Maurymontia mendocina (Maury & Roig Alsina, 1985), 2025

Porto, Willians, Iglesias, Patricia P. & Pérez-González, Abel, 2025, Disentangling the South American “ Ceratomontia ”: new genus, new combinations, and new species (Opiliones: Laniatores: Triaenonychidae), Zootaxa 5729 (2), pp. 233-263 : 249-253

Maurymontia mendocina (Maury & Roig Alsina, 1985) comb. nov.

( Figs. 2A , 15–19 )

Ceratomontia mendocina Maury & Roig Alsina 1985: 87 , figs 9–12, 15–16, 19; Maury 1992: 4; Acosta & Maury 1998: 579; Kury 2003: 21

Type material. ♂ holotype (MACN-Ar 7917) from Argentina, Mendoza Province, Departamento Las Heras, Quebrada San Isidro. 29-VII-1982 . ♀ allotype (MACN-Ar 7918), 1 ♂ 1 ♀ paratype (MACN-Ar 7919), same data . 1 ♂ 2 ♀ paratype (MACN-Ar 7920); 1 ♀ paratype (MACN-Ar 7921); 2 ♀ paratype ( ARA 9043 ): same locality, 4-IV-1983 .

Comparative diagnosis. This species is readily distinguishable from other members of the genus by the prominently projected ocularium in males ( Figs 15 A ─D, 16 A─B). The lower edge of the femur of the pedipalps exhibits 2–3 basal cruciform tubercles ( Figs 17 C ─D). Additionally, the capsula interna is wider compared to other species within the genus, and the capsula externa has a U-shaped cleft in the dorsal view ( Fig. 19 ).

Measurements holotype (MACN-Ar 7917): Total length 3.26; carapace length 0.98, maximum width 1.55; dorsal scutum length 2.35; mesotergal scute maximum width 2.03. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.29, femur 1.22, patella 0.67, tibia 0.96, tarsus 0.84. Leg I: trochanter 0.18, femur 1.12, patella 0.54, tibia 0.74, metatarsus 0.80, tarsus 0.65. Leg II: trochanter 0.20, femur 1.48, patella 0.60, tibia 1.22, metatarsus 1.24, tarsus 1.23. Leg III: trochanter 0.21, femur 0.94, patella 0.43, tibia 0.72, metatarsus 0.92, tarsus 0.56. Leg IV: trochanter 0.17, femur 1.28, patella 0.53, tibia 1.10, metatarsus 1.47, tarsus 0.73.

Redescription. Male holotype (MACN-Ar 7917). Dorsum ( Figs 15 A, C ; 16 A–B ). Eta (η) hourglass-shaped dorsal scutum. Ocularium conical, with a long and acute tubercle prominently projected forward. Eyes are proximally located in the dorsolateral view of the ocularium. The dorsal scutum reveals well-defined areas covered by small tubercles. Areas I–III possess a pair of small tubercles with setae, while area IV has 2–4 small tubercles. The posterior border is adorned with 7–8 tubercles, and lateral grooves of the dorsal shield bifurcate on each side. All tubercles smaller than M. argentina . Free tergites are covered by small tubercles, some bearing setae.

Venter ( Figs 15 E ; 16 C–D ). Coxa I displays a medial tubercle with subdistal seta and seven small tubercles with setae. Coxa II microgranulate in the distal part, coxa III lacks microgranulation, coxa IV distal microgranulate bearing small tubercles without a bridge in the coxa IV. Spiracles are visible. The sternum is arrow-shaped.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 17 A–B ). Segment I of the chelicerae has five small tubercles on the ectal surface, seven small tubercles on the meso-ventral surface, and a small acute tubercle on the dorso-distal surface. Segment II exhibits ~11 small tubercles in ectal view, 10 in mesal view, and 13 in frontal view.

Pedipalp ( Fig. 17 C–D ). Trochanter with two dorsal tubercles and one ventral tubercle with subdistal setae, ventral surface microgranulate that extends to the femur. Femur with a ventro-ectal tubercle and a row of small tubercles with setae in dorso-ectal view. There is a row of conical tubercles interspersed with small tubercles in the dorsal view, a row of small rounded tubercles with setae. Mesal area covered by small rounded tubercles and two distal conical tubercles with subdistal setae. Patella has an ectal and mesal tubercle with subdistal setae. Tibia is covered ventrally by small rounded tubercles and has three ventral tubercles with subdistal setae on each side. Tarsus has three ventral tubercles with subdistal setae on each side and small scattered ventral tubercles with subdistal setae (~8).

Legs ( Fig. 18 ). Leg I trochanter with two dorsal tubercles, femur with a row of dorsal and long ventral tubercles, smooth patella, tibia with a ventral row of tubercles, metatarsus and tarsus smooth, II–IV with small setiferous tubercles on the femur, astragalus larger than the calcaneus on all legs, tarsal count: 2-3-3-3.

Penis ( Fig. 19 ). Pars distalis with a ventral plate, without a cleft, forming a lamella, longer than wide, with three ventral and two dorsal macrosetae each side; capsula externa higher than the ventral plate, with a dorsal U-shaped cleft. Capsula interna tubular in shape, a bit longer than the capsula externa.

Female

Measurements female (MACN-Ar 7918): Total length 3.46; carapace length 0.99, maximum width 1.48; dorsal scutum length 2.38; mesotergum maximum width 2.00. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.21, femur 0.94, patella 0.48, tibia 0.76, tarsus 0.67. Leg I: trochanter 0.27, femur 0.98, patella 0.47, tibia 0.67, metatarsus 0.73, tarsus 0.61. Leg II: trochanter 0.24, femur 1.35, patella 0.63, tibia 1.09, metatarsus 1.06, tarsus 1.04. Leg III: trochanter 0.25, femur 0.83, patella 0.40, tibia 0.67, metatarsus 0.76, tarsus 0.62. Leg IV: trochanter 0.26, femur 1.24, patella 0.54, tibia 1.02, metatarsus 1.31, tarsus 0.66.

Variation. ( Figs 15 B, D, F ). The female is very similar to the male, except for the shorter ocularium and slightly dilated pedipalp femur.

Distribution. ARGENTINA: Mendoza ( Fig. 2 A ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Maurymontia species with elevation layers (A). Distribution of Maurymontia species, showing the representation of the Peripampasic Arc (B).

FIGURE 15. Maurymontia mendocina comb. nov., male (A, C, E), female (B, D, F). Scale bars: A 2 mm, B–F 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Maurymontia mendocina comb. nov., SEM images of male. Habitus, dorsal (A), lateral (B), ventral (C–D). Scale bars: A, B, D 500 µm, C 1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Maurymontia mendocina comb. nov., SEM images of male. Chelicera, mesal (A), ectal (B). Pedipalp, mesal (C), ectal (D). Scale bars: A–B 200 µm, C–D 500 µm.

FIGURE 18. Maurymontia mendocina comb. nov., SEM images of male. Legs I (A), II (B), III (C), IV (D). Scale bar 500 µm.

FIGURE 19. Maurymontia mendocina comb. nov., SEM images of male. Penis, ventral view (A), ventro-apical view (B), lateral view (C), dorsal view (D–E). Colors: blue (capsula externa), red (capsula interna), green (ventral plate). Scale bars: Scale bars: A 50 µm, B–D 100 µm, E 200 µm.