Rhaucus florezi, García & Kury, 2017

García, Andrés F. & Kury, Adriano B., 2017, Taxonomic revision of the Andean harvestman genus Rhaucus Simon, 1879 (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cosmetidae), Zootaxa 4338 (3), pp. 401-440 : 426-430

Rhaucus florezi new species

( Figs 1e , 15–17 , 18e , 23 )

Etymology. The species name is a genitive noun in honor to the Colombian arachnologist Eduardo Flórez, for his contributions to the study of Colombian arachnids.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (ICN-AO-1187), COLOMBIA, Boyacá Department: Tipacoque, Vereda La Calera [06°23'N 72°43'W], 2800 m, 1–5.iv.2013, M. Medrano leg. – Paratype: 1♂ (ICN-AO-1187.1), same data as the holotype .

Distribution and habitat. COLOMBIA, Boyacá Department: Pisba, Susacón, Tipacoque, Villa de Leyva. Between 2800 and 3500 m a.s.l., in Northern Andean páramo and Magdalena Valley montane forests ecoregions ( Figs 23 , 24a ).

Diagnosis. Leg IV coarsely granulated, with one prolateral and one retrolateral row of robust tubercles ( Fig. 16e ; contrasting with the weakly granulated leg IV of R. quinquelineatus ); a pair of short mammilliform spines in area III ( Fig. 15c ; contrasting with the high domed spines of R. robustus , R. serripes and R. quinquelineatus , and differing from R. vulneratus by having sharper tips).

Description. Male holotype (ICN-AO-1187)

Measurements: Holotype: CL=2.1, CW=4.1, AL=2.8, AW=5.2, BaCh=0.9, FeLIII=4.1, FeL IV=5, TiL III= 2.8, TiL IV= 4. Intraespecific variation of body and appendages measurements in Table 1.

Dorsum ( Figs 1e , 15a, 15c , 16a–b , 18e ): Dorsal scutum alpha type, slightly granulate ( Fig. 15a ), with five yellow transverse curved lines that vary in length and shape and a reticulate pattern each side of ocularium ( Figs 15a , 18e ). Abdominal scutum widest at level of groove II; areas I–IV with some granules. Carapace with some granules on the anterior region ( Fig. 15a ). Ocularium low without median depression, with some granules ( Figs 15c–e , 16a ). Lateral margins of DS with a few granules on the medial region ( Figs 16a–b ). Mesotergum delimited, divided into four areas: area I with a pair of short paramedian tubercles; area II with a pair of tiny tubercles, laterally displaced; area III with a pair of paramedian, mammilliform, granulated tubercles; area IV with a pair of small paramedian tubercles ( Figs 15c , 16a–b ). Posterior border of scutum sub-straight and with a row of tubercles. Free tergites I–III with a row of tubercles ( Figs 16a–b ).

Venter ( Fig. 15b ): Stigmatic area with a few granules. Stigmata large, oval and transverse. Coxa I with two parallel rows of tubercles, increasing in size distally, and with an anterior smooth space for the pedipalp to rest; coxa II slightly longer than coxa I, granulate; coxa III longer than I and II, granulate, with posterior margin sigmoid; coxa IV strongly backward, granulate. Genital operculum slightly granulate.

Pedipalps ( Figs 17a–c ): Coxa dorsally and ventrally with one meso-distal granule. Trochanter with one dorsal short tubercle and one ventral tubercle; femur compressed, dorsally with a row of aligned triangular and acuminate setiferous tubercles of different sizes –not reaching the distal portion- and ventrally with a row of rounded tubercles (the two basal-most tubercles fused, the three distal-most tubercles smaller than the others). Patella distally depressed with dorsal granules, the distal taller; tibia depressed, spoon-shaped, dorsally granulate, with lateral borders tuberculate and some spiniferous tubercles at distal portion; inner surface slightly striated ( Figs 17a– b ).Tarsus long, conical, with some dorsal granules and ventrally with two rows of thickened setae ( Fig. 17c ).

Chelicera ( Figs 15 , 16a–b , 17d–e ): Chelicera swollen. Basichelicerite rectangular, with a few granules; the proximal border with some tubercles, the dorso-ectal larger; ectal face with two basal small tubercles, one mediumsized tubercle slightly curved and a group of distal tubercles (one of them larger and curved); mesal face with some granules and one large distal tubercle ( Fig. 17d ). Hand with one tubercle near the joint of the movable finger. Fixed finger with the inner surface finely grooved. Movable finger with one conical, sub-basal tooth and with the distal portion of the inner surface dentate ( Fig. 17e ).

Legs ( Figs 15a–b , 16d–e ): Coxae I–II dorsally with one posterior process; coxa III with one proximal retrolateral tubercle; coxa IV coarsely granulate ( Figs 15a , 16a ), with a prominent anterolateral clavi inguines and a posterolateral multicapitate apophysis ( Fig. 16a ). Trochanters I–II dorsally with some minute granules and ventrally with some tubercles; trochanter III with some dorsal and ventral tubercles, and with one medium-sized, proximal prolateral tubercle and one retrolateral tubercle; trochanter IV with some dorsal and ventral tubercles, and with one large, proximal prolateral tubercle and one medium-sized retrolateral tubercle ( Figs 16d–e ). Femora I–IV sigmoid, granulated; III–IV ventrally with two longitudinal rows of tubercles along the entire length, and one prolateral and one retrolateral row of large tubercles (the retrolateral row of leg IV has the tubercles closer together compared to leg III) ( Figs 16d–e ). Patellae I–IV dorsally granulate, curved (patella IV with large tubercles at distal border) ( Fig. 16e ). Tibiae I–IV granulate; tibiae III–IV sub-straight, with two longitudinal rows of tubercles along its length (in tibia III the prolateral row has smaller tubercles than the retrolateral row); tibia IV with tubercles of similar size (the distal tubercle of retrolateral row is fused) ( Figs 16d–e ). Metatarsus I–IV with one ventrodistal setae. Tarsi I–II with one smooth claw; tarsi III–IV with 2 subparallel smooth claws and tarsal process ( Fig. 16c ). Tarsal counts: 6(3)–6(3)/13(3)–14(3)/9–9/9–9. Intraspecific variations in Table 2.

Color (in ethanol): Carapace Deep Brown (56), reticulated in the ocularium. Transverse lines in carapace Brilliant Yellow (83). Pedipalps, chelicera and coxae I–IV Strong Brown (55), reticulated. Trochanters I–IV Strong Yellowish Brown (74). Legs I–IV Strong Reddish Brown (40).

Male genitalia ( Figs 17f–h ): VP of penis subrectangular with slightly concave distal border; VP with two lateral, elongated, dense patches of type 4 microsetae, separated by a longitudinal space ( Fig. 17h ). VP with two apical MS C, curved and laterally inserted; two MS D, the most distal large and straight, following the same lateral row as MS C, and the other smaller, inserted dorso-laterally on the middle third of VP; two MS A straight and laterally inserted, near D2 ( Figs 17f–g ); two small MS E volcano-shaped on the ventral face; one small MS B volcano-shaped inserted laterally at the base of the VP ( Fig. 17f ). Glans mostly smooth; stylus long, wattle barbels long ( Fig. 17g ), finger-like process rounded, enlarged ( Fig. 17f ).

Female. Similar to male, but differs by having anterior part of carapace narrower and coda divergent; tubercles of area I and III shorter than male; legs III–IV thinner; tubercles in ventral rows of legs III–IV smaller; chelicerae not hyperthelic ( Figs 15d–e ).

