!"#$%&'(()*+,%-%.)/0+,* OPILIONIDS (PHALANGIDA) OF THE FAMILY PHALANGODIDAE FROM MEXICAN CAVES By Clarence J. and Marie L. Goodnight Department of Biology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 The opilionids reported upon in this study Karas Goodnight and Goodnight, 1951, were collected over a period of years by Amer. Mus. Novitates, no. 1491, p. 3. Good- Mr. James Reddell and Dr. Robert Mitchell night and Goodnight, 1953, Amer. Mus. No- and their associates in the many caves which vitates, no. 1610, p. 21. they studied. Many of their general observa- Members of the family Phalangodidae with tions have been recorded in the publications a common eye tubercle, with five dorsal areas of the Association for Mexican Cave Studies. on the abdominal scute, the first area without Due to the generosity and hard work of a median line. Lateral margins of dorsal scute these cave explorers, we were privileged to with enlarged tubercles in the region of the study the opilionids which they have first or second dorsal areas; similar tubercles In this paper, we have described only the mem- mayor may not be present at the Iateral- bers of the family Phalangodidae wh ich were posterior borders of the fifth area and free collected. It is only in this family, at least in tergites. Dorsal scute and free tergites without Mexico, that true cave-adapted forms are conspicuous median armature, but at times found. Members of the family Cosmetidae with tubercles. Eye tubercle removed from were also collected, and they shall be con- the anterior margin of the cephalothorax; it sidered in another paper. mayor may not have spines above the eyes, The holotypes of new species are deposited and is at times very low. in the arachnid collections of the American Legs without conspicuous spines or tuber- Museum of Natural History in New York City. cles, tarsi of third and fourth legs without Paratypes are deposited in the collections of '>copulae, and with simple untoothed double the American Museum and in the collections claws; distitarsus of tarsus of first leg with of the Department of Biology of Texas Tech two segments, distitarsus of tarsus of second University, Lubbock, Texas. leg with three segments. Tarsus of first leg with four segments, remaining tarsi somewhat vari- SUBORDER LANIATORES THORELL able in number of segments. The metatarsi of PHALANGODIDAE SIMON the legs are not divided into astragali and PHALANGODINAE ROEWER calcanea. The maxillary lobe of each second coxa without a ventral projection. KAROS GOODNIGHT AND GOODNIGHT Palpus normal in size, armed with spines; 33 !"#$%&'(()*+,%-%.)/0+,* chelicera normal. on the third and fourth areas. Each free ter- Secondary sexual characteristics of males not gite with a raw of tubercles; a projection on conspicuous, but may be present in the form the lateral margins of each free tergite. Anal of enlarged portions of various segments of the operculum covered with small tubercles. Spira- legs or in the shape of the fourth femora. cles partially hidden by fourth coxae. Coxae Genotype. Karas barbarikos, Goodnight covered with granulations; a row of small and Goodnight, 1951, from Chapulhuadm, teeth on anterior and posterior margins of each Hidalgo, May 10, 1942. of the third coxae. Maxillary lobe of each For this present study of Karas, specimens second coxa without a downward pointing were studied from many different localities. spine. After careful consideration, we decided that All segments of the legs except the metatarsi species within the genus are difficult to define, and tarsi covered with tubercles. Tarsal seg- and may represent a single species with many ments: 4-8-6-6. Distitarsus of tarsus of first variations; but because of the geographical iso- leg with two segments, second with three. lation of the individual populations, it ap- Palpus: trochanter, 0.5 mm long; femur, peared best to recognize these rather striking 1.2; patella, 0.8; tibia, 0.8; and tarsus, 0.7. variations as individual species. To delineate Total length, 4.0 mm. Palpus armed retro- the species, we have used such characteristics laterally as in figure. Femur and patella with as the nature of the eye tubercle, general size two apical median spines. relationships, number of tarsal segments, gen- Chelicera normal, a slight dorsal elevation eral appearance of the dorsum as well as the on the proximal segment, a few small spines presence or lack of lateral tubercles. We feel on this elevation. that a study of the descriptions and the draw- Color of dorsum light reddish brown; ap- ings will affirm our decision to consider