Charinus miskito sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 574FE779-371C-4518-9EE5-55C4DD67AA7F

Figs 5E–F, 10C–D, 12, 24–26; Table 1

Diagnosis

This species may be separated from other Caribbean and Central American Charinus by means of the following combination of characters: median eyes and median ocular tubercle present, but reduced (Fig. 24A, C); retrolateral surface of cheliceral claw without row of setae; first (dorsal) tooth bifid, dorsal cusp smaller than ventral cusp (Fig. 10C–D); claw with four denticles (Fig. 10C–D); tibia of leg I with 21 articles, tarsus I with 39 articles; leg IV basitibia with three pseudo-articles; trichobothrium bc situated closer to bf than to sbf; sc and sf series each with 5 trichobothria.

Charinus miskito sp. nov. resembles C. bruneti, as both possess median eyes, tibia of leg I consists of 21 or 22 articles, and tarsus I consists of 39 articles. However, the median eyes are reduced in C. miskito sp. nov. and well developed in C. bruneti .

Etymology

A noun in apposition referring to the Miskito, a Native American tribe in Central America.

Type material

Holotype COLOMBIA • ♀; Providencia Island; [13°20′50.72″ N, 81°22′28.3″ W]; among stones; 31 Sep. 1969; SMNS.

Paratypes COLOMBIA • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype [chelicerae and gonopod dissected in one paratype]; SMNS .

Description

CARAPACE.Anterior margin rounded, with six anterior setae (Fig. 24A). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes and ocular tubercle present, but reduced (Fig. 24A, C); lateral eyes well developed, pale; small seta posterior to each lateral ocular triad; lateral ocular triad well separated from carapace margin.

STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly into large blunt tubercle, surpassing base of pedipalp coxae, with typical setation (Fig. 24B); medial platelet (tetrasternum) and third platelet (pentasternum) formed by two convex platelets, each with large setae anteriorly, and several smaller setae posteriorly (Fig. 24B); pentasternum smaller than medial platelet, each platelet with seta anteriorly and some setae posteriorly (Fig. 24B); pentasternum without anterior setae in membranous region and with four setae posteriorly.

OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sacs and ventral sac cover absent.

GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with posterior margin slightly convex, several setae along margin and surface (Fig. 5E–F); gonopods cushion-like with small rounded projection and sclerotized region on projection (Fig. 5E–F); small sclerotized region at base of gonopods (sclerotizations connected to each other) (Fig. 5E–F). Male gonopod with sclerotization at margin of fistula and lateral lobe 1; lateral lobe 2 fimbriate and short (Fig. 25A–B, D); lateral lobe 1 with acute apex (Fig. 25F); processus internus short and with median projection (Fig. 25E); dorsal lobe covered with denticulate projections (Fig. 25C, F).

CHELICERAE. Chelicera with small, flat tooth in retrolateral row of basal segment, opposite to bifid tooth (Fig. 10D); bifid tooth with dorsal cusp smaller than ventral cusp; prolateral surface of cheliceral basal segment with transverse row of around ten small setae, ventrally to dorsally; retrolateral surface of claw without row of setae; claw with four teeth (Fig. 10C–D).

PEDIPALPS. Coxal dorsal carina with two or three setae on anterior border and without seta encircled by round carina. Femur with two distinct setiferous tubercles proximal to spine 1 (Fig. 24E); primary series with three dorsal spines and three ventral spines; femur with one setiferous turbercle between ventral spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with three dorsal spines and one long setiferous tubercle, about one-third length of spine I, between spine I and distal margin of segment (Fig. 24E); several long setae between ventral spines. Tibia with ventral spine in distal half of article and prominent setiferous tubercle close to base (Fig. 24F); long seta between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with two dorsal spines, distal spine two thirds length of article and proximal spine one-third length of distal spine (Fig. 24D). Ventral row of cleaning organ with 28–32 setae.

LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 21 articles; tarsus I with 39 articles; tarsal organ situated near claw (Fig. 26A, C–D); rod sensilla with four setae in shallow groove (Fig. 26B, E). Leg IV basitibia with three pseudoarticles, without sclerotized, denticulate projection at distal apex of articles; trichobothrium bt situated in proximal third; leg IV distitibia with trichobothrium bc situated closer to bf than to sbf; sc and sf series each with five trichobothria.

Measurements

See Table 1.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality. Providencia is a volcanic island, part of the territory of Colombia, but biogeographically part of the Caribbean and Central America, its fauna more closely related to Central America and the Lesser Antilles than to the Greater Antilles (Morrone 2006).

Natural history

Epigean, found under stones.