Australian Journal of
Taxonomy
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Material examined
Holotype
AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: ♂, Kalbarri National Park, The Loop Trail, 27°33’02”S, 114°26’49”E, 16 August 2016, under sandstone rocks, M.S. Harvey, M.E. Blosfelds (WAM T141121).
Paratypes
AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 ♂, 7 ♀, 2 deutonymphs, 1 protonymph, collected with holotype (WAM T140395–T140403, T141122, T141123).
Other material
AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 ♀, 3 tritonymphs, 1 deutonymph, Kalbarri National Park, Nature's Window Trail, 27°32’58.1”S, 114°26’55.0”E, 14 August 2012, under sandstone rocks, J.M. Waldock, K. Brimmell (WAM T127597, T140417–140420).
Figure 35. Synsphyronus tenuis Harvey, sp. nov., female, habitus (WAM T141121).
Figures 36–43. Synsphyronus tenuis, sp. nov.: 36–39, male holotype (WAM T141121): 36, dorsal; 37, ventral; 38, cephalothorax, dorsal; 39, left chelal fingers, retrolateral; 40–43, female paratype (WAM T140397): 40, dorsal; 41, ventral; 42, cephalothorax, dorsal; 43, left chelal fingers, retrolateral. Scale lines = 1 mm.
Figures 44–49. Synsphyronus tenuis, sp. nov., male holotype (WAM T141121): 44, carapace, dorsal; 45, left ocular region, dorsal; 46, right pedipalp, dorsal; 47, left rallum, lateral; 48, left leg IV, lateral; 49, left tarsus IV, lateral. Scale lines = 1.0 mm (Figure 46); 0.5 mm (Figures 44, 48, 49); 0.2 mm (Figure 45).
Figures 50–54. Synsphyronus tenuis, sp. nov.: 50, left chela, retrolateral, male holotype (WAM T141121); 51, chelal teeth, retrolateral, male holotype (WAM T141121); 52, left chela, setae omitted, lateral, tritonymph (WAM T140417); 53, left chela, setae omitted, retrolateral, deutonymph (WAM T140401); 54, left chela, setae omitted, retrolateral, protonymph (WAM T140403). Scale lines = 0.5 mm (Figures 51–54); 0.2 mm (Figure 50).
Diagnosis
Synsphyronus tenuis most closely resembles those species of the genus that have fused metatarsi and tarsi (Figure 48) and eight trichobothria on the fixed chelal finger and three trichobothria on the movable finger (Figure 50), all of which are from Australia: S. codyi Cullen & Harvey, 2021, S. ejuncidus Harvey, 1987, S. hadronennus Harvey, 1987, S. meganennus Harvey, 1987 and S. sertus Cullen & Harvey, 2021. It differs from all of these species by the extremely long and narrow pedipalpal chela, which is 1.840–1.855 (♂), 1.870–2.130 (♀) mm long, and 6.46–6.63 (♂), 5.75‒6.09 (♀) × longer than broad (Figure 46) and the shape of the chelal teeth which are strongly retrorse (Figure 51). It further differs from S. hadronennus and S. meganennus by the broad anterior eye (Figure 45), which is narrowed in the others.
Description
Adults
Colour: most sclerotized portions yellow-brown (Figures 36‒43); tergites IV‒X and sternites V‒X with paired darker patches. Waxy epicuticle. Setae generally aligned perpendicularly from body, most seta quadricarinate. Most cuticular surfaces roughened, but not granulate.
Chelicera: with 5 setae on hand and 1 subdistal seta on movable finger, all setae acuminate; setae sbs and bs shorter than others; 2 dorsal lyrifissures and 1 ventral lyrifissure; galea of ♂ and ♀ unbranched; rallum of 3 blades, all blades with spinules on leading edge (Figure 47); serrula exterior with 18 (♂, ♀) blades; lamina exterior present.
