface smooth; hand with 6 setae, movable finger with 1 sub-medial seta, all setae acuminate; galea present, long, slender and slightly curved; fixed finger with 10 (Ô, ♀) teeth, each approximately same size; movable finger with 6 (Ô, ♀) teeth, each approximately same size; with 2 dorsal and 1 ventral lyrifissures; lamina exterior absent; rallum with 7 (Ô, ♀) blades, all blades with anterior spinules, basal blade shorter than others.

Pedipalp ( Figure 23B ): moderately slender; trochanter smooth, 1.68–2.52 (Ô) ×, 1.81–2.5 (♀) ×; femur broadest medially, proximal half and retrolateral margin lightly granulate, without dorsal tactile seta, with 3 stout retrolateral setae near base, 4.71–5.27 (Ô) ×, 4.34–4.92 (♀) ×; patella cylindrical, smooth, with strongly pronounced pedicel, with several small lyrifissures situated basally on dorsal surface, 2.84–3.51 (Ô) ×, 2.78–3.34 (♀) ×; chela ( Fig. 23B ): hand robust, with prolateral face lightly granulate, chela (with pedicel) 4.01–4.61 (Ô) ×, 3.88–4.42 (♀) ×, chela (without pedicel) 3.75–4.36 (Ô) ×, 3.67–4.13 (♀) ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.63–1.92 (Ô) ×, 1.62–1.86 (♀) × longer than broad, movable finger 1.21–1.34 (Ô) ×, 1.10–1.32 (♀) × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 8 trichobothria, eb, esb and isb in straight row at base of finger, ib situated dorsally at the end of the chelal hand, isb at the basal end of the fixed finger, ib situated on dorsum of chelal hand, it closer to et than to est, et slightly distal to it; movable finger with 4 trichobothria, sb much closer to b than to st, st situated much closer to t than to sb; ratio sb–st/sb–b = 1.26–2.26 (Ô), 2.00–2.53 (♀); t acuminate. Both fingers straight in lateral view. Fixed finger smooth, movable finger with several retrolateral granulations basally. Chelal teeth ( Fig. 23D ) juxtadentate, fixed finger with 43 (Ô), 46 (♀) teeth, teeth 1, 27–41 pointed, 3–21 truncate, 22–26, 42–43 rounded (Ô), teeth 1–3, 29, 31–32 pointed, 4–25 truncate, 26–28, 30, 33–46 rounded (♀), movable finger with 22 (Ô), 20 (♀), low, barely discernible teeth. Venom apparatus present only in movable chelal finger, venom duct long, terminating in nodus ramosus between sb and st.

Cephalothorax: carapace ( Fig. 23A ) sub-rectangular; smooth; anterior margin slightly convex; epistome absent; lateral margins slightly convex; posterior margin straight; 0.95–1.22 (Ô) × longer than broad; 0.95–1.29 (♀) × longer than broad; with 14 setae arranged 4: 2: 4: 2: 2; without furrows; with two pairs of corneate eyes; situated near anterior margin of carapace. Manducatory process distally triangular, with 2 distal setae; pedipalpal coxa with 7 (Ô), 6 (♀) additional setae. Coxa I with anterior margin not modified; chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: Ô, 4: 5: 5: 6; chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: ♀, 4: 5: 5: 6.

Legs: femora I and II much longer than patellae I and II, respectively; femora I and II with basal swelling; femora I and II each with 2 primary slit sensilla, 1 sub-basally and 1 sub-distally, both directed longitudinally; junction between anterior femora and patellae perpendicular; junction between posterior femora and patellae slightly oblique; femora III and IV much smaller than patellae III and IV, respectively; femur + patella IV 2.9 (Ô) × longer than broad; femur + patella IV 3.47 (♀) × longer than broad; metatarsi shorter than tarsi; subterminal tarsal seta acuminate; claws smooth, arolium slightly shorter than claws; arolium not divided.

Abdomen: tergites not divided; tergal chaetotaxy Ô, 4: 6: 7: 7: 7: 8: 8: 8: 8: 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; tergal chaetotaxy ♀, 4: 6: 7: 8: 8: 9: 8: 8: 8: 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; arranged in single rows; sternal chaetotaxy Ô, 12: (2) 24 [2 + 2] (2): (3) 7 (3): 10: 11: 13: 13: 11: 9 (including 2 tactile setae): 9 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; sternal chaetotaxy ♀, 8: (2) 9 (2): (3) 9 (3): 12: 12: 13: 12: 13: 10 (including 2 tactile setae): 5 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; setae of anterior genital operculum (sternite II) of ♀ minute; posterior tergites and sternites with several tactile setae; medial sternites without suture line; pleural membrane uniformly granulate; without setae; stigmatic helix present.

