Forsteropsalis marplesi ( Forster 1944 ) Taylor, 2011

Taylor, Christopher K., 2011, Revision of the genus Megalopsalis (Arachnida: Opiliones: Phalangioidea) in Australia and New Zealand and implications for phalangioid classification 2773, Zootaxa 2773 (1), pp. 1-65 : 56-58

Forsteropsalis marplesi ( Forster 1944) new combination

( Figs 115–120 )

Megalopsalis marplesi Forster 1944: 191–192 , figs 9–11.

Material examined. Female lectotype (here designated). DN. Dunedin , New Zealand, 13 November 1937, Prof. Marples ( MONZ 2 /20) .

Other material examined ( OMNZ): DN. 1 female, Leith Saddle , New Zealand, 24 February 1979 ; 1 female, same, ex pitfall traps, 7 February 1967; 1 male, 2 females, same, map ref. S42-1781, N.Z. Top. 1:250,000, 1 February 1970; 1 female, same, pitfall traps, 9 March 1967; 1 female, same, pitfall traps, 2 April 1967; 3 females, same, pitfall traps, 8 April 1967; 2 females, same, pitfall traps, 6 May 1967; 1 male, same, pitfall traps, 25 August 1967; 1 male, Leith Valley , Dunedin, 27 December 1985 ; 1 male, 1 female, same, 25 January 1984, bush.

Description. MALE (N = 4). Prosoma length 2.2–3.0, width 3.0–3.8. Prosoma mostly tan, lateral shelves medium brown to mauve; scattered denticles in front of ocularium and at anterior corners; scattered black setae throughout; metapeltidium not sclerotised. Ocularium silver with black margins to eyes and with black setae. Dorsum of opisthosoma mottled grey or mauve and tan; many black setae throughout. Coxae tan proximally, mauve to brown distally, with black setae; venter of opisthosoma grey or mauve.

Chelicerae (figs 116–117). Segment I 6.0–7.8, segment II 8.0–10.5. Orange or tan; heavily denticulate.

Pedipalps. Femur 2.4–3.0, patella 1.2–1.4, tibia 1.4–1.6, tarsus 3.3–4.2. Tan with medium brown stripes on femur; femur denticulate; small, pointed patellar apophysis; no tooth-comb on claw.

Legs. Leg I femur 6.0–8.8, patella 1.3–2.0, tibia 5.5–7.3; leg II femur 10.5–14.0, patella 2.0, tibia 10.5–12.5; leg III femur 5.5–7.5, patella 1.0–1.5, tibia 5.0–6.3; leg IV femur 8.0–10.5, patella 2.0, tibia 7.0–9.0. Striped tan and brown, with black setae; femora denticulate. Tibia II with seven or eight pseudosegments; tibia IV with two pseudosegments (see ‘Comments’ below).

Penis (figs 118–119). Bristle groups well-developed. Glans in line with shaft; medium length, sides converging in ventral view; no dorsolateral keel.

FEMALE (N = 5). Prosoma length 1.8–2.2, width 2.8–3.2. Prosoma mottled tan with medium brown outer margins; scattered black setae. Ocularium silvery with black margins around eyes; two longitudinal rows of black setae. Dorsum of opisthosoma mottled medium brown, tan and silvery white, with central medium brown square ‘saddle’; black setae throughout. Coxae tan with medium brown distal margins, carrying black setae; venter of opisthosoma mottled tan with black setae.

Chelicerae. Segment I 1.0, segment II 2.0–2.5. Tan; unarmed.

Pedipalps. Femur 1.6–2.0, patella 0.8–0.9, tibia 1.0–1.1, tarsus 2.6–3.0. Tan with brown stripes on femur; patella with small, pointed apophysis; black setae in regular longitudinal rows on patella and tibia, small hypersetose region on outer margin of patellar apophysis; no tooth-comb on claw.

Legs. Leg I femur 4.0–5.0, patella 1.0–1.5, tibia 3.5–5.0; leg II femur 7.0–8.0, patella 1.5, tibia 7.0–10.0; leg III femur 3.5–4.5, patella 1.0, tibia 3.0–4.0; leg IV femur 5.8–6.0, patella 1.5, tibia 5.5–5.8. Striped tan and medium brown; femora denticulate. Tibia II with six or seven pseudosegments, tibia IV with two pseudosegments.

Ovipositor. Seminal receptacles as shown in fig. 120.

Comments. Forster’s (1944) original description of this species refers to “a number of specimens”, but the type vial only includes a single female. To forestall possible confusion, this specimen is here designated as lectotype.

Forsteropsalis marplesi is very similar to F. chiltoni and can only be distinguished by the number of pseudosegments in the second tibia. It also tends to be lighter in colour, though both species vary considerably in this feature, and some overlap occurs (the variation may be an artefact of preservation). In one specimen of F. marplesi , the pseudoarticulation in tibia IV on one side is only present dorsally, fading out ventrally.

Figures

FIGURES 115–120. Forsteropsalis marplesi (Forster 1944). 115. Body of male, dorsal view (OMNZ, Leith Valley, 1984). 116. Right male chelicera, retrolateral view (OMNZ, Leith Valley, 1984). 117. Left male cheliceral fingers, dorsal view (OMNZ, Leith Valley, 1984). 118. Glans, ventral view (OMNZ, Leith Saddle, August 1967). 119. Glans, lateral view (OMNZ, Leith Saddle, August 1967). 120. Seminal receptacles (OMNZ, Leith Saddle, 8 April 1967). Scale bars for figs 115, 117 = 1 mm; fig. 116 = 2 mm; figs 118–120 = 0.2 mm.