Roeweria virescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940 ), Mello-Leitao, 1940

Bragagnolo, Cibele & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2009, Review of the Brazilian harvestman genus Roeweria Mello-Leitão, 1923 (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae), Zootaxa 2270, pp. 39-52 : 44-46

Roeweria virescens ( Mello-Leitão, 1940)

( Figs. 2 A,B,E,F, 3A,B, 4, 7A–C)

Jupuvura virescens Mello-Leitão, 1940: 16 , fig. 19; (MNRJ-27172, male holotype, examined).

Discocyrtoides virescens: Soares & Soares, 1988: 228 , figs. 4–5.

Roeweria virescens: Kury, 2003: 190 (complete synonymic list); Hara et al., 2005: 1212; Bragagnolo et al., 2007: 393; Shultz & Pinto-da-Rocha, 2007: 16, fig. 2.1f.

Paranaincola mourei B. Soares, 1943: 211 , fig. 5; (MHNCI-186, male holotype, examined). Synonymy established by Soares & Soares, 1988.

Lyopachylus mourei: H. Soares, 1945: 229 .

Discocyrtus mourei: Soares & Soares, 1949: 52 .

Discocyrtus fortis B. Soares, 1945: 203 , fig. 8; (MHNCI-182, male holotype, examined). Synonymy established by Soares & Soares, 1988.

Diagnosis. R. virescens resembles R. bittencourti by the male external apophysis of coxa IV without basal tubercle ( Fig. 4 ) and penis with ventral plate cordiform and stylus without ventral process ( Fig. 5 ). It is distinguished from R. bittencourti by the presence of small tubercles of similar size on dorsal part of male patella and tibia IV ( Fig. 3 A,B) and from R. garrincha sp.n. by the absence of ventral process of stylus.

Morphological variation. The study of 125 specimens of Roeweria virescens showed a large morphological variation, mainly in orientation and shape of armature of area III, ocularium and number and arrangement of tubercles on dorsal scutum. At first, the observation of only few specimens (see Fig. 4 for most remarkable forms) led us to conclude that the diversity of what was known as R. virescens was impressively high for a small distribution area. However, the examination of large series revealed intermediate forms from the same sites, making it impossible to recognize two or more species using the combination of these characteristics. Thus, we conclude that this species is highly polymorphic. The main variable features are: armature of ocularium with two high (longer than ocularium height) and pointed apophyses ( Fig. 4 a, e) or with blunt and not so high apophyses ( Fig. 4 b–d); anterior pair of tubercles on ocularium present ( Fig. 4 A, E) or absent ( Fig. 4 B–D); area III with armature straight ( Fig. 4 a,c,d,e) or curved ( Fig. 4 B); apophyses of area III joined apically ( Fig. 4 A,B) or separated and parallel ( Fig. 4 C–E); and large amount of tubercles on dorsal scutum (areas I–IV) concentrated mainly on median region of areas I–II, ranging from nearly 50 ( Fig. 4 C,E) to more than 100, distributed homogeneously and covering all dorsal scutum ( Fig. 4 A,B,D). The morphology of penis shows variation on number of apical setae present, which may be three ( Fig. 5 B,E,H,K) or rarely four, apex of stylus (more elongated in Fig. 5 H,I than Fig. 5 K,L) and shape of ventral plate, always cordiform, but rectangular apical part ranging from narrow ( Fig. 5 D,E, for instance) to a little wider ( Fig. 5 A,B).

Distribution. Coastal Atlantic Rain Forest of the states of Paraná to southern-central São Paulo ( Fig. 4 ).

Material examined. BRAZIL. São Paulo: Cotia (Reserva Florestal Morro Grande), 5.XII.2002, R. Pintoda-Rocha et al. leg., 1 male, 1 female (MZSP-30543); idem, 1 male (MZSP-30487); Itanhaém (Cidade Santa Júlia), 11.I.1976, L.R. Fontes leg., 1 male (MZSP-27517); Juquiá (Poço Grande), 1 male (MZSP-1760); idem, 26.V.1950, F. Lane leg., 1 male (MZSP-22135); Iporanga (Fazenda Intervales), 16–18.IV.1989, R.L.C.

