Cryptops cf. japonicus Takakuwa, 1934

Cryptops cf. japonicus Takakuwa, 1934 View in CoL

Fig. 2 View Figure 2

Examined material.

35 specimens: NHMUK 015991425 , 4 specimens, Black Path, Picard , Summer 1975, leg. V. W. Spaull ; NHMUK 015991429 , 1 specimen, Aldabra , 10. 11. 1973 ; NHMUK 015991430 , 6 specimens, Point Hodoul , Grande Terre, 22. 03. 1974 ; NHMUK 015991431 , 2 specimens, Ile. Malabar , 08. 06. 1974 ; NHMUK 015991432 , 18 specimens, Casuarina and Sideroxylon litter, Anse Cedres , 12. 02. 1974 ; NHMUK 015991433 , 4 specimens, Esprit , 14. 12. 1974 .

Remarks.

Cryptops cf. japonicus collected in Aldabra is an unexpected occurrence for a species otherwise restricted to localities in southern Japan, the Korean peninsula, Manchuria ( Takakuwa 1936) and Taiwan ( Chao 2008). Despite the description of the morphologically similar C. doriae Pocock, 1891 from nearby localities in the Seychelles ( Lewis 2007 a), consistent diagnostic morphological characters separate these two populations. Most prominently, specimens from Aldabra only have one pretarsal accessory spur on legs 1–20,> 1 / 2 the length of the pretarsus (Fig. 2 E View Figure 2 ), in contrast to C. doriae from the Seychelles which has been described with two generally subequal, conspicuous, accessory spurs that are much shorter relative to the pretarsus, on the same leg pair range ( Lewis 2007 a). The examined specimens agree with the description provided by Chao (2008) based on specimens collected in Taiwan, in which he notes the low number of coxopleural pores (9) in the immature (“ larva ”) stages, which overlaps with the condition of Aldabra specimens (Fig. 2 C View Figure 2 ), the presence of 4 setae along the anterior margin of the forcipular coxosternite (Fig. 2 A View Figure 2 ), and the ovoid shape of the calyx of the venom gland (Fig. 2 B View Figure 2 ).

All specimens from Aldabra Atoll range from 3–10 mm and exhibit several traits characteristic of juvenile specimens including reduced number of pores on the coxopleuron, indistinct paramedian sutures on tergites, and a reduced number of tibial and tarsal saw teeth (Fig. 2 D View Figure 2 ). Following clearing, no spermatozoa or oocytes could be observed in the posterior trunk of specimens. Without additional sampling to confirm the condition of adult specimens it is not possible to comment on the presence or absence of sexually mature adults in the present sample. Introduced populations of C. doriae have been described bearing similar neotenic characteristics (reduced body size, number of coxal pores, number of saw teeth), even in sexually mature adults ( Lewis 2007 b), potentially explaining the morphology of the Aldabra specimens in light of possible introduction to the atoll. Nevertheless, in the absence of additional material and molecular data, our assignment to Cryptops japonicus is only tentative. The status and relationships of different populations identified as C. doriae and related taxa remains to be clarified.