Sarax gravelyi, 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 : 183-185

Sarax gravelyi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AEE16A5A-147C-4814-BF11-3CC21B1B3668

Figs 103 , 110–111 ; Table 8

Sarax buxtoni – Seiter & Wolff 2014: 233–234, 237–238, figs 1a, 2a–d, h–j, 3a–b.

Diagnosis

This species most closely resembles S. batuensis and S. rahmadii sp. nov., from which it may be separated by the following combination of characters: brownish color with red stripes on the carapace, opisthosoma, and legs; pedipalp patella with one or two ventral spines between spine I and distal margin ( Fig. 110F ); two large spines dorsally on pedipalp tarsus; leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, distitibia sc and sf series each with six trichobothria.

Etymology

Patronym honoring Frederick H. Gravely for his contributions to arachnology.

Type material

Holotype SINGAPORE • ♀; Nee Soon Swamp Forest , Old Upper Thomson Road; 01°23.445′ N, 103°49.077′ E; 46 m a.s.l.; 3 Jun. 2013; L. Prendini and S. Loria leg.; primary/secondary disturbed rainforest along roadside; dense canopy; sparse understorey; moderate leaf litter layer; under discarded earthen pots; LKC ex AMCC [ LP 11994 ].

Paratypes SINGAPORE • 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; AMCC [ LP 11994 ] • 1 ♀, 1 juv.; Bukit Timah Nature Reserve , Bukit Timah; 01°21′16.85″ N, 103°46′34.95″ E; 163 m a.s.l.; L. Prendini and S.F. Loria leg.; 3 Jun. 2013; primary rainforest on slopes of Bukit Timah [highest hill in Singapore]; dense canopy and leaf litter layer; moderate to sparse understorey; forest somewhat dry; coarse, granitic sandyloam soil; under stones; AMCC [ LP 11995 ] • 1 ♀; University of Singapore , University Campus, Kent Ridge; 01°18′ N, 103°47′ E; 6 Jan. 1991; M. Andersen, O. Martin and N. Scharff leg.; secondary forest; ZMUC 21592 .

Additional material

MALAYSIA • 1 ♀; Johor, Mount Austin; [01°32′41.20″ N, 103°46′43.94″ E]; 1924; C.W. Franck leg.; ZMUC 21611 .

SINGAPORE • 3 ♀♀; Br. Timah , Singapore; Mar. 1924; BMNH 1324-25 • 2 ♀♀, 3 juv.; Rifle Range Road, close to Bukit Timah; 01°20.789′ N, 103°46.962′ E; 55 m a.s.l.; 22 Jun. 2013; P. Jäger leg.; SMF 65287 .

Description

CARAPACE. Six anterior setae ( Fig. 110A ); frontal process triangular ( Fig. 110C ). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes and median ocular tubercle well developed ( Fig. 110A, C ); pair of setae on median tubercle; lateral eyes well developed, pale, with seta lateral to lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad situated near carapace margin; curved carina between ocular triads and carapace margin.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly with typical setation, long, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae ( Fig. 110B ); other sternal platelets narrow and projected, with pair of setae anteriorly on plaque and some smaller setae posteriorly; pentasternum with four setae anteriorly on plaque.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover well developed.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with short setae posteromedially ( Fig. 111A–C ); pair of white slightly bulging areas medially with slender setae apically ( Fig. 111A–C ); gonopod finger-like, unsclerotized basally ( Fig. 111A, C, E ); denticulate surface between gonopod and posterior marging of genital operculum ( Fig. 111D ); slit sensilla on lateral margin of genital operculum ( Fig. 111F ). Male unknown.

CHELICERAE. Retrolateral surface of basal segment without tooth, opposite to bifid tooth; retrolateral surface of claw with row of setae basally to medially; claw with three teeth; more than two rows of several setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp.

PEDIPALPS. Coxae without seta encircled by round carina and with two setae on margin. Femur with four dorsal spines and four ventral spines ( Fig. 110E–F ); two prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin; long spine between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin, two-thirds length of spine 1. Patella with five dorsal spines in primary series ( Fig. 110E ); prominent spine distal to spine I; four ventral spines; small setiferous tubercle between spine I and distal margin ( Fig. 110F ). Tibia with ventral spine distally and two setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with two dorsal spines, distal spine long, about one-third length of tarsus and proximal spine one-third length of distal spine ( Fig. 110D ; cleaning organ with 27–29 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 23 articles; tarsus I with 41 articles; first and second tarsal articles equal in length. Leg IV basitibia with four pseudo-articles, with sclerotized, denticulate margin at apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated in distal third of pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to bf than to s bf, sc and sf series each with six trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 8.

Distribution

Known only from Singapore.

Natural history

Found under stones and fallen tree trunks in primary and secondary rainforest.

Remarks

Three species of Sarax occur in Singapore: S. buxtoni , S. gravelyi sp. nov. and S. singaporae . Sarax buxtoni appears to be uncommon in Singapore (but abundant in peninsular Malaysia), S. gravelyi sp. nov. occurs in some restricted forested areas of Singapore, whereas S. singaporae is widespread in Singapore.

The specimen from Mount Austin, Malaysia (ZMUC 21611), near Singapore, is a female with dark coloration, perhaps due to the long time preserved in ethanol. The spines of the pedipalp tarsus are short unlike the Singaporean specimens to which the specimen is otherwise similar: the carapace has lateral carinae contacting the lateral eyes; the genital operculum is typical of Sarax , with prominent bulges; the gonopod is finger-like and unsclerotized basally; and the leg IV basitibia consists of four pseudo-articles.

Figures

Fig. 103. Map plotting known distributions of species of Sarax Simon, 1892 in Southeast Asia and Oceania, with insets for Singapore (A), eastern Borneo (B), and western West Papua (C).

Fig. 110. Sarax gravelyi sp. nov. (AMCC [11995]), 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–B, E–F = 1 mm; C = 0.1 mm; D = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 111. Sarax gravelyi sp. nov. (AMCC [11995]), female gonopod and genital operculum. A. Fingerlike gonopod, dorsal view. B. Posterior margin of genital operculum, ventral view. C. Gonopods, posterior view. D. Genital operculum between gonopods. E. Dextral gonopod. F. Glandular opening on margin of genital operculum.