Baptista leg., 1 male (MNRJ-6473); idem, (Fazenda Intervales, Cachoeira do Mirante), 2.XII.1992, P. Gnaspini leg., 1 female (MZSP-14007); idem (Fazenda Intervales, trilha da Figueira), 22–26.III.1993, 1 female (MZSP-14383); idem, 1961, K. Lenko leg., 1 male (MZSP-11365); idem (Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira, Santana), 8–15.XII.2001, Equipe Biota leg., 1 male (MZSP-26821); idem, 17.IV.1988, R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg., 2 males (MHNCI-6422); idem, 1 female (MZSP-26830); idem (near Ouro Grosso cave), 7.II.1993, P. Gnaspini leg., 1 male (MZSP-27518); idem (Bombas), 4.VI.1994, 3 males (MZSP-14010); Ribeirão Grande (Bairro Sumidouro), 1–9.VI.2003, R.S. Bérnils & F. Stender leg., 3 males, 1 female (MNRJ- 17430); idem, 23–30.IV.2002, 3 males, 3 females (MNRJ-16209); Jacupiranga, XI.1973, J. Jim leg., 1 male (HEMS-1060); idem (Fazenda Samapa), 13.VIII.1985, J. Jim et al. leg., 1 male (MNRJ-0859); idem (km 15 on the Cananéia road), L.R. Fontes leg., 6.VI.1976, 2 males, 1 female (MZSP-14250); Pariquera-Açu, IV.2001, E.H. Wienkoski leg., 1 male (MNRJ-17466); idem, II.2001, 2 males (MNRJ-4887); Iguape ( Ilha do Cardoso), 19.IV.1991, M.V. Segalla leg., 1 male (MZSP-14241); idem, 18.I.2000, G. Machado leg., 1 male, 1 female (MZSP-19261); Cananéia (Bairro Porto Cubatão), 9–21.XI.1995, F.A.G. Mello & N. Carneiro leg., 1 male (MZSP-18255); idem (Ilha de Cananéia), 15–30.VII.1994, F.A.G. Mello leg., 1 male, 1 female (MZSP- 18263); idem ( Ilha do Cardoso), 13–14.III.1999, G. Machado & A.V.L. Freitas leg., 1 male (MZSP-29099); idem, IX.1999, G. Machado leg., 1 male (MZSP-29100). Paraná: Tunas do Paraná (near Gruta dos Jesuítas), 9–11.VIII.2002, R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg., 1 male (MZSP-29079); idem, 1 female (MZSP-29080); Guaraqueçaba, VII.1944, J.S. Moure leg., 1 male (MZSP-1054); idem, (Ceulândia), 5.XII.1987, R.S. Bérnils leg., 2 males (MHNCI-6424); Rio Branco do Sul (Lancinha dos Pioli), 16.IV.1987, S.F. Caron leg., 4 males (MHNCI-6411); Campina Grande do Sul (Represa Capivari), 5.VI.1989, R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg., 1 male (MHNCI-6537); Caiobá (Prainha), II.1949, Gengnagel leg., 2 male, 1 female (HEMS-0217); Bocaiúva do Sul (Parques Estadual de Campinhos), 2.XI.1989, R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg., 2 females (MHNCI-6665); Quatro Barras (Alto da Serra), 1.XI.1987, R. Pinto-da-Rocha & M.V. Segalla leg., 2 males (MHNCI-6423); idem, XI.1945. G. Hatschbach leg., 1 male (MZSP-1056); idem, 2.XI.1987, R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg., 1 male (MHNCI-6414); idem, 23.V.1987, M.V. Segalla & A.T.N Campos leg., 1 male (MHNCI-6413); idem, 23.V.1987, 2 males (MHNCI-6412); Paranaguá ( Ilha do Mel), 24.XI.1988, S. Caron, Bedin & V. Moraes leg., 1 male (MHNCI-6449); Piraquara (Banhado), XII.1946, C.N. Gofferjé leg., 1 male (MZSP-1055); idem, 5.IV.1999, R. Pinto-da-Rocha & A. Chagas leg., 7 males, 2 females (MZSP-18676); Morretes (Parque Estadual do Marumbi), 9.IV.1999, R. Pinto-da-Rocha & A. Chagas leg., 1 female ( MZSP 18759); idem (São João da Graciosa), XI.1945, G. Hatschbach