Cystowithius ankeri sp. nov. (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Withiidae), a new pseudoscorpion from the Central Andes of Colombia

Abstract

A new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Cystowithius Harvey, 2004 is described based on several males and females collected in the Cordillera Central near Manizales and Villamaría, Caldas, Colombia. The type series was collected under or on the bark of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden (Myrtaceae). Cystowithius ankeri sp. nov. is the fifth species in the genus, differing from its four congeners by several characters, including the position of the male sternal invaginations, the length of the movable finger of the pedipalp, and the tactile setae of tarsus IV situated subdistally. A revised identification key to the five species of Cystowithius is also presented. The first barcode (COI gene) of a species of this genus is also provided.

A new genus and five new species of pseudoscorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones, Withiidae) from Colombia

“…The genus Cystowithius is endemic to Central and South America ( Harvey 2004 ; García and Romero-Ortiz 2021 ), and currently contains five species: C. colombicus Harvey, 2004 and C. ankeri García & Romero-Ortiz, 2021 from Colombia, C. ecuadoricus (Beier, 1959) and C. smithersi Harvey, 2004 from Ecuador and Peru, and C. chamberlini Harvey, 2004 from Mexico and Guatemala. Males are easily recognised by the presence of sternal invaginations (Figs 5D , 6A ).…”

“…One of the most recent studies concerning New World withiids examined the status of the genera Parawithius Chamberlin, 1931 and Victorwithius Feio, 1944, and described a new genus Cystowithius Harvey, 2004 ( Harvey 2004 ). Most recently, a new species of the genus Cystowithius was described ( García and Romero-Ortiz 2021 ).…”