An unexpected diversity of Cyphophthalmi (Arachnida: Opiliones) in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber
Author
Bartel, Christian
Author
Dunlop, Jason A.
Author
Giribet, Gonzalo
text
Zootaxa
2023
2023-05-29
5296
3
421
445
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5296.3.6
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.5296.3.6
1175-5326
59AD1B4F-15B2-4DC0-A57E-2F6B57539D1A
Genus
Leptopsalis
Thorell, 1882
Type
species.
Leptopsalis beccarii
Thorell, 1882
.
Diagnosis.
See Clouse 2012.
Remarks.
The
holotype
of
Leptopsalis breyeri
sp. nov.
(MB.A.4457;
Figs. 3–4
) is an adult male, because of its large size and the presence of an adenostyle on tarsus IV. This specimen can be reliably identified as a member of the family
Stylocellidae
. The ornamented second cheliceral segment, type 2 ozophores, free sternites, C-shaped spiracles and the position of the fringed adenostyle are typical characters for representatives of this family. The possible presence of eyes and indistinctly curved opisthosomal sternal sulci combined with the absence of anal gland pores and extensive cheliceral sculpturing suggest affinities to the extant genus
Leptopsalis
. Furthermore, the habitus of this fossil is somewhat similar to that of the
holotype
of
Sirocellus iunctus
sp. nov.
(GPIH05128) described above. However, specimen MB.A.4457 is much larger and features a completely different adenostyle on tarsus IV. The latter cannot be observed in any of the extant species of
Leptopsalis
, which often have a rather small adenostyle. Based on these characters, this fossil is provisionally placed as an extinct species of
Leptopsalis
. However, we should keep in mind that some of the characters are possibly plesiomorphic, like the mostly straight opisthosomal sternal sulci, which is the predominant form observed in all our fossils.