Redescription of Scleropilio insolens from Southern Siberia with Comments on the Genus Scleropilio (Arachnida: Opiliones: Phalangiidae)

10 Pages·2000·1 MB·English

by  Nobuo Tsurusaki

Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1): 87-94, July 31, 2000
Redescription of Scleropilio insolens from Southern Siberia
with Comments on the Genus Scleropilio
(Arachnida: Opiliones: Phalangiidae)
Nobuo TsurusakP, Aleksey N. Tchemeris2, & Dmitri V. Logunov3
1 Laboratory of Biology
, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Education and
Regional Sciences, Tottori University, Tottori, 680-8551 Japan
E-mail: ntsuru @ fed. tottori-u. ac. jp
2 Department of Invertebrate Zoology , Faculty of Biological and Soil Sciences, Tomsk State
University, Leninsky prospekt 36, Tomsk, 634010, Russia
E-mail: opil @ bio, tsu.ru
s Zoological Museum , Biological Institute of the Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, Frunze Str. 11, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
E-mail: dpavuk @ online.nsksu
Abstract - Scleropilio insolens (Simon 1895) is redescribed based on the materials collected
from southern Siberia, Russia. A total of six species are synonymized with Scleropilio insolens:
four species of Scleropilio, S coriaceus Roewer 1911, S. tibialis (Roewer 1956), S. diadema
(Gricenko 1975), S elenae (Gricenko 1975), Opilio armatus Roewer 1911, and Udezatus
spinous Nakatsudi 1943. Ovipositor and seminal receptacle of the species are illustrated and
described for the first time.
Key words - Opiliones, redescription, Russia, Scleropilio, Siberia, synonymy
Introduction
During a series of extensive surveys on spider and opilionid faunas of southern
Siberia, one of us (D.L.) has collected many specimens of the genus Scleropilio (Phalan-
giidae, Phalangiinae). Through a detailed examination of the material and a literature
survey, we identified the species as Scleropilio insolens (Simon), which was originally
described from Xinjiang (= Sinkiang) province of China, and concluded that several
other species so far described in Scleropilio or other related genera also should be
considered junior synonyms of Scleropilio insolens. In this paper, we present redescrip-
tion of the latter species based on the material from southern Siberia together with
general comments on the genus.
Abbreviations used: ISE - Zoological Museum, Institute for Systematics and
Ecology of Animals, Novosibirsk, Russia, D. V. Logunov; TUJ - Department of
Biology, Faculty of Education and Regional Sciences, Tottori Univ., Tottori, Japan, N.
Tsurusaki; Fe - femur, Pa - patella, Ti - tibia, Ta - tarsus.
Family Phalangiidae
Subfamily Phanangiinae
Genus Scleropilio Roewer 1911
Scleropilio Roewer 1911, p. 31 (Type-species: Scleropilio coriaceus Roewer 1911); Roewer 1912, p. 118;
Roewer 1923, p. 766; Roewer 1956, p. 312; Starega 1978, p. 228; Gricenko 1979, p. 37; Gricenko
88 N. Tsurusaki et al.
1980, p. 554.
Scutopilio Roewer 1956, p. 312. Type species: Scutopilio tibia/is Roewer 1956; Gricenko 1975, p. 132.
Synonymized with Scleropilio by Starega (1978).
Udezatus Nakatsudi 1943, p. 110. Type species: Udezatus spinosus Nakatsudi 1943. NEW
SYNONYMY
This genus was established by Roewer (1911) for Scleropilio coriaceus Roewer from
Tekes (Almaty Area, Kazakhstan), Central Asia. Later, Roewer (1956) created another
genus Scutopilio for Scutopilio tibialis Roewer 1956 from Ferghana Valley (Central
Asia). The latter was synonymized with the former independently by Starega (1978)
and Gricenko (1980) on the basis of resemblance of general morphology and male
genitalia. On the other hand, the genus Udezatus was created for a Chinese species,
Udezatus spinosus Nakatsudi by Nakatsudi (1943). Description of the species by
Nakatsudi (1943) fully corresponds to diagnosis of Scleropilio, hence we treat also
Udezatus as a junior synonym of Scleropilio.