Genitalia: male: lateral genital sacs large and ovoid; median genital sac short and ovoid; ejaculatory duct atrium large and rounded; dorsal apodeme wing-like; without a pair of large dorsal genital sacs; with 2 pairs of setae within genital atrium. Female: with large gonosac that is covered with scattered pores.

Dimensions (mm): Male holotype (WAM T112020) (followed by 10 other males, when measured, in parentheses). Body length (excluding chelicerae) 1.87 (1.60–2.20). Pedipalp: trochanter 0.290 / 0.115 (0.250–0.290/0.115–0.150), femur 0.710 / 0.140 (0.675–0.800/0.140–0.150), patella 0.495 / 0.145 (0.475–0.550/0.150–0.160), chela (with pedicel) 1.135 / 0.260 (1.095–1.220/0.250–0.290), chela (without pedicel) length 1.070 (1.055 –1.150), chelal hand (without pedicel) length 0.455 (0.455 –0.505), movable finger length 0.610 (0.585 –0.665). Carapace 0.550 / 0.460 (0.495– 0.600/0.445–0.560), anterior eye diameter 0.035, posterior eye diameter 0.030. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.565 / 0.195, tibia 0.390 / 0.095, metatarsus 0.205 / 0.065, tarsus 0.340 / 0.040.

Female paratype (WAM T112022) (followed by 10 other females, when measured, in parentheses). Body length (excluding chelicerae) 1.18 (1.57–2.18). Pedipalp: trochanter 0.320 / 0.135 (0.235–0.330/0.120–0.150), femur 0.745 / 0.155 (0.675–0.815/0.140–0.165), patella 0.535 / 0.160 (0.465–0.555/0.160–0.190), chela (with pedicel) 1.220 / 0.300 (1.140–1.295/0.270–0.325), chela (without pedicel) 1.140 (1.075 –1.210), hand (without pedicel) 0.495 (0.475 –0.545), movable finger length 0.640 (0.580 –0.680). Carapace 0.530 / 0.480 (0.555–0.650/0.480– 0.640), anterior eye 0.030, posterior eye 0.030. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.590 / 0.170, tibia 0.410/0.08, metatarsus 0.210 / 0.065, tarsus 0.360 / 0.045.

Description (tritonymph). Colour: pale, yellow-white, pedipalps yellow-brown.

Chelicera: hand with 5 setae, movable finger with 1 sub-medial seta.

Pedipalp: trochanter 2.37 ×, femur 3.93 ×, patella 2.68 ×, chela (with pedicel) 3.98 ×, chela (without pedicel) 3.75 ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.70 × longer than broad, movable finger 1.16 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 7 trichobothria ( Fig. 24A ), eb, esb, est, et, ib, ist and it present; movable finger with 3 trichobothria; b, st and t present, st much closer to t than to b. Fixed chelal finger with 30 low teeth, movable chelal finger with 6 low, juxtadentate teeth.

Cephalothorax: carapace 1.15 × longer than broad; with 14 setae, arranged 4: 2: 4: 2: 2, including posterior margin with 2 setae; smooth; without furrows; 2 pair of eyes. Coxal chaetotaxy 4: 3: 4: 4.

Legs: femur + patella IV 2.27 × longer than broad; metatarsi and tarsi not fused.

Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy 4: 5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 8: 7: 7: 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 4 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; sternal chaetotaxy 0: (2) 6 (2): (3) 6 (3): 7: 9: 10: 10: 8: 7 (including 2 tactile setae): 6 (including 4 tactile setae): 2.

Dimensions (mm): WAM T137074. Body length 1.52. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.225 / 0.095, femur 0.530 / 0.135, patella 0.335 / 0.125, chela (with pedicel) 0.795 / 0.200, chela (without pedicel) 0.750, hand (without pedicel) length 0.340, movable finger length 0.395. Carapace 0.450 / 0.390. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.340 / 0.150.

Description (deutonymph). Colour: Very pale, yellow-white.

Chelicera: hand with 5 setae, movable finger with 1 sub-medial seta.

Pedipalp: trochanter 2.06 ×, femur 4.50 ×, patella 2.54 ×, chela (with pedicel) 3.91 ×, chela (without pedicel) 3.63 ×, hand (without pedicel) 1.47 × longer than broad, movable finger 1.43 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 6 trichobothria ( Fig. 24B ), eb, est, et, ib, ist and it present; movable finger with 2 trichobothria, b and t present. Fixed chelal finger with 23 low or slightly quadrate teeth; movable chelal finger with 6 low teeth.

Cephalothorax: carapace 0.91 × longer than broad; with 14 setae, arranged 4: 2: 4: 2: 2; without furrows; with 2 pairs of eyes. Coxal chaetotaxy 4: 4: 3: 4.

