Skip to main content

Camel-spider (Karschia Walter, 1889) got two new species, Karschia shannan and Karschia trisetalis

Camel-spider (Karschia Walter, 1889) got two new species, Karschia shannan and Karschia trisetalis

NEWS - Two new species have been reported from Xizang, China, Karschia shannan and Karschia trisetalis which were added to the genus Karschia Walter (1889) which so far contains 32 species distributed in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia with 12 of them described from western China.

Solifugae commonly known as camel spiders, sun spiders and wind scorpions are an order of mostly nocturnal, fast-moving and predatory arachnids characterized by their powerful two-segmented chelicerae and voracious appetite.

Shannan camel-spider (K. shannan) is named after Shannan City where the specimen was collected and K. trisetalis is a combination of the Latin word "tri" meaning three, "seta" as a spiniform structure and the suffix "ālis" meaning āle which together mean "pertaining to three setae" referring to the flagella complex of the male chelicerae with three fcs.

K. shannan differs in males from all Karschia species by the ventral coxae of leg Ⅲ with specialized tubular setae. Pedipalpal metatarsus with dense papillae, apex of fixed cheliceral finger (FT) tapering, reduced number of ctenidia on sternite Ⅳ and flagella proximally with small lateral apophyses. Plumose setae of flagella complex (fcp) are moderate in size.

Females can be diagnosed by the genital operculum, although usually triangular, lacking a clear boundary between the genital plates, while the genital opening is not visible between the genital and distal plates. In addition, it has long ctenidia reaching the posterior margin of adjacent sternites and needle-like on sternite Ⅳ.

Three seta camel-spider (K. trisetalis) differs in males from all other Karschia species by the flagella complex with three spiniform setae of flagella complex (fcs) and fixed cheliceral finger with two small subterminal teeth (FST). Females can be distinguished from other Karschia species by the deeply indented central region of the genital plates and the genital opening visible between the plates.

The camel-spider genus Karschia (Arachnida, Solifugae) was erected and placed in the Galeodidae Sundevall (1833) by Walter (1889) with the type species Karschia cornifera Walter (1889) from Turkmenistan. Kraepelin (1899) erected the subfamily Karschiinae Kraepelin (1899) under the Solpugidae Leach (1815) and transferred Karschia to this new subfamily.

Roewer (1933) elevated the Karschiinae to the rank of family. Harvey (2003) refined the classification by dividing the genus Karschia into two subgenera: Karschia Walter (1889) and Karschia (Rhinokarschia) Birula (1935), based on morphological characteristics, in particular the presence or absence of horn-like crests on the cheliceral permanent digits of the males.

Recent studies have confirmed that the Karschiidae of Kraepelin (1899) belong to the suborder Boreosolifugae Kulkarni (2023) and may be monophyletic. However, despite this clarification at the family level, the relationships within the genus Karschia remain unclear and further research is needed to elucidate the diversity and phylogeny within the genus.

Original research

Fan W, Zhang C, Zhang F (2024). Two new species of Karschia Walter, 1889 from Xizang, China (Solifugae, Karschiidae). Biodiversity Data Journal 12, DOI:10.3897/BDJ.12.e129933
Labels:

Popular Posts

Six new species forming the Sumbana species group in genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg 1798 from Indonesia

NEWS - Sumbawa longhorn ( Nemophora sumbana Kozlov, sp. nov.), Timor longhorn ( Nemophora timorella Kozlov, sp. nov.), shining shade longhorn ( Nemophora umbronitidella Kozlov, sp. nov.), Wegner longhorn ( Nemophora wegneri Kozlov, sp. nov.), long brush longhorn ( Nemophora longipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.), and short brush longhorn ( Nemophora brevipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.) from the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. The Lesser Sunda Islands consist of two parallel, linear oceanic island chains, including Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Sawu, Timor, Alor, and Tanimbar. The oldest of these islands have been continuously occurring for 10–12 million years. This long period of isolation has allowed significant in situ diversification, making the Lesser Sundas home to many endemic species. This island chain may act as a two-way filter for organisms migrating between the world's two great biogeographic regions, Asia and Australia-Papua. The recognition of a striking cli...
Read more

Golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata)

Kepik emas or golden tortoise beetle ( Charidotella sexpunctata ) is a type of leaf beetle species in the Chrysomelidae family, up to 14mm long and bright golden in glass discs. These insects usually live on Ipomoea carnea trees that grow in environments close to water. C. sexpunctata takes refuge in a transparent disc consisting of three parts with four signs as fals legs, a pair of antennas and six legs. This beetle is able to change color if it feels threatened by flowing liquid between the cuticles and the glittering gold color turns into blood red or worn brown. Kepik emas usually lay eggs up to 20 items, white and attached to the branches or on the underside of the leaves. Yellowish or reddish brown larvae will appear from eggs that hatch within 5 to 10 days. Adults and larvae eat leaves which cause large holes. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Chrysomelidae Subfamily: Cassidinae Tribe: Aspidimorphini Genus: Aspidimor...
Read more

Bitter vine (Mikania micrantha)

Sembung rambat or bitter vine ( Mikania micrantha ) is a plant species in Asteraceae, crawling or wrapped around trees, perennial that grows up to 27 mm per day in tropical climates, branched stems where heart-shaped or triangular leaves are arranged in pairs and a plant can cover more than 25 square meters in a few months. M. micrantha has square-shaped stems or longitudinal bones, light green, many branches and has fine hairs. The stems have segments for lengths of 75-215 mm, each segment has a pair of leaves, new shoots and flowers. New roots grow when the segments come in contact with the soil. The leaves are in pairs and facing each other. Strands do not have hair, heart-shaped or triangular with jagged edges, length 30-125 mm, width 15-60 mm. Petiole is 1-6 cm long and has fine hairs. The flower panicle grows from the armpit of the leaf and the tip of the stem, having 3-15 mm long stems. Each flower head has 4 minor flowers. The crown is greenish-white, tubular and measures ...
Read more