Hadruroides tishqu Ochoa & Prendini 2010, n. sp.

Hadruroides tishqu, n. sp.

Figures 1, 3E, 5E, 22–25; table 2

TYPE MATERIAL: PERU: Ancash Department: Santa Province: Holotype ♂, 1 ♂, 2 subad. ♂, 2 subad. ♀, 1 juv. paratypes (MHNC), 1 ♂, 1 subad. ♂, 1 subad. ♀, 2 juv. paratypes (AMNH), Isla Santa, 09 ° 09 ' 20 " S 78 ° 39 ' 50 " W, 10–25 m, 4.i.2008, R. Gutiérrez, D. Apaza and J.A. Ochoa; 1 ♂, 3 ♀ paratypes (AMNH), same locality, xi– xii.2004, A. Catennazzi; 1 ♂, 1 subad. ♀ paratypes (MHNC), Caleta Santa (Northern Chimbote), 08 ° 59 ' 25.8 " S 78 ° 39 ' 12.9 " W, 13.5 m, 4.i.2008, R. Gutiérrez, D. Apaza, and J.A. Ochoa.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition, taken from the Quechua word tishqu, meaning ‘‘island,’’ and refers to the occurrence of this species on Isla Santa.

DIAGNOSIS: Hadruroides tishqu may be distinguished from other species of the genus by means of the reduced VM and VL carinae on metasomal segment V, which comprise small granules and are present only in the posterior two-thirds of the segment (fig. 23B). These carinae are complete and generally comprise strong granules in other species of the genus (figs. 8F, 15D, 19G, 27D). The shape of the lamina of the hemispermatophore provides additional diagnostic characters. For example, the distal portion is strongly curved along the ventral border in H. tishqu (fig. 25A, C), as in H. carinatus and H. geckoi; however, the apex is acuminate in H. geckoi (fig. 13A) and rounded in H. carinatus and H. tishqu (fig. 25A). Hadruroides tishqu is similar to H. juanchaparroi and H. lunatus in the following respects: sternite VII and metasomal segments I–IV without VSM carinae; pedipalp chela robust, fixed finger of male strongly curved, creating a distinct proximal gap with movable finger when the fingers are closed. The pedipalp chela is slightly more robust in H. tishqu than in the other two species: the length:width ratio (♂) is 2.98–3.34 in H. tishqu, 3.29–3.70 in H. juanchaparroi and 3.44–3.54 in H. lunatus. The three species may also be distinguished based on the pigmentation pattern: pigmentation is absent on the metasomal segments, and limited to faint spots on the carapace and tergites of H. tishqu (fig. 24D), but well developed on the tergites and metasomal segments of H. juanchaparroi and H. lunatus (fig. 20C–E). Furthermore, the ventral surface of the telson is smooth in both sexes of H. tishqu (fig. 23A, C), but granular in the female H. juanchaparroi, H. lunatus and most other species of the genus (fig. 20A).

DESCRIPTION: Based on the holotype and paratypes. Measurements of the holotype ♂ and a paratype ♀ are recorded in table 2.

Color: Base color yellowish in most specimens and especially juveniles, but some adults slightly orange on carapace, tergites, and pedipalps. Pigmentation absent in several specimens, except for very faint spots in some adults and juveniles. Carapace with some pigmentation laterally; ocular tubercle slightly darker. Tergites I–VI each with four irregular spots, two submedian spots in posterior half, and two larger sublateral spots; pretergites depigmented (fig. 24B); VII with faint lines of pigmentation along carinae. Sternites depigmented. Metasomal segments depigmented, except in some juveniles where faint pigmentation is evident along VL carinae and surrounding insertion of ventral setae on metasomal segment V. Chelicerae faintly pigmented at base of fingers. Pedipalp femur depigmented; patella pigmented along DE margin, external surface occasionally spotted; chela depigmented. Legs sparsely spotted on prolateral surfaces.

Chelicerae: Typical of the genus; surfaces smooth; dorsal surface with two macrosetae situated near base of fingers.

Carapace: Anterior margin with weak median projection and eight macrosetae; surfaces coarsely granular, especially laterally and posterolaterally, anterior third finely granular (♂) or with smooth areas (♀); anteromedian longitudinal sulcus obsolete; posteromedian longitudinal and posterolateral sulci well developed; median ocular sulcus obsolete; ocular tubercle well developed.

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Pedipalps: Femur with VI, DI, and DE carinae complete, granular; VM and VE vestigial (fig. 23D); dorsal surfaces smooth, internal surface with prominent granules in proximal half, ventral surfaces with few small granules proximally. Patella with DI and VI carinae complete, granular; DE and VE vestigial, smooth; DPP and VPP with prominent spiniform granules (fig. 23E). Chela robust; surfaces smooth; dorsomarginal carina vestigial, restricted to base of chela (figs. 23F, G, 24C–E); chela fixed finger curved, creating a distinct (♂) or weakly developed (♀) proximal gap with movable finger when the fingers are closed; movable finger, median denticle row comprising six subrows, 1–3 internal and external accessory denticles flanking subrows II and III, distal three subrows without external accessory denticles (fig. 24A).

