CHTHONIUS (GLOBOCHTHONIUS) MEDEONIS N. SP.: A NEW CAVE FALSE SCORPION FROM MONTENEGRO

The pseudoscorpion sample from a cave in Montenegro has been studied. A new species, Chthonius (Globoch- thonius) medeonis n. sp. is described. A reanalysis of the type material of Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) polychaetus Hadži supports its transfer to the subgenus Chthonius (Globochthonius Beier). The species studied is considered to be endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. The diagnostic characteristics of the analyzed taxon are thoroughly described or figured. Taxonomic interrelationships and geographic distribution are briefly discussed.

In the present study, material from a sample of pseudoscorpion collected in 1997 has been examined.This sample from the cave Ćafa Pješatica, Fundine, nr.Medun, Montenegro, consisted of a previously undescribed species Chthonius (Globochthonius) medeonis n. sp.The new species, described in this paper, is probably an endemic and relict form, inhabiting caves in the southern areas of the Dinaric Arch in Montenegro.
Setal designations follow Beier (1963)   Description -The dorsal surface of the cephalothorax is slightly longer than wider and the anterior border is distinctly wider than the posterior one (Fig. 6, Table 1).Neither eyes nor eyespots are present (Fig. 6).The anterior carapacal border is with no protuberances.It is also without a differentiated epistome, although there exist denticulations, particularly between the two anterior and median setae.However, these indentations cannot be seen lateral to the anterior setae (Figs. 5, 6).
The carapace is beset with 18 setae arranged in five rows; four anterior, six ocular, four median, two intermedian, and two posterior setae are developed (Fig. 6).In front of the ocular setal row, one or two small setae are developed in each preocular process (Fig. 6).
The sternite II of the female carries nine setae, the next sternite has seven posterior setae and two or three small setae along each stigma.Sternite IV carries nine posterior setae and two microsetae along each stigma.Sternite V has six posterior setae, and the sternites VI-X each carry six posterior setae.
The cheliceral spinneret (galea) is represented by an elevation of the finger margin (Fig. 8).There is an isolated tooth distally on the movable finger.The first large tooth is contiguous with a row of smaller teeth which end at the level of insertion of the galeal seta (gl).On the fixed finger the teeth extend backwards, diminishing abruptly in size, below those on the movable finger (Fig. 8).
The movable cheliceral finger carries one large galeal seta and six setae on the palm of the chelicerae; three setae occur in the dorsal row, dt, dst, and db; one in the intermediate, it, and two in the ventral row, vt and vb.Additionally, two or three small accessory setae are carried exterior to vb.The movable finger is longer than the cheliceral breadth, and the ratio of the cheliceral length to breadth is 2.25 (Table 1).The cheliceral flagellum consists of nine or ten blades, one small blade proximally and 8-9 blades twice this length, more or less in pairs, distally.The most distal members of the series are curved, but all, to some extent, are pinnate on two sides.
The coxae of the pedipalps each carry five setae: two at the anterior and manducatory process, and three on the posterior border of the trochantic foramen.The femur is 6.50 times longer than its breadth (at the widest part) and 1.72 times longer than the carapace (Table 1).The patella is tuliplike and its distal end is slightly broader than the pedipalpal femur (Fig. 2, Table 1).Two accessory setae (ds) lie immediately in front of the most distal trichobothrium et, while it and est on the fixed finger are slightly proximal to t and st on the movable finger, just inside the distal third.The two basal trichobothria, isb and ib lie in the middle of the palm, on the dorsal side at its maximum breadth.Beier, 1931).The fixed chelal finger is 1.375 times as long as the chelal palm (Table 1); the ratio of the pedipalpal chelal length to breadth is 4.75 (Table 1).
The teeth of the fixed finger ( 17) are small, interspaced and pointed, and eventually merge in the even smaller and lower teeth proximally (Fig. 1).
The movable chelal finger has a pronounced apodeme.The movable chelal finger has 12 interspaced, slightly asymmetrical and pointed teeth: distally these teeth merge into a dental lamell with small tooth-like eruptions at the base of the finger (Fig. 1).In addition, the fixed chelal finger carries an obvious small accessory tooth at its extreme distal end.A single small tooth is developed distal to ds.
The pedal coxa II carries 3-5 spines medially; coxa III has three or four spines.The intercoxal tubercle carries two small setae.
The measurements of various podomeres of leg IV, as well as the tactile seta ratios, are presented in Table 1.Tibia IV, metatarsus IV and tarsus IV each carry a long tactile seta.On tibia IV this sensitive seta is found on the middle of the podomere (Table 1).The claws are slender, smooth and sickle-shaped.
The abovementioned facts and the existing literature point to the fact that the subgenus Chthonius (Globochthonius) Beier originated in the Balkan area, with two existing distribution centers; one in the Dinarids and the other in the Romanian and Serbian Carpathians.
Distribution -Montenegro, in a cave.This is probably an endemic and relict species.

Table 1 .
ContinuedThe contours of the chelal palm on the dorsal and dorsal-lateral side are globular (Figs.1, 2) with a conspicuous dorsolateral swelling between the trichobothrium isb and ib and a base of the chela (a characteristic of the subgenus Globochthonius Beier;