these pendages yellowish. distinctive species at this time. Male. Not available. Type locality. Female holotype and Karas depressus, new species female paratype from Cueva de Llano de Figures 4-5 Conejo, Xilitla, San Luis PotosI, April 3, 1969. Collected by T. R. Evans. Female holotype. Total length of body, 3.6 mm. Cephalothorax, 1.2 mm. Width Karos gratiosus, new species of body at widest portion, 2.5 mm. Figures 10 -13 II III IV Male holotype. Total length of body, Trochanter 3.6mm 0.5mm 0.6mm 0.6mm 2.2 mm. Cephalothorax, 0.6 mm. Width of body Femur 1.8 2.6 2.6 3.1 at widest portion, 1.8 mm. Patella 0.6 1.1 1.1 0.9 Tibia 1.4 2.5 2.5 2.4 Metatarsus 1.4 2.2 2.2 3.0 \I III IV Tarsus 1.2 2.2 2.2 1.4 Trochanter 0.2mm 0.2mm 0.3mm 0.2mm Femur 1.1 Total 10.0mm 11.1mm 11.2mm 11.4mm 1.6 1.4 1.8 Patella 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.5 Tibia Cepthalothorax smooth. Eye tubercle very 0.9 1.4 1.2 1.4 low, almost lacking, widely separated from Metatarsus 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.6 Tarsus anterior margin. Dorsal scute with five poorly 0.9 1.8 1.0 1.1 defined areas. First area without a median Total 4.5mm 6.6mm 5.8mm 6.6mm line, dorsum smooth. Scute shaped as in figure with lateral projections in the region of the Cephalothorax covered with fine granula- second and fifth areas. A small median spine tions. Eye tubercle rounded, low, clearly re- 34 !"#$%&'(()*+,%-%.)/0+,* moved from anterior margin of cephalothorax. Karos parvus, new species Abdomen with five poorly defined areas. First Figures 8-9 area without a median line. A row of tuber- cles across each area. These are larger and MALE HOLOTYPE. Total length of body, spinose on the third and fourth areas. Lateral 3.2 mm. Cephalothorax, 0.8 mm. Width of projections on either side in the region between body at widest portion, 1.8 mm. the first and second areas and on the fifth area. Each free tergite with a row of hair-tipped II III IV tubercles, enlarged into a projection at the Trochanter 0.3mm 0.3mm OAmm OAmm lateral margin of each tergite. Anal operculum Femur 0.9 1.7 1.3 1.9 with small tubercles in rows. Each free sternite Patella 004 0.7 0.5 0.7 with a row of tubercles. First free sternite with Tibia 1.3 104 1.1 104 a pair of lateral projections near the distal end Metatarsus 0.8 1.8 1.3 2.1 of the fourth coxae. Spiracles hidden by fourth Tarsus 0.7 1.7 0.7 0.7 coxae. Coxae thickly covered with tubercles. Maxillary lobe of each second coxae without Total 4Amm 7.6mm 5.3mm 7.2mm a downward pointing spine. All segments of the legs except metatarsi Cephalothorax smooth. Eye tubercle low, and tarsi covered with small tubercles. Fourth removed from anterior margin; a tubercle over femora curved; second femora with slightly each eye. Abdomen with five areas, the first swollen bases. Tarsal segments: 4-6-6-6. Dis- without a median line; all areas tuberculate. titarsus of tarsus of first leg with two segments, A lateral projection on either side of the abdo- second with three. men in the region of the first area. Each free Pal pus: trochanter, 0.3 mm long, femur, tergite with a row of tubercles. Anal opercu- 0.8; patella, 0.6; tibia, 0.6; and tarsus, 0.6. lum thickly covered with tubercles. Each free Total length, 2.9 mm. Palpus armed retrolater- sternite with a row of small tubercles. Spiracles ally as in figure, femur and patella with a me- partially hidden by the fourth coxae. All coxae dian apical spine. with tubercles which are heaviest on the fourth Chelicera normal, not enlarged. coxae. Maxillary lobe of each second coxa Color light reddish brown; appendages yel- without a downward pointing spine. lowish. Proximal segments of the legs tuberculate; Female. Total length of body, 3.5 mm. metatarsi and tarsi covered with hair. Tarsal Cephalothorax, 0.8 mm. Width of body at segments: 4-7-6-6. Distitarsus of tarsus of first widest portion, 2.6 mm. Similar in appearance leg with two segments, second with three. to male but lacking enlarged second femora. Palpus: trochanter, 0.3 mm long; femur, Type locality. Male holotype from 0.7; patella, 0.5; tibia, 0.5; and tarsus, 004. Cueva de Poca Ventana, 1 km W of Xilitla, Total length, 2.3 mm. Femur with a median San Luis Potos:, January, 1968. Collected by apical spine; tibia and tarsus with a row of T. Raines. Female paratype from Milliped spines on either side. Cave, 8 km W of Huautla, Oaxaca, June, 1965. Chelicera normal, not enlarged. Collected by W. Russell. Female paratype with Dorsum dark reddish brown with dusky reduced eyes from Cueva del Ahuate #2, mottlings; appendages lighter.