Cave-dwelling Neobisiidae in South China Karst, with descriptions of twelve new species of Bisetocreagris (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae) from Guizhou Province Author Feng, Zegang 0000-0002-5809-5984 Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 5809 - 5984 & College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China chenj @ ioz. ac. cn; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 0325 - 2532 & Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, College of Life sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, P. R. China dudu 06042001 @ 163. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 3347 - 1031 * Corresponding author chenj@ioz.ac.cn Author Zhang, Feng 0000-0002-3347-1031 Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, College of Life sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, P. R. China dudu 06042001 @ 163. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 3347 - 1031 * Corresponding author dudu06042001@163.com Author Chen, Jun 0000-0002-5809-5984 Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 5809 - 5984 & College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China chenj @ ioz. ac. cn; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 0325 - 2532 chenj@ioz.ac.cn text Zootaxa 2023 2023-12-28 5395 1 1 77 https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/download/zootaxa.5395.1.1/52550 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5395.1.1 1175-5334 10438327 CCA38E8E-26E5-47D4-A27D-305554F6097F Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. (巨双ŁÞ伪AE) http://zoobank.org:act: 245DA1C2-7E77-4E82-B5A6-3C6426EAABFE Figs 27–31 Type material. Holotype male (Ps.- MHBU-GZ19080701 ): China , Guizhou Province , Bijie City , Weining County , Yancang Town , Wulibeidadong Cave ( âṅåẸṪṄDz÷县ȁṫDz五Ħạ大ñ ), [ 26°53′49.17″N , 104°19′21.82″E ], 2425 m a.s.l. , 7 August 2019 , Zegang Feng , Zhaoyi Li , Chen Zhang leg. Paratypes : 7 males (Ps.- MHBU-GZ19080702‒08 ) , 2 females (Ps.- MHBU-GZ19080709‒10 ), same data as the holotype . Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word “ grandis ”, meaning big and large, which refers to it being large. Distribution and habitat. This new species is known only from the type locality Wulibeidadong Cave ( Figs 1O , 27 ), located ~ 10 km northwest of Yancang Town, Weining County. This limestone cave, which is about 5 m behind a farmer’s house, has a long oval entrance (~ 2.5 m high by ~ 8 m wide). Corn stalks were piled up, with chickens and other poultry foraging at the entrance. The entrance enters into a large hall, which is humid and dripping, with a temperature of about 9 ℃. There is a narrow tunnel at the end of the hall, which leads to a tunnel that enters into another smaller hall. The end of the second hall is a deep shaft. All specimens were collected on the walls of the two cave halls in the dark zone. Diagnosis. ( ♂ ♀ ) . Troglomorphic habitus; carapace with 2 faint eyespots on a flat surface; epistome triangular, with rounded tip; carapace with 7–11 setae on posterior margin; pedipalp smooth and slender except for hand, which is finely granular, both chelal fingers with 110–134 teeth; femur 7.51–8.25 ( ♂ ), 7.14–7.66 ( ♀ ) times (length 3.96–4.40), patella 6.90–7.72 ( ♂ ), 6.60–6.88 ( ♀ ) times (length 4.07–4.63) longer than wide, pedicel about one-third of the total length of patella. Hand with pedicel 2.89–3.19 ( ♂ ), 2.75–2.93 ( ♀ ) times (length 2.48–2.75), chela with pedicel 