Neobisium georgecastriotae Ćurčić, Dimitrijević & Rađa, in Ćurčić et al., 2006b: 101, figs 1-8.

Neobisium albanorum Ćurčić, Dimitrijević, Rađa & Vujčić-Karlo, 2006: 3, figs 1-30. New synonym

Material examined: CGG; 1 male; Albania, Gjirokastër County, Tepelenë, Progonat, Shterra ë Cikes (40°13′19″N, 19°51′43″E), 800 m a.s.l.; 3.VIII.1994; F. Didonna leg. - CGG; 1 tritonymph; Progonat, Shpella ë Kasarit (40°12′38″N, 19°57′24″E), 1100 m a.s.l.; 2.VIII.1994; F Didonna leg.

Diagnosis (male, female): A subterranean troglomorphic Neobisium that differs from other Balkan species of the genus in the following combination of characters: no eyes or eye-spots; carapace with 4 setae in posterior row, epistome triangular; standard chaetotaxy of tergites I-II 4:4; pedipalps smooth; chelal fingers homodentate, teeth small and contiguous; pedipalpal femur slightly longer than movable finger; ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.42-1.54; ratio between club and pedicel of patella 2.4-2.6; chela with pedicel length 5.20-5.80 mm, 7.8-8.5 times as long as broad; trichobothrium ist just proximal to est, the latter midway between ist-it or closer to it; trichobothrium et at level of it; trichobothrium st closer to t than to sb; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse.

Description of adults (male, female): Carapace, chelicera, pedipalps and palpal coxae red-brown; pedipalps smooth, pleural membrane granular. Carapace 1.3-1.4 times as long as broad, without eyes or eye-spots, anterior margin with prominent triangular epistome, apically rounded, rarely acuminate (Fig. 1); 20 macrosetae, anterior and posterior rows each with 4 macrosetae, besides 1 or 3 “preocular” setae on each side. Chaetotaxy of tergites I-X 4:4:4-6:4-6:6:6-7:6-7:7-8:7-8:7-8; II and V rarely with 5 setae. Chaetotaxy of sternites II-X (male): 18-30:38-47(15-20 of them situated along posterior margin of genital opening):20-21:15-16:14-15:15-17:14-17:15-16:11-13, setae of genital atrium and median genital sac not seen; chaetotaxy of sternites II-X (female) 12-21:29-31:16-18:13-16:11-15:11-14:12-14:13-14:12-13; sternites III and IV (male, female) each with 2-4 (mostly 3) microsetae in front of each stigma; anal cone with 2 + 2 setae. Chelicera (Fig. 2) 2.0-2.15 (male, female) times as long as broad, palm with 6 setae; fixed finger with 12 subequal teeth proximally decreasing in size; movable finger with a prominent tooth at level of gs; gs ratio 0.70, spinneret absent or slightly prominent, with 7 silk ducts; rallum with 7-8 blades, the two distal ones dentate; serrulae interior and exterior with 35 and 38 blades, respectively. Manducatory process with 5 setae. Coxal setae: pedipalp 11, I 10, II 9, III 8, IV 13-14; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse. Pedipalp (Figs 3-6): trochanter 2.85 (male) times as long as broad, with a weak button-like tubercle on antiaxial face; femur 8.45-9.0 (male) or 7.7-9.3 (female) times as long as broad, smooth, weakly enlarged distally; patella 6.5-6.9 (male) or 6.6-8.1 (female) times as long as broad, club-shaped, ratio between club and pedicel 2.2-2.5 (male) or 2.6 (female); chela with pedicel 7.8-8.5 (male) or 7.8-7.85 (female) times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 3.2-3.5 (male) or 3.1-3.17 (female) times as long as broad, oval, gradually narrowing towards pedicel; fixed chelal finger with 158-171 (male, female) small contiguous teeth with dental canals (Figs 5-6), venom duct short, nodus ramosus subterminal (Fig. 6); movable chelal finger with 130-138 (male, female) small contiguous teeth with dental canals (Figs 5-6) reaching back near b; trichobothria as in Figs 4-5, ist just proximal to est, the latter midway between it and ist or closer to it; st closer to t than sb; relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis (male from Shterra ë Cikes): it 0.085/et 0.09/est 0.125/ ist 0.17/isb 0.80/ib 0.91/esb 0.97/eb 0.975/t 0.15/st 0.30/sb 0.68/b 0.90; ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.42-1.52 (male) or 1.47-1.54 (female); ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable finger 1.01-1.05 (male, female); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 2.1-2.3 (male, female). Leg I (male from Shterra ë Cikes): trochanter 1.6 times as long as deep, femur 8.5 times as long as deep and 1.5 times longer than patella, the latter 6.3 times as long as deep, tibia 9.9 times, basitarsus 7.2, telotarsus 9.3 times as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.88, subterminal seta dentate, claws with small dorsal tooth; leg IV (male, female) (Figs 7-8): trochanter 3.1-3.55 times as long as deep, femur + patella 7.7-8.25 times as long as deep, tibia 12.1-13.95 times, basitarsus 6.7-7.05 times, telotarsus 9.3-11.6 as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.75-0.82, subterminal seta dentate, claws with small dorsal tooth (Fig. 8).