Trichobothrial pattern: Typical of genus; femur with three trichobothria, patella with 20, chela with 26; chelal trichobothrium eb situated slightly distal to proximal gap between fixed and movable fingers (♂); trichobothrium Et 5 situated slightly distal to Et 4 (figs. 23G, 24C).

Legs: Prolateral surfaces granular; retrolateral surfaces smooth. Leg III, femur tetracarinate, VI and EM carinae well developed; patella DE carinae comprising few small granules in proximal half of segment, DI present in distal half, VI comprising few granules distally, EM obsolete. Telotarsus with 8–13 ventromedian spinule clusters (setaceous tufts).

Tergites: Pretergites finely granular (♂) or smooth (♀). Post-tergites I – VI, surfaces finely granular, becoming more coarsely granular laterally and posteriorly, but weaker in ♀ and absent in juvenile; VII coarsely granular, with four well-developed longitudinal carinae.

Sternum: Subpentagonal; surface granular medially, with six macrosetae; posterolateral surfaces granular; median sulcus well developed.

Pectines: Pectinal tooth count: 16–18 (♂), 13–14 (♀).

Sternites: Sternites III–VI, surfaces slightly matte (♂) or smooth (♀); spiracles narrow, situated in posterior half of segment; VII, surface smooth, acarinate, only a few small granules evident in position of VL carinae.

Metasoma: Segments I–IV, dorsal surfaces with scattered granules medially; DL carinae complete; ML carinae complete on segments I–III, obsolete on IV, comprising only few small granules posteriorly; LIM carinae complete on segment I, present in posterior half of II, and posterior third of III, absent on IV; surfaces between DL and ML carinae granular on segments I–III; VL carinae obsolete, smooth on segments I–IV (fig. 23H); VSM carinae absent on all segments. Segment V, DL carinae complete, comprising low granules (fig. 23C); VL and VM carinae present in posterior two-thirds of segment, obsolete in anterior third (fig. 23B); VL carinae occasionally complete but granules coarser in posterior two-thirds; VSM carinae comprising sparse granules in posterior half of segment; dorsal and lateral surfaces smooth. Segment I with two pairs of ventral setae; II and III each with three pairs; IV with five pairs, some specimens with additional setae along posteromedian margin of I–IV; V with 10–15 ventral setae and 4–7 additional setae along posterior margin.

Telson: Vesicle, surfaces sparsely setose, mostly smooth; ventral surface with scattered granules anteriorly (fig. 23A, C).

Hemispermatophore: Distal lamina strongly curved to ventral border in distal half; apex rounded; crest less than half lamina length (fig. 25).

Variation: Total length: ♂, 45.3–50.9 (mean = 48.1, n = 4); ♀, 49.1–57.9 (mean = 53.1, n = 3). Pedipalp chela, length:width ratio: ♂, 2.98–3.34 (mean = 3.21, n = 4); ♀, 3.39–3.69 (mean = 3.52, n = 3); length:height ratio: ♂, 2.73–3.06 (mean = 2.92, n = 4); ♀, 3.03–3.21 (mean = 3.21, n = 3). Pedipalp femur, length:width ratio: ♂, 3.20–3.35 (mean = 3.29, n = 4); ♀, 3.23–3.38 (mean = 3.32, n = 3). Pectinal tooth count: ♂ (n = 12), 16 (n = 1), 17 (7), 18 (4); ♀ (n = 14), 13 (11), 14 (3). Metasomal segment V, length:width ratio: ♂, 2.25–2.59 (mean = 2.43, n = 4); ♀, 2.28–2.55 (mean = 2.45, n = 3); length:height ratio: ♂, 2.48–2.78 (mean = 2.62, n = 4); ♀, 2.28–2.8 (mean = 2.56, n = 3); number of setae: dorsolateral (n = 26): 7 (n = 5), 8 (11), 9 (10); lateral (n = 26): 5 (6), 6 (16), 7 (4); ventrolateral (n = 26): 7 (2), 8 (21), 9 (1), 10 (2); ventral (n = 13): 10 (1), 11 (2), 12 (3), 13 (2), 14 (3), 15 (2). Telson, length:height ratio: ♂, 3.09–3.26 (mean = 3.17, n = 4); ♀, 3.33– 3.41 (mean = 3.37, n = 3). Telotarsus, number of ventromedian spinule clusters (setaceous tufts): III (n = 24), 8 (n = 3), 9 (9), 10 (9), 11 (2), 12 (1); IV (n = 22), 9 (3), 10 (7), 11 (7), 12 (4), 13 (1).

DISTRIBUTION: (fig. 1). This species is presently known from two localities: Isla Santa situated 5 km from the mainland, near Chimbote (fig. 3E), and Caleta Santa on the coastal mainland (fig. 1). Both localities occur in the Pacific desert ecoregion (Brack, 1986).

ECOLOGY: The type locality is a rocky island (142.42 ha), bordered with cliffs on all sides (fig. 3E), and mostly covered by the nests and guano of many seabirds. Specimens of H. tishqu were collected at night with UV light detection in rocky areas, as well as under stones and bird nests during the day.