7.03–7.57 ( ♂ ), 6.76–6.87 ( ♀ ) times (length 5.91–6.56) longer than wide, finger 1.41–1.56 times longer than hand with pedicel. Chelicera: rallum with 7–9 pinnate setae, distal one with an expanded base. Description. Male ( holotype ; paratypes males in parentheses; Figs 28A , 29A ). Carapace, chelicerae, and pedipalps reddish brown; abdomen and legs yellowish. Carapace ( Figs 30A , 31A–B ): smooth, 1.31 (1.27–1.34) times longer than wide, with a total of 32 (29–36) setae, including 4 on anterior margin, 10 (8–11) on posterior margin, and 2–3 (2–5) on each side of antero-lateral margin; with 2 faint eyespots on a flat surface ( Fig. 30B ); epistome triangular, with rounded tip. Chelicera ( Figs 30B , 31B–C, F ): hand with 7 (6–7) setae, movable finger with 1 (1) submedial seta; fixed finger with 15 (13–20) teeth; movable finger with 17–19 (14–22) teeth; serrula exterior with 55 (52) lamellae; serrula interior with 35 (39) lamellae. Galea ( Fig. 31F ) divided into 2 main branches, and each one branch divided into multiple sub-branches. Rallum ( Fig. 31C ) with 8 (7–9) pinnate blade, distal-most blade with slightly expanded base, distal-most 2 blades separated from others, proximal one short. Pedipalps ( Figs 30D–E , 31I–K ): apex of coxae rounded, with 7 (5–8) setae on each side, pedipalpal coxae with 7–9 (7–10) setae. Pedipalp smooth and slender except for hand, which is finely granular. Trochanter 3.00 (2.86– 2.96) times longer than wide, femur 8.23 (7.51–8.25), patella 7.37 (6.90–7.72) times longer than wide, pedicel about one-third of the entire length of patella, chela (with pedicel) 7.50 (7.03–7.57), chela (without pedicel) 6.73 (6.31–6.85) times longer than wide, movable finger 1.95 (1.86–2.00) times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with 8 trichobothria, movable finger with 4, eb and esb on lateral margin of hand; ib , ist and isb closely grouped at the base of the fixed finger; est slightly distal of finger middle; it closer to fingertip than et ; on movable finger st nearer to t than to sb , the latter nearer b than to st , the distance between sb and b is somewhat equal to that of st and t ( Figs 30D , 31I–J ). Venom apparatus present only in fixed chelal finger, venom duct short, not extending past half of the distance to et . Fixed chelal finger with 118 (118–134) pointed and retrorse teeth; movable finger with 120 (110–130) teeth, which are pointed and retrorse in distal and middle part but blunt and round more basally; all teeth contiguous. Abdomen: pleural membrane granulated. Tergal chaetotaxy (I–XI): 10:8:8:7:8:8:9:9:9:9:9 (10–13:7–12:6–11:6– 9:6–9:8–9:8–10:8–11:8–11:9–11:8–10); sternal chaetotaxy (V–XI): 14:21:23:20:20:18:14:6 (10–14:19–22:19– 23:19–23:17–20:14–20:13–16:6–9); stigmata with 7–8 (6–10) setae; anal cone with 2 (2) dorsal and 2 (2) ventral setae. Male genital area ( Figs 30F , 31D ): sternite II with 105 (95–113) scattered setae; sternite III with anteromedian groove flanked by one small seta on each side, with 38 (29–38) posterior setae. Legs: coxae chaetotaxy (I–IV): 10–12:9–11:5–6:14–15 (9–13:7–10:4–6:13–18). Leg I ( Figs 30H , 31L ): femur 6.49 (5.89–6.94), patella 4.53 (4.38–5.07), tibia 9.45 (9.63–11.24), basitarsus 4.89 (4.52–6.60), telotarsus 6.70 (4.65–7.16) times longer than wide, femur 1.57 (1.47–1.52) times longer than patella, telotarsus 1.44 (0.70–1.52) times longer than basitarsus. Leg IV ( Figs 30I , 31G, M ): femur + patella 9.36 (8.43–9.54) times longer than wide, femur shorter than