Legs: metatarsi and tarsi not fused.

Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy 4: 5: 6: 6: 6: 5: 6: 6: 6: 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 4 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; sternal chaetotaxy 0: (1) 4 (1): (1) 4 (1): 6: 6: 6: 6: 5: 4 (including 2 tactile setae): 6 (including 2 tactile setae): 2.

Dimensions (mm): WAM T137076 . Body length 0.99. Pedipalp: trochanter 2.06, femur 0.405 / 0.090 , patella 0.265 / 0.105, chela (with pedicel) length 0.625 / 0.160, chela (without pedicel) length 0.580, hand (without pedicel) length 0.235, movable finger length 0.335. Carapace 0.360 / 0.395.

Description (protonymph). Colour: very pale, yellow-white.

Chelicera: hand with 4 setae, movable finger without seta.

Pedipalp: trochanter 2.20 ×, femur 4.13 ×, patella 2.35 ×, chela (with pedicel) 4.36 ×, chela (without pedicel) 4.08 ×, hand (without pedicel) 2.04 × longer than broad, movable finger 1.16 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed finger with 3 trichobothria ( Fig. 24C ), eb, ist and et present; movable finger with 1 trichobothrium, t present; fixed chelal finger with 23 low, juxtadentate teeth, basal teeth slightly enlarged; movable chelal finger with 5 teeth.

Cephalothorax: 0.81 × longer than broad; with 14 setae arranged 4: 2: 4: 2: 2; without furrows; eyes absent. Coxal chaetotaxy 1: 1: 1: 1.

Legs: metatarsi and tarsi not fused.

Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy 4: 4: 4: 3: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4 (including 2 tactile setae): 4 (including 2 tactile setae): 2; sternal chaetotaxy 0: (0) 2 (0): (1) 2 (1): 4: 4: 4: 4: 2: 4: 4 (all tactile setae): 2.

Dimensions (mm): WAM T110848 . Body length 0.99. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.165 / 0.075 , femur 0.330 / 0.080, patella 0.200 / 0.085, chela (with pedicel) 0.545 / 0.125, chela (without pedicel) 0.510, hand (without pedicel) length 0.255, movable finger length 0.295. Carapace 0.305 / 0.375.

Distribution and remarks. Indohya boltoni has been recorded from several localities in the eastern and northern Pilbara region ( Fig. 4 ), with a total distributional range of> 19,000 km 2. Most specimens were collected from litter samples or pitfall traps, although some were collected from subterranean ecosystems suggesting that they occur in soil. The species was previously known by WAM identification code Indohya ‘PSE002’.

Despite the large differences in the p-values of COI, we could not discern any morphological features to distinguish the populations.

Conservation assessment. Indohya boltoni is widely distributed in the eastern and northern Pilbara and, with a distribution of> 19,000 km 2, represents the most widely distributed species of the genus. It does not meet the criteria for threatened under the categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (2012), and is here regarded as best fitting the category of Least Concern.

Etymology. This species is named for Paul Bolton, collector of specimens from Abydos, and many other interesting invertebrates.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Hyidae and other neobisioids, based on alignment of concatenated COI, 18S and 28S. Ultrafast bootstrap values are presented for nodes greater than 80%.

FIGURE 2. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Australian Indohya, using COI, 18S and 28S concatenated dataset. Bootstrap values are presented for all nodes. The genes amplified for each specimen are depicted with black squares in the gene matrix.

FIGURE 3. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Australian Indohya, using COI. Bootstrap values are presented for all nodes.

FIGURE 4. Map of north-western Australia depicting recorded distributions of the epigean species of Indohya from the Pilbara.

FIGURE 22. Indohya boltoni Harvey & Burger, n. sp.: A–C, holotype male (WAM T122020): A, dorsal; B, ventral; C, cephalothorax, dorsal; D–F, paratype female (WAM T112022): D, dorsal; E, ventral; F, cephalothorax, dorsal. Scale lines = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 23. Indohya boltoni Harvey & Burger, n. sp., holotype male (WAM T112020): A, carapace, dorsal; B, right pedipalp, dorsal; C, left chela, retrolateral; D, left fixed finger, chelal teeth, retrolateral. Scale lines = 0.5 mm (Fig. B), 0.2 mm (Figs. A, C), 0.1 mm (Fig. D).

FIGURE 24. Indohya boltoni Harvey & Burger, n. sp.: A, left chela, retrolateral, tritonymph (WAM T137074); B, right chela, retrolateral, deutonymph (WAM T137076); C, left chela, retrolateral, protonymph (WAM T110848). Scale lines = 0.2 mm.