Arthropoda Selecta 14 (4): 299301 © ARTHROPODA SELECTA, 2005 Miscellanea chernetologica (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones), based on the collection of the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Part 1 Ðàçðîçíåííûå çàìåòêè ïî ëîæíîñêîïèîíàì (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) íà îñíîâå êîëëåêöèè Ìóçåÿ åñòåñòâåííîé èñòîðèè â Âåíå, ×àñòü 1 Selvin Dashdamirov1 & Sergei I. Golovatch2 Ñ. Äàøäàìèðîâ1, Ñ.È. Ãîëîâà÷2 1Institut für Zoomorphologie, Zellbiologie und Parasitologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat, Universitatsstr. 1, Düsseldorf 40225 Germany. E-mail: [email protected] 2Institute for Problems of Ecology & Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr. 33, Moscow 119071 Russia. E-mail: [email protected] 2Èíñòèòóò ïðîáëåì ýêîëîãèè è ýâîëþöèè ÐÀÍ, Ëåíèíñêèé ïð., 33, Ìîñêâà 119071 Ðîññèÿ. KEY WORDS: Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae, Microbisium, synonymy, parthenogenesis. ÊËÞ×ÅÂÛÅ ÑËÎÂÀ: Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae, Microbisium, ñèíîíèìèÿ, ïàðòåíîãåíåç. ABSTRACT. Revision of the holotype of Nepalo- collection. We deal here with the status of Nepalobisi- bisium franzi Beier, 1974, from Nepal, showed this um franzi Beier, 1974, a Himalayan form. species to be a new junior subjective synonym of Mi- crobisium brevifemoratum (Ellingsen, 1903), while the Identity of Nepalobisium franzi Beier, 1974 genus Nepalobisium Beier, 1974 is a new junior sub- jective synonym of Microbisium Chamberlin, 1930, In general, the false scorpion fauna of Nepal is both syn.n. Parthenogenesis seems to be characteristic perhaps among the best-known in Asia, with numerous of several Microbisium species, both Palaearctic and endemic taxa involved [Schawaller, 1987, 1991]. One Nearctic. of such endemic forms is the monotypic genus Nepalo- bisium Beier, 1974, with the type, and only, species ÐÅÇÞÌÅ. Ïåðåèçó÷åíèå ãîëîòèïà âèäà Nepalo- Nepalobisium franzi Beier, 1974. It was described from bisium franzi Beier, 1974 èç Íåïàëà ïîêàçàëî, ÷òî a single female holotype [Beier, 1974] still preserved ýòîò âèä íîâûé ìëàäøèé ñóáúåêòèâíûé ñèíî- in alcohol (NHMW, Pa. 126) and accompanied by the íèì Microbisium brevifemoratum (Ellingsen, 1903), à following label: Central Nepal, Thakkhola, Taksang, ðîä Nepalobisium Beier, 1974 íîâûé ìëàäøèé above Tukche, 3150 m, 23.VII.1971, leg. H. Franz. ñóáúåêòèâíûé ñèíîíèì Microbisium Chamberlin, The basic character that Beier considered of gener- 1930 (îáà syn.n.). Êàæåòñÿ, ïàðòåíîãåíåç õàðàòåðåí ic rank was the presence in Nepalobisium of only six äëÿ ðÿäà âèäîâ Microbisium, êàê ïàëåàðêòè÷åñêèõ, trichobothria on the fixed finger of the pedipalp, as òàê è íåàðêòè÷åñêèõ. opposed to seven or eight in the remaining Neobisi- idae. Based on the original description alone, all other Introduction traits of N. franzi resembled those of the widespread trans-Palaearctic Microbisium brevifemoratum (Elling- The pseudoscorpion collection of the Natural His- sen, 1903) so vividly that, in connection with the first tory Museum in Vienna (NHMW) is highly important record of M. brevifemoratum in northern Pakistan, worldwide, chiefly because of the activities, between Dashdamirov [2005] suggested, but not formalised, 1928 and 1979, of Max Beier, a renown Austrian spe- their synonymy. cialist who published a total of 252 papers on false It is noteworthy that, since its description, Nepalo- scorpion systematics alone [Mahnert, 1980, 2004]. bisium franzi was recorded in Nepal two times [Scha- However, progress in the knowledge of the taxonomy waller, 1987, 1991]. In both cases, however, most if of Pseudoscorpiones since the 1980s mandates revi- not all of the material referred to by Schawaller con- sion of some of Beiers taxa. sisted of immature individuals (deutonymphs) charac- This publication starts a series of short miscell- terised by the presence of six trichobothria on the fixed anous reports devoted to the NHMW pseudoscorpion finger, and further two on the mobile finger, of the 300 S. Dashdamirov & S.I. Golovatch Figs 1 & 2. Nepalobisium franzi Beier, 1974, $ holotype: 1 left chela, lateral view; 2 right chela, lateral view. Scale bar 0.1 mm. Ðèñ. 1 è 2. Nepalobisium franzi Beier, 1974, ãîëîòèï $: 1 ëåâàÿ õåëà ñáîêó; 2 ïðàâàÿ õåëà ñáîêó. Ìàñøòàá 0,1 ìì. pedipalp. This 6+2 formula alone would seem suffi- The distribution range of M. brevifemoratum is thus cient to unequivocally refer that material to Microbisi- to be extended further to the south, to cover the Hima- um deutonymphs. laya as well. This is undoubtedly the most widespread Morikawa [1968] recorded in Nepal a tritonymph congener that occurs in humid habitats throughout the he identified as an Ideobisium sp. Schawaller [1987], Palaearctic, possibly even beyond. with reservation though, referred this report to Nepalo- bisium franzi. The 3+1 