Cryptolarynx homaroides Haran & Marvaldi & Benoit & Oberlander & Stals & Oberprieler 2023, sp. nov.

18. Cryptolarynx homaroides Haran sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B52976BC-5840-45EC-9813-C4BB817C0056

Figs 1R, 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R

Differential diagnosis

Cryptolarynx homaroides sp. nov. is most similar to C. marshalli sp. nov., but the body of the latter species is distinctly more elongate and lacks the distinct lobster-like copulatory sclerite of C. homaroides.

Etymology

The species name homaroides is derived from the genus name of the European Lobster (Homarus gammarus Linnaeus) and refers to the remarkably similar shape of copulatory sclerite in the endophallus of this species. The specific epithet is an adjective with immutable ending.

Material examined

Holotype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; “ S. Afr. [REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA – Northern Cape], Namaquald [Namaqualand]. Springbok–Mesklip. 29.49S – 17.52E [29.817° S, 17.867° E]” “ 30.8.1976; E-Y:1186. From under stones. [coarse sandy neck of rocky hills] leg. Endrödy-Younga ” “Holotype. Cryptolarynx homaroides. Haran 2023”; TMSA.

Description (♂)

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 2.3 mm.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Body integument black, scapes at their bases, tibiae and tarsi reddish. Dorsal vestiture (pronotum + elytra) consisting of overlapping, recumbent, parallel-sided or subtriangular clothing scales, 1.5–2× as long as wide, truncate or rounded at apex; colour of scales pale to dark brown; pale scales generally concentrated in two lateral bands on pronotum and at base of elytral interstriae 4, creating irregular shades on elytra, and concentrated in a pair of pale spots surrounded by darker scales at apical ⅔ of interstriae 2–3; scales of striae recumbent, in lateral view not distinct from rest of vestiture.

HEAD. Forehead as wide as epifrons near antennal insertions, scales recumbent. Eyes convex, in dorsal view slightly exceeding outline of head, surrounded by a ring of short pale scales, on forehead directed towards occiput; distance between eye and scrobe smaller than width of antennal club. Epifrons with distance between antennal insertions as large as length of scape, scales in middle of epifrons at most 2× as long as wide, recumbent, not contiguous. Frons with 3 pairs of long erect lateral setae. Epistome without median seta. Antennal funicles with segment 1 moderately elongate, 1.5× as long as wide; 2–4 longer than wide, compressed; 5–6 globular, isodiametric; 7 wider than long.

PRONOTUM. Transverse (W:L ratio 1.3), widest near midlength, sides arcuate; apex and base subequal in width.

ELYTRA. Broadly ovate, slightly longer than wide (W:L ratio 0.9), sides convex, widest near midlength.

LEGS. All tibiae with small apical mucro; protibiae with outer margin straight, inner margin slightly bisinuate; metatibiae with inner setal fringe, the setae shorter than segment 5 of metatarsus. Tarsi with segment 2 wider than long.

ABDOMEN. Ventrites with creamy-white plumose scales, partly concealing integument, and long suberect setae or setiform scales, each apically truncate or slightly bifid, concentrated medially; ventrite 1 slightly concave medially; ventrite 5 with scales concentrated in basal half.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis moderately elongate (W:L ratio 0.45), slightly shorter than temones, sides convex; in profile straight, slightly downcurved and dorsoventrally slightly narrowed near apex. Copulatory sclerite in dorsal view shaped like a lobster. Parameroid lobes separate, divided by deep median notch; each lobe bearing two brushes of erect setae. Spiculum gastrale with basal arms long, longer than ventral strut, right arm regularly curved.

Sexual dimorphism

Female unknown.

Life history

Unknown. The single known specimen of C. homaroides sp. nov. was collected under stones.

Distribution

The species was only found at the type locality, the Springbok area in the Northern Cape province (Fig. 13).