Rilaena kabardinibalkarica Snegovaya, 2025

Snegovaya, Nataly Y. & Makarova, Olga L., 2025, New data on harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) of Caucasian glaciers, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 5653 (1), pp. 123-132 : 124-126

Rilaena kabardinibalkarica Snegovaya sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Material: Russia, Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria: Holotype: 1♂ ( ZMMU), Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Adyl-Su River valley, Kashkatash Glacier foreland, 112 years old site [Line VIII], 2308 m a.s.l., 43.216152° N, 42.686028° E, mature mixed (Pinus-Betula) forest with Hedysarum sp. , in barber pitfall, 25.07.2023, leg. M.D. Antipova. Paratypes: 1♀ ( ZMMU), Adyl-Su River valley, KASHKATASH GLACIER foreland, 112 years old site [Line VIII], 2308 m a.s.l., 43.216152° N, 42.686028° E, mature mixed (Pinus-Betula) forest with Hedysarum sp. , in barber pitfall, 25.07.2023, leg. M.D. Antipova; 1♂ ( RCNS), same place, one-year-old site [Line I], 2615 m a.s.l., 43.209580° N, 42.684162° E, bare ground (earthly matter, stones) with sporadic Saxifraga seedlings, in barber pitfall, 20.07.2023, leg. O.L. Makarova; 2♂, 5♀♀ ( RCNS), same place, three-year-old site [Line II], 2600 m a.s.l., 43.209889° N, 42.684296° E, pioneer meadow ( Chamaenerion sp. , Senecio sp. , Cerastium sp. , Saxifraga sp. , Poa sp. ), 15− 22.07.2023, leg. O.L. Makarova; 1♀, 2 juv. ( RCNS), same place and biotope, 25.07.2023, leg. M.D. Antipova; 1♀, same place, one-year-old site [Line I], 2615 m a.s.l, 43.209580° N, 42.684162° E, stony barren, 20.07.2023, leg. O.L. Makarova; 4♀♀, 4 juv. ( RCNS), same place and biotope, 25.07.2023, leg. M.D. Antipova; 1♀, Chereksky District, BEZENGI GLACIER foreland, three-year-old site [Line II], 2165 m a.s.l., 43.10537° N, 43.13018° E, sparce forb community, 20− 30.07.2022, leg. M.D. Antipova. 3♀♀, same place, one-year-old site [Line I], 2153 m a.s.l., 43.10460° N, 43.12947° E, stony heath, 20− 30.07.2022, leg. A.B. Babenko.

Description. Male. Color dark brown dorsum with light and dark spots of various sizes and a dark saddle-shaped pattern. Body length 5.0 mm long, 2.5 mm width ( Fig. 1A ). The eye mound is trapezoidal with a double row of 13-14 large denticles ( Fig. 1B ). All legs with transverse rows of large denticles, especially large and numerous on Fe I ( Fig. 1C ). Lengths of leg segments: I: 6+1+2.3+6.8+8.3 =24.4; II: 10.0+1.6+9.0+11.0+16.5 = 48.1; III: 5.0+1.2+4.5+7.6+9.6 = 27.9; IV: 7.5+1.6+6.0+11.4+11.8 =38.3. Chelicera dorsally I segment with black-tipped denticles, II segment with 2-3 denticles, others with setae ( Figs. 1F–G ). Cheliceral basal segment length 1.7, distal segment 2.1. Pedipalps ventrally with large teeth and denticles, dorsally with black-tipped denticles and with a round pubescent apophysis. Pa and Ti with pointed pubescent apophyses, Ta ventrally with microdenticles and other parts with setae ( Figs. 1D–E ). Pedipalps lengths: 1.6+1.25+1.25+2.5 = 6.6 mm. Penis with a wide base, which narrows towards the middle and widens towards the head, wings not wide, the glans of the penis is banana-shaped (2.8 mm long, glans 0.4 mm, stylus 0.15 mm) ( Figs. 1–K ).

The female differs from the male in its larger size, more oval body shape, less armed leg segments and more rounded apophyses on the palp. Female body length 7.6, wide 3.8 ( Fig. 1L ). Pedipalp lengths 1.8+1.0+1.25+2.0 = 6.05 ( Figs. 1M–N ). Cheliceral basal segment length 1.7, distal segment 2.1 ( Figs. 1O–P ). Lengths of leg segments: I: 5.4+1.4+4.6+6.5+8.8; II: 10.5+2.0+9.4+11.4+18.6 =51.9; III: 6.0+1.6+5.5+8.0+10.6 =31.7; IV: 8.5+1.6+6.4+12.0+15.4 =43.9.

Diagnosis. Our species Rilaena kabardinibalkarica sp. nov. is most closely related to Rilaena atrolutea (Roewer, 1915) , but different from it in the larger eye mound and a greater number of denticles on the eye mound ( Fig. 1B ; Snegovaya & Pkhakadze, 2014: Fig. 2.1 ); the shape and length of Fe I − in R. atrolutea Fe I is thicker and shorter; the legs in general on Fe are more armed in R. kabardinibalkarica ; the body color in R. kabardinibalkarica is darker, especially the saddle-shaped pattern; the apophyses on the pedipalp are more rounded in R. atrolutea and more pointed in R. kabardinibalkarica ( Fig. 1A ; Snegovaya & Pkhakadze, 2014: Fig. 2.1 ); in R. atrolutea the wings on the penis are wider and the glans is wider (lateral and dorsal position) ( Figs. 1J, K ; Snegovaya & Pkhakadze, 2014: Fig. 2.5 −7).

Etymology. The species is named after the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria ( Russia), the species type locality.

Distribution. Known only from the type localities in Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria ( Russia).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rilaena kabardinibalkarica sp. nov. A. male body, habitus dorsal; B. male eye tubercle, dorsal; C. male femur I, dorsal; D, E. male left pedipalp (D—lateral, E—mesal); F, G. male left chelicera (F—lateral, G—mesal); H, I. penis (H— dorsal, I—lateral); J, K. close-up of penis glans (J—dorsal, K—lateral); L. female body, habitus dorsal; M, N. female right pedipalp (M—lateral, N—mesal); O, P. female right chelicera (O—lateral, P—mesal). Scale: A, C, L 1.0 mm; D–I, M–P 0.5 mm; J–K 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Rilaena kaschkataschica sp. nov. A. male body, habitus dorsal; B. male eye tubercle, dorsal; C. male femur I, dorsal; D, E. male right pedipalp (D—lateral, E—mesal); F, G. male right chelicera (F—lateral, G—mesal); H, I.—penis (H—dorsal, I—lateral); J, K. close-up of penis glans (J—dorsal, K—lateral), L. female body, habitus dorsal; M, N. female right pedipalp (M—lateral, N—mesal); O, P. female right chelicera (O—lateral, P—mesal). Scale: A, L 1.0 mm; C–I, M–P 0.5 mm; J–K 0.1 mm.