Rhampsinitus discolor ( Karsch 1878b )

Taylor, Christopher K., 2017, Notes on Phalangiidae (Arachnida: Opiliones) of southern Africa with description of new species and comments on within-species variation, Zootaxa 4272 (2), pp. 236-250 : 243

Rhampsinitus discolor ( Karsch 1878b)

Fig. 3 .

Phalangium discolor Karsch 1878b: 311 .

Rhampsinitus discolor (Karsch) : Staręga 1984: 59 –60 (including synonymy).

Material examined. KENYA: 2 males, 2 females, Kibwezi, 30.xii.1959, E. S. Ross ; 1 male, 2 females, Kibwezi, 900 m, 5.xii.1967, E. S. Ross & A. R. Stephen (CAS).

Notes. Staręga (1984) provided a redescription of this species, with which the specimens on hand are in agreement except for the presence of a small finger-like apophysis on the pedipalpal patella of the male; Staręga (1984) indicated that such an apophysis was present in the female only. However, the original description of Rhampsinitus filipes Roewer 1917 , which Staręga (1984) placed as a synonym of R. discolor , does describe it as possessing a pedipalpal apophysis. As the current male specimen otherwise resembles Staręga’s (1984) description in cheliceral and pedipalpal armature, It seems likely that the differences between the two lie within the scope of individual variation. A dorsal view of the male is shown for comparative purposes in figure 3; other diagnostic features, including the penis, were illustrated by Staręga (1984).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Rhampsinitus discolor (Karsch 1878 b), male. A: frontolateral view; B: dorsal view; C: penis, right lateral view; D: penis, dorsal view.