Neobisium (N.) kotiasense, Novák & Gogshelidze, 2025

Novák, János & Gogshelidze, Mariam, 2025, Three new cavernicolous Neobisium species from Caucasian caves in Georgia (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones), Zootaxa 5646 (4), pp. 575-585 : 581-583

Neobisium (N.) kotiasense sp. nov. ( Figs 4A–G )

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Diagnosis (♂ ♀). A subterranean troglomorphic Neobisium from Georgia that differs from other Caucasian cave species of the genus in the following combination of characters: posterior margin of carapace with 6 setae, epistome triangular, anterior eyes with flattened lens, posterior eyes without lens, cuticle not pigmented darker between these; tergites I–IV: 6:6–8:8:8; fixed and movable chelal fingers with 72–77 and 69–71 teeth; pedipalpal femur smooth, 1.41–1.48 mm length (× 5.22–6.25), patella 1.06–1.17 mm (× 3.53–4.06), movable finger 1.24–1.45 mm; ratio between movable chelal finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.14–1.46; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable chelal finger 0.99–1.13; ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.15–1.56.

Type material. Holotype: ♂, ISUIZ-096, Georgia, Imereti Region, Zemo Imereti Plateou, Kotias Klde Cave (42°12’48.22”N 43°19’29.17”E), 723 m a.s.l., 26.07.2022, Lado Shavadze leg. Paratypes: 1♀, CaBOL-1036021 same locality data as for holotype, 22.11.2018, Eter Maghradze, Shalva Barjadze, Giorgi Nebieridze leg ; 1♀, ISUIZ-087 same locality data as for the holotype, 01.03.2020, Eter Maghradze leg. Non-type material exemined: Zakarias Klde shaft (42°10’58.06”N 43°20’16.03”E), 1 ♂, CaBOL- 1036027, 778 m a.s.l., 12.08.2023, Mariam Gogshelidze, Lado Shavadze leg.

Derivatio nominis. The species name kotiasense refers to the Kotias Klde saft in Georgia, the locality of the type material.

Description of adults (♂ ♀) from Kotias Klde Cave. Carapace, chelicerae, pedipalps and palpal coxae red-brown, opisthosoma and legs yellowish; pedipalps smooth; opisthosoma with granular pleural membrane.

Carapace 1.16–1.66 (♂ ♀) times as long as broad, surface smooth, first pair of eyes with weak flattened lens, second pair just weak eyespots, cuticle not pigmented darker between these; anterior margin with long, pointed epistome, with a small base; carapace with 22 macrosetae (4:6:6:6) ( Fig. 4A ). Preocular microsetae absent.

Cheliceral palm with 6 setae ( Fig. 4B ); fixed finger with 16 teeth, movable finger with 8 teeth, the middle one slightly larger; gs ratio 0.54–61, spinneret broad and rounded, but not prominent; rallum with 8 blades, the distal two laterally pinnate; serrulae interior with 26–28, serrula exterior with 29–30 blades.

Manducatory process with 5 setae. Coxal setae: pedipalp 7, I 6–7, II 4–8, III 5–6, IV 7–8; anterolateral process of coxa I strong triangular, anteromedial process prominent with denticles ( Fig. 4C ).

Tergal chaetotaxy I–X: 6:6–8:8:8:8:8–10:8–10:8–10:8–10:8–10. Sternal chaetotaxy II–X (♂): 8:(2)12(2):(2)12(2):12: 12:12:12:10:8; sternal chaetotaxy II–X (♀): 7–16:(3)10–16(2):(2)8(2):8:8–10:10:10–12:8–12:8–12. Anal cone with 2 ventral and 2 dorsal setae.