trichobothriotaxy formula as depicted by Morikawa, however, suggests that in fact Evidence of parthenogenesis in Eurasian this might have been a protonymph. Based on its very Microbisium species small size, this could well have represented Microbisi- um brevifemoratum. Parthenogenesis has long been suggested in some A re-examination of the holotype of N. franzi re- Pseudoscorpiones [Chamberlin, 1931], but very little vealed that actually it is abnormal. Thus, the left chela has since been revealed in this respect. Males in the (Fig. 1) shows six trichobothria on a deformed, slightly populations of both species of Microbisium occurring shortened fixed finger (chelal length/width ratio, 3.0, basically in the Nearctic appear to be extremely rare to according to Beier [1974] ), while the right chela (Fig. absent [Chamberlin, 1930; Nelson, 1973, 1982, 1984]. 2) is absolutely normal and supplied with seven tricho- Such a profoundly female-biased sex ratio strongly bothria (total length with pedicel 0.56 mm, hand with suggests parthenogenesis. pedicel, 0.3 mm, moveable finger, 0.3 mm, length/ As regards the Asian congeners, M. pygmaeum (El- width ration of chela, 2.8). So the holotype appears to lingsen, 1907), from Japan and Korea, is shown to lack demonstrate the classical 7+3 trichobothriotaxy pattern males [Sakayori, 1989]. The few sexed samples of characteristic of a Microbisium. Furthermore, the loca- widespread Microbisium species in Europe, e.g. of M. tion of the trichobothria, especially that of trichoboth- brevifemoratum and M. suecicum Lohmander, 1945 in rium IST, as well as body size, the shape of the epi- Poland [Jêdryczkowski, 1987], contained no males. stome and carapace, certain proportions of the pedi- The recent record of males and females of M. brevi- palp etc. clearly indicate that Nepalobisium franzi Bei- femoratum in Pakistan [Dashdamirov, 2005] erred in er, 1974 is only a new subjective junior synonym of that those samples actually contained 16 adult females, Microbisium brevifemoratum (Ellingsen, 1903), syn.n. but no males whatever. This allows for the conclusion This also means that Nepalobisium Beier, 1974 is only to be drawn that several species of Microbisium, both a new subjective junior synonym of Microbisium Cham- Nearctic (M. brunneum (Hagen, 1868) and M. parvu- berlin, 1930, syn.n. lum (Banks, 1895)) and Palaearctic (M. brevifemora- Miscellanea chernetologica, 1 301 tum, M. pygmaeum, possibly also M. suecicum), show Chamberlin J.C. 1931. The arachnid order Chelonethida // parthenogenesis, likely thelytoky which is so wide- Stanford University Publications, Biological Sciences. Vol.7. No.1. P.1284. spread among Arthropoda. Dashdamirov S. 2005. Pseudoscorpions from the mountains of Parthenogenesis, often coupled with vast distribu- northern Pakistan (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) // Ar- tions, seriously exacerbates the taxonomic problems thropoda Selecta. Vol.13. No.4. P.225261. encountered in Microbisium [Nelson, 1984]. Thus, Har- Harvey M. 1990. Catalogue of the Pseudoscorpionida // vey [1990] lists seven species of this genus as occur- Manchester University Press. 726 pp. Jêdryczkowski W.B. 1987. Zaleszczotki (Pseudoscorpiones) Gór ring in Eurasia. In contrast, Schawaller [1985, 1989] Úwiêtokryskich // Fragm. Faun. Vol.31. No.9. P.135157. questions the differences between the European and Mahnert V. 1980. Professor Dr Max Beier, 19031979 // Bull. central Siberian M. brevifemoratum, on the one hand, Br. Arachnol. Soc. Vol.5. P.115116. and the populations from the Russian Far East (usually Mahnert V. 2004. Die Pseudoskorpione Österreichs (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) // Denisia Bd.12. S.459471. referred to as M. brevipalpe (Redikorzev, 1922)), Ko- Morikawa K. 1968. On some pseudoscorpions from Rolwaling rea and Japan (normally referred to as M. pygmaeum), Himal // Journal of the College of Arts and Sciences, and even North America (M. parvulum), on the other Chiba University. Vol.2. P.259263. hand. Moreover, Schawaller [1995], when providing Muchmore W.B. 1990. Pseudoscorpionida // Dindal D.L. (Ed.), several records of M. brevifemoratum in China, explic- Soil Biology Guide. P.503527. John Wiley and Sons, New York. itly referred to its trans-Palearctic distribution pattern. Nelson S.O., Jr. 1973. Population structure of Microbisium It is experimental work, primarily on the genetics, confusum Hoff in a beech-maple woodlot // Revue Ecol. cross-breeding and behaviour of Microbisium species Biol. Sol. Vol.10. P.231236. at the population level that is deemed to provide the Nelson S.O., Jr. 1982. The external morphology and life history of the pseudoscorpion Microbisium confusum Hoff // J. necessary clues to solving at least some of the taxo- Arachnol. Vol.10. P.261274. nomic problems this genus is so rich in. Nelson S.O., Jr. 1984. The genus