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searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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(J. Reddell and M. Reyes, CAS, CDU), 1 male, 2females, 1 juvenile.Distribution.-Known only from Ezell's <strong>Cave</strong>,Hays County, Texas (Maps 2-5).Texella spinoperca, new speciesFigs. 2, 178-183.Diagnosis.-Males of this species are distinguishedfrom others in the infragroup by the followingcombination of characters: VPP with threedorsal setae; SA prongs long and narrow,originating basoventrally on stylus; S broadlyspatulate, lacking ventral groove or carina; GOsometimes with apical tubercles (Figs. 179-181).Type.-Male holotype from Airman's <strong>Cave</strong>,Austin, Travis County, Texas (3 Sep. 1989; D.Ubick, J. Reddell, and M. Reyes), deposited inCAS.Etymology.-The specific name is a reference tothe apical spines on the female genital opercula.Description.-Total body length, 1.36-2.08.Scute length, 1.13-1.36. Leg II length, 4.59-5.23.Leg II/Scute length, 3.38-4.30. (N = 13).Color pale orange. Body rugosity moderate;tubercles on eye mound, pars thoracica, tergitemargins, and coxae. Carapace with 3 or 4 pairs ofAT. Eye mound broadly conical, eyes well developed.Palpal megaspines: trochanter, 1 ventral;femur, 1 mesoapical; patella, 2 mesal; tibia, 3mesal. Tarsal count: 3-5-5-5; one female has 6tarsomeres on the fourth right tarsus and one malehas six tarsomeres on the fourth left tarsus.Male (holotype): Total body length, 1.74. Scutelength, 1.23; width, 1.28. Eye mound length, 0.28;width, 0.31. Leg II length, 4.87. TrIV spurlength, 0.49. POP length, 0.21.Penis (Figs. 2, 178-181): VPP apically rounded,dorsally expanded; with 3 dorsal, 14 lateral, and 8ventral setae; AS slightly curved, apically polyfurcate.Glans: BK absent; ML not evident; PSLclaw-like. S long, apically broadly spatulate, ventrallylacking carina or distinct groove; BF present;SA represented by two, slender prongs originatingbasoventrally on the S.Female (paratopotype): Total body length, 1.79.Scute length, 1.33; width, 1.41. Eye mound length,0.28; width, 0.31. Leg II length, 4.67. TrIV withone ventral tubercle. GO with a pair of apicalspines.Ovipositor (Figs. 182, 183): cuticle intricatelyfolded; surface smooth, lacking microspination; 1pair apical teeth present; setal pattern: 2 pairsdorsal, 4 pairs lateral, 1 pair ventral.Variation.-There is some variation in the sizeof TrIV spurs (0.46-0.54 long) and POP (0.21-0.33)in the seven males measured. Three males have apair of apical tubercles on the GO (Figs. 178, 181),the right one missing in one specimen, which aresmaller and blunter than those found in females.Natural History.-A large series of 10 individualswas recently collected under rocks in a small,narrow room (dark zone). Because of a scarcity ofrocks, most undersurfaces were examined few toseveral times (being carefully replaced in theiroriginal position after each search) over a period ofabout 1.5 hours. It is worth noting that only 2specimens were collected on the initial examination;the remainder came from rocks which had beenpreviously checked two or more times. As the rocksin this cave were situated on a loose, crumbly soil itappears that the harvestmen migrated up from thesoil stratum to the rock undersurface during theperiod of our collecting. This sudden appearance ofharvestmen is noteworthy, especially if it resultedfrom the disturbances to the environment (vibrations,movement of soil, etc.) caused by our collecting.Another possibility, and likewise interesting,is that the migration represented an endogenousrhythm of these harvestmen.Other Material Examined (Paratypes).-UNIT­ED STATES: Texas: Travis Co.: Airman's <strong>Cave</strong>,3 Sep. 1989 (D. Ubick, J. Reddell, M. Reyes,TMM, CAS, CDU), 6 males, 3 females; 1 June1984 (1. Reddell and M. Reyes, TMM), 1 male; 27Sep. 1975 (A. Grubbs and L. Wilk, TMM), 2females.Distribution.-Known only from Airman's<strong>Cave</strong>, Travis County, Texas (Maps 2-5).Texella fendi, new speciesFigs. 184-197.Diagnosis.-Males of this species are distinguishedfrom others in the infragroup by the followingcombination of characters: TrIV spur reduced;POP absent; GO lacking apical spines; VPP lackingdorsal setae; SA prongs long and narrow,originating basoventrally on stylus; PSL attenuated;S tube-like, lacking ventral groove or carina (Figs.186-189). Females are unique in the infragroup inhaving a genital operculum with a pair of apicaltubercles, rather than spines (Figs. 194, 197).Type.-Male holotype from 9 mi N La Grange,232

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