Neoscirula flechtmanni Heyer & Castro, 2008, sp. nov.

Neoscirula flechtmanni sp. nov.

(figs. 3–17)

Type-specimens (all on slides). Holotype female, litter, Estação Ecológica de Jataí, Luis Antônio, São Paulo (21°36’S 47°47’W), 26 July 2000, A. R. Oliveira; 2 paratype females, soil under Psidium sp., Estação Ecológica de Jataí, Luis Antônio, São Paulo (21°36’S 47°47’W), 26 July 2000, A. R. Oliveira; 1 paratype female, soil under Psidium sp., Estação Ecológica de Jataí, Luis Antônio, São Paulo, 2 May 2000, A. R. Oliveira; 1 paratype tritonymph, litter under Psidium sp., Estação Ecológica de Jataí, Luis Antônio, São Paulo, May 2000, A. R. Oliveira; 1 paratype female, soil under Myrcia sp., Campus USP, Pirassununga-São Paulo (21°56’S 47°28’W), 27 July 2000, A. R. Oliveira; 1 paratype female, soil under Myrcia sp., Campus USP, Pirassununga-São Paulo, 3 May 2000, A. R. Oliveira; 2 paratype males, litter Euterpe edulis Mart., Estação Experimental IAC, Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo, 13 July 2000, A. R. Oliveira; 1 paratype female, soil under Bactris setosa Mart., Estação Experimental IAC, Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo, 11 July 2000, A. R. Oliveira.

Diagnosis. Adults of this species can be distinguished by the presence of a bulbous solenidion on male tarsi I and II and of 2 solenidia on genu IV in both sexes. The setal formula for basifemora I–IV is 4-6-3- 1 in both sexes. Natural colour and specific feeding habits unknown. According to the collecting data restricted to soil and leaf litter.

Description.

Female (figs.3–11). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length 233 (200–285); width 166 (135–193); length hypognathum 73 (63–80); width hypognathum 65 (58–70); length palp 50 (43–55); length chelicera 72 (60–77); length leg I 148 (137–158); leg II 142 (140–143); leg III 150 (140–160); leg IV 159 (115–180); length sensillae vi 100, sce 82.

Dorsum (figs. 3 a, b and c). Single propodosomal shield and area anteriad to it randomly papillated. Dorsal integumental striae finely papillated. Setae ve long and inserted nearer to vi than to sce. Sensillae plumose; vi slightly longer than sce. Setae ve, f 1, h 1 and h 2 longest dorsal setae. Dorsal lyrifissures laterad to seta f 1. Setae f 2 lacking. Two pairs of anal setae.

Ve n te r (fig. 4). Coxal plates and genital valves barely distinguishable; only recognised by not being striated but finely papillated. Nine hysterogastral and one pair of paragenital setae present. Propodogastral setae situated on the integument and paracoxal setae more or less on the median edge of coxae IV. Genital valves with 4 pairs of g -setae and randomly placed papillae. Ventral lyrifissures laterad to the single pair of para-anal setae. Integumental striae papillated.

Gnathosoma (figs. 5– 7). Integument of all components are papillated.

Palp (fig. 5). Short palpi; project slightly past the entomalae. Chaetotaxy: trochanter, 0; basifemur, 1 spine-like seta; telofemur, 1 spine-like seta; genu, 4 sts; tibiotarsus, 1 proximoventral sts, 2 lateral sts, 1 dorsal sts, 2 median sts, 1 short tubercle–like seta, 1 distal terminal solenidion and a bifid terminal claw.

Chelicerae (fig. 6). Typical for the genus; broad proximally and suddenly tapering to the chela. A distinct cheliceral seta present. Movable digit is normally developed; cheliceral immovable digit reduced to membrane.

Hypognathum (fig. 7). Typical for the genus with regard to form and chaetotaxy. Setae hg 1 slightly sigmoid–shaped. Setae hg 2 and 4 shorter than other two hg pairs. Internal apodemes present ventromedially.

Legs (figs. 8–11). All shorter than the body; all segments randomly papillated. Leg chaetotaxy: coxae I– IV, 3 sts,1 peg-2 sts plus 1 pgsts-3 sts-2 sts plus pcsts; trochanters I–IV, 1-1-2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV, 4-6-3-1 sts; telofemora I–IV, 5-5-4-3 sts; genua I–IV, 4 asl, 5 sts-3 asl, 5 sts-2 asl, 5 sts-2 asl, 5 sts; tibiae I–IV, 2 asl-5 sts-1 asl, 5 sts-1 asl, 4 sts-1T, 4 sts; tarsi I–IV, 1 peo, 2 asl, 2 bbsl, 2 tsl, 17 sts-1 tcsl, 1 tsl, 16 sts-1tsl, 13 sts- 15 sts.

Male (figs. 12–17). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length 170 (165–175); width 128 (120–135); length hypognathum 62 (60–63); width hypognathum 50; length palp 42 (40–44); length chelicera 58; length leg I 120; leg II 113; leg III 123 (120–125); leg IV 130; length sensillae vi 99, sce 87.

Dorsum (fig.12 a and b). Single idiosomal plate poorly demarcated and with fine papillae. Idiosomal striae finely papillated. Setae f 1 longest dorsal setae. Para-anal setae 1 pair; anal setae 2 pairs. Lyrifissures on posterior edge of shield. Setae f 2 absent. Sensillae pilose; vi longer than sce.

Ve n te r (fig. 13). Coxal shields poorly demarcated. Only four hysterogastral setae. Propodogastral setae just posteriad of median portion of coxae II. Paracoxal setae appear to be on the median edge of coxae IV. Genital region provided with 4 pairs of g setae; paragenital setae seem to be lacking.

Gnathosoma. Palp, chelicerae and hypognathum, although smaller in dimensions, as in female.

Legs (figs. 14–17). Except in chaetotaxy and dimensions these structures resemble those of the female. Leg chaetotaxy: coxae I–IV, 1 peg, 3 sts-2 sts plus 1 pgsts-3 sts-2 sts, 1 pcsts; trochanters I–IV, 1-1-2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV, 2-3-3-0 sts; telofemora I–IV, 4 (5)-4-4-3 sts; genua I–IV, 3 asl, 1tcs, 5 sts-1 tcsl, 3 asl, 4 sts-1 asl, 5 sts-2 asl, 5 sts; tibiae I–IV, 2 bsl, 5 sts-1 bsl, 5 sts-1 bsl, 5 sts-1 T, 4 sts; tarsi I–IV, 1 peo,1 tcsl, 1 bbsl, 2 asl, 1 tsl, 17 or 18 sts-1tcsl, 1bbsl, 1 tsl, 18 sts-1 tsl, 16 sts-15 sts.

Etymology: This species is named for Prof Dr Carlos H. W. Flechtmann in recognition for his contribution to Acarology in general.