Charinus susuwa, Miranda & Giupponi & Prendini & Scharff, 2021

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 : 142-144

Charinus susuwa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2DD78A8B-3E54-4616-9425-B62D7B360D8E

Figs 80 , 82 ; Table 5

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from C. madagascariensis and other African species of Charinus by means of the following combination of characters: troglobitic habitus, with pale color, elongated pedipalp spines, and eyes extremely reduced, to eyespots below tegument ( Fig. 82A ); pedipalp femur with long spine between dorsal spines 1 and 2 ( Fig. 82E ); pedipalp patella with long ventral spine between spine I and distal margin ( Fig. 82F ); tarsus with one dorsal spine ( Fig. 82C ).

The tarsus and tibia of leg I are missing from the holotype.

Etymology

Noun in apposition referring to the type locality, Mt Susuwa.

Type material

Holotype KENYA • ♀; Mt. Susuwa ; [01°10′34.11″ S, 36°20′55.92″ E]; Mar. 1967; A.J. Sutcliffe leg.; in lava, tunnel 3 (dark zone); BMNH.

Description

CARAPACE. Six anterior setae; frontal process triangular ( Fig. 82D ). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes reduced to eyespots below tegument; median ocular tubercle absent ( Fig. 82A ); pair of setae in place of median ocular tubercle; lateral eyes extremely reduced, present only as small yellowish eyespots below tegument.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation, long, greatly surpassing base of pedipalp coxae; other sternal platelets narrow and concave, with pair of setae anteriorly on plaque and some smaller setae posteriorly; pentasternum with four setae anteriorly and without seta on membranous region.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with posterior margin straight; gonopod sucker-like with wide, rounded apex.

CHELICERAE. Small, flat tooth on retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth; retrolateral surface of claw with continous row of setae, basally to medially; claw with five teeth; row of twelve setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp.

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with four prominent setae encircled by round carina and three setae on margin. Femur with three dorsal spines and three ventral spines ( Fig. 82E–F ); long spine between dorsal spines 1 and 2; two prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin; long spine between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with four dorsal spines in primary series, proximal three spines long, fourth spine shorter ( Fig. 82E ); prominent setiferous tubercle distal to spine I, one-fourth length of spine I; three ventral spines ( Fig. 82F ); prominent spine between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with ventral spine distally and two setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with long dorsal spine, half length of tarsus ( Fig. 82C ); cleaning organ with 26 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Leg IV basitibia IV with four pseudo-articles, with sclerotized, denticulate projection at apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated submedially on pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to sbf than to bf, sc and sf series each with five trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 5.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality.

Natural history

This species was collected from a lava tunnel in the ancient volcano Mt Susuwa. The habitat and habitus indicate it is troglobitic. Phrynichus exophthalmus was also recorded from Mt Susuwa ( Weygoldt 1998b).

Key to the identification of the species of Charinus in western Africa

1. Median and lateral eyes reduced ( Fig. 93A ); cheliceral claw with four teeth; pedipalp femur with five ventral spines ( Fig. 93D ) ................................................. Charinus milloti Fage, 1939 ( Fig. 93 )

– Median and lateral eyes unmodified; cheliceral claw with more than four teeth; pedipalp femur with three or four ventral spines ................................................................................................................ 2

2. Cheliceral claw with nine teeth; pedipalp patella with four ventral spines ( Fig. 89C )........................ ........................................................................................... Charinus fagei Weygoldt, 1972 ( Fig. 89 )

– Cheliceral claw with fewer than six teeth; pedipalp patella with two or three ventral spines........... 3

3. Pedipalp patella with four dorsal spines and three ventral spines; pedipalp tarsus with three dorsal spines ......................................................................................... Charinus loko sp. nov. ( Figs 90–92 )

– Pedipalp patella with three dorsal spines and two ventral spines; pedipalp tarsus with two dorsal spines ................................................................................................................................................. 4

4. Cheliceral claw with six teeth; genital operculum with median projection......................................... ................................................................................ Charinus africanus Hansen, 1921 ( Figs 84–88 )

– Cheliceral claw with four teeth; genital operculum slightly convex but without median projection ............................................................................................ Charinus kakum Harms, 2018

Figures

Fig. 80. Map plotting known distributions of species of Charinus Simon, 1892 in eastern Africa and northern Madagascar.

Fig. 82. Charinus susuwa sp. nov. (BMNH), general morphology, ♀. A. Carapace, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Pedipalp tarsus, frontal view. D. Frontal process. E. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E–F = 1 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 93. Charinus milloti Fage, 1939 (MNHN), general morphology, ♂. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Pedipalp, dorsal view. D. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 89. Charinus fagei Weygoldt, 1972 (MNHN), general morphology, ♂. A. Carapace, dorsal view. B. Pedipalp, dorsal view. C. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 90. Charinus loko sp. nov. (SMNS), 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.

