Charinus longipes Weygoldt, 2006

Miranda, Gustavo Silva de, Giupponi, Alessandro P. L., Prendini, Lorenzo & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2021, Systematic revision of the pantropical whip spider family Charinidae Quintero, 1986 (Arachnida, Amblypygi), European Journal of Taxonomy 772, pp. 1-409 : 160-162

Charinus longipes Weygoldt, 2006 , stat. nov.

Figs 11E–F , 94 , 98–99 ; Table 7

Charinus australianus longipes Weygoldt, 2006b: 20–22 , figs 5–6, 15.

Diagnosis

Based in part on Weygoldt (2006b), this species may be separated from other species of Charinus in Oceania by the following combination of characters: median and lateral eyes reduced ( Fig. 99A, C );

long, slender legs. It differs from C. cavernicolus by the long legs and slender appearance, and from C. pecki by the long distal spine on the pedipalp tarsus.

Etymology

The species name refers to the long, thin walking legs ( Weygoldt 2006).

Type material

Holotype NEW CALEDONIA • ♀; Taphozous Grotte near Hienghène II; 5 m a.s.l.; 25 Nov. 2004; S. Huber, S. Weygoldt and P. Weygoldt leg.; MNHN AM 5.

Paratype NEW CALEDONIA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN AM 5 [paratype was preserved in final stage of molting and is still attached to exuvium] .

Supplementary description

CARAPACE. Median eyes and median ocular tubercle reduced ( Fig. 99A, C ); pair of setae on median ocular tubercle; lateral eyes weakly developed, pale, with seta posterior to lateral ocular triad ( Fig. 99A ); lateral ocular triad well separated from carapace margin.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation ( Fig. 99B ); other sternal platelets wide, with seta on each lateral border and some smaller setae in between; pentasternum with six setae anteriorly and one seta in membranous region.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Posterior margin of female genital operculum slightly convex; gonopod cushion-like (see Weygoldt 2006b: figs 5–6), unsclerotized basally. Male unknown.

CHELICERAE. Small, flat tooth on retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth ( Fig. 11F ); retrolateral surface of claw with row of setae restricted to base; claw with five teeth ( Fig. 11E–F ); row of ten setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp ( Fig. 11E–F ).

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina without setae encircled by round carina and with four setae on margin. Femur with four dorsal spines, last spine very small, and three ventral spines (holotype with extra spine distally on dextral pedipalp) ( Fig. 99E–F ); three prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with three dorsal spines and prominent setiferous tubercle proximal to spine 3 ( Fig. 99E ); prominent setiferous tubercle distal to spine I, one-third length of spine I; two ventral spines ( Fig. 99F ); two setiferous tubercles between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with ventral spine distally and three setae between spine and distal margin; several long, slender setae prolateral to ventral spines. Tarsus with two dorsal spines, distal spine long, half length of tarsus, and proximal spine onethird length of distal spine ( Fig. 99D ); several long, narrow setae ventral to distal spine; cleaning organ with 32–35 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles; tarsus I with 41 articles; first tarsal article subequal in length to subsequent articles (length of first article: 0.7 mm; length of second article: 0.64 mm, n= 1). Leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, trichobothrium bt situated in proximal third of pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to sbf than to bf, sc and sf series with five trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 7.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Natural history

Known only from inside caves.

Figures

Fig. 11. Charinidae Quintero, 1986, chelicerae, prolateral and retrolateral views. A–B. Charinus milloti Fage, 1939 (MNHN). C–D. Sarax cochinensis (Gravely, 1915) (AMCC [LP 13118]). E–F. Charinus longipes Weygoldt, 2006 (MNHN). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 94. Map plotting known distributions of species of Charinus Simon, 1892 in Oceania, with inset for New Caledonia.

Fig. 98. Charinus elegans Weygoldt, 2006 (MHNG), antenniform leg I, ♂. A. Apex of distal article. B. Distal segment of tarsus, lateral view. C. Rod sensilla and olfactory setae. D. Apex of distal article of tarsus showing claw and tarsal organ. E. Detail of tarsal organ.

Fig. 99. Charinus longipes Weygoldt, 2006 (MNHN), general morphology, ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Frontal process. D. Pedipalp tarsus, frontal view. E. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E–F = 1 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm.