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| Draculoides anachoretus (Harvey, Berry, Edward & Humphreys, 2008) in Abrams, Huey, Hillyer, ... et Harvey, 2020. |
Abstract
The schizomid fauna of mainland Australia currently comprises 60 species within seven named genera, of which five are endemic to the continent: Attenuizomus Harvey, 2000, Brignolizomus Harvey, 2000, Draculoides Harvey, 1992, Julattenius Harvey, 1992, Notozomus Harvey, 2000. Most Australian schizomids have been described from eastern and northern Australia, but there is also a significant subterranean fauna that has been found in hypogean habitats in the semi-arid Pilbara region of Western Australia. The vast majority of these species can be assigned to the genus Draculoides and this study is the first in a proposed series to revise this highly diverse genus. We treat the species found in the western Pilbara region, which includes 13 new species and 13 previously named species, using morphological characters and multi-locus sequence data. We also incorporate a molecular “mini-barcode” approach for COI, 12S and ITS2 to diagnose the new species. The new species are named: Draculoides akashae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. belalugosii Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. carmillae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. christopherleei Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. claudiae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. immortalis Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. karenbassettae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. mckechnieorum Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. minae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. noctigrassator Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. nosferatu Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. piscivultus Abrams and Harvey, n. sp. and D. warramboo Abrams and Harvey, n. sp. We also provide the first descriptions of males of D. anachoretus (Harvey, Berry, Edward and Humphreys, 2008) and D. gnophicola (Harvey, Berry, Edward and Humphreys, 2008). All of the new species are subterranean-dwelling, short-range endemic species that occur in regions subject to mining activities, rendering them of high conservation significance.
Keywords: Arachnida, subterranean, taxonomy, systematics, molecular taxonomy, new species
Kym M. Abrams, Joel A. Huey, Mia J. Hillyer, Raphael K. Didham and Mark S. Harvey. 2020. A Systematic Revision of Draculoides (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) of the Pilbara, Western Australia, Part I: the Western Pilbara. Zootaxa. 4864(1); 1-75. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4864.1.1
Researchers count 13 new species of fanged arachnids in the Pilbara
Abstract: We used molecular and morphological techniques to study troglobitic schizomids inhabiting a variety of subterranean landforms in semiarid Western Australia. The study was designed to explore the taxonomic and phylogenetic status of newly discovered populations of subterranean schizomids. Molecular sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and small subunit rRNA (12S) were obtained from a total of 73 schizomid specimens. Populations sampled from boreholes within mesa landforms in the Robe Valley were highly genetically distinct from species of Draculoides Harvey, 1992 found elsewhere in the Pilbara (Cape Range and Barrow Island). Pronounced genetic structuring was also evident at a fine spatial scale within the Robe Valley, with populations from each of the mesas examined exhibiting unique and highly divergent mtDNA lineages. These molecular data were generally supported by small but significant morphological features, usually in the secondary male structures, but some species were represented only by female specimens that possessed more conservative morphologies. The molecular data defined two major in-group clades, which were supported by morphological differences. One clade was widespread and included the type species of Draculoides, D. vinei (Harvey), along with D. bramstokeri Harvey & Humphreys, D. brooksi Harvey, D. julianneae Harvey, D. mesozeirus, sp. nov. and D. neoanthropus, sp. nov. The second clade was restricted to the Robe Valley and deemed to represent a new genus, Paradraculoides, which included four new species P. anachoretus, sp. nov., P. bythius, sp. nov., P. gnophicola, sp. nov. and P. kryptus, sp. nov. (type species).
Mark S. Harvey A D , Oliver Berry B , Karen L. Edward A and Garth Humphreys C. 2008. Molecular and morphological systematics of hypogean schizomids (Schizomida : Hubbardiidae) in semiarid Australia. Invertebrate Systematics. 22(2); 167-194. DOI: 10.1071/IS07026