Diagnosis. Scleropilio is easily distinguishable from other genera of Phalangiinae
by having: 1) an elongated and heavily sclerotized body with several spines pointing
anteriorly on the anterior margin of the carapace; 2) an abdominal shield produced by
fusions of 1st to 7th abdonmal tergites; 3) an ocular tubercle is spaced from the anterior
margin of the carapace at least by twice length of its diameter; 4) rather short legs (length
of femur of the first leg not exceeding a half of the body length); 5) first pair of legs with
much thickened and spiny femora, patellae, and tibiae; 6) a slender rod-like penis with
a darkly colored shaft in male.
Distribution. Central Asia (From Kazakhstan, Xinjiang (= Sinkiang) Province of
China, Mongolia), southern Siberia, to the northeastern part of China (Manchuria).
Included species. Scleropilio insolens (Simon 1895) alone.
Scleropilio insolens (Simon 1895)
(Figs. 1-4)
Egaenus insolens Simon 1895, p. 345 (Type: male, River Chatu, Sailugem [Mt. Range], Mongolia [on
the frontier with the SE Altai, Russia]; Roewer 1911, p. 18; Roewer 1923, p. 816.
Scleropilio coriaceus Roewer 1911, p. 32 (Type: male, Tekkes, Turkestan, RI/9/603 SMF [now
Kazakhstan, Almaty Area, Raiymbek Distr., Tekes, ca. 42°50'N, 8003'E]); Roewer 1912, p. 118;
Roewer 1923, p. 766, fig. 940; Gricenko 1979, p. 37; Gricenko 1980, p. 554; Starega 1978, p. 228.
NEW SYNONYMY
Opilio armatus Roewer 1911, p. 46, fig. 7 in plate 7 and figs. 1-3 in plate 3 (Type: male, Turkestan, RI/
8/587 [uncertain locality] ); Roewer 1912, p. 133, fig. 8 in plate I and Figs. 4 and 7 in plate 2);
Roewer 1923, p. 774; Roewer 1956, p. 281. NEW SYNONYMY
Udezatus spinosus Nakatsudi 1943, p. 110, fig. 4 (Type: male, Dalian (= Dairen), China, Tokyo
University of Agriculture, lost). NEW SYNONYMY
Scutopilio tibia/is Roewer 1956, p. 312 (Type: male, Ferghana, Turkestan, RII/2825/ 112 [now Ferghana
Valley in Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan or Kyrghyzstan]), Gricenko 1975, p. 132, figs. 1-4. NEW
SYNONYMY
Scutopilio diadema Gricenko 1975, p. 133, figs. 5-10 (holotype: male, Andarak, Khodzhent, Tadjikistan,
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences [now Kyrghyzstan, Osh Area, Lyailyaksky
Distr., Andarak, ca. 39°46'N, 6928'E]). NEW SYNONYMY
Scutopilio elenae Gricenko 1975, p. 134, figs. 11-16. (holotype: male, Taldyk Pass, Alai range,
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences [Kyrghyzstan, Osh Area, Alai Distr., Alai Mt.
Range, Taldyk Pass, 39°46'N, 73° 10'E]) NEW SYNONYMY
Scleropilio insolens: Starega 1978, p. 228.
Scleropilio tibia/is: Starega 1978, p. 228; Gricenko 1979, p. 37; Gricenko 1980, p. 556.
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
Scleropilio (Opiliones) from Siberia 89
Fig. 1. Scleropilio insolens (A-C, male; D-E, female; both from 5 km E of Khol-
Oozhu, Tes-Khemskiy District, Tuva) A-B, dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views of
body; D, dorsal view of cephalothorax; C-E, ventral vie w of genital operculum.
Scleropilio diadema: Starega 1978, p. 228; Gricenko 1979, p. 37; Gricenko 1980, p. 556.
Scleropilio elenae: Starega 1978, p. 228; Gricenko 1979, p. 37.
