Meghalaya, Giribet & Sharma & Bastawade, 2007

Giribet, Gonzalo, Sharma, Prashant P. & Bastawade, Deshbhushan B., 2007, A new genus and species of Cyphophthalmi (Arachnida: Opiliones) from the north-eastern states of India, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (4), pp. 663-670 : 664-667

MEGHALAYA GEN. NOV.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized cyphophthalmids with eye lenses anterior to the ozophores ( Figs 2C , 3B ); ozophores of type 1, situated on carapace margin ( Juberthie, 1970a) ( Fig. 3B ), opening subterminally ( Novak & Giribet, 2006), and with spiral ornamentation ( de Bivort & Giribet, 2004). Anterior margin of carapace projecting anteriorly ( Fig. 2A ). Transverse prosomal sulcus present, V-shaped. Transverse opisthosomal sulci present. Mid-dorsal, longitudinal opisthosomal sulcus present, and formed by a sparser cuticular ornamentation ( Fig. 2A ). Chelicerae not of the protruding type (Giribet, 2003) ( Fig. 2A ); widest part of second cheliceral segment near the base and without ornamentation; most-basal article with dorsal crest and two ventral processes. Palp trochanter without ventral process. Second article of palp ornamented in more than half of its length. Metatarsus of all legs ornamented; tarsi almost completely ornamented; with a distinct solea on leg I; claws of all legs smooth, without comb-like modifications or lateral pegs. Tibia of leg III of males modified, subtriangular, with the widest part near the patellotibial joint ( Fig. 4A ). Tarsus IV of males not divided, but highly modified with a deep depression in ventro-retrolateral position ( Figs 2A, B , 4B ); Rambla’s organ absent. Adenostyle conspicuous, subtriangular, robust, and sclerotized ( Figs 2C , 4B, C ); located in the most distal half of the tarsus. Coxae of leg II fused to coxae of legs III and IV. Sternum present. Proximal end of coxae I or III of males not meeting along the midline; male gonostome semicircular, large, as large as the proximal ventral part of coxae of leg IV. Spiracles C-shaped ( Fig. 3C ). Conspicuous ventral depression in the opisthosomal anterior sternites ( Figs 2C , 3C ). Sternal opisthosomal glands absent. Sternites 8 and 9 and tergite IX free ( Fig. 3D ). Anal plate and anal region without modifications. Anal glands absent. Hansen’s organ absent.

Spermatopositor studied for a single species, as in Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov. ( Fig. 5 ). Ovipositor not available for study (only one damaged female available).

Included species: M. annandalei sp. nov., the type species of the genus. The genus description is also based on three male specimens from three additional localities from Meghālaya (MHNG), and a poorly preserved female specimen from Arunāchal Pradesh ( ZSI).

Phylogenetic position: At present the genus cannot be assigned to any of the known families of Cyphophthalmi with certainty (see Discussion below), and therefore we prefer to leave its familial placement as uncertain.

Etymology: Meghālaya literally means ‘The Abode of Clouds’ in Hindi and Sanskrit, in reference to the Himalayan region where the new genus occurs – although the Meghālaya region is not part of the Himalayas proper.

MEGHALAYA SPP.

Other material examined: One female ( ZSI) from Miao , Arunāchal Pradesh, Changlang District, India, 600 m a.s.l., collected 6 March 1990 by D. B. Bastawade (this is the specimen reported by Bastawade in 1992). One male ( MHNG) from Khasi Hills , between Mawsynram and Balat , 16 km from Mawsynram, Meghālaya , India, 1000 m a.s.l., collected 27 October 1978 by C. Besuchet and I. Löbl. One male ( MHNG) from Khasi Hills , above Shillong , North face, Meghālaya , India, 1850–1950 m a.s.l., collected 25 October 1978 by C. Besuchet and I. Löbl. One male ( MHNG, MCZ DNA102051 ) from Tura trail ( 25°30′28′′N, 90°13′54′′E), Tura Peak , West Garo Hills District, Meghālaya , India, 650 m a.s.l., collected 14 October 2004 by G. Cuccodoro, C. Carlton, R. Leschen and D. Erne.

This material may well correspond to four new species: the one from Miao known only from a female specimen, and the other three from Meghālaya , known by a single male each. We prefer to postpone the description of these new species until more material becomes available for study.

Figures

Figure 2. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., holotype. A, dorsal view. B, ventral view. C, lateral view. Arrows indicate the ventro-prolateral modification of the tarsus IV of males. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figure 3. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., holotype. A, detailed view of the prosomal ventral complex. B, detail of the left ozophore (o) and eye lens (l). C, detailed view of the opisthosomal sternal region. D, detailed view of the anal region. Scale bars = 500 Mm.

Figure 4. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., holotype. A, enlarged tibia III (t). B, metatarsus and tarsus IV bearing the thorn-like adenostyle, retrolateral view. C, metatarsus and tarsus IV bearing the thorn-like adenostyle, prolateral view. D, metatarsus and tarsus IV, ventral view. Scale bars = 100 Mm.

Figure 5. Meghalaya annandalei sp. nov., spermatopositor paratype. A, photograph, dorsal view. B, photograph, ventral view. C, line drawing, dorsal view. D, line drawing, ventral view. Scale bars = 300 Mm.