Pedipalp ( Fig. 4D ): trochanter 1.98–2.45 (♂ ♀) times as long as broad; femur 6.25 (♂) or 5.22–5.84 (♀) times as long as broad; patella 4.06 (♂) or 3.53–4.04 (♀) times as long as broad; hand of chela reaching its greatest width in the proximal third in dorsal view; chelal pedicel with 3–5 glandular pores; fixed chelal finger homodentate, with 72–77 (♂ ♀) pointed contiguous teeth; movable chelal finger with 69–71 (♂ ♀) low, flattened contiguous teeth ( Fig. 4E ); trichobothria as in fig. 4F, relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis (♂ ♀): it 0.15–0.16/ et 0.12–0.17/ est 0.08 –0.21/ ist 0.34 -0.37/ isb 0.71–0.78/ ib 0.86–0.93/ esb 0.85–0.97/ eb 0.92–0.99/ t 0.20–0.27/ st 0.32–0.40/ sb 0.60–0.63/ b 0.85–0.87.

Leg IV: trochanter 2.77 (♂) or 2.48–2.52 (♀) times as long as deep, femur + patella 4.42 (♂) or 3.87–5.39 (♀) times as long as deep, tibia 5.66 (♂) or 5.66–6.25 (♀) times, basitarsus 3.37 (♂) or 3.1–4.53 (♀) times, telotarsus 4.39 (♂) or 4.37–5.31 (♀) times as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.52–1.18 (♂ ♀), subterminal seta bifurcate with serrated rami, claws with a very small dorsal tooth.

Ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.14–1.28 (♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable finger 0.99–1.13 (♂ ♀); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.15–1.56 (♂ ♀).

Measurements (in mm). Body length 3.18 (♂) 2.78–3.43 (♀). Carapace 1.00 × 0.78 anteriorly (♂) or 0.97–1.01 × 0.54–0.87 anteriorly (♀). Chelicera 0.58 × 0.32 (♂) or 0.61–0.62 × 0.30–0.33 (♀); movable finger length 0.43 (♂) or 0.34–0.44 (♀). Pedipalp: trochanter 0.57 × 0.24 (♂) or 0.57–0.60 × 0.25–0.29 (♀); femur 1.48 × 0.24 (♂) or 1.41–1.42 × 0.24–0.27 (♀); patella 1.13 × 0.28 (♂) or 1.06–1.17 × 0.26–0.33 (♀); chela with pedicel 2.54 × 0.50 or 2.39–2.50 × 0.53–0.65 (♀); hand with pedicel length 1.06 (♂) or 1.11–1.12 (♀); movable finger length 1.45 (♂) or 1.24–1.44 (♀). Leg IV: trochanter 0.49– x 0.18 (♂) or 0.45–0.55 x 0.18–0.22 (♀); femur + patella 1.14 × 0.26 (♂) or 1.01–1.16 × 0.19–0.30 (♀); tibia 1.05 × 0.15 (♂) or 0.67–0.99 × 0.12–0.16 (♀); basitarsus 0.40 × 0.12 (♂) or 0.40–0.41 × 0.09–0.13 (♀); telotarsus 0.59 × 0.08 (♂) or 0.36–0.56 × 0.08–0.11 (♀).

Description of male from Zakarias Klde Shaft. Carapace, chelicerae, pedipalps and palpal coxae red-brown, opisthosoma and legs yellowish; pedipalps smooth; opisthosoma with granular pleural membrane.

Carapace 1.28 times as long as broad, surface smooth, first pair of eyes with weak flattened lens, second pair just weak eyespots, with no darker pigmentation on the cuticle between them; anterior margin with long, pointed epistome, with a small base; carapace with 22 macrosetae (4:6:6:6). Preocular microsetae absent.

Cheliceral palm with 6 setae; fixed finger with 16 teeth, movable finger with 8 teeth, the middle one slightly larger; gs ratio 0.71, spinneret broad and rounded, but not prominent; rallum with 8 blades, the distal two laterally pinnate; both serrulae interior and exterior with 28 blades.

Manducatory process with 5 setae. Coxal setae: pedipalp 7, I 8, II 8, III 5, IV 7; anterolateral process of coxa I strong triangular, anteromedial process prominent with denticles.

Tergal chaetotaxy I–X: 6:8:8:8:8:8:6:6:6:6. Sternal chaetotaxy II–X: 18:(2)14(2):(2)8(2):8:8:8:10:10:8. Anal cone with 2 ventral and 2 dorsal setae.