Material examined. TUVA. Tes-Khemskiy Distr: 59 c~ 15 - (ISE), 12 6" 5 - (TUJ), 5 km E of
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
90 N. Tsurusaki et al.
Khol-Oozhu [ 50°45'N, 9429'E], °1300-1400 m alt., 15-16-VII-1993 (D. V. Logunov); 5 c~ ,14 (ISE),
8-10 km NE of Khol-Oozhu, Belengish natural limits [50°47'N, 94°19'E], 1300-1400 m alt., 9-12-VII-
1989 (D. V. Logunov); 3 a, 4 ?- (ISE), 8-10 km E of Khol-Oozhu, Shivilig-Khem River [50°47'N, 94
38'E], 30-IV-1990 (0. V. Lyakhov);1 c? (ISE), 8 km N of Samagaltai [50°44'N, 95°l9'E],10-VII-1993
Fig. 2. Scleropilio insolens (A-E, male; F-H, female; both from 5 km E of Khol-Oozhu,
Tes-Khemskiy District, Tuva) A, F, mesal view of left chelicera; B, frontal view of
left chelicera; C, ectal view of left palp; D, G, mesal view of left palp; E, H, ectal view
of right first leg.
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
Scleropilio (Opiliones) from Siberia 91
(D. V. Logunov); 1 d' (ISE), 20 km N of Oo-Shynaa, 3-4 km E of Despen [50°48'N, 93°50'E], 1600 m
alt., 17-VII-1989 (D. V. Logunov). Mongun-Taiga Distr.: 1 ~, 3 juv. (ISE), confluence of Barlyk and
Onachy Rivers [50°25'N, 90°55'E], 2000-2100 m alt., 13-VI-1989 (D. V. Logunov); 1 a~, 4 (ISE),
same locality, 6-VI-1990 (0. V. Lyakhov); 1 - (ISE), 30-35 km W of Mugur-Aksy, the upper reaches
of Mugur River [50°22'N, 90°05'E], 3100-3200 m alt., 23-VII-1993 (D. V. Logunov); 1 juv. (ISE), the
upper reaches of Kargy River, Kuge-Davaa natural limits [50°24'N, 90°30'E], 2500-2700 m alt., 19-V-
1990 (D. V. Logunov); 1 - (ISE), 5-6 km SE of Mugur-Aksy, Kargy River Valley [50°20'N, 90°30'E],
18-V-1990 (0. V. Lyakhov). Tandinskiv Distr.: 3 juv (ISE), 1-5 km SW of Khovu-Al sy [51°07'N, 93°
36'E], 4-6-V-1990 (D. V. Logunov). - CHITA AREA. Kyra Distr.: 16 d, 21 ~- (ISE), 60-65 km SW
of Kyra, Sokhondo State Reserve [ca. 49°30'N,111°64'E], 1600-1800 m alt., 28-V to 5-VII-1991 (S. E.
Tchernyshev & B. P. Zakharov); 2 d~, 10 - (TUJ), same reserve, confluence of Agutsa River and
Larionov (Talgikta) Spring [ca. 49°37'N, Ill°l5'E], 1300 m alt., 13-VI-I991 (D. V. Logunov).
Description. Male (specimens from Khol-Oozhu, Tes-Khemskiy Distr. Tuva):
Body from above and lateral as in Fig. 1A-B; robust and rather elongated. Anterior
margin of carapace swollen and armed with a group of 8-10 long tubercles, of which five
to six directed forward. Scent gland pores, visible from above, bordered by two large
tubercles. Ocular tubercle dorsally armed with a few small tubercles, located from the
anterior rim of the carapace by twice length of its diameter. Coxae I-IV ventrally with
Fig. 3. Scleropilio insolens (A-D male; E-F, female; all from 5 km E of Khol-Oozhu,
Tes-Khemskiy District, Tuva) - A-D , dorsal (A, C) and lateral (B, D) view of penis;
E, ventral views of ovipositor; F, left seminal receptacle.
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
92 N. Tsurusaki et al.
sparse denticles. Genital operculum as in Fig. 1 C, smooth, with only scattered hairs.
Supracheliceral lamellae invisible from above.
Chelicera (Fig. 2A-B) swollen and stout, without a ventral spine on basal joint.
Basal segment dorsally with 4-5 apical tubercles.
Palp (Fig. 1C-D) short and robust; trochanter and femur dorsally and ventrally
with many prominent tubercles; patella dorsally and tibia dorsally and ventrally with
similar tubercles; tarsus ventrally with two rows of small but distinct denticles; claw
smooth
Legs: Legs I, as in Fig. 2E, femora strongly swollen dorsally, with two groups of
robust tubercles situated closer to the medial side; patellae swollen, covered with smaller
denticles; tibiae strongly swollen, with strong ventral tubercles and a spiracle on the ectal
surface near basal joint; metatarsus ventrally covered with numerous blackish-brown
denticles; remaining segments of normal structure. Legs II-IV appear normal, covered
with numerous denticles. Metatarsi and tarsal segments of all legs ventrally covered
with numerous small dark hairs and a pair of apical spines on each segment.
