Stenochrus magico, Monjaraz-Ruedas & Francke, 2018

Monjaraz-Ruedas, Rodrigo & Francke, Oscar F., 2018, Five new species of Stenochrus (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico, Zootaxa 4374 (2), pp. 189-214 : 207-211

Stenochrus magico , sp. nov.

Figs. 57–71 , Table 5.

Type material. MEXICO : Oaxaca: male holotype ( CNAN-T1163 ), [26 March 1981, A. Grubbs, S. Zeman], from Millipede Cave, Río Iglesia Dolina (18.1175ºN, 96.79983ºW, 1610m), Huautla de Jiménez . Paratypes: 1 male ( CNAN-T1164 ), [12 April 2014, G. Contreras, J. Cruz, S. Davlantes, O. Francke, J. Mendoza], from Cueva Li- Nita, (18.14767ºN, 96.7984ºW, 1919m), Huautla de Jiménez . 1 female ( CNAN-T1165 ), [11 September 2010, D. Barrales, J. Cruz, O. Francke, A. Valdez], from Cueva 100m S of Puente de Fierro, (18.15085ºN, 96.85336ºW, 1197m), Huautla de Jiménez . 1 female ( CNAN-T1166 ), [12 April 2015, G. Contreras, O. Francke, J. Mendoza, M. Minton, R. Monjaraz], from Cueva Cangrejo, San Miguel Cuahutepec, (18.10717ºN, 96.79845ºW, 1540m), Huautla de Jiménez .

Distribution. This species is known only from caves in the Sierra Mazateca in the vicinity of Huautla de Jiménez ( Fig 71).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition of the Spanish word magic, in reference to the magic mushrooms (genus Psilocybe ) which occur in the region of Huautla de Jimenez, and were popularized during the hippie years in the 1970s and 80s.

Diagnosis. Males can be distinguished by the bulbous flagellum, subquadrate in shape, without dorsal relief ( Figs. 59–61 ); pedipalp trochanter with a small protuberance as apical process. Females can be distinguished by the spermathecae ( Fig. 70 ) with median lobes inverse “J” shaped, without duct openings, lateral lobes curved outwards; the bases of the lobes clearly separated. Stenochrus magico resembles Stenochrus firstmani ( Rowland, 1973) in the shape of the male flagellum; however, males of S. magico have a subquadrate-shaped flagellum, whereas males of S. firstmani present a sub-triangular-shaped flagellum. In addition, males of S. firstmani present a dorsomedian protuberance on flagellum, whereas the flagellum of males of S. magico lack dorsal relief. Females of S. magico resemble S. alcalai in the shape of the spermathecae, having median lobes inverse “J” shaped; however, females of S. magico have the lateral lobes curved outwards and about 1/3 length of median lobes, whereas females of S. alcalai have lateral lobes straight and about 1/4 length of median lobes. Additionally, females of S. magico have a wide and short, subrectangular gonopod with sides parallel, while females of S. alcalai have a trapezoidal gonopod with oblique sides.

Chelicerae ( Figs. 67–69 ): Movable finger: serrula with 22 teeth, guard tooth present. Fixed finger with five smaller teeth between two primary teeth. Setation: Setal group formula: 3-6- 4-2-13-6 -1-6. G1 with three spatulate setae, covered with spinose spicules from the middle of the shaft to the tip; G2 composed of six feathered setae, subequal in length, and shorter than movable finger length; G3 with four setae subequal in length, feathered apically and smooth basally; G4 consisting of two small setae, smooth, thick basally, elongated at the tip; G5A with thirteen similar sized setae, feathered apically and longer than fixed finger; G5B with six, basal three short and smooth, distal three longer and feathered; G6 with one smooth setae about 1/2 of movable finger length; G7 with six smooth and slender setae subequal in length.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 65 ): homeomorphic; 2.1 times longer than propeltidium length. Trochanter with a small protuberance on apical process, mesal surface with three setae near ventral margin, plus two setae near dorsal margin; with a long, medial mesal spur. Femur, 2 times longer than high; ventral margin on ectal surface with setae Fe1, Fe5, Fev1 and Fev2 acuminate; mesal surface with a row of three ventral setae (Fmv 1–3) plus two dorsal setae (Fmd2, Fmd3). Patella with four Pe acuminate setae and four Pm feathered setae; without distinctive ornamentations. Setae formula on tibia 5:6:6 Ter acuminate, Tmr and Tir feathered. Tarsal spurs asymmetrical.