Pedipalp (Figure 48): trochanter 1.67 (♂), 1.57 (♀), femur 5.29‒5.60 (♂), 5.23‒5.85 (♀), patella 3.87‒4.08 (♂), 3.85‒4.14 (♀), chela (with pedicel) 6.46‒6.63 (♂), 5.75‒6.09 (♀), chela (without pedicel) 6.09‒6.24 (♂), 5.46–5.98 (♀), hand 3.14‒3.38 (♂), 2.74–3.05 (♀) × longer than broad, movable finger 0.88‒0.93 (♂), 0.91‒1.00 (♀) × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 8 trichobothria, movable chelal finger with 3 trichobothria (Figure 50): eb, esb and isb situated basally in straight row, est submedially, et subdistally, ib and ist basally in diagonal row, and it subdistally, well posterior to et; st situated slightly closer to sb than to t; patch of microsetae present on external margin of fixed chelal finger slightly distal to et. Venom apparatus present in both chelal fingers, nodus ramosus not visible. Chelal teeth (Figure 51) strongly retrorse, most teeth with pointed tips, but basal teeth of movable finger rounded; fixed finger with 46 (♂), 49 (♀) teeth; movable finger with 35 (♂), 41 (♀) teeth; accessory teeth absent.
Carapace (Figures 38, 42, 44): 0.86‒0.91 (♂), 0.81‒0.86 (♀) × longer than broad; anterior margin slightly indented medially; subtriangular; with 2 pairs of corneate eyes (Figure 45) situated ca. one-third carapace length from anterior margin; anterior eye broad and rounded; with 20 (♂, ♀) setae, including 2 (♂), 2 (♀) near anterior margin and 2 (♂), 3 (♀) near posterior margin; with numerous lyrifissures; with faint posterior furrow.
Coxal region: manducatory process rounded, with 3 (♂, ♀) apical acuminate setae, plus 9 (♂), 8 (♀) additional setae; medial maxillary lyrifissure situated submedially; chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: ♂, 3: 6: 5: 5; ♀, 3: 4: 7: 11.
Legs: junction between femora and patellae I and II slightly oblique to long axis; junction between femora and patellae III and IV very angulate; femora III and IV much smaller than patellae III and IV (Figure 48); femur + patella of leg IV 3.55 (♂), 4.11 (♀) × longer than broad; metatarsi and tarsi fused and without tactile seta (Figures 48, 49); subterminal tarsal setae arcuate and acute; arolium much longer than claws, not divided.
Abdomen: tergites II–X (♂, ♀) and sternite IV (♂) with thin median suture line, V‒X (♂, ♀) with thin suture line in anterior half of sclerite (Figures 36‒38, 40‒42). Tergal chaetotaxy: ♂, 4: 4: 4: 4: 6: 6: 8: 6: 6: 4: 2: 2; ♀, 3: 4: 4: 4: 6: 6: 7: 8: 7: 7: 2: 2; uniseriate; all setae quadricarinate. Sternal chaetotaxy: ♂, 5: (0) 6 [4 + 4] (0): (0) 6 (0): 6: 4: 6: 8: 6: 6: 4: 2; ♀, 4: (0) 8 (0): (0) 6 (0): 8: 8: 7: 8: 8: 6: 4: 2; uniseriate; all setae quadricarinate except for those on sternite II and median pair of setae on sternite III (♂), and sternites II–IV (♀), which are acuminate. Spiracles without helix. Anal plates (tergite XII and sternite XII) situated within sternite XI, surrounded by slightly raised rim. Pleural membrane wrinkled-plicate; without any setae.
Genitalia: male: lateral apodeme laterally extended and distally broadened; anterior apodeme acute; a pair of acute dorsal apodemes; lateral rod very broad ventrally and with a blunt, anterior projection; ejaculatory canal atrium large and cup-shaped. Female: with one pair of lateral cribriform plates and 2 pairs of median cribriform plates.
