A NEW CAVE FALSE SCORPION FROM MT. BIOKOVO, CROATIA

A new species of the endemic pseudoscorpion genus Protoneobisium Ćurčić, 1988, P. basilice sp. n. from Croatia has been found, described and diagnosed. From its phenetically close congener, P. biocovense (Müller, 1931), the new taxon differs in many respects of both qualitative and quantitative nature. Both species of Protoneobisium have a limited distribution; they inhabit Mt. Biokovo, Croatia, and are probably the remnants of some ancient Maditerranean fauna of pre-Tertiary origin.


INTRODUCTION
The subterranean fauna of Dinaric karst is extremely rich in pseudoscorpion species, most of which occur in very small areas, so that any search in a new region potentially yields a new taxon or a new set of species.
In 2006, two samples of cave false scorpions were collected in the Šutina Jama Pit and Šutina Jama II Pit on Mt.Biokovo, Croatia.A thorough analysis has shown that both specimens (a male, and a female) belong to the endemic genus Protoneobisium Ćurčić, 1988, thus representing a new taxon, P. basilice sp.n.Its closest relative is P. biokovense (Müler, 1931) (Ć u r č i ć , 1998).
Here are the results of the study of P. basilice n. sp.
Manducatory process (apex of pedipalpal coxa) with six long setae (in both sexes).Pedipalpal trochanter with two tiny tubercules, all pedipalpal articles smooth and elongated (Figs. 9, 10).Pedipalpal femur and tibia dilated distally, pedipalpal chelal palm widest at the base of the chelal fingers (lateral view) (Figs. 1, 9).Pedipalpal fingers almost as long or somewhat longer than chelal palm (Table 1).Fixed chelal finger with 126 (male) and 139 asymmetrical, small and contiguous teeth (female); movable chelal finger with 112 (male) and 126 (female) small and close teeth which eventually become rounded, low and smaller.Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria and movable chelal finger with four such sensitive setae.Trichobothriotaxy as in Figs 1 . and 9.
Tibia IV with a single seta, metatarsus IV with four, and tarsus IV with two such long setae (Table 1).The dispositions of these setae are subject to considerable variation (Figs. 9,12).Morphometric ratios and linear measurements are presented in Table 1.
In the female P. basilice sp.n., leg IV is shorter than in females of P. biocovense (12.21 mm vs. 12.80-13.10mm), as is the coxa IV length (0.98 mm vs. 1.17 mm vs. 1.23 mm).Finally, tibia IV in the female of this species is 3.03 mm long, as opposed to females of P. biocovense (3.495-3.60mm); tarsus IV breadth to length ratio of the female of P. basilice sp.n. is considerably greater than that in P. biocovense (10.00 vs. 8.78-8.97).

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This study of the cave pseudoscorpions inhabiting Dinaric karst has offered further proof of their great age and different origin.The Protoneobisiumspecies complex represent the last vestiges of an old (presumably pre-Tertiary) fauna, which found their shelter in the underground domain of the Balkans and elsewhere (Ć u r č i ć , 1998).

Table 1 .
Linear measurements (in millimetres) and morphometric ratios in Protoneobisium basilice sp.n., from Croatia.Abbreviation: F = female, M = male, FF = females, MM = males.Values marked in bold represent species-specific and sexual distinctions.