Zalmoxoidea, Sorensen, 1886

Pérez-González, Abel, Ayala-Apaza, Arli G. & Pereira, Maria Paula, 2024, Incidental notes on some Grassatorean (Arachnida: Opiliones) types of the Senckenberg Naturmuseum (SMF) harvestmen collection, Zootaxa 5405 (4), pp. 591-598 : 591-592

Superfamily Zalmoxoidea

Family incertae sedis

Type name: Phalangodella aequatorialis Roewer, 1912 .

Specimen examined: Female syntype SMF 9800235 -RI/235-5 ( Fig. 1 A–D ) from ECUADOR, Esmeralda , Cachabí, herein designated as Lectotype.

Actions: Designation of lectotype and correction of the sex of lectotype.

Remark (I): The term “Cachabí” most likely refers to the Cachabí River or the town of San Javier de Cachaví (1°3’58” N, 78°46’38” W), which is situated in the Esmeralda Province’s San Lorenzo Canton.

Remark ( II): The syntypes of Phalangodella aequatorialis are two specimens, not co-specifics, one much larger than the other. Closer examination of the larger specimen revealed that it is a female and, in contast to the small specimen, fits with the original description ( Roewer 1912) and with the only published figure ( Roewer 1923: 122, fig. 126). Therefore, this specimen is herein designated as the lectotype of Phalangodella aequatorialis Roewer, 1912 . The paralectotype does not correspond to this species, and further studies are necessary to clarify its identity.

Remark ( III): Roewer (1912: 162 and in the label, see Fig. 1E ) wrongly stated that one of the syntypes was certainly a male when in fact both syntype specimens are females. Even though Roewer did not indicate which specimen he referred to, it is likely that he wrongly sexed the herein designated lectotype. The mistake in sexing the specimen could be related to the fact that the female lectotype exhibits a kind of armature on legs IV in the form of small ventral spiniform apophyses on the ventro-distal tibia ( Fig. 1C ). This morphology of leg IV is a common sexually dimorphic characteristic of males in Zalmoxoidea , but it is also present (to a lesser degree) in females of some species (pers. obs.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Phalangodella aequatorialis Roewer, 1912, female lectotype, SMF 9800235-RI/235-5. A: dorsal view. B: lateral view. C: detail of the prolateral tibia of leg IV. D: detail of ectal right pedipalp. E: label. Scales bar: 1.0 mm. E: picture courtesy of Jana Grueger (SMF). Label text: Phalangodella aequatorialis, Type: 2 (♂♀) Rwr., Ecuador: Cachab., Roewer det. 1912, Nº 235.