Monomontia aquilonaris Lawrence, 1963

Schönhofer, Axel L., 2008, On harvestmen from the Soutpansberg, South Africa, with description of a new species of Monomontia (Arachnida: Opiliones), African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 109-109 : 115

Monomontia aquilonaris Lawrence, 1963

Figs 5A–D , 6E–H , 7A–E , 8A, 8B , 9G, 9H , 10G, 10H

Monomontia aquilonaris: Lawrence 1963: 301 , figs 13b–f.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: 1^(holotype) 2^(paratypes) Hanglip forest, Makhado , alt. 1370 m, ii.1960, R.F. Lawrence ( NMSA, 7604), ovipositor and 2 opercula genitalia mounted on microscope slide; 37ơ 18^Lajuma, in evergreen montane forest, alt. 1300–1400 m, 1–4.iv.2001, P. Schwendinger ( MHNG) ; 1ơ 1^23 ° 02'30''S: 29 ° 26'48.5''E, alt. 1325 m, sieved from deep litter, 6.x & 6.xi.2002, A.L. Schönhofer ( CJM, 4821) .

Ecology: In deep leaf litter of evergreen montane forest.

Comments: The type series comprises three females, one indicated as the holotype by separation of chelicerae and palps to carry out drawings. The ovipositor was turned inside out, and another ovipositor is mounted on a microscope slide (paratype). In the absence of males from the type locality, specimens from Lajuma had to be assigned to M. aquilonaris on external characters only. This might be legitimate, as no sexual dimorphism was observed within the Lajuma material and specimens are indistinguishable from the type material from only 50 km away. Further collection and redescription of males from the type locality are necessary to confirm species recognition upon genital morphological characters. For this purpose, drawings of the penis from the Lajuma material are included, as well as those of leg I, chelicerae and palp.

The ventral armature of the palps, chelicerae and leg I are constant within the Lajuma material. The shape of the ocularium ( Figs 6E–H ), as well as the dorsal spination of the palp femur, vary, as does the number of granules on the front of the carapace (2 or 3). Additionally, the size of the males varies remarkably, as do the size and proportions of the palps, especially the length and shape of tibia and femur. The species shows similarity with Monomontia lawrencei Kauri, 1950 (similar in size, shape of ocularium and armature of palps; different in body shape and penis morphology, Kauri 1950), M. corticola Lawrence, 1938 (similar in size and armature of palps and leg I, but body and legs coloured black, Lawrence 1938 a) and M. brincki Kauri, 1961 (similar in size, shape of ocularium and armature of palps; different in penis morphology, Kauri 1961). The relationships of these species should be investigated.

Figures

Fig. 5. Monomontia, general habitus, dorsal (A, B, D–F, H) and lateral (C, G, I) views: (A–D) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma: (A) ơ, (C, D) ^; (E–G) M. versicolor ơ: (E) holotype, Mariespskop, (F, G) Lajuma; (H, I) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. Scale bars = 1.0 mm; scale bar top left for A, B, E, F; at H for H and I.

Fig. 6. Monomontia, ơ headcaps, lateral view: (A–D) M. versicolor: (A, B) Mariepskop, holotype and paratype, (C) Lajuma, (D) Makhado; (E–H) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma, different individuals; (I) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. Scale bars = 0.2 mm, bottom left for A–D; at H for E–H; at I for I.

Fig. 7. Monomontia, ơ leg I and chelicerae: (A–E) M. aquilonaris: (A) holotype, (B–E) Lajuma; (F–I) M. versicolor, Lajuma; (K–M) M. neglecta sp. n, Makhado. (A, B, F, K) leg I, lateral view, (C, D, G, H, L, M) chelicera, (I, E) pincer, (C, E, H, I, L) lateral and (D, G, M) medial aspects. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 8. Monomontia, ơ palps: (A, B) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma; (C–H) M. versicolor: (C, D) Lajuma, (E, F) Mariepskop, (G, H) Makhado; (I, K) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. (A, B, I) palpus, (C–H, K) femur of palp; (B, D, F, H, K) lateral view, (A, I) medial view, (C, E, G) ventral view. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 9. Monomontia, penes: (A–F) M. versicolor: (A, B) Lajuma, (C, D) Makhado, (E, F) Mariepskop; (G, H) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma; (I, K) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. (A, C, E, G, I) dorsal and (B, D, F, H, K) lateral views. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Fig.10. Monomontia, glans penes: (A–F) M. versicolor: (A, B) Makhado, (C, D) Lajuma, (E, F) Mariepskop; (G, H) M. aquilonaris, Lajuma; (I, K) M. neglecta sp. n., Makhado. (A, C, E, G, I) lateral and (B, D, F, H, K) dorsal views. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.