A new species of Epichernes (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae) associated with rodents in Costa Rica

• Published in: Studies on neotropical fauna and environment Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 641 - 648
• Main Authors: Villegas-Guzmán, Gabriel A., Chinchilla-Romero, Federico A., Martínez, Ramy Jhasser
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 02-09-2023
• Subjects: Central America; Chernetidae; neotropical; phoresy; taxonomy
• ISSN: 0165-0521; 1744-5140
• DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2022.2099679

The genus Epichernes Muchmore, 1982 has three Neotropical species with specific rodent hosts. Epichernes vickeryae sp. nov. is here described from Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica: the specimens were collected from a spiny pocket mouse Heteromys nubicolens. The new species, named E. vickeryae, is closer to E. navarroi by the position of trichobothria setae ist and isb, which are adjacent and the number of teeth on the movable finger, known from Mexico. The new species is characterized by trichobothrium ist adjacent to isb, femur L/B 1.71-1.85, it has 22-31 external accessory teeth, 58 teeth on fixed finger and 62 on movable finger. The carapace ranging from 1.12 mm to 1.33 mm in length, central tergites with 21-22 setae, chelicera with five setae on the hand, sb and b denticulate. The new species represents the second known species of Epichernes from Costa Rica.