patella, tibia 13.48 (12.87–13.96), basitarsus 5.64 (4.88–5.57), telotarsus 6.91 (6.46–7.33) times longer than wide, telotarsus 1.28 (1.26–1.34) times longer than basitarsus; basitarsus with one tactile setae (TS=0.10–0.13), telotarsus with one tactile setae (TS=0.57–0.65); subterminal tarsal seta ( Fig. 31G ) bifurcated, both branches dentated; arolium not divided, shorter than the slender and simple claws. FIGURE 27. Wulibeidadong Cave, type locality of Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. A. Surrounding surface environment with cave entrance; B‒C. Entrances (B: Outside the entrance; C: Inside the entrance); D. Area where B. grandis sp. nov. specimens were collected. FIGURE 28. Live individuals of Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. (A: male; B: female) on the ground or wall. FIGURE 29. Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. A. Holotype male, dorsal view; B. Paratype female, dorsal view. Females ( paratypes ; Figs 28B , 29B ): similar to holotype and paratype males. Chelicera. Hand with 6–7 setae, movable finger with 1 submedial seta; fixed finger with 13–16 teeth; movable finger with 16–17 teeth; serrula exterior with 55–59 lamellae; serrula interior with 36–38 lamellae. Galea divided into 2 main branches, and each one branch divided into multiple sub-branches; rallum of 8–9 blades, similar to holotype . Pedipalps. Apex of coxae rounded, with 6–7 setae on each side. Pedipalpal coxae with 7–10 setae. Trochanter 2.75–2.93, femur 7.14–7.66, patella 6.60–6.88, chela (with pedicel) 6.76–6.87, chela (without pedicel) 6.10 times longer than wide, movable finger 1.90–2.00 times longer than hand (without pedicel). Fixed chelal finger with about 118–119 teeth, movable finger with about 115–122 teeth. Abdomen. Tergal chaetotaxy (I–XI): 10–11:7–8:9–10:8:7–9:8–10:8–9:8–10:9–12:10–12:9–11; sternal chaetotaxy (IV–XI): 12:18–21:18–21:17–23:17–21:16–18:14–15:7. Female genital area ( Figs 30G , 31E ): sternite II with 4–7 setae on each side; sternite III with a row of 20 setae on the posterior margin. Holotype male ( paratypes males in square brackets). Body length 8.25 [6.48–9.65]. Carapace 1.89/1.44 (1.31) [1.79–1.99/1.40–1.51 (1.27–1.34)]. Pedipalpal trochanter 1.62/0.54 (3.00) [1.53–1.68/0.52–0.58 (2.86–2.96)], femur 4.28/0.52 (8.23) [3.96–4.40/0.48–0.55 (7.51–8.25)], patella 4.35/0.59 (7.37) [4.07–4.63/0.53–0.63 (6.90– 7.72)], chela (with pedicel) 6.45/0.86 (7.50) [5.91–6.54/0.79–0.93 (7.03–7.57)], chela (without pedicel) 5.79/0.86 (6.73) [5.33–5.89/0.79–0.93 (6.31–6.85)], hand length (without pedicel) 2.05 [1.90–2.15], movable finger length 3.99 (1.95 times longer than hand without pedicel) [3.64–4.11 (1.86–2.00 times longer than hand without pedicel)]. Leg I: trochanter 0.65/0.42 (1.55) [0.56–0.68/0.39–0.43 (1.44–1.72)], femur 2.27/0.35 (6.49) [2.06–2.29/0.32–0.36 (5.89–6.94)], patella 1.45/0.32 (4.53) [1.40–1.54/0.30–0.34 (4.38–5.07)], tibia 2.08/0.22 (9.45) [2.08–2.36/0.19– 0.24 (9.63–11.24)], basitarsus 0.93/0.19 (4.89) [0.86–1.32/0.17–0.21 (4.52–6.60)], telotarsus 1.34/0.20 (6.70) [0.93–1.36/0.18–0.20 (4.65–7.16)]. Leg IV: trochanter 1.24/0.43 (2.88) [1.12–1.26/0.40–0.45 (2.65–2.93)], femur + patella 3.93/0.42 (9.36) [3.57–4.01/0.40–0.46 (8.43–9.54)], tibia 3.91/0.29 (13.48) [3.63–4.01/0.26–0.30 (12.87– 13.96)], basitarsus 1.24/0.22 (5.64) [1.12–1.23/0.21–0.24 (4.88–5.57)], telotarsus 1.59/0.23 (6.91) [1.48–1.59/0.21– 0.24 (6.46–7.33)]. FIGURE 30. Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. , holotype male (A–F, H–I), female (G). A. Carapace, dorsal view; B. Eye area, lateral view; C. Right chelicera, dorsal view; D. Right chela, lateral view; E. Right pedipalp, dorsal view; F. Male genitalia; G. Female genitalia; H. Right leg I, lateral view; I. Right leg IV, lateral view. FIGURE 31. Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. , holotype male (A–D, F–M), female (E). A. Carapace, dorsal view; B. Right chelicera, dorsal view; C. Rallum; D. Male genitalia, ventral view; E. Female genitalia, ventral view; F. Galea; G. Subterminal tarsal seta; H. Movable finger of chelicera, showing galea; I. Right chela, dorsal view; J. Right chelal fingers, retrolateral view; K. Right pedipalp, minus chela, dorsal view L. Right leg I, lateral view; M. Right leg IV, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (C, G), 0.25 mm (B, H), 0.5 mm (B, D–E), 1 mm (A, I–M). Females ( paratypes ). Body length 7.06–8.84. Carapace 1.99–2.05/1.60–1.64 (1.21–1.28). Pedipalpal trochanter 1.68–1.70/0.58–0.61 (2.75–2.93), femur 4.21–4.29/0.56–0.59 (7.14–7.66), patella 4.29–4.40/0.64–0.65 (6.60–6.88), chela (with pedicel) 6.46–6.56/0.94–0.97 (6.76–6.87), chela (without pedicel) 5.73–5.92/0.94–0.97 (6.10), hand length (without pedicel) 2.05–2.08, movable finger length 3.89–4.17 (1.90–2.00 times longer than hand without pedicel). Leg I: trochanter 0.68–0.73/0.43–0.45 (1.58–1.62), femur 2.18–2.27/0.36–0.37 (6.06–6.14), patella 1.46–1.49/0.33 (4.42–4.52), tibia 2.26–2.40/0.22–0.23 (10.27–10.43), basitarsus 0.90–0.91/0.20–0.20 (4.50–4.55), telotarsus 1.26–1.33/0.19–0.22 (5.73–7.00). Leg IV: trochanter 1.24–1.25/0.46 (2.70–2.72), femur + patella 3.89– 3.90/0.46 (8.46–8.48), tibia 3.84–3.91/0.29–0.31 (12.61–13.24), basitarsus 1.20–1.23/0.24 (5.00–5.13), telotarsus 1.49–1.56/0.23–0.25 (6.24–6.48). Remarks. Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. resembles B. gracilenta Gao et Zhang, 2017 , B. juanxuae Mahnert et Li, 2016 , B. scaura ( Mahnert, 2003 ) and B. titania ( Mahnert, 2003 ) in having a similar slender pedipalp. The new species can be distinguished from B. titania by the presence of 2 faint eyespots on a flat surface of carapace ( vs. without eyes or eyespots in B. gracilenta and B. titania ); the pedipalpal femur 7.51–8.25 ( ♂ ), 7.14–7.66 ( ♀ ) times longer than wide ( vs. 8.50 ( ♀ ) times in B. gracilenta ; 8.86 ( ♂ ) times in B. titania ), the patella 6.90–7.72 ( ♂ ), 6.60–6.88 ( ♀ ) times longer than wide ( vs. 7.61 ( ♀ ) times in B. gracilenta ; 8.0 ( ♂ ) times in B. titania ), and the chela (with pedicel) 7.03–7.57 ( ♂ ), 6.76–6.87 ( ♀ ) times longer than wide ( vs. 6.54 ( ♀ ) times in B. gracilenta ; 7.8 ( ♂ ) times in B. titania ). Bisetocreagris grandis sp. nov. can be distinguished from B. juanxuae by the pedipalpal femur 7.51–8.25 ( ♂ ), 7.14–7.66 ( ♀ ) times longer than wide ( vs. 9.0 ( ♂ ), 8.6 ( ♀ ) times in B. juanxuae ), patella 6.90–7.72 ( ♂ ), 6.60–6.88 ( ♀ ) times longer than wide ( vs. 9.6 ( ♂ ), 9.1 ( ♀ ) times in B. juanxuae ), the chela (with pedicel) 7.03–7.57 ( ♂ ), 6.76–6.87 ( ♀ ) times longer than wide ( vs. 10.8 ( ♂ ), 10.0 ( ♀ ) times in B. juanxuae ), and the presence of 110–134 teeth on both chelal fingers ( vs. 146‒152 teeth in B. juanxuae ). The new species differs from B. scaura by the presence of 2 faint eyespots on a flat surface of carapace ( vs. without eyes or eyespots in B. scaura ) and the chela (with pedicel) 7.03–7.57 ( ♂ ), 6.76–6.87 ( ♀ ) times longer than wide ( vs. 8.65 (tritonymph) times in B. scaura ).