Two new species of ricinuleids of the genus Pseudocellus Platnick, 1980 are described based on adult males and females from Mexico: Pseudocellus quetzalcoatl sp. nov. and Pseudocellus olmeca sp. nov. from the same type locality in the state of Veracruz. The two new species represent the first record of two sympatric epigean species of ricinuleids for North America. The total number of described species of Pseudocellus from Mexico increases to 18, holding first place in terms of number of known ricinuleid species worldwide. With the two new species described herein, Veracruz, with four species, is the second state of Mexico with higher diversity after Chiapas, which has five recorded species. We describe for the first time, for any ricinuleids, pores on the membrane below the spermathecae, revealed using a staining technique. The function of these pores is unknown, although it is possible that these could be secretion glands for some kind of substance during the reproductive process. A taxonomic key for identification of males of species from Mexico and the southern United States is provided.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 April 2018
New morphological data for the order Ricinulei with the description of two new species of Pseudocellus (Arachnida: Ricinulei: Ricinoididae) from Mexico
Alejandro Valdez-Mondragón,
Oscar F. Francke,
Ricardo Botero-Trujillo
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
The Journal of Arachnology
Vol. 46 • No. 1
April 2018
Vol. 46 • No. 1
April 2018
glands
new data
sympatry
taxonomy
Veracruz