Megalopsalis pilliga, Taylor, 2011

Taylor, Christopher K., 2011, Revision of the genus Megalopsalis (Arachnida: Opiliones: Phalangioidea) in Australia and New Zealand and implications for phalangioid classification 2773, Zootaxa 2773 (1), pp. 1-65 : 43-44

Megalopsalis pilliga new species

( Figs 80–85 )

Material examined. Male holotype. Pilliga East State Forest , Bohera Bore, Forest Way Road, New South Wales, Australia, 10 July 1991, H. Parnaby ( AMS KS30695 ) .

Paratype. 1 male, ditto ( AMS KS30695 ) .

Diagnosis. Megalopsalis pilliga can be distinguished from all other Megalopsalis species by the lack of prominent denticulation on femur II.

Description. MALE (N = 2). Prosoma length 1.24–1.44, width 1.58–1.82; entire body length 3.24–3.76. Anterior part of propeltidium light yellow-tan with light brown stripe along either side of supracheliceral groove. Remainder of propeltidium mottled light brown, with light yellow-tan line between median and posterior parts of propeltidium. Ocularium light yellow-tan, with a row of three small sharp spines on each side. Scattered spines on dorsal prosomal plate, particularly on anterior and posterior parts of propeltidium. Postocularium directed downwards posteriad, dorsal prosomal plate raised slightly on either side of ocularium. Lateral shelves light yellow-tan with medium brown patches; lateral margins black. Mesopeltidium, metapeltidium and first six segments of opisthosoma with median stripe of cream dusted with purple. Mesopeltidium laterally medium brown, with single spine towards each side of dorsal prosomal plate. Metapeltidium and opisthosoma laterally yellow grey-brown, with medium brown patches along margins of median stripe and darker mottled lines along segment boundaries on either side of median stripe. Transverse lines of black setae across midlines of opisthosomal segments. Posterior part of opisthosoma laterally dark brown with yellow-tan spots, becoming lighter medially. Venter of prosoma orange-cream with dark brown distal margins on coxae. Venter of opisthosoma yellow grey-brown with broken dark-brown transverse stripes laterally.

Chelicerae. Segment I 2.72–2.96, segment II 3.90–4.10. Cream with dark brown patches on segment II and distal part of segment I; dorsolateral black patch at very base of segment I; both segments densely denticulate, segment I more so on medial side; black tips on spines. Cheliceral fingers short; mobile finger crescent-shaped.

Pedipalps. (fig. 81). Femur 1.55–1.63, patella 0.70–0.84, tibia 0.88–0.94, tarsus 1.82–1.89. Femur banded dark brown and cream; patella and tibia banded light brown and cream; tarsus and patella apophysis cream. Unarmed. Short rounded apophysis on patella about one-quarter length of main body of patella. Microtrichia in distal half of tarsus; claw with ventral tooth-comb.

Legs. Leg I femur 3.58–3.76, patella 1.03–1.07, tibia 2.88–3.02; leg II femur 6.12–6.19, patella 1.37–1.46, tibia 5.22–5.25; leg III femur 3.32–3.50, patella 0.91–0.93, tibia 2.12–2.42; leg IV femur 5.41–5.44, patella 1.03–1.17, tibia 3.42–3.62. Trochanters cream with light brown mottling. Trochanters I and II with spines on anterior face; III and IV unarmed. Legs banded medium brown and cream. Femur I spinose on ventral, prolateral and dorsal sides, but no distinct hypertrophied ventral spine row present (fig. 82). Patella I with small ventral spine row, dorsally unarmed. Tibia I with small ventral spine row along entire length, few small prodorsal spines in proximalmost part only. Femur II mostly unarmed except for few small dorsal spines proximally. Remaining segments unarmed. Distitarsus II with ventrodistal bulges on pseudosegments, distitarsi III and IV inflated proximally, with double ventral rows of brush-like setae. Tibia II with three or four pseudosegments; tibia IV undivided.

Penis (figs 83–85). Posterior bristle groups elongate; glans distally dorsoventrally flattened. Pores shallowly recessed.

Spiracle. Not observed.

Etymology. Named after the type locality; noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 80–85. Megalopsalis pilliga new species, male (all AMS KS30695). 80. Body, dorsal view. 81. Left pedipalp, prolateral view. 82. Right leg I, retrolateral view. 83. Penis, ventral view. 84. Glans, ventral view. 85. Glans, lateral view. Scale bars for figs 80–82 = 1 mm; fig. 83 = 0.5 mm; figs 84–85 = 0.1 mm.