Penis as in Fig. 3A-D, slender and rod-shaped with widened base; ca. 5 mm long,
ca. 0.13 mm in diameter, 0.63 mm wide at base; Shaft, black and ventrally carinated
towards apical part. Glans distally with two lateral pairs of small spines. Muscles
confined to the widened base of the shaft. (Fig. 3A).
Coloration: Dorsum and legs sandy-colored to yellowish-brown, but tarsi usually
lighter. Venter yellow.
Female (Fig. 1D-E, 2F-H, 3E-F): Coloration and form as in males except for
Fig. 4. Distribution of Scleropilio insolens.
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
Scleropilio (Opiliones) from Siberia 93
following respects: first legs stouter than other legs but less-developed compared with that
in males. Metatarsi I lack ventral denticles. Base of the genital operculum flares
posteriorly (Figs. l E).
Ovipositor (Fig. 3E) normal in structure, not darkened. With a single slit sensil-
lum per side on second segment. Seminal receptacles, found between 5th to 7th
ovipositor segments, as in Fig. 3F, with two atria.
Measurements (in mm, males, females in parentheses). Cephalothorax length 1.75-
2.35 (1.45-1.90); total body length 5.75-7.25 (5.25-7.25); body width 3.25-3.90 (3.10-
4.25); body height 2.25-2.80 (2.35-3.40). Distance between ocular tubercle and anterior
margin of carapace 0.80-1.20 (0.58-0.85). Ocular tubercle, 0.35-0.43 wide, 0.18-0.25
high. Length of palpal segments (Fe/Pa/Ti/Ta/Total):0.95-1.15(0.68-0.70)10.43-0.58
(0.28-0.38)/0.55-0.60(0.30-0.43)11.08-1.30(0.85-1.10)14.16-4.58(2.11-2.61). Length of
leg segments (Fe/Pa/Ti/Mt/Ta//Total): leg I, 1.80-2.80(1.25-1.55)10.90-1.20(0.53-0.85)10.90
-1
.20(0.53-0.85)/1.40-2.15(0.93-1.25)/1.40-1.80(1.08-1.50)/2.05-2.60(1.68-2.15)1/ 7.55-
10.55(5.47-7.30); leg II, 2.85-3.65(2.20-2.80)/1.13-1.40(0.78-1.15)12.20-2.85(1.65-
2.10)/2.10-2.75(1.68-2.25)/4.00-5.25(2.50-4.15)/112.28-15.90(8.81-12.45); leg III, 1.35-
2.00(1.15-1.50)10.75 -1.00(0.65-0.80)/1.35-1.65(0.93-1.20)/1.60-2.15(1.25-1.65)/2.25-
3.35(2.00-2.70)// 7.30-10.15(5.98-7.85); leg IV, 2.60-3.35(2.33-2.90)/1.00-1.30(0.75-
1.05)/1.80-2.30(1.50-1.85)/2.25-3.50(2.13-2.65)/3.45-4.50(2.95-3.50)// 11.1-14.95(9.66-
11.95).
Distribution. Central Asia (From Kazakhstan, Sinkiang Province of China,
Mongolia), southern Siberia, to the northeastern part of China.
Habitat. In southern Siberia, the species has been collected from mountain
moss-stony tundra (goltsy), sloping shrub-stony steppes, subalpine meadows, and stony
debris with moss covers.
Remarks. Five species (insolens, coriaceus, diadema, elenae, and tibia/is) have so
far been recorded under the genus Scleropilio (Starega 1978; Gricenko 1980). However,
the distinction between them relies mainly on slight difference in armature of body and
chelicerae, and body size; these are characters that are apt to vary both within and
between populations in the species of the subfamily Phalangiinae to which the genus
belongs. Furthermore, they are only allopatrically found with each other. Therefore,
it is highly probable that they constitute a single polytypic species or a superspecies
comprised by a series of vicarious species each with a restricted range. We prefer to the
former as a provisional conclusion because their general structure of various parts of
body including penis is invariable, and treat four species (coriaceus, diadema, elenae,
and tibialis) as junior synonyms of Scleropilio insolens (Simon 1895). Present materials
correspond well with the descriptions of the five species including S. insolens, so we
identified them as S. insolens.
