BIODIVERSITY OF RONCUS L. KOCH IN MONTENEGRO – RONCUS TEUTAE N. SP. FROM MT. ORJEN (NEOBISIIDAE, PSEUDOSCORPIONES)

A single species of Roncus L. Koch, 1873, which was collected in the Baretina Lokva on Mt. Orjen, Montenegro, is new to science (R. teutae n. sp.) and described herein. Its diagnostic characters are illustrated and their distribution is provided. The possible establishment of this species of Roncus is presented briefly in view of the importance and analysis of its diagnostic characters.


INTRODUCTION
Over the past four decades there has been a marked increase in our knowledge of the Neobisiidae of southeastern Europe (the Balkan Peninsula), and especially of the representatives of the genus Roncus L. Koch, 1873, which occur in leaf litter, soil and caves (Ćurčić, 1988; Ćurčić et al., 2004).Increased interest in the soil/litter and cave ecosystems and improved sampling techniques has contributed to this knowledge.During a study of the ontogeny and postembryonic development of pseudoscorpions in Montenegro, one hitherto undescribed species of Roncus was found.
This paper provides descriptions of Roncus teutae n. sp., with some details of the comparative morphology of its closest congener.
The form of the chelicerae is similar in both sexes (Figs. 3 and 14); the tubercle of the movable cheliceral finger is a low hyaline convexity (Figs. 3 and 14).The movable and fixed cheliceral fingers have a variable number of teeth with proximal and distal members of each series the smallest.The teeth of the movable finger end just below the galeal seta (gl).Six setae occur along the palm of the chelicera (Figs. 3 and 14).The cheliceral flagellum carries one short proximal blade and seven longer distal blades (Figs. 4 and 12).All are pinnate on at least the terminal half of the upper surfaces.In general, the chelicera is less than two-fold longer than broad (Table 1).
The manducatory process of the pedipalpal coxa carries 4 long setae.The pedipalpal femur is granulated anteriorly as is the interior and lateral part of the pedipalpal chela (Figs. 1, 2, 9, and 10).These tubercles are absent on the pedipalpal tibia.
The movable finger of the pedipalpal chela carries 46 (female) and 51 (male) teeth that are squaretopped in the proximal range of the series and are similar on the fixed finger.The form of the teeth on the fixed finger is variable (38 in female, 41 in male); the most distal pointed teeth, slightly asymmetrical, give way to teeth with rounded tops and these are gradually replaced proximally by shorter flattened teeth.
Four trichobothria are carried on the movable finger and eight on the fixed finger of the chela (Figs. 1 and 9).Two to four small setae are found distal to the trichobothria eb and esb (Figs. 1 and 9).The pedipalpal femur is 3.30 (female) and 3.70 (male) times as long as broad (Table 1).This podomere is as short as the carapace (Table 1).The pedipalpal patella (tibia) is 2.10 (female) and 2.21 (male) times as long as broad.The pedipalpal chela length-to-breadth ratio is between 3.285 (female) and 3.22 (male).Leg IV (Figs. 6 and 11): tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus each carry a long tactile seta.The measurements of different body structures and morphometric ratios are presented in Table 1.
Remarks and distribution -The discovery of the new representative of Roncus in Montenegro supports the fact that the taxonomy of this genus is still far from being complete (Ćurčić, 1972, 1984, 1988, 1992a, b;Ćurčić and Beron, 1981;Ćurčić et al., 1993, 2004, 2010a, b, c, d, e, f, g;2011a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h;2012a, b, c, d, e, f;2013a, b;Hadži, 1937).The variety of cave-dwelling species of Roncus described elsewhere by Ćurčić et al. (2004), offers further proof that this taxon at present subjected to intensive radiation or divergent differentiation into new species.Furthermore, the diversity of Roncus representatives in the Balkan regions bordering on Montenegro (Ćurčić, 1984;Ćurčić and Beron, 1981), compared to the same features in the other areas, points to the Balkan Peninsula as a center of origin and genesis of numerous forms of this taxon.In addition, the occurrence of numerous Roncus species with extremely limited distribution areas demonstrates their endemic nature.
Etymology -After the Illyrian Queen Teuta, who reigned from approximately 231 BC to 228 BC and