Eulibitia pollux, Medrano & Kury, 2017

Medrano, Miguel & Kury, Adriano B., 2017, Taxonomic revision of the Andean genus Eulibitia Roewer, 1912 (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cosmetidae), with the description of five new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 357, pp. 1-55 : 34-40

Eulibitia pollux sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:522C7A02-61AC-45D7-8F84-C42E01F1EC46

Figs 23–26 , 31B , 34 ; Table 4

Diagnosis

This species is similar to E. castor sp. nov. in having the paramedian tubercles on the posterior margin of the scutum acuminate, but differs from it because the other areas are unarmed ( Figs 23 A–B, D–E, 24A). Ladder mask often as paired points in scutal grooves ( Fig. 24C ); in its full form it covers the scutal groove between areas I and II with a spot with a shape of a mustache ( Fig. 24F ). Coda short, with symmetrical mid-bulge ( Figs 23A , 24A ); coxa IV slightly granulated, without clavi inguines ( Fig. 24A ). Femur IV curved in dorsal view, without conspicuous ornamentation ( Fig. 25 A–C). This is the only species of Eulibitia in which macrosetae D2 are minute, of the same size as MS E and MS B ( Fig. 26B ).

Etymology

Noun in apposition from Pollux, son of Leda and Zeus, and twin of Castor. From Greek mythology.

Material examined

Holotype

COLOMBIA: ♂, Boyacá Department, Villa de Leyva, Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque, El Níspero [5°38′ N, 73°31′ W] ( IAvH 35 ).

Paratypes

COLOMBIA: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 immature, Boyacá Department, Villa de Leyva, Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque, 5°42′6.3′′ N, 73°27′22.4′′ W, 2941 m a.s.l., 26– 27 Nov. 2011, A. García and AB Kury leg. ( MNRJ 19369); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Boyacá Department, Villa de Leyva, SFF Iguaque, 5.7200° N, 73.4579° W, 2800 m a.s.l., 22 Sep. 2013, A. García and S. Galvis leg. ( ICN-AO 1379).

Other material

COLOMBIA: Boyacá Department – 1 ♂, Villa de Leyva, SFF Iguaque, sector Carrizal, 5°41′52.28′′ N, 73°27′11.28′′ W, 9 Jun. 2001, E. Flórez leg. ( ICN-AO 295); 2 ♀♀, Villa de Leyva, SFF Iguaque 5.720016° N, 73.457901° W, 2800 m a.s.l., 22 Sep. 2013, A. García and S. Galvis leg. ( ICN-AO 1427); 2 ♀♀, Villa de Leyva, Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque, El Níspero [5°38′ N, 73°31′ W] ( IAvH 33, IAvH 34); 1 ♀, Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque, Cabaña Carrizal [5º42′ N, 73º27′ W], 2850 m a.s.l. ( IAvH 16); 1 ♂, Villa de Leyva, 5.720016° N, 73.457901° W, 2900 m a.s.l. ( IAvH 18); 6 ♀♀, San Pedro de Iguaque [Chiquiza], Morro Negro [5°36′36″ N, 73°29′20″ W], 3220 m a.s.l. ( IAvH 14, IAvH 19, IAvH 20, IAvH 21, IAvH 22, IAvH 30); 2 ♂♂, same collection data as preceding( IAvH 27, IAvH 66); 1 ♂,same locality as preceding, 3220m a.s.l., 14– 16 May 2003,E. González and C.Reina leg.( IAvH 81); 2 ♂♂,Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque,Cabaña Carrizal[5º42′ N, 73º27′ W], 2850m a.s.l.( IAvH 23, IAvH 24); 1 ♂,Villa de Leyva, Laguna Iguaque [5.642778° N, 73.564722° W], 2800 m a.s.l.( IAvH 28); 1 ♀, Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque, Quebrada Los Francos [5.700° N, 73.450° W], 2860 m a.s.l. ( IAvH 31); 1 ♂, Villa de Leyva, SFF Iguaque, 5.7200° N, 73.4579° W, 2750 m a.s.l., Mar. 1993 ( ICN-AO 474). Cundinamarca Department – 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Bogotá, Usme, Parque Entrenubes, Cerro Juan Rey, 4°31′17.71′′ N, 74°5′51.29′′ W, 2700 m a.s.l., 23– 25 May 2003, high scrub, pitfall, L. Benavides leg. ( ICN-AO 422); 1 ♀, Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza, Vereda San Francisco, Reserva Forestal Río Blanco, Palacio [4.722° N, 73.828° W], 2970 m a.s.l. ( IAvH 37); 1 ♂, Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza, Alto de La Bandera [4.5167° N, 73.750° W], 3660 m a.s.l. ( IAvH 65). –

SANTANDER DEPARTMENT: 1 ♂, Encino, Santuario de Fauna y Flora Guanentá, Vega del Diablo, Río Negro [5.950° N, 73.183° W], 1900 m a.s.l. ( IAvH 95); 2 ♀♀, same collection data as preceding ( IAvH 96, IAvH 97). Valle del Cauca Department – 1 ♂, Palmira [3.531° N, 76.260° W, 1040 m a.s.l.], 22 May 1998, J. Herrera leg. ( ICN-AO 1105).