Opilo armatus first described by Roewer (1911) from an uncertain locality of
Central Asia (Turkestan is a name of unexisting country, not confused with Turkestan
Town in S-Kazakhstan) is also synonymized with Scleropilio insolens, since figures
presented in his paper represent characteristic features of Scleropilio insolens.
Udezatus spinosus was described by Nakatsudi in 1943 for specimens collected from
Dalian (= Dairen) in the northeastern part of China. However, the description of the
species seems to be overlooked by European and Russian researchers, probably due to
the fact that its description was published in a Japanese journal at the time near the end
of World War II, when Japan lost diplomatic contact with most of the overseas countries.
Except for a few points (e.g. smooth eye tubercle and less armed palpal patella and tibia
in Udezatus spinosus), the description of the species well corresponds to that of the
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
94 N. Tsurusaki et al.
present material. Hence, we treat also this species as a junior synonym of Scleropilio
insolens.
Highly sclerotized body with remarkably short legs of the species may represent
adaptation to their dry habitat.
Acknowledgments
We thank Mr. 0. V. Lyakhov (Pavlodar, Kazakhstan) and Drs. S. E. Tchernyshev, and B. P.
Zakharov (both from Novosibirsk, Russia) who collected part of the materials. We are also much
obliged to Mr. A. V. Gromov (Almaty, Kazakhstan) for the help in decoding old geographical names
from Middle Asia. One of us (N.T.) thanks Drs. 0. Gorlova and I. P. Gorlov (Novosibirsk, Russia) for
kindly translating Russian literature into English.
References
Gricenko (Gritenko), N. I. 1975. New and little-known species of the genus Scutopilio Rer. (Opiliones,
Phalangiinae) from Soviet central Asia. Entomologicheskoe Obozr., 54: 668-672. (In Russian)
Gricenko (Gricenko), N. I. 1979. [The harvestmen (Opiliones) from the Asian part of the USSR]. pp.
28-38. In: (Ed. Yu. S. Balashov): The Fauna and Ecology of Arachnida. Academy of Sciences of
the USSR. Proceedings of the Zoological Institute. (In Russian)
Gricenko (Gricenko), N. I. 1980. On the fauna of Opiliones of Mongolia and adjacent regions of
China and the USSR. Nasekomye Mongol., 7: 553-565. (In Russian)
Nakatsudi, K. 1943. On some harvesters from Manchuria and Inner Mongolia. Zool. Mag. (Tokyo), 55:
106-113. pl. 1. (In Japanese with English description)
Roewer, C. F. 1911. Ubersicht der Genera der Subfamilie der Phalangiini der Opiliones Palpatores
nebst Bechreibung einiger neuer Gattungen and Arten. Arch. Naturg., 77 (Suppl.2): 1-106. T. 1-3.
Roewer, C. F. 1923. Die Weberknechte der Erde. Gustav Fischer, Jena, 1116pp.
Roewer, C. F. 1956. Uber Phalangiinae (Phalaniinae, Opiliones Palpatores). (Weitere Weberknechte
XIX). Senckenbergiana biol., 37: 247-318.
Simon, E. 1895. Arachnides recueillis par Mr. G. Potanine en Chine et en Mongolie (1876-1879). Bull.
Acad. imp. Sci., St. Petersbourg, Ser. 5, 2: 331-345.
Starega, W. 1978. Katalog der Weberknechte (Opiliones) der Sowjet Union. Fragmenta Faun., 23: 197
-241 .
(Received March 27, 2000/Accepted April 15, 2000)
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
100 和文要旨
た. 本種は沖縄本島に固有で,石 灰洞にのみ発 hillyardiを 模式種 として指定 し,記 載 した.