Other material examined. 12 specimens (7 males, 5 females) in 11 lots. COLOMBIA . Boyacá Department: Villa de Leyva, 1♂ (ICN-AO-294), S.F.F. Iguaque sector Carrizal [05°41'N 73°27'W], 2800 m, 23.i.1998, L. Ballesteros leg. ; 1♂ (ICN-AO-297), S.F.F. Iguaque sector Carrizal [05°41'N 73°27'W], 2900 m, 9.vi.2001, E. Flórez leg. ; 1♂ 1♀ ( MNRJ 8884 ), S.F.F. Iguaque sector Carrizal [05°41'N 73°27'W], 2800 m, 31.x.2004, E. Flórez, G. Giribet & M. Porras leg. ; 1♀ (IAvH-3000180/ IAvH-I-6), S.F.F. Iguaque, Cabaña Chaina [05°25'N 73°27'W], 9.vi.2001 ; 1♀ (IAvH-I-10), S.F.F. Iguaque , lagoon shore [05°38'N 73°29'W], 3450 m, 13.ix.1998, E. González leg. ; 1♀ (IAvH-3000007/IAvH-I-13), S.F.F. Iguaque , lagoon shore [05°38'N 73°31'W], 3340 m, 14.x.1998, E. González leg. ; Pisba, 1♂ (ICN-AO-1191), Páramo de Pisba [5°44'N 72°29'W], 24.xi.1974 ; Susacón, 1♀ (IAvH-3000137/ IAvH-I-5), Susacón river, 20 km from Susacón [06°10'N 72°46'W], 3 135 m, 23.ii.1999, E. González leg. ; Aquitania, 1♂ (IAvH-3000136/IAvH-I-9), Los Curies Páramo ( Guarne ) [05°25'N 72°56'W], 3500 m, 8.ii.1999, E. González leg.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of live males of Rhaucus. a – b, Rhaucus vulneratus: a. Showing the five transverse orange lines on DS, b. Morph without transverse lines on DS, c. Rhaucus robustus, d. Rhaucus quinquelineatus, e. Rhaucus florezi sp. nov., f. Rhaucus serripes. [Photographs by A. García (a, b, d) and courtesy of John Uribe (c) and Miguel Medrano (e – f)].

FIGURE 15. Rhaucus florezi sp. nov. (ICN-AO- 1187). Habitus: a – d, male, a. Dorsal view, b. Ventral view, c. Frontal view, d. Lateral view. e. Female, lateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Rhaucus florezi sp. nov. (ICN-AO- 1187). Male: a. Dorsal view, b. Lateral view, c. Tarsus I – IV, d. Leg III: dorsal, ventral and retrolateral view, e. Leg IV: dorsal, ventral and retrolateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Rhaucus florezi sp. nov. SEM (ICN-AO- 294). Male: a – c, pedipalp: a. Ectal view, b. Mesal view, c. Tarsus. d – e, chelicera: d. Basichelicerite, dorsal view, e. Fingers, ectal view. f – h, penis: f. Lateral view, g. Dorsal view, h. Ventral view.

FIGURE 18. Intraspecific variation of pattern of yellow markings on DS of Rhaucus spp.: a. Rhaucus vulneratus, b. Rhaucus quinquelineatus, c. Rhaucus serripes, d. Rhaucus robustus, e. Rhaucus florezi sp. nov.

FIGURE 23. Central Colombia, showing the geographic distribution of Rhaucus florezi sp. nov., Rhaucus serripes and Rhaucus robustus. Shaded areas in the background are WWF ecoregions. Abbreviations: NAP = Northern Andean Páramo; COMF = Cordillera Oriental Montane Forests; MVMF = Magdalena Valley Montane Forests. Solid red lines: administrative boundaries.

FIGURE 24. Habitat of Rhaucus spp.: a. Montane forests at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, Boyacá (Rhaucus florezi, Rhaucus quinquelineatus, Rhaucus serripes), b. Páramo at Chingaza National Natural Park, Cundinamarca (Rhaucus quinquelineatus, Rhaucus serripes, Rhaucus vulneratus) [Photographs by A García (b) and courtesy of Miguel Medrano (a)].