Legs: Leg I, basitarsal-telotarsal proportions: 27: 3: 4: 4: 5: 5: 11. Femur IV 3.0 times longer than high.

Opisthosoma: Tergite I with two pairs of microsetae anteriorly plus pair Dm; tergite II with three pairs of microsetae anteriorly plus pair Dm; tergites III–VII with one pair of Dm setae each; tergite VIII with Dm and Dl2; tergite IX with pairs Dl1, Dl2 and without Dm. Segments X, XI telescoped, with setal pairs Dl2, Vm2, Vl1 and Vl2, plus single Vm1 seta; segment XII with Dm, Dl1, Dl2, Vm1, Vm2, Vl1 and Vl2 setae, without posterodorsal process. Sternites with two well defined rows of setae each; genital plate with scattered setae.

Flagellum ( Figs. 59–61 ): bulbous, subquadrate-shaped; 1.7 times longer than wide; without dorsal relief. Setation: Dm1 situated outside of the bulb base; Dm4 situated distally; Dl2 anterior to Vl1; Dl3 at same level as Vl2; pair Vm2 present; seta Vm1 posterior to Vm2; Vm 5 posterior to Vl1. With one pair of anterodorsal microsetae between Dm1 and Dl2, one pair of anterolateral microsetae on flagellar pedicel, and two patches of microsetae between Vl1 and Vl2 (msp).

Female (paratype) ( Fig. 58 ): Pedipalps as on male ( Fig. 66 ), 1.9 times longer than propeltidium length. Setation as on male. Flagellum with three flagellomeres ( Figs. 62–64 ). Setation: seta Dl2 not reduced and anterior to Vl1; Dl3 posterior to Vl2; Vm2 present and not reduced; seta Vm1 at same level as Vm2; microsetae Dl1 and Dl4 present. Spermathecae ( Fig. 70 ) with two pairs of lobes; median pair inverse “J” shaped outwards, without duct openings, ending in a blunt margin; lateral pair slender and slightly shorter, about 2/3 length of median lobes, curved outwards, with many pores along the entire length; lateral and median lobes bases at the same level. Chitinized arch U-shaped; with diffuse lateral tips and without anterior branch. Gonopod 3 times wider than long, roughly curved-shaped. Chelicera: serrula with 23 teeth. Setal group formula 3-8- 4-2-11-6 -1-6. Fixed finger with five teeth between two primary teeth.

Remarks. Specimens of Stenochrus magico are distributed only inside the caves of the Sierra Mazateca, primarily in the Sistema Huautla. There is no evidence of dimorphic males in this species, but additional sampling is needed to verify this (n=2). There are other schizomid species outside the caves that should not be confused with Stenochrus magico , and the evidence suggests that S. magico is a troglophile without any apparent troglomorphic trait.

Male CNAN-T 1163 Male CNAN-T1164 Female CNAN-T 1165 Female CNAN-T 1166

Figures

FIGURES 57, 58. Stenochrus magico sp. nov. Male holotype.Habitus:57. Dorsal view. Female paratype.Habitus:58. Dorsal view.

FIGURES 59–66. Stenochrusmagico sp. nov. Male holotype.Flagellum (59–61): 59, dorsal view. 60, ventral view. 61, lateral view. Female. Flagellum (62–64): 62, dorsal view. 63, ventral view. 64, lateral view. Pedipalps ectal view (65, 66): 65, Homeomorphic male. 66, female.Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 67–70. Stenochrus magico sp. nov. Male. Chelicera (67–69): 67, movable finger. 68, mesal view. 69, fixed finger. Female.Spermathecae:70, dorsal view.Scale bar (Fig. 70) = 0.05 mm.