Madagascar, the real Treasure Island! Malagasy uncharted diversity of a rare ancient lineage of armored harvestmen (Opiliones, Laniatores, Buemarinoidae) Author Abel, Willians Porto División de Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales-CONICET, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, C 1405 DJR Buenos Aires (Argentina) willians.porto@outlook.com Author Pérez-González, Abel División de Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales-CONICET, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, C 1405 DJR Buenos Aires (Argentina) abelaracno@gmail.com text Zoosystema 2025 2025-05-14 47 14 203 229 https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/zoosystema2025v47a14_0.pdf journal article 309993 10.5252/zoosystema2025v47a14 61515223-0a55-42ca-9cd7-eb783639860a 1638-9387 15430562 CCE18579-911D-4893-A51D-6308AAE0D0AF Flavonuncia ubicki n. sp. ( Figs 6-9 ; 23B, G, L ) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 98ACD478-4293-4143-9AA2-62CC86C937CF TYPE MATERIAL . — Holotype . Madagascar • ♂ ; Toamasina , Analamay-Mantadia , Ambaroharanana ; Elev. 1012 m ; 18°48’14”S , 48°24’18”E ; coll. Malagasy ant team; 19-21.XII.2012 ; sifted litter, rainforest, collection code: BLF30324 ; CASTYPE 21649 . Paratypes . Madagascar • 1 ♀ ; same data as for holotype; CASENT 9072045 • 1 ♂ SEM voucher; same data; MACN-Ar 45999 • 1♀ ; same data; MACN-Ar 46000 . FIG . 7. — Flavonuncia ubicki n. sp. , SEM images of male paratype (MACN-Ar 45999): A , habitus, dorsal; B , lateral; C , D , ventral. Scale bars: A-C, 500 µm; D , 200 µm. ETYMOLOGY . — Patronymic in honor of the former CAS arachnologist and friend Darrell Ubick, in recognition of his contribution to the advances of arachnology. COMPARATIVE DIAGNOSIS . — Robust, long legged Flavonuncia species , differing from all known Flavonuncia species by the pair of apical tubercles present on the top of the ocularium. The penis is similar to Flavonuncia pupilla . DISTRIBUTION ( Fig. 1 ). — Known only from the type locality. DESCRIPTION Male (CASTYPE 21649) Measurements. See Table 1 . Dorsum ( Figs 6A, C ; 7A, B ). Outline hourglass-shaped of Eta (η) type . Ocularium conical, with a pair of apical tubercles, eyes located on the top of the ocularium. Mesotergal scutum without tubercles or apophyses. Carapace smaller than mesotergum, mesotergal areas not clearly defined, areas I-II with a row of two small setiferous granules, area III with three, area IV with eight, the posterior border with a row of 15 granules. Free tergites bearing a row of granules on each tergite. Venter ( Figs 6E ; 7C, D ). Coxae ventral surface covered by setae; coxa I bearing 8-9 granules, almost all ventral surface covered by cerotegument, except by the proximal coxa II-III; proximal coxa II with a remarkable tubercle with three basal setae and one tubercle with subdistal setae; coxa III with three tubercles, small bridge present, spiracles not visible. Sternum straight with a drop shape base. Chelicerae ( Fig. 8A, B ) . Basicheliceritae bearing a small tubercle on dorso-distal surface, cheliceral hand bearing seven ectal small tubercles with subdistal setae, two mesal small granules, and one mesal tubercle with subdistal setae. Pedipalps ( Fig. 8C, D ). With one ventral and two small dorsal tubercles, femur bearing a ventral row of small tubercles and two distal acute tubercles on the distal surface, patella with four mesal tubercles, tibia ventral surface bearing sparse small tubercles, with a medial and 2-3 apical acute tubercles with subdistal setae, tarsus bearing four ectal and five mesal tubercles with setae. Legs ( Fig. 8 E-H) . Astragalus longer than calcaneus. Tarsal count: 3-6-4-4. Genitalia ( Figs 9 ; 23B, G, L ). Penis proportionally larger than other species of Flavonuncia . Capsula interna longer than the ventral plate, ventral view with a cleft separating the capsula interna into two halves, apical portion of ventral plate narrow arch-shaped, with upper and lower macrosetae not aligned in dorsal view. Ventral view, with a group of three macrosetae. Distal capsula interna with a complex structure ending in a thin free stylus. Ventral distal part of the capsula interna bearing a hexagonal process. FIG . 8. — Flavonuncia ubicki n. sp. , SEM images of male paratype (MACN-Ar 45999): A , B , chelicera, ectal ( A ); mesal ( B ); C , D , pedipalp, ectal ( C ), mesal ( D ); E , F , legs, I ( E ), II ( F ), III ( G ), VI ( H ). Scale bars: A, B, G, 200 µm; D-F, H, 500 µm. FIG . 9. — Flavonuncia ubicki n. sp. , SEM images of male paratype (MACN-Ar 45999) penis: A , B , ventral view; C , apical view; D , E , lateral view; F , G , dorsal view. Abbreviations: CI , capsula interna ; VP , ventral plate. Scale bars: A, D, F, 200 µm, B, E, G, 100 µm, C, 50 µm. Female (CASENT 9072045) ( Fig. 6B, D, F ) Similar to male, presenting dimorphism in the body coloration, females having a dark brown opisthosoma while the males are yellowish with brown stripes. Pedipalps larger in males.