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

Indian shot (Canna indica)

Puspa midra or Indian shot ( Canna indica ) is is plant species in Cannaceae, annual, shrub 0.5-2.5 meters high, depending on variety, erect stems, unbranched and leaf midrib arranged overlapping to form pseudostems and hermaphrodite flowers. C. indica forms a branched rhizome, 60 cm long which is divided into rounded segments and is covered in two stripes by pale green or purple scaly leaves. The rhizome has tubers that contain very large starch grains. The surface has transverse furrows, the underside appears white roots and numerous shoots. The leaves sit alternate and spiral or arranged in two rows, very large and divided into a leaf midrib, short stalk and blade. The strands are 30-60 cm long, 10-20 cm wide and have linear veins, green or purple-green, the base blunt or narrowly pointed and the apex immediately tapering or sharp. Hermaphrodite flowers, pedicels 0.2-1 cm long and red or yellow-orange, except in some cultivars 4.5-7.5 cm long. The sepals are triangular in shape a...
Read more

Guinea grass (Panicum maximum)

Guinea grass or buffalo grass or green panic ( Panicum maximum ) is a plant species in Poaceae, annual grasses, growing upright to form clumps, strong, cultivated in all tropical and subtropical regions for very high value as fodder. P. maximum reproduces in very large pols, fibrous roots penetrate into the soil, upright stems, green, 1-1.5 m tall and have smooth cavities for diameters up to 2.5 mm. Propagation is done vegetatively and generatively. Ribbon-shaped leaves with a pointed tip, very many, built in lines, green, 40-105 cm long, 10-30 mm wide, erect, branched, a white linear bone, often covered with a layer of white wax, rough surface by hair short, dense and spread. The flower grows at the end of a long and upright stalk, open with the main axis length to more than 25 cm and the length of the bunches down to 20 cm. Grains have a size of 3x4 mm and oval. Seeds have a length of 2.25-2.50 mm and each 1 kg contains 1.2 - 1.5 million seeds. Guinea grass has two varieties. P...
Read more

Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)

Sonokeling or Java palisandre or Indian rosewood ( Dalbergia latifolia ) is a species of plant in the Fabaceae, a large tree producing hardwood, medium weight and high quality, rounded leaves, thin and broad pods, highly adaptive, grows in dry and rocky landscapes with lots of sunlight. D. latifolia has medium to large size, cylindrical stems, up to 40 m high with a ring of up to 2 m, the bark is brownish gray and slightly cracked longitudinally. The crown is dense, dome-shaped and sheds leaves. The leaves are compound and pinnate oddly with 5-7 strands that have different sizes and appear alternately on the shaft. The leaves are round or elongated in width or heart, the upper surface is green and the surface is pale green. The flowers are small, 0.5-1 cm long and clustered in panicles. The pods are green to brown when ripe and are elongated lanceolate, pointed at the base and tip. The pods have 1-4 seeds which are soft and brownish. Indian rosewood grows at elevations below 600 m,...
Read more