見される.個 体群密度は非常に低い.こ れまで Heteropoda属 として記載 されていた次の種 は
雌のみしか採集されておらず,ま た,雌 の外雌 Pseudopodaに 転属させた: P. casaria(Simon
器や交尾口の退化は,本 種が単為生殖をおこな 1897),P. exigua (Fox1938),P. exiguoides(Song
っている可能性を強く示唆する.本 種は洞穴内 & Zhu 1999),P. grahami (Foxl 1936),P. lu-
での生活に適応的とみられる形質を他にもいく shanensis(Wang 1990), P. virgata(Fox 1936),
つか備える.琉 球列島の地史に関連して,洞 穴 P. zhangmuensi (Hu ＆ li 1983),P. zhejiangen-
という生息場所への特化について議論した. sis(Zhang ＆ kim 1996).ま た,Heteropoda
sikkiｍensiGsr avely 1931をBhutaniella に移 し
日本産アシダカグモ科,I. ミナミアシダカグモ た.両 属 とも分布 は標高1000m以 上の高所に限
属(新称),ア シダカグモ属,コ アシダカグモ属 られているようである｡(和 訳:編 集委員会)
(新称)の4新 種の記載および既知種についての
知見(ク モ目:ア シダカグモ科:ツ ユグモ亜科 シベリアとモンゴルからのザトウムシの2新 種
およびアシダカグモ亜科) (pp.41-60) (1新 属)と ウデブトザ トウムシ属の再定義(マ
P.jager 1・ 小野展嗣2 (1t itut fur Zoologie,JO- ザトウムシ科)(pp. 73-86)
hanoes Guteoberg-Uoiversitat,Germaoy; 2〒169 鶴 崎展巨1,A. N. Tchemeris 2, & D. Logunovsv 3
-0073東 京都新宿区百人町3-23-1国 立科学
(1〒680-8551鳥 取市 湖 山町 南4-101鳥 取 大
博物館動物研究部) 学教 育地 域科学 部生物 学教 室; 2 Dept. Ioverte-
日本産アシダカグモ科のOlios [ミナミアシダ brate Zool., Fac. Biol. & Soil Sci. Tomsk State
カグモ属(新 称)]の1新 種,Heteropoda [アシ Uoiversity, Tomsk, Russia; Z3o ol ., Mus., Biol.
ダカグモ属]の1新 種ならびにSinopoda [コア Instit. Siberian Div. Russ. Acad. of Sci.,
シダカグモ属(新 称)]の2新 種の計4新 種を以 Novosibirsk, Russia)
下のように命名 して記載 した: Olios japonicus シベ リアか らマザ トウム シ科 のAcantno-
sp. nav.[ニ ホンミナミアシダカグモ(新 称)], megabunus sibiricusを 新属新種 として,ま た,
Heteropoda simplex sp. nav. モンゴル南ゴビ地方か らウデブ トザ トウムシ属
モ(新 称,細 身の意)] Sinopoda okinawana sp. の1種Homnolopnus gobiensisを 新種 として記載
nov. [リュウキュウコアシダカグモ(新 称)], した.ウ デブ トザ トウムシ属については再定義
Sinopoda tanikawai sp. nov. [アマミコアシダカ を与 え,Pnalangiuln pallens Kulczynskiを 本属
グモ(新 称)].ミ ナミアシダカグモ属は日本か に,ま たHomnolophus potaniniをOpilio属 に移
ら新たに記録された.そ のほか,本 科のいくつ した.Opilio asiaticus GricenkoはOpilio potanini
かの既知種について若干の分類学的知見と採集 (simon)の 後行異名 とした.
記録を付記し,日 本産の亜科および属の特徴に
ついて解説を加えた. シベ リア南部か らの ウデザ トウム シScler-
opilio insolensの 再記載とウデザ トウムシ属の
大陸アジア南部からのアシダカグモ亜科(ア シ 改訂(pp. 87-94)
ダカグモ科)の2新 属(pp. 61-71) 鶴 崎展巨1, A. N. Tchemeris, & D. V. Loguoovs 3
P. Jager (Institut fUr Zoologie, Johannes (1〒680-8551鳥 取市 湖 山町 南4-101鳥 取 大
Guteoberg-Universitat, Germany) 学 教育地 域科学 部生物 学教 室; 2Dept. Inverte-
大陸アジア南部からのアシダカグモ亜科(ア brate Zool., Fac. Biol. & Soil Sci. Tomsk State
シ ダ カ グ モ 科)の2新 属Pseudopodaと University, Tomsk, Russia; 3Zool. Mus., Biol.
