Leiolima, Prieto & Wijnhoven, 2020

Prieto, Carlos E. & Wijnhoven, Hay, 2020, Leiolima iberica, a new harvestman genus and species from the Iberian Peninsula (Arachnida, Opiliones, Sclerosomatidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 609, pp. 1-20 : 3-4

Leiolima gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D808528C-9131-4A73-B0B5-48DA9132A183

Type species

Leiolima iberica gen. et sp. nov.

Diagnosis

A genus of the subfamily Leiobuninae having the following combination of characters: prosomal shield fully granulated; supra-cheliceral lamellae with two cylindrical, apically granulated protuberances; ozopores being rounded and minute; ocularium is deep black, granulated, canaliculate and does not tilt backwards; cephalothorax with a median raised area in front of ocularium; opisthosoma densely covered with coarse granules; saddle as paramedian pairs of diffuse patches; leg coxae margins with short tubercle rows, except on rear margin of third leg coxae; trochanter concolorous with coxae; legs of medium length, brownish, with silvery spots on dorsal sides; leg femora and patellae covered with trichomes; tibia II with pseudoarticulations; pedipalpal patella, tibia and tarsus covered with trichomes; pedipalpal male tarsus without ventral row of microdenticles, claw pectinate; slender penis, with broadened alate portion; ventral membranes reaching base of glans, further distal from the dorsal membranes.

This genus can easily be differentiated from the three currently accepted European genera of Leiobuninae . The monotypic Cosmobunus presents a smooth tarsal claw, large body size and long legs (males with BLI>3), opisthosomal sternites with denticle rows, and a conspicuous, lighter and broad medial stripe (contrasting with a dark lateral pattern). The European-Maghrebian species of the Holarctic speciose genus Leiobunum , which include the type species L. rotundum (Latreille, 1798) , have very long legs (males with BLI>3) and an ocularium of variable color; the absence of trichomes on leg femora and patellae is the major character that distinguishes it from Leiolima . Like Leiobunum , Nelima is another Holarctic speciose genus with several European-Maghrebian species, including the type species Nelima silvatica (Simon, 1879) ; the absence of tubercle rows along the margins of the leg coxae is the main diagnostic feature.

Etymology

The generic epithet is a combination of the generic names Leiobunum and Nelima , and the gender is feminine.

Key to the European genera of Leiobuninae

1. Pedipalpal claws smooth. Opisthosomal sternites with transversal rows of granules ........................ .................................................................................................................. Cosmobunus Simon, 1879

– Pedipalpal claws pectinate ( Fig. 5B ). Opisthosomal sternites smooth ............................................. 2

2. All leg coxae margins without tubercle rows .................................................. Nelima Roewer, 1910

– Some, at least one, leg coxae margins with tubercle rows ............................................................... 3

3. Leg femora covered with trichomes ( Fig. 3A, D ). Legs of medium length (males with BLI<2) ...... ............................................................................................................................... Leiolima gen. nov.

– Leg femora with ‘sensilla chaetica’ only ( Fig. 3C, F ). Long legs (males with BLI>3) ...................... ............................................................................................................... Leiobunum C.L. Koch, 1839

Figures

Fig. 5. Right male pedipalp of Leiolima iberica gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, MNCN 20.02/17372). A. Median view. B. Lateral view with detail of claw. C. Detail of ventral side of femur showing sensilla chaetica and imbricate microsculpture. D. Detail of dorsal side of patella showing robust trichomes (tr) and sensilla chaetica (ch). Scale bars: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–D = 0.05 mm.

Fig. 3. Male femur I of three European species of Leiobuninae. A, D. Leiolima iberica gen. et sp. nov. (ZUPV 3330 at CHW). B, E. Nelima doriae (Canestrini, 1871) (from the Netherlands). C, F. Leiobunum rotundum (Latreille, 1798). A–C. Dorsal view. D–F. Lateral view (dorsal side on the right). Ch = sensillum chaeticum; Tr = trichome (trichomes in D drawn smaller). Scale bars: A–C = 0.05 mm; D–F = 0.5 mm.