Sarax socotranus (Weygoldt, Pohl & Polak, 2002) 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 : 230-231

Sarax socotranus (Weygoldt, Pohl & Polak, 2002) comb. nov.

Figs 135 , 148 ; Table 9

Charinus socotranus Weygoldt et al., 2002a: 295–298 , figs 8–16.

Diagnosis

Based on Weygoldt et al. (2002a), this species may be separated from other species of Sarax in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia by the following combination of characters: large size; uniquely high number of cheliceral teeth (12); leg IV basitibia IV with only two articles.

Sarax socotranus comb. nov. is most similar to S. bengalensis comb. nov. from which it differs in larger size, the number of articles on the tibia of leg IV, and the second tarsomere with a marked annulus.

Etymology

Adjective, referring to the island of Socotra, where the type locality is situated ( Weygoldt et al. 2002a).

Type material

Holotype YEMEN • ♂; Socotra Island , Hoq; 12°36′ N, 54°21′ E; 400 m a.s.l.; 6 Feb. 1999; H. Pohl leg.; limestone cave; HLMD EA–45–HT [not examined].

Paratypes YEMEN • 2 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; HLMD EA–46–PT1–PT 6 [not examined] • 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; NHCY [not examined] • 1 ♀; Socotra Island , Momi; 12°33′ N, 54°18′ E; 12 Feb. 2000; W. Wranik leg.; cave; NHCY [not examined] .

Additional material (examined)

YEMEN • 1 ♂; Socotra Island, Ghiniba Cave ; 9 Jan. 2004; K. van Damme leg.; MHNG GSM 5 .

Supplementary description

CARAPACE. Six anterior setae ( Fig. 148A ); frontal process triangular ( Fig. 148C ). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes and median ocular tubercle present; median ocular lenses directed anteriorly, not dorsally; lateral eyes well developed, with seta posterior to each lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad well separated from margin of carapace.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly, long, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae ( Fig. 148 ); other sternal plaques small, rounded, forming unique platelets, with pair of setae on lateral margins; pentasternum with two setae anteriorly and without seta near membranous region.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with slender setae posteromedially and some smaller setae near margin; genital operculum with small projection medially; gonopod finger-like, long, slender projection with wrinked base ( Weygoldt et al. 2002a). Male gonopod compact, with apex of fistula and base of lateral lobe 2 markedly sclerotized.

CHELICERAE. Small, flat tooth on retrolateral surface of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth; without row of setae on retrolateral surface of claw; claw with twelve teeth; row of around six setae on prolateral surface of basal segment; bifid tooth on basal segment with dorsal cusp larger than ventral cusp.

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with seta encircled by round carina and five setae on anterior margin. Femur with four dorsal spines and five ventral spines ( Fig. 148D–E ); three prominent dorsal setiferous tubercles between spine 1 and proximal margin; ventral setiferous tubercle between spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with three dorsal spines ( Fig. 148E ); prominent spine and small spine distal to spine I, longest setiferous tubercle one-third length of spine I; two ventral spines and long setiferous tubercle proximal to spine III; two setiferous tubercles between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with ventral spine distally and two setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with two dorsal spines, proximal spine half length of distal spine, distal spine half length of tarsus; cleaning organ with 33 setae in ventral row.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 21 articles; tarsus I with 35 articles; first tarsal article similar in length to second article. Leg IV basitibia with two pseudo-articles, without sclerotized denticulation projecting from distal margin of articles; trichobothrium bt situated in proximal third of pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated much closer to bf than to s bf, and sbf displaced medially on article; sc and sf series each with five trichobothria, and two distal trichobothria displaced from row.

Measurements

See Table 9.

Distribution

Known only from the type localities.

Natural history

Collected from caves in an arid region. Sympatric with S. stygochthobius comb. nov. in Ghiniba Cave.

Remarks

The median ocular lenses are directed anteriorly, not dorsally. The male specimen studied exhibits theratogeny of the pedipalp, i.e., the tarsus has two geminate ventral spines proximal to the cleaning organ.

This species was originally described in the genus Charinus and is hereby transferred to Sarax based on the phylogenetic analyses of Miranda et al. (2021).

Figures

Fig. 135. Map plotting known distributions of species of Sarax Simon, 1892 in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

Fig. 148. Sarax socotranus (Weygoldt, Pohl & Polak, 2002) comb. nov. (HLMD EA-45-HT), general morphology, ♂. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Sternum, ventral view. C. Frontal process. D. Pedipalp, dorsal view. F. Pedipalp, ventral view. Scale bars: A–B, D–E = 1 mm; C = 0.1 mm.