Phocyx, Porto & Monod & Pérez-González, 2025

Phocyx View in CoL gen. nov.

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Etymology

Te genus name is a composite of the Latin word phōca, from the Ancient Greek φώΚΗ ( ph ṓ kē), that means ‘seals’ (Pinnipedia) plus the ending yx. Phoca is used as a reference to the words bue marino, the Sardinian translation for monk seal, and consequently to the family Buemarinoidae , to which the genus described herein is allocated. Te ending yx is taken from the ending of the genus Triaenonyx , type genus of the nominal family-group taxon Triaenonychoidea, where Buemarinoidae belongs. Phocyx should be treated as being masculine in gender.

Diagnosis

Distinguishing features from the rest of Buemarinoidae genera are notable. Te dorsal scutum and free tergites are notably covered by granules, encompassing the chelicerae and pedipalps, which contrasts with other species where the covering consists of a cerotegument or small granules restricted to the dorsal scutum, free tergites, coxae I ─ IV and free tergites, and only sometimes present on pedipalps. Phocyx gen. nov. also stands apart from Buemarinoa and Turonychus due to its prominent conical ocularium, free from apophyses or tubercles and resembling that of Fumontana . Te configuration of its penis aligns with the general bauplan found in all Buemarionidae members, but it exhibits an additional pair of apical processes and a dorsal aperture in the genital duct).

Type species

Phocyx australis View in CoL gen. nov. et sp. nov.

( Figs 1–7)

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Type material: Holotype: ( AM) 1 ♂, AUSTRLIA, New South Wales: Depot Beach Kioloa State Forest , tamisage, 17.XII.1986, leg. D. Burckhardt.

Paratypes: ( AM) 1 ♂ Same data, SEM voucher. ( AM) 3 ♂ 2 ♀ Same data. (MACN-Ar 45689) 1 ♂ 1 ♀ Same data. (MHNG- ARTO-0034052) 3 ♂ 3 ♀ Same data. ( AM ex MHNG- ARTO-0034054) 1 ♂ 2 ♀ AUSTRLIA, Clyde Mts shire of Eurobodalla , pass on the Canberra to Batemans Bay, tamisage, 20.XII.1986, leg. D. Burckhardt.

Etymology: Te specific epithet australis View in CoL refers to the southern continent, Australia, where the new species was found.

Diagnosis: Te same as for the genus.

Distribution: Australia, New South Wales ( Fig. 1).

Description: Male (AM). Measurements (mm): Total length: 1.09, carapace length: 0.45, dorsal scutum length: 0.80, carapace max. width: 0.63, dorsal scutum max. width: 0.73. Appendage measurements. Pedipalp. Trochanter (tr): 0.11, femur (fe): 0.42, patella (pa): 0.27, tibia (ti): 0.32, tarsus (ta): 0.29. Leg I: trochanter (tr): 0.11, femur (fe): 0.42, patella (pa): 0.23, tibia (ti): 0.29, metatarsus (mt): 0.29, tarsus (ta): 0.23. Leg II: tr: 0.10, fe: 0.51, pa: 0.27, ti: 0.44, mt: 0.37, tr 0.42. Leg III: tr: 0.13, fe: 0.42, pa: 0.20, ti: 0.35, mt: 0.42, tr 0.25. Leg IV: tr: 0.15, fe: 0.50, pa: 0.25, ti: 0.44, mt: 0.55, tr 0.30. Tarsal count: 3–6–4–4.

Dorsum ( Figs 2A, C, 3A–D): Outline hourglass-shaped of Eta (η) type. Ocularium conical, pointed forward, eyes situated at the midpoint of the ocularium. Mesotergal scutum covered by granulae, carapace smaller than mesotergum, mesotergal areas not cleared defined (only visible on SEM images), areas I–IV with a row of setae, the posterior border of the free tergites with a row of granules.

Venter ( Figs 2E, 3E–F): Coxae ventral surface covered by granules, coxa I–IV with sparse setae, almost all ventral surface covered by a cerotegument, except by the proximal coxae, proximal coxae II–III with a notable tubercle, three small bridges between coxae II–III, four small bridges between coxae III–IV and between IV and the abdomen, spiracles partially covered.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 4A–B): Covered by granulae, basicheliceritae bearing a small tubercle on dorso-distal surface, cheliceral hand with sparse setae.

Pedipalps ( Fig. 4C–F): Covered by granulae, trochanter with two dorsal small tubercles, femur bearing a ventral row of tubercles, the three longest with subdistal setae and two distal acute tubercles on the distal surface, mesal-distal surface with a tubercle bearing a subdistal setae, patella with three mesal and two ectal tubercles, tibia ventral surface bearing sparse small granulae, and three pairs of acute tubercles with subdistal setae, tarsus bearing four ectal and six mesal tubercles with setae.We detected the presence of microtrichias ( Fig. 4E–F) on some large setae of pedipalps, this is the first time that this notable feature has been reported in the family Buemarinoidae View in CoL .

Legs ( Fig. 5A–D): Femur I with four ventral setiferous tubercles. Trifurcated claws III–IV. Astragalus longer than calcaneus. Tarsal count: 3–6–4–4.

Genitalia ( Figs 6 and 7): Pars distalis standard shape of the Buemarinoidae View in CoL ,that comprises a tubular capsula interna and a forked ventral plate.Capsula externa absent. Ventral plate bearing three ventral and two dorsal pairs of macrosetae. Capsula interna longer than the ventral plate, ventral view with a clef separating the capsula interna into two halves, distal capsula interna with a wide opening.

Description: Female ( Fig. 2B, D, F): Similar to male, presenting pedipalps smaller and less robust than males. Measurements (mm): Total length: 1.07, carapace length: 0.40, dorsal scutum length: 0.87, carapace max. width: 0.61, dorsal scutum max. width: 0.78. Appendage measurements. Pedipalp. Trochanter: 0.11, femur: 0.38, patella: 0.21, tibia: 0.29, tarsus: 0.31. Leg I: trochanter (tr): 0.12, femur (fe): 0.40, patella (pa): 0.18, tibia (ti): 0.26, metatarsus (mt): 0.27, tarsus (tr): 0.26. Leg II: tr: 0.12, fe: 0.47, pa: 0.24, ti: 0.42, mt: 0.35, tr 0.45. Leg III: tr: 0.13, fe: 0.37, pa: 0.19, ti: 0.34, mt: 0.41, tr 0.27. Leg IV: tr: 0.15, fe: 0.51, pa: 0.25, ti: 0.45, mt: 0.57, tr: 0.31. Tarsal count: 3–6–4–4.