Fig. 91. Charinus loko sp. nov. (SMNS), female gonopod and genital operculum. A. Cushion-like gonopod, dorsal view. B. Gonopods, posterior view. C. Posterior margin of genital operculum, ventral view. D. Apex of projection on sinistral gonopod.E. Apex of projection on dextral gonopod.F. Glandular opening on margin of genital operculum, ventral view.

Fig. 92. Charinus loko sp. nov. (SMNS), male gonopod. A. Ventral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Dextral side of gonopod. D. Lateral lobe 1. E. Dorsal lobe.

Fig. 84. Charinus africanus Hansen, 1921 (AMCC [LP 6943]), chelicera, ♀. A. Prolateral view. B. Retrolateral projection, opposite to bifid tooth. C. Setal row on cheliceral claw. D. Cheliceral claw teeth. E. Position of gland on joint between basal segment and cheliceral claw. F. Gland. G. Seta on cheliceral basal segment. H. Apex of basal segment seta. I. Seta on cheliceral claw. J. Setae on dorsal surface of cheliceral basal segment.

Fig. 85. Charinus africanus Hansen, 1921 (AMCC [LP 6943]), male gonopod. A. Ventral view. B. Posterior view. C. Dorsal view. D. Lamina medialis. E. Lateral lobe 2. F. Junction between dorsal lobe and lateral lobe 1. G. As F, frontal view.

Fig. 86. Charinus africanus Hansen, 1921 (AMCC [LP 6943]), pedipalp tarsus, ♀. A. Tarsus. B. Slit sense organs on tarsus. C. Gland openings on tarsus. D. Multiple gland openings on tarsus. E. Type I setae on tarsus. F. Type II setae on tarsus.

Fig. 87. Charinus africanus Hansen, 1921 (AMCC [LP 6943]), leg IV arolium and pedipalp cleaning brush, ♀. A. Truncus, lip and ribs of arolium, lateral view. B. Aroliar truncus.C. Aroliar lip.D. Cleaning brush of pedipalp tarsus. E. Dorsal row of setae. F. Ventral row of setae. G. Surface between setal rows. H. Small projections on surface between setal rows of cleaning brush on pedipalp tarsus. Abbreviations: lip = distal aroliar lip; rib = ribs of aroliar lip; tr = truncus.

Fig. 88. Charinus africanus Hansen, 1921 (AMCC [LP 6943]), tarsus, ♀. A. Tarsus showing region of white ring. B. Trichobothria on distitarsus of leg IV. C. Trichobothrial socket.

Tables

Table 5. Measurements of all East African species of Charinus Simon, 1892.

							Pedipalp								Leg IV
Species	Additional information	Source	Sex	Carapace length	Carapace width	Femur length	Patella length	Tibia length	Tarsus length	Claw length	Femur I length	Femur	Basitibia article I	Basitibia article II	Basitibia article III	Basitibia article IV	Distitibia	Basitarsus	Other tarsal articles
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	♂	2.60	3.80	2.03	2.03	0.94	0.69	0.75	5.00	2.97	1.90	0.56	0.48	0.38	1.19	0.56	0.56
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	♀	2.80	4.00	2.19	2.18	1.13	0.72	0.83	5.28	3.40	1.50	0.40	0.46	0.56	1.78	0.68	0.66
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	no gonopod	3.35	4.75	4.75	4.75	1.43	1.10	0.90	8.60	5.00	2.60	0.68	0.88	1.13	2.38	0.95	0.83
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	no gonopod	3.32	5.00	3.85	3.80	1.38	1.08	0.85	9.20	5.56	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	no body, legs only									–	2.59	0.88	0.94	1.16	2.53	1.06	0.88
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	♀	2.90	4.35	2.92	2.88	1.25	0.86	0.81	6.72	4.40	2.09	0.50	0.68	0.83	2.03	0.88	0.75
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	♀	3.65	5.44	4.50	4.60	1.66	1.18	0.87	9.49	5.63	2.92	0.83	1.00	1.25	2.75	1.04	0.80
C. madagascariensis	MNHN, syntype	This work	♀	3.44	4.90	3.80	4.00	1.56	1.00	1.06	7.44	4.90	2.50	0.68	0.70	0.88	2.50	1.00	0.80
C. susuwa sp. nov.	BMNH, holotype	This work	♀	3.13	4.88	3.92	3.88	1.85	1.20	0.90	11.41	7.36	4.15	1.09	1.38	1.53	4.10	1.88	1.13