Measurements: Body length 4.3-5.9 (male, female). Carapace 1.47-1.54 × 0.98-1.13 (male) or 1.51-1.59 × 1.06-1.22 (female). Chelicera 0.94-0.99 × 0.44-0.49 (male) or 1.0-1.02 × 0.48-0.51 (female); movable finger length 0.59-0.64 (male) or 0.65-0.66 (female). Pedipalp: trochanter length 1.06-1.13 (male) or 1.08-1.13 (female); femur 3.23-3.45 × 0.36-0.40 (male) or 3.43-3.54 × 0.37-0.46 (female); patella 2.66-3.02 × 0.41-0.44 (male) or 2.77-3.48 × 0.42-0.43 (female); chela with pedicel 5.20-5.66 × 0.61-0.72 (male) or 5.36-5.80 × 0.68-0.74 (female); hand with pedicel length 2.06-2.32 (male) or 2.11-2.35 (female); movable finger length 3.14-3.38 (male) or 3.25-3.45 (female). Leg I (male from Shterra ë Cikes): trochanter 1.05 x 0.30; femur 1.28 × 0.35; patella 1.59 × 0.325; tibia 2.72 × 0.20; basitarsus 1.15 × 0.17; telotarsus 1.40 × 0.13. Leg IV: trochanter 1.01-1.05 x 0.29-0.33 (male) or 1.01-1.06 x 0.285-0.315 (female); femur + patella 2.84-2.97 × 0.35-0.37 (male) or 2.86-2.91 × 0.37-0.38 (female); tibia 2.66-2.83 × 0.20-0.22 (male) or 2.71-2.76 × 0.21-0.22 (female); basitarsus 1.13-1.16 × 0.16-0.17 (male) or 1.10-1.14 × 0.16-0.17 (female); telotarsus 1.40-1.51 × 0.13-0.15 (male) or 1.40-1.52 × 0.14-0.15 (female).

Short description of tritonymph: Carapace 1.3 times as long as broad, without eyes or eye-spots, anterior margin with a triangular epistome; anterior row with 4, posterior row with 4 (5) setae. Chaetotaxy of tergites I-X 4:4 or 5:4:4 or 7:6 or 7:6:6:6:6 or 7:7. Chelicera 1.9 times as long as broad, palm with 6 setae, fixed finger with subequal teeth, movable finger with a prominent tooth in distal third; spinneret largely rounded, weakly prominent, with 6-7 silk ducts. Anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse. Pedipalp (Figs 9-10): femur 7.9-8.2 times as long as broad, weakly enlarged distally; patella 5.4-5.7 times as long as broad, weakly and gradually enlarged distally, club 2.5 times longer than pedicel; chela with pedicel 7.05-7.3 times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 2.7-2.8 times as long as broad; fixed and movable chelal fingers homodentate, with 118-121 and 98 small and contiguous teeth with dental canals, respectively; trichobothria as in Figs 9-10; relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis (tritonymph from Shterra ë Cikes): it 0.10/et 0.11/est 0.16/ist 0.24/ ib 0.90/esb 0.94/eb 0.96/t 0.17/st 0.50/b 0.88; ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.6; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable finger 0.98-0.99; ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.9-2.1.

Measurements: Body length 3.6-4.3. Carapace 1.05-1.19 x 0.80-0.94. Chelicera 0.72-0.75 x 0.38-0.39, movable finger length 0.46-0.49. Pedipalp: femur 2.21-2.33 x 0.28-0.285; patella 1.71 x 0.30-0.315; chela with pedicel 3.66-3.81 x 0.50-0.54; hand with pedicel length 1.40-1.47; movable finger length 2.24-2.34.

Remarks: Neobisium georgecastriotae was described on the basis of a single male from the cave Pusi I Kerpajt Pit near Progonat, Gjirokastër County (southern Albania). The species was compared to N. albanicum (Müller, 1931), redescribed from a female topotype from the cave Vrima e Dragoit near Paftal, Berat (Beier, 1939, reproduced in Beier, 1963).

Soon afterwards, N. albanorum was described on the basis of two males, two females and a tritonymph from two caves near Gjirokastër and Kurvelesh, Gjirokastër County. That nominal species was also compared again to N. albanicum and to N. georgecastriotae.

However, the diagnostic differences between N. albanorum with N. georgecastriotae mentioned by Ćurčić and co-workers are based on errors or on a tenuous evaluation of characters: chaetotaxy of tergites I-II is 4:4 in both species (not 6:6 as given for N. georgecastriotae), and the proposed differences in size and ratios between the two nominal species (carapace breadth, male pedipalpal length and pedipalpal femur and chela length to breadth ratio, total length of leg IV, femur + patella of leg IV length to breadth ratio) are insubstantial in the light of a well-known high variability in subterranean populations of pseudoscorpions.

