The Hercules pseudoscorpions from Madagascar: A systematic study of Feaellidae (Pseudoscorpiones: Feaelloidea) highlights regional endemism and diversity in one of the " hottest " biodiversity hotspots
Author
Lorenz, Michelle
Museum of Nature Hamburg - Zoology, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany & University of Hamburg, Biology Department, Ohnhorststrasse 18, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
michellelorenz@gmx.net
Author
Loria, Stephanie F.
Museum of Nature Hamburg - Zoology, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Author
Harvey, Mark S.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1482-0109
Western Australian Museum, Collections & Research, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia & University of Western Australia, School of Biological Sciences, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
Author
Harms, Danilo
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7189-5345
Museum of Nature Hamburg - Zoology, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
text
Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny
2022
2022-12-14
80
649
691
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.80.e90570
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.80.e90570
1864-8312-80-649
AD0B1CC262414460B6B888E6B95F20D7
FAE6DFEF69735531A4CBA275E078320D
Toliaranella
gen. nov.
Type species.
Toliaranella pumila
sp. nov.
Diagnosis.
Toliaranella
gen. nov.
differs from all other Malagasy feaellids by the presence of a perforated organ above the coxal spines and smallest body size of any Malagasy groups. Like
Antsirananaella
gen. nov.
and
Mahajanganella
gen. nov.
, it differs from
Cybella
by having platelets on the pleural membrane (absent in
Cybella
), from
Iporangella
by the presence of specialized setae on the movable chelal finger (absent in
Iporangella
), from
Feaella (Difeaella)
and
Feaella (Feaella)
by the presence of four anterior carapaceal lobes (two and six, respectively), from
Feaella (Tetrafeaella)
in continental Africa by having a less pronounced depression on the base of coxa I and on top of coxa II (distinctly more pronounced in
Feaella (T.) cf. mucronata
) and from the Australian species presently attributed to
Feaella (Tetrafeaella)
by having fewer coxal spines (one pair versus three or four in the Australian taxa).
Etymology.
This genus is named after the former Toliara Province, where all specimens were collected. The gender is feminine.
Description.
The following description is based on holotype and allotype. -
Carapace
(Figs
18A
,
20A
,
21A
,
22A
,
23A
,
24A
): Strongly granulate, all four anterior lobes with same distance to each other and rounded at tips. -
Pedipalps
(Figs
17A, B
,
19A-C
,
20C, D
,
21C, D
,
22C, D
,
23C, D
,
24C, D
): Terminal teeth with 7-8 teeth on both the fixed and the movable fingers (including 1 large tooth on fixed finger). -
Coxal region
(Figs
17B
,
18B, C
): Pedipalpal coxae each with one spike laterally near base; coxae I with basal depression, each side with one small coxal spine; slightly more cranial of coxal spine one novel organ on each side: rose-shaped, not granulate but perforated organ (Fig.
18B, C
) filling the base of the depression; coxae II with irregular shaped spines framing depression of coxae I.
Figure 17.
Toliaranella
gen. nov.
. Specimen used for imaging:
T. griswoldi
sp. nov.
holotype (CAS 9071500).
A
dorsal overview;
B
ventral overview;
C
lateral overview. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.
Figure 18.
Toliaranella
gen. nov.
, scanning electron micrographs. Specimens used for imaging:
A
T. griswoldi
sp. nov.
male paratype (ZMH-A0016740);
B
,
C
T. meridionalis
sp. nov.
male paratype (ZMH-A0016753).
A
carapace, dorsal view;
B
sternum ventral overview;
C
coxal spines and perforated organ in detail (highlighted in red). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (
A
,
B
); 0.1 mm (
C
).
Included species.
Toliaranella fisheri
sp. nov.
;
Toliaranella griswoldi
sp. nov.
;
Toliaranella mahnerti
sp. nov.
;
Toliaranella meridionalis
sp. nov.
; and
Toliaranella pumila
sp. nov.
Distribution.
Members of this genus are localized to the southern part of Madagascar in the Androy, Anosy and Atsimo-Andrefana Regions (formerly Toliara Province) where the main landscape is covered by arid spiny bush vegetation.