Dimensions (mm): holotype male, followed by 1 other male (when measured): body length 3.44 (3.74). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.510/0.305, femur 1.400/0.250 (1.375/0.260), patella 1.040/0.255 (1.025/0.265), chela (with pedicel) 1.855/0.280 (1.840/0.285), chela (without pedicel) 1.760 (1.735), hand (without pedicel) length 0.945 (0.895), movable finger length 0.835 (0.830). Carapace 0.970/1.065 (1.000/1.160); eye diameter, anterior 0.090, posterior 0.070. Leg I: femur 0.320/0.145, patella 0.340/0.175, tibia 0.425/0.100, tarsus 0.340/0.0.075. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.870/0.245, tibia 0.625/0.120, tarsus 0.415/0.095.
Paratype female (WAM T140397), followed by 4 other females (when measured): body length 3.97 (3.66–4.29). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.565/0.360, femur 1.465/0.280 (1.385‒1.520/0.250–0.285), patella 1.135/0.295 (1.030–1.180/0.255–0.285), chela (with pedicel) 1.985/0.345 (1.870–2.130/0.320–0.350), chela (without pedicel) 1.885 (1.800–1.985), hand (without pedicel) length 0.945 (0.900–1.040), movable finger length 0.945 (0.880–0.960). Carapace 1.040/1.235 (1.000–1.105/1.185–1.345); eye diameter, anterior 0.070, posterior 0.075. Leg I: femur 0.365/0.155, patella 0.365/0.185, tibia 0.455/0.095, tarsus 0.390/0.085. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.945/0.230, tibia 0.690/0.125, tarsus 0.450/0.100.
Tritonymph
Colour: pale brown, most tergites and sternites with paired spots; carapace and pedipalps slightly darker than abdomen.
Chelicera: with 5 setae on hand and 1 on movable finger; galea unbranched.
Pedipalp: trochanter 1.67, femur 4.72, patella 3.32, chela (with pedicel) 5.18, chela (without pedicel) 4.93, hand (without pedicel) 2.53 × longer than broad, and movable finger 0.96 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 7 trichobothria, movable chelal finger with 2 trichobothria (Figure 52): eb, esb, ist and ib situated basally; est situated medially; et and it subdistally; b subbasally; t submedially.
Carapace: 0.88 × longer than broad; with 18 setae including 2 setae near anterior margin and 4 near posterior margin.
Coxal region: manducatory process with 3 apical acuminate setae, pedipalpal coxa with 7 additional setae; chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: 2: 3: 4: 5.
Legs: metatarsi and tarsi fused.
Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy: 4: 4: 4: 4: 5: 6: 7: 7: 6: 5: 2: 2. Sternal chaetotaxy: 0: (0) 5 (0): (0) 4 (0): 8: 7: 6: 6: 7: 6: 2: 2.
Dimensions (mm) (WAM T140417): body length 3.03. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.500/0.300, femur 1.110/0.235, patella 0.830/0.250, chela (with pedicel) 1.555/0.300, chela (without pedicel) 1.480, hand length (without pedicel) 0.760, movable finger length 0.730. Carapace 0.880/0.9950.
Deutonymph
Colour: pale yellow-brown, most tergites and sternites with paired spots; carapace and pedipalps slightly darker than abdomen.
Chelicera: with 5 setae on hand and 1 on movable finger; galea unbranched.
Pedipalp: trochanter 1.56, femur 3.91, patella 2.71, chela (with pedicel) 4.81, chela (without pedicel) 4.44, hand (without pedicel) 2.03 × longer than broad, and movable finger 1.17 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 6 trichobothria, movable chelal finger with 2 trichobothria (Figure 53): eb, ist and ib situated basally; est situated medially; et and it subdistally; b subbasally; t subdistally.
Carapace: 0.80 × longer than broad; with 17 setae including 2 setae near anterior margin and 3 near posterior margin.