leg., 1 male (MZSP-1057); idem (Recanto Mãe Catira), 25.XI.1988, M.R. Bornschein leg., 1 male, 2 females (MHNCI-6308, 6409); idem (Véu de Noiva), 8.IV.1999, R. Pinto-da-Rocha & A. Chagas leg., 4 males, 1 female (MZSP-18796); idem, 8.IV.1999, R. Pinto-da-Rocha & A. Chagas leg., 1 male, 2 females (MZSP-18810, 18797); idem, 18.VI.1988, W.B. Wosiack & M.R. Bornschein leg., 1 male (MHNCI-6421); idem (Vista Cavalcanti), G. Hatschbach leg., 2.III.1946, 2 males (MHNCI-3301, 3302); idem, W.B. Wosiack leg., 1 male (MHNCI-6420); idem (Porto de Cima), 19.VIII.1988, M.V. Segalla & Pollati leg., 19.VIII.1988, 1 male (MHNCI-6410); idem, R. Pinto-da-Rocha & M.V.Segalla leg., 6 females (MHNCI-6309); São José dos Pinhais (Usina de Guaricana), 1.III.1992, R. Pintoda-Rocha leg., 4 males (MZSP-16818); idem, 7.VIII.1988, R. Pinto-da-Rocha, M.V. Segalla & J.C. Moura- Leite leg., 2 females (MHNCI-6417); idem, 14.II.1988, R. Pinto-da-Rocha & S.F. Caron leg., 1 male (MHNCI-6418); idem, 30.III.1985, R.S. Bérnils leg., 1 male (MNRJ-6294); Pontal do Paraná, 21.IX.1997, R. Mermudes leg., 1 male (MZSP-19158); Guaratuba (Usina Guaricana), 4.II.1989, R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg., 6 males, 3 females (MHNCI-6416); idem, 8.III.1999, R. Pinto-da-Rocha, A.B. Kury & A. Giupponi leg., 1 male, 1 female (MZSP-18130); idem, (Fazenda Bamerindus), 5.XII.1989, R. Pinto-da-Rocha leg., 2 males (MHNCI-6415).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dorsal and lateral views of females of Roeweria spp. A – B, R. virescens from Iporanga, São Paulo (IBSP- 4067); E – F, idem from Guaratuba, Paraná (MZSP- 18130). C – D, R. bittencourti (MZSP- 18327). G – H, R. garrincha sp. n. (MZSP- 30359). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Male right leg IV. Distal femur – tibia IV of Roeweria spp. A, R. virescens from Iporanga, São Paulo (IBSP- 4067). B, idem from Marumbi, Paraná (MZSP- 18749). C, R. bittencourti (MZSP- 18659). D, R. garrincha sp. n. (MZSP- 30358). Coxa – tibia IV of R. garrincha sp. n. E, distal coxa – femur IV, dorsal view; F, femur – tibia IV, ventral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Records of Roeweria spp. in southeastern Brazil and main morphological variation of males of R. virescens in dorsal (capital letter) and lateral (lower case) views: A, IB 4067, from Iporanga (Petar), São Paulo; B, MZSP- 18130, from Guaratuba, Paraná; C, MZSP- 18749, from Marumbi, Paraná; D, MHNCI- 6537, from Capivari, Paraná; E, MZSP- 14250, from Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo. Black circle = R. virescens; black triangle = R. bittencourti; white square = R. garrincha sp. n. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Variation on distal part of penis of Roeweria virescens. MZSP- 18749, from Marumbi, Paraná: A, ventral view; B, dorsal view; C, lateral view. MZSP- 19769, from Iporanga (Petar), São Paulo: D, ventral view; E, dorsal view; F, lateral view. MZSP- 18130, from Guaratuba, Paraná: G, ventral view; H, dorsal view; I, lateral view. MZSP- 26821, from Iporanga, São Paulo: J, ventral view; K, dorsal view; L, lateral view. Scale bars = 0.05 mm.