Bhutaniellaを 記載 した.そ れぞれPseudopoda Instit. Siberian Div. Russ. Acad. of Sci.,
prompta(O. P. -Cambridge1885)とBhutaniella Novosibirsk, Russia)
Acta Arachnologica, 49 (1), July 2000
訃 報 101
ロシアのシベ リア南部から採集された標本に S. diadema (Gricenko 1975), S. elenae (Gricenko
基づきScleropilio insolens (Simon 1895)を 再記 1975), Opilio armatus Roewer 1911, Udezatus
載した.ま た,中 央アジアからモンゴル,中 国 spinous Nakatsudi 1943 (和名ウデザ トウムシは
東北部に及ぶ地域から散発的に記載されている 仲辻が最後の種に与えたもの).本 種の産卵管 と
次の6種 を本種 の後行 異名 とした:S. cor- 受精嚢を初めて図示 した.
iaceus Roewer 1911,S.tibialis(Roewer 1956),
Gary Polisが 残 した もの
カリフォルニア沖でGary Polisの グループ 司会をした鶴崎展巨さんらとともに,箱 根の彫
と京大生態研センターのスタッフが遭難したら 刻の森を散策 して,そ の中にあるセルフサービ
しいという電話連絡を受けたのは3月28日 の スのレス トランで簡単な夕食をしたのを今で も
昼時だった.数 日前まで開かれていた日本生態 よく覚えている.特 に,私 がPolisに 対 して"Let'
学会大会で,京 大の知り合いがPolisの ところ s eat"と 誘ったときに"That's a good idea!"
に訪問しているという話を聞いてはいたが,ま と少々大げさなジェスチュアーで返 して くれた
さかこんな事故に遭おうとは夢にも思わなかっ のは,強 い印象 として残 っている.
た.後 日,Polisと 京大のスタッフ2人(安 部さ その後しばらくの間,彼 の名前はサソリない
んと東さん)は 死亡が確認され,中 野さんは未 しはギルド内捕食の研究者として,自 分の頭の
だに行方不明というきわめて残念な結末となっ 中にインプットされていた.し かし,自 身の関
た. 心が1990年 以降の6,7年 の間,ク モの生活史戦
Polisは,私 にとって2つ の顔をもった研究者 略,盗 み寄生,網 の機能と進化,に 向いていた
だった.ひ とつは,サ ソリの生物学を研究して ため,Polisの 名前はたまに思い出す程度の懐か
いるナチュラリストとしての側面で,も うひと しいだけのものになっていた.そ の頃の私にと
つは群集生態学と生態系生態学に新たな視点を っての心の師は間違いなくWilliam Eberhard
切り開いた類い稀なるエコロジストとしての顔 であった.
である.お そらく日本のクモの研究者にとって ところが,1997年 頃から,私 の関心は徐々に
は,"Biology of Scorpions"と いう600ペ ージに 群集生態学に向けられるようになった.自 分が
及ぶ大著を編集した人としてそれなりに知られ 直接に指導する大学院生たちが入ってきたこと
ているが,生 態学者にとっては,ギ ルド内捕食 が,新 たな研究分野を開拓する契機となったの
や異地性物質の流入(Allochthonous input)の だ.研 究を進めていくうちに,森 林に棲む造網
概念の重要性を世に知らしめた研究者として有 性クモ類の主要な餌は,地 上の生食食物連鎖に
名である. 属する植食性昆虫類ではなく,土 壌から羽化し
Polisは1990年 に横浜で国際生態学会があっ てくるハエ目であり,こ れらの幼虫は土壌中の
た時に来日している.ち ょうどその時期に箱根 腐食食物連鎖に属することがわかった.こ れは
で開かれた日本クモ学会大会に彼が特別参加し 教科書的な食物連鎖あるいは食物網の概念とは
たのを記憶している会員も少なくないだろう. 明らかに異なっている.と いうのは,従 来の概
彼以外にもSusan Riechert, DavidWise, David 念では,植 物を基点とする生食食物連鎖と落葉
Spillerがクモ学会のシンポジウムに参加した. 落枝を基点とする腐食食物連鎖が中途段階で交
誰もが一流のクモ学者兼生態学者であり,今 思 わることはほとんど考慮されていなかったから
えば,よ くこれだけのメンバーがそろったもの である.土 壌性のハエ目がクモの餌の多くを占
だと感心するしかない.同 じシンポジウムで話 めていることは,自 分も含めてクモの餌を調べ
題提供した私や田中幸一さん,遠 藤知二さん, たことのある人なら驚くべきことではないが,
Acta Arachnologica,49(1),July 2000