Coxal region: manducatory process with 3 apical acuminate setae, pedipalpal coxa with 6 additional setae; chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: 2: 3: 3: 4.
Legs: metatarsi and tarsi fused.
Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 5: 5: 5: 6: 6: 2: 2. Sternal chaetotaxy: 0: (0) 2 (0): (0) 2 (0): 4: 4: 4: 6: 6: 6: 4: 2.
Dimensions (mm) (WAM T140401): body length 2.72. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.405/0.260, femur 0.900/0.230, patella 0.665/0.245, chela (with pedicel) 1.420/0.295, chela (without pedicel) 1.310, hand length (without pedicel) 0.600, movable finger length 0.700. Carapace 0.745/0.930.
Protonymph
Colour: pale yellow-brown.
Chelicera: with 4 setae on hand and 0 on movable finger; galea unbranched.
Pedipalp: trochanter 1.76, femur 3.50, patella 2.31, chela (with pedicel) 4.02, chela (without pedicel) 3.84, hand (without pedicel) 1.71 × longer than broad, and movable finger 1.26 × longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 3 trichobothria, movable chelal finger with 1 trichobothria (Figure 54): eb and ist situated basally; et situated sub-medially; t situated sub-medially.
Carapace: 0.80 × longer than broad.
Coxal region: manducatory process with 2 apical acuminate setae, pedipalpal coxa with 2 additional setae; chaetotaxy of coxae I–IV: 1: 1: 1: 1.
Legs: metatarsi and tarsi fused.
Abdomen: tergal chaetotaxy: 2: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4: 2. Sternal chaetotaxy: 0: (0) 2 (0): (0) 2 (0): 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2.
Dimensions (mm) (WAM T140403): Body length 2.335. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.325/0.185, femur 0.665/0.190, patella 0.485/0.210, chela (with pedicel) 1.025/0.255, chela (without pedicel) 0.980, hand length (without pedicel) 0.435, movable finger length 0.550. Carapace 0.590/0.735.
Figure 35. Synsphyronus tenuis Harvey, sp. nov., female, habitus (WAM T141121).
Figures 36–43. Synsphyronus tenuis, sp. nov.: 36–39, male holotype (WAM T141121): 36, dorsal; 37, ventral; 38, cephalothorax, dorsal; 39, left chelal fingers, retrolateral; 40–43, female paratype (WAM T140397): 40, dorsal; 41, ventral; 42, cephalothorax, dorsal; 43, left chelal fingers, retrolateral. Scale lines = 1 mm.
Figures 44–49. Synsphyronus tenuis, sp. nov., male holotype (WAM T141121): 44, carapace, dorsal; 45, left ocular region, dorsal; 46, right pedipalp, dorsal; 47, left rallum, lateral; 48, left leg IV, lateral; 49, left tarsus IV, lateral. Scale lines = 1.0 mm (Figure 46); 0.5 mm (Figures 44, 48, 49); 0.2 mm (Figure 45).
Figures 50–54. Synsphyronus tenuis, sp. nov.: 50, left chela, retrolateral, male holotype (WAM T141121); 51, chelal teeth, retrolateral, male holotype (WAM T141121); 52, left chela, setae omitted, lateral, tritonymph (WAM T140417); 53, left chela, setae omitted, retrolateral, deutonymph (WAM T140401); 54, left chela, setae omitted, retrolateral, protonymph (WAM T140403). Scale lines = 0.5 mm (Figures 51–54); 0.2 mm (Figure 50).
Remarks
Synsphyronus tenuis has only been collected from within a small area of Kalbarri National Park, where they occur under sandstone rocks.
COI barcode sequences of two paratype specimens, T141122 and T141123, are available under the GenBank accession numbers MZ902323 and MZ902324, respectively.
Etymology
This species is named for its extremely slender appendages, especially the pedipalps (tenuis, Latin, thin) (Brown 1956).