Description

Male (based on holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. CL = 1.86, AL = 3.30, CW = 2.80, AW = 4.20, Fe IV = 4.27, Ti IV = 3.45.

DORSUM ( Figs 23 , 24A ). Dorsal scutum beta-shaped, with symmetrical mid-bulge. Posterior margin of scutum with two contiguous acuminate paramedian tubercles. Lateral margins of scutum granulated. Posterior margin of scutum with a row of small tubercles. Tergites with row of small tubercles and anal operculum finely granular.

VENTER ( Fig. 23B, E ). Free sternites finely granular; coxae II–IV finely and uniformly granular; coxa I with longitudinal row of tubercles and smooth area matching interlocking Tr of pedipalpus.

CHELICERAE ( Fig. 25F ). Basichelicerite with row of seven small tubercles on basal side and some disperse tubercles on dorsal side; movable finger with row of eleven tubercles, giving a serrated appearance; fixed finger with five tubercles, decreasing in size from basal to distal part of finger.

PEDIPALPS ( Fig. 25D, E ). Trochanter with strong ventral process. Femur with pronounced dorsal row of seven separated tubercles, with ventral row of seven setiferous tubercles and mesodistal process. Patella with low mesal keel.

LEGS ( Figs 24B , 25 A–C). Coxa IV finely granulated, without clavi inguines, distal apophysis of coxa IV tuberculate and directed laterally. Trochanter IV with small retro-distal apophysis. Femur IV curved in dorsal view, with two longitudinal ventral rows of small tubercles along entire length. Patella IV substraight, with small tubercles. Tarsal counts: 6–6(3)/10–10(3)/6–6/7–7.

COLOR ( Fig. 23 ). Body and appendages color background 40 (Strong Reddish Brown) mottled in 44 (Dark Reddish Brown), ladder mask 104 (Pale Greenish Yellow). Pedipalpus, chelicerae, and trochanters and tarsomeres of legs 83 (Brilliant Yellow).

GENITALIA ( Fig. 26 ). Ventral plate subrectangular, narrower basally and distal border hardly concave; dorsal apophysis of glans long and narrow, wattle long. Shapes and organization of macrosetae as follows: MS C1–C2 large, curved and flat; MS D1 large and straight, D2 minute; MS A1–A2 large,

cylindrical, straight and located in middle of ventral plate; MS B and MS E1–E2 ventral, very small, immersed in microsetae. Pair of MS B at base of ventral plate.

Variation

Right tubercle of posterior margin absent in some specimens ( Fig. 23F ). Variation of spots in DS as shown in Fig. 24 C–F. Tarsal counts: 5–6; 8–11; 6; 6–7. Variation of measurements is given in Table 4 .

Female

Coda larger than in males ( Fig. 24 C–D). Basitarsomeres in legs I thickened but not swollen ( Fig. 24B ).

Distribution

E. pollux sp. nov. occurs in the WWF ecoregions: (1) Magdalena Valley montane forests (NT0136), tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest biome; (2) northern Andean páramo (NT1006), montane grassland and shrubland biome, and (3) Cauca Valley montane forests (NT0109), tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest biome ( Fig. 34 ).

Figures

Fig. 23. Eulibitia pollux sp. nov., ♂, paratype (MNRJ 19369), habitus. A. Dorsal view. B. Left lateral view. C. Panoramic, dorsal view. D. Frontal view. E. Posterior view. F. Detail of another paratype with a single spine on posterior margin of scutum. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 24. Eulibitia pollux sp. nov., ♂, paratype (MNRJ 19369). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Left metatarsus and tarsomeres of leg I, prolateral view. C–F. Variation of spot pattern on dorsal scutum. C. ♂ (MNRJ 19369). D. ♀ (ICN-AO 422). E. ♂ (ICN-AO 422). F. ♂ (IAvH 97). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 25. Eulibitia pollux sp. nov., ♂ (ICN-AO 422). A. Trochanter, femur and patella of leg IV, dorsal view. B. Same, prolateral view. C. Same, ventral view. D. Left pedipalpus, ectal view. E. Same, mesal view. F. Left chelicera, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–C = 1 mm; D–E = 500 µm; F = 200 µm.

Fig. 26. Eulibitia pollux sp. nov., ♂ (MNRJ 19369), distal part of penis. A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Ventral view. Scale bars: 50 µm.

Fig. 31. Living specimens. A. Eulibitia scalaris (Sørensen in Henriksen, 1932) comb. nov. (ICN-AO 1208), photograph by Andrés García, Arcabuco, Boyacá Department. B. Eulibitia pollux sp. nov., photograph by M. Medrano, Choachi, Cundinamarca Department.

Fig. 34. Northern Andes in Colombia, showing localities for Eulibitia ectroxantha (Mello-Leitão, 1941) comb. nov., E. pollux sp. nov., E. castor sp. nov. and E. helena sp. nov. Colored patches on the background represent WWF ecoregions.