The first indigenous palpigrade from Australia: a new species of Eukoenenia (Palpigradi : Eukoeneniidae)

Abstract

We present a description of the first indigenous member of the arachnid order Palpigradi from Australia. Eukoenenia guzikae, sp. nov. was collected from subterranean environments in the Yilgarn region of Western Australia. The sole male specimen differs from all other members of the genus in several small but significant ways, including by the combined presence of six blades in the prosomal lateral organs, nine pairs of setae on the propeltidium, the presence of a spur on coxa IV, the chaetotaxy of sternites IV–VIII, and the shape of the male genital lobes. It shows some similarities in the male genital region to a group of species found in Madagascar.