Pedipalp: trochanter 2.51 times as long as broad; femur 5.74 times as long as broad; patella 3.97 times as long as broad; hand of chela reaching its greatest width in the proximal third in dorsal view; chelal pedicel with 3 glandular pores; fixed chelal finger homodentate, with 78 pointed contiguous teeth; movable chelal finger with 62 low, flattened contiguous teeth; trichobothria as in the type specimens, relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis: it 0.18/ et 0.12/ est 0.20 / ist 0.36/ isb 0.69/ ib 0.90/ esb 0.91/ eb 0.94/ t 0.25/ st 0.34/ sb 0.61/ b 0.85.

Leg IV: trochanter 2.45 times as long as deep, femur + patella 0.42 times as long as deep, tibia 6.60 times, basitarsus 3.90 times, telotarsus 3.99 times as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.73, subterminal seta bifurcate with serrated rami, claws with a very small dorsal tooth.

Ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.46; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable finger 1.01; ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.49.

Measurements (in mm). Body length 3.03. Carapace 0.97 × 0.76. Chelicera 0.67× 0.31; movable finger length 0.47. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.60 × 0.24; femur 1.14 × 0.25; patella 1.16 × 0.29; chela with pedicel 2.41; hand with pedicel length 1.13; movable finger length 1.43. Leg IV: trochanter 0.52 × 0.21; femur + patella 1.09 × 0.25; tibia 1.04 × 0.16; basitarsus 0.31 × 0.08; telotarsus 0.42 × 0.11.

Remarks. Neobisium kotiasense sp. nov. differs from N. kozmaniense sp. nov. and N. sakhadzianum by having a smooth pedipalpal femur (pedipalpal femur granulated in N. kozmaniense sp. nov. and N. sakhadzianum ). Neobisium kotiasense sp. nov. differs from N. verae and N. achaemenidum by having a strong, triangular epistome, and a pedipalpal femur 5.22–6.25 times as long as broad, while this value is in N. achaemenidum × 9.26, and in N. verae × 8.31 ( Mahnert 1979; Nassirkhani & Mumladze 2018). Neobisium kotiasense sp. differs from N. birsteini in having pedipalpal femora × 5.22–6.25 times longer than broad (this ratio is × 7.54 in N. birsteini ), and in having a strong triangular anterolateral process (this process is much shorter in N. birsteini ) ( Mahnert 1979). See the differences between Neobisium kotiasense sp. nov. and N. sakishorense sp. nov. in the Remarks section of N. sakishorense sp. nov. The specimen from Zakarias Klde shaft shows no major differences from the specimens from Kotias Klde Cave. The only differences are in the chelal movable finger/hand ratio (× 1.46 in the specimen from Zakarias Klde shaft, and × 1.14–1.28 in specimens from Kotias Klde Cave), and in the length/depth ratio of leg IV telotarsus (× 3.99 in the specimen from Zakarias Klde shaft, and × 4.37–5.31 in specimens from Kotias Klde Cave). These are slight differences, based on a single specimen, therefore, we have no knowledge on the character variability within the entire population. The distance between the two caves is only ca. 2 kilometers. Based on having no species level morphological or morphometrical differences, we therefore attribute the specimen male from Zakarias Klde shaft to Neobisium kotiasense sp. nov. Within the studied material, some degree of intraspecific variation was observed in case of several characters, especially in carapace, coxal, sternal and tergal chaetotaxy, in the relative position of chelal trichobothria, as well as in the size and ratios. These are in line with the observations of Novák (2014) and Gardini (2023) on the intraspecific character variation of other cave dwelling Neobisium species.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Neobisium (N.) kotiasense sp. nov. male holotype (ISUIZ-096). A: carapace, dorsal view; B: left chelicera, dorsal view; C: anterolateral and anteromedial process of right coxa I; D: right pedipalp, dorsal view; E: chelal dentition; F: right chela, lateral view; G: leg IV, lateral view.