Pseudocleobis mauryi Iuri, 2022

Iuri, Hernán A. & Iglesias, Mónica S., 2022, The genus Pseudocleobis Pocock, 1900 (Solifugae: Ammotrechidae) in transitional Patagonia-Monte deserts, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 5094 (3), pp. 435-460 : 449-452

Pseudocleobis mauryi Iuri , sp. nov.

( Figs. 4 ; 8A, B ; 9E ; 11C ; 12G–I . Table 1 )

Pseudocleobis huinca: Maury 1976 misidentification (in part)

Type material: Holotype: ARGENTINA: Neuquén: ♂, “Area Natural Protegida Cuchillo Curá”, near Las Lajas , Neuquén, Argentina [38º36’43,28’’S 70º23’14,36’’W], 16–22.I.2012, H.A. Iuri coll., (MACN-Ar 38419) ; Paratypes: ARGENTINA: Neuquén: 2 ♂, same data as holotype (MACN-Ar 38470, 38472) .

Other examined material: ARGENTINA: Neuquén: 1♂, Bajada “El Marucho” [39º26’16,06’’S 70º09’58,60’’W], 8.XII.1965, S. Schajovskoy coll., (MACN-Ar 6872, recorded by Maury 1976 as P. huinca ) .

Etymology: The species name is a patronym in honor to Dr. Emilio A. Maury, former director of the Aracnological Division of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, who was the most important taxonomist of the order in South America, and who has made the most significant contributions on this genus.

Diagnosis: Pseudocleobis mauryi sp. nov. resembles P. huinca , P. bardensis and P. profanus sp. nov. in the body coloration pattern (darker in P. mauryi ) and the general shape of the flagellum, but can be distinguished from them by the following characters: the ventral margin of fixed finger mucron is straight directed downwards and presents a tiny distal notch ( Fig. 8B , DN) that makes the FD, FSD and FM be placed in a more vertical line and more anteriorly directed ( Fig. 8A, B ). The apex of the flagellum has a fringed retrolateral surface, with long filaments ( Fig. 9E ). The margins at the apex are folded so that the ventral and dorsal margins almost touch each other. The attachment ring is slightly smaller and placed, at level between the FP and the PFM tooth. The movable finger mucron is strongly curved upwards and the apex is acuminate. The movable finger teeth are close to each other ( Figs. 8A, B ). The difference of size between the MM and MP teeth is bigger than in any other species of Pseudocleobis .

Description: Male: measurements in Table 1 . Color: Similar pattern to P. huinca , P. bardensis and P. profanus sp. nov., but darker in general.

Morphology and Chaetotaxy: as described for P. profanus sp. nov., except by the following details: Fixed finger: the fixed finger mucron is robust but much shorter than the movable finger mucron ( Fig. 8A ), and has a wide prolateral flagellar grove ( Fig. 12G ). The proventral flange is straight directed downwards and curved at the base forming a tiny notch (DN in Fig. 8B ). The FD, FSD and FM teeth are strongly anteriorly directed, being placed almost in vertical line ( Fig. 8A, B ). The FSD tooth is very reduced ( Fig. 8B ). Movable finger: the MP is the biggest tooth of the chelicera; the MM is smaller than the FM tooth. The movable finger mucron is long and strongly curved upwards. Flagellum: the flagellum has several long filaments on the retrolateral surface of the apex ( Figs. 9E ). The apex is folded so that the ventral and dorsal margins almost touch each other. The attachment ring is at level between the FP and the PFM tooth ( Fig. 8B ). Pedipalps: the pedipalps have a similar spiniform setae armature as P. huinca , P. bardensis and P. profanus sp. nov. but with the basal pair of the tibia and basitarsus more setiform. Additionally, the other spiniform setae of tibia and basitarsus are more robust (but not longer) and more equally-sized.

Opisthosoma: with several bifurcated tip setae of different sizes and some filiform ctenidia on sternite III and IV. The ctenidia are weaker than in P. huinca , P. bardensis and P. profanus sp. nov. and more difficult to distinguish at optic microscope. We observed 2-2 on sternite III and 4-4 on sternite IV.

Female: Unknown.

Variability: one studied male (MACN-Ar 6872) has an anomalous right chelicera with an additional row of two fondal teeth.

Distribution: records of P. mauryi sp. nov. are from the Austral Payunia district of the Patagonian biogeographic province ( Figs. 1C ; 4 ), at about 900 masl.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitat of some Pseudocleobis Pocock, 1900 species in Río Negro and Neuquén provinces. A. Monte between Pellegrini Lake and Cinco Saltos city (Río Negro province). B. Monte at the base of the mountains in Sierra Grande (Río Negro province). C. Payunia environment from Cuchillo Curá (Neuquén province). D. Monte from Paso Córdoba (Río Negro province).

FIGURE 4. Known records of Pseudocleobis huinca, P. bardensis, P. profanus sp. nov. and P. mauryi sp. nov..

FIGURE 8. Male chelicera of P. mauryi sp. nov. (A, B) and P. solitarius (C, D) in retrolateral (A, C) and prolateral (B, D) views. E. P. solitarius, female chelicera in retrolateral view. DN: distal notch.

FIGURE 9. Male flagellum, prolateral view. A–B. P. huinca. C. P. profanus sp. nov. D. P. bardensis. E. P. mauryi sp. nov. F. P. solitarius. Scale bars: 200 μm (A, C, E), 250 μm (D, F), 500 μm (B).

FIGURE 11. Right male chelicera under SEM, prolateral view. A. P. huinca. B. P. profanus sp. nov. C. P. mauryi sp. nov. D. P. solitarius. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 12. Right male chelicera under SEM, prolateral view. A–C. P. huinca. D–F. P. profanus sp. nov. G–I. P. mauryi sp. nov. J–L. P. solitarius. A, D, G, J. Fixed finger, detail of flagellum prolateral surface in yellow circle in J. B, E, H, K. Plumose setae (pvd setae), yellow arrows indicate the setae of the second row at the profundal teeth level. C, F, I, L. Stridulatory plate. Scale bars: 10 μm (detail in J), 200 μm (E, G–H, J–L), 250 μm (F, I), 500 μm (A–D).