Homolophus vladimirae

Homolophus vladimirae (Šilhavý, 1967)

Figures 14, 34

Euphalangium vladimirae Šilhavý, 1967: 472–474, figs. 1–7; Staręga 1978: 225; Gricenko 1979a: 38, fig. 41; Gricenko 1980: 561

Homolophus vladimirae — Cokendolpher 1987: 93; Staręga 2003: 96

Diagnosis. The species differs from all species, including the most closely related, Homolophus thienshanensis (Šilhavý, 1967) by the following: medium-sized harvestmen with short, thick legs (male Fe II about twice body length, Fe I less than body length, about same as width of body); penis with alae extending over 2/3 length on each distolateral side and truncus with central section being widest with basal region being abruptly constricted.

Type Locality. Kazakhstan, Thien-shan, Ala Tau Mountain Range, Almaatinka-Taal, ca. 43°9’25’’N, 76°55’48’’E, ca 1200 to 2000 m.

Distribution. Kazakhstan and here newly recorded from Kyrgyzstan Fig. 14.

Specimens Examined. KAZAKHSTAN, Dmitrovka, a side gorge of Talas river, Syrdarya region, 23.08.1905, leg. V. Abramov, field # N 190-1905 (2 males, 3 females, ZIN). KYRGYZSTAN, Issyk-Kul Lake, 30.08.1936, field Ñ61-1937 (1 male, RCNS)

Description. Medium-sized harvestmen; male body rectangular, with rounded corners; medium sclerotization of body cuticle, slender, 1.82 times longer than wide length; length 4.2 mm, width 2.3 mm; brown color with extensive lighter and darker spots and blotches. Along middle of dorsum with bright stripe running entire length (irregular borders and broken in some places), with 5 pair large white rounded spots to sides of stripe. All surface of dorsum covered with small denticles. Ocularium low, round, not large, 1.8 times its length from anterior margin of cephalothorax, with 3–4 denticles on each side. Preocular area and both sides around ocularium with groups of black-tipped denticles. Legs short, angular in cross-section, Fe I and III thickened (Fe II longer than body, Fe I about same as body length), legs with transverse rows of denticles. Leg lengths (mm): I 4.2 + 2.0 + 4.2 + 4.2 + 9.2 = 23.8, II 8.0 + 2.4 + 6.5 + 5.8 + 17.6 = 40.3, III 5.6 + 2.0 + 4.0 + 5.4 + 9.6 = 26.6, IV 7.0 + 2.0 + 5.6 + 8.2 + 15.0 = 37.8. Pedipalps enlarged, Fe dorsally and ventrally with denticles and setae; Pa dorsally with denticles, Ti ventrally with denticles, Ta with sensory microdenticles and setae; segment lengths (mm): 2.1 + 1.0 + 1.3 + 2.5 = 6.9. Chelicerae medium- to large-sized, with some tabby marks, only basal segment with few small denticles. Cheliceral basal segment length 2.7 mm ventrally with blunt rounded bulge, distal segment length 3.2 mm. Penis short, dorsoventrally flattened, bowed, recurved in lateral view, abruptly narrowed at base, slightly expands at 2/3, then tapers back to glans, alae on truncus long (more than 2/3 length of truncus) and on each distolateral side; glans boat shaped (lateral view), oblong tapering to more pointed distal end at junction of stylus (dorsal view), length (mm): truncus 2.7, glans 0.3, stylus 0.15.

Female. See comments below.

Comments. Specimens over 80 years old. Colors likely faded. Two females were examined during this study, but they are not described here because these specimens were only skimmed over in ZIN, only males were available for detailed study.