Rhopalochernes Beier, 1932

Marimon, Karla, Blanco, Eduardo Villarreal & Harvey, Rk. S., 2022, Two new species of Rhopalochernes Beier, 1932 (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae) from Colombia, Zootaxa 5150 (3), pp. 397-410 : 398-409

Genus Rhopalochernes Beier, 1932

Rhopalochernes Beier, 1932: 140 .

Type species: Chelifer ohausi Tullgren, 1907 , by original designation.

Key to species of the genus Rhopalochernes (updated from Beier 1932)

1. Males.............................................................................................. 2

Females............................................................................................. 5

2. Eyeless ( Figs. 1C , 4C ); serrula exterior of chelicera with 11 blades.............................................. 3

Eye-spots present; serrula exterior of chelicera with 15 or more blades........................................... 4

3. Carapace with 2 conspicuous, deep furrows; tarsus of leg IV slender, 4.00‒4.25 × longer than deep ( Fig. 1C , 2B )................................................................................. Rhopalochernes luiscarlosi sp. nov.

Carapace with 2 shallow, indistinct furrows; tarsus of leg IV more robust, 2.75‒3.75 × longer than deep ( Fig. 4C , 5B ).............................................................................. Rhopalochernes catalinae sp. nov.

4. Femur + patella of leg IV slender, 3.50 × longer than deep; movable chelal finger shorter than chelal hand without pedicel (0.94 × longer than hand).............................................................................. R. ohausi

- Femur + patella of leg IV robust, 2.7 × longer than deep; movable chelal finger longer than chelal hand without pedicel (1.25 × longer than hand)............................................................................. R. beckeri

5. Eyeless............................................................................................. 6

- Eye-spots present..................................................................................... 8

6. Cheliceral hand with 4 setae............................................................................. 7

- Cheliceral hand with 6 setae.................................................................... R. insulanus

7. Carapace with 2 deep furrows; spermathecae with 2 sacs with long and narrow ducts ( Figs. 2C , 7B )............................................................................................ Rhopalochernes luiscarlosi sp. nov.

- Carapace with 2 shallow furrows; spermathecae with 2 sacs with short and thicker ducts ( Figs. 4C , 7A ).......................................................................................... Rhopalochernes catalinae sp. nov.

8. Trichobothria it, ist, isb and ib restricted to basal half of fixed finger (see Beier, 1955 Fig. 10)................ R. titschacki

- Trichobothria it, ist, isb and ib not restricted to basal half of fixed finger.......................................... 9

9. Pedipalpal femur at least 3.00 × longer than broad.......................................................... 10

- Pedipalpal femur less than 3.00 × longer than broad......................................................... 11

10. Chelal hand (without pedicel) and movable chelal finger equal in length.................................... R. ohausi

- Chelal hand (without pedicel) longer than movable chelal finger....................................... R: germainii

11. Chela (with pedicel) slender, at least 3.00 × longer than broad................................................. 12

- Chela (with pedicel) robust, less than 3.00 × longer than broad....................................... R. antillarum

12. Nodus ramosus midway between st and t; femur + patella IV stout, 3.30 × longer than deep............... R. panamensis

- Nodus ramosus proximal to st; femur + patella IV slender, 3.73 × longer than deep...................... R. chamberlini

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rhopalochernes luiscarlosi sp. nov. A–C. Holotype female, habitus (ICN-Aps-841). A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Carapace. D–F. Paratype male, habitus (ICN-Aps-842). D. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. E. Carapace. Scale bars A–B, D–F = 0.05 mm. C, E= 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 2. Rhopalochernes luiscarlosi sp. nov., female holotype. A. Left leg I. B. Left leg IV. C. Left pedipalp. D. Galea. E. Left chela. F. Left chelicera. G. Rallum. Scale bar A–B: 0.1 mm, C, D, E, G= 0.02 mm, F= 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 4. Rhopalochernes catalinae sp. nov., A–C. Holotype female, habitus (ICN-Aps-843). A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Carapace. D–F. Paratype male, habitus (ICN-Aps-844). D. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. E. Carapace. Scale bars A–B, D–E = 0.05 mm. C, F= 0.25 mm

FIGURE 5. Rhopalochernes catalinae sp. nov., female holotype. A. Left leg I. B. Left leg IV. C. Galea. D. Rallum. E. Left chelicera. F. Left pedipalp. G. Left chela. Scale bar A–B: 0.1 mm, C, D, F,G= 0.02 mm, E= 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 7. Schematic drawing of spermathecae A. Rhopalochernes luiscarlosi sp. nov. B. Rhopalochernes catalinae sp. nov. Vestitural setae on tergites C. Rhopalochernes luiscarlosi sp. nov. D. Rhopalochernes catalinae sp. nov. Scale bar A–B: 0.05 mm, C–D= 0.1 mm.