In spite of the fact that type specimens of N. albanorum and N. georgecastriotae (repeatedly requested by e-mail from the Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade) seem to be currently unavailable for study, a careful comparison of descriptions, measurements and figures from the literature, together with the observation of the close proximity of both type localities (about 20 km apart) and the examination of the male and tritonymph from Progonat, allow the following synonymy to be proposed: Neobisium albanorum is a junior subjective synonym of Neobisium georgecastriotae. The name “georgecastriotae” was published earlier in 2006 and therefore has priority.

Neobisium georgecastriotae is probably closely related to N. albanicum. Two syntypes (sex not stated) of N. albanicum, glued to card mounts, are stored in the Museo civico di Storia naturale, Trieste. They are labelled: “Obis. (Blothrus) / albanicum m. / det. J. Müller” “Vrima e Dragoi / Paftali, Berat / Ravasini 7.22″ and “Blothrus / albanicus m. / det. J. Müller” “Cotypus” “Vrima e Dragoi / Paftali, Berat / Ravasini 7.22″. Thanks to the courtesy of Dr A. Colla (MCST) and F. Gasparo (Trieste), I acquired photographs, basic measurements of pedipalps and position of trichobothria which supplement the description of N. albanicum by Beier (1939, 1963). Neobisium georgecastriotae differs from N. albanicum in size (pedipalpal femur 3.23-3.54 mm vs. 2.74-2.87 mm; patella 2.66-3.48 mm vs. 2.25-2.32 mm; chela 5.20-5.80 mm vs. 4.40-4.55 mm), in ratio between finger and hand of chela (1.42-1.54 vs. 1.62-1.73), in chaetotaxy of tergites I-II (4:4 vs. 6:6) and in position of pedipalpal trichobothria (ist slightly proximal to est vs. ist slightly proximal to st; et at level or closer to it than to est vs. et halfway between est and it).

The above redescription of N. georgecastriotae incorporates data (chaetotaxy and measurements) from the original description and data proposed by Ćurčić et al. (2006c).

Holotype: MSNV; female; Albania, Kukes County, Tropoië Municipality, Valbonë, slope S Mt Mali i Thatë, Shpella ë Haxhise (42°28′N, 19°51′E), 1720 m a.s.l.; 8.VII.1993; A. Gobetti & L. Latella leg.

Paratypes: CGG; 2 males 5 females; same data as for holotype.

Diagnosis (male, female): A subterranean troglomorphic Neobisium that differs from other Dinaric species of the genus in the following combination of characters: no eyes or eye-spots; carapace with 4 setae in posterior row, epistome triangular; standard chaetotaxy of tergites I-II 4:6; pedipalps smooth; chelal fingers homodentate, teeth small and contiguous; pedipalpal femur and hand of chela with pedicel each longer than movable finger; ratio between club and pedicel of patella 2.55-3.0 (male, female); chela with pedicel length 3.95-4.30 mm, and 5.35-5.9 (male, female) times as long as broad; trichobothrium ist slightly distal to middle of fixed finger; trichobothrium st mostly halfway between t and sb; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse.

Etymology: Named in honour of Dr Leonardo Latella, entomologist and biospeleologist of the Museo civico di Storia naturale, Verona.

Description of adults (male, female): Carapace, chelicera, pedipalps and palpal coxae red-brown; pedipalps smooth, pleural membrane granular. Carapace (Fig. 11) 1.2-1.4 times as long as broad, without eyes or eye-spots, anterior margin with prominent triangular epistome; 19-21 macrosetae, 4 in anterior and 4 in posterior row, 1 or no “preocular” seta on each side. Chaetotaxy of tergites I-XI 4:6:6:5-7:7:7:7:7-10:8-10:7-10:6-8; tergite I of a male and a female with 5, II-III of two females with 4 setae. Chaetotaxy of sternites II-XI (male): 16-20:37-40(12-14 of them along posterior margin of genital opening): 18-19:15:14:12:13:14:11:10; genital chamber with 2(3) + 2 setae, median sac short and wide; chaetotaxy of sternites II-XI (female) 12-14:26-35:17-18:13-17:13-14:12-14:12-14:12-14:10-14:8-10; sternites III and IV (male, female) with 3 (rarely 2) and 2 (rarely 3) microsetae, respectively, in front of each stigma; anal cone with 2 + 2 setae. Chelicera (Fig. 12) 1.95-2.05 (male, female) times as long as broad, palm with 6 setae; fixed finger with 10-12 subequal teeth proximally decreasing in size; movable finger with 9-12 teeth, 5-6 of them prominent and together at level of gs; gs ratio 0.68-0.71, spinneret absent or slightly prominent, with 6-8 silk ducts; rallum with 8 blades, the two distal ones dentate; serrulae interior and exterior with 25 and 34-35 blades, respectively. Manducatory process with 5 setae. Coxal setae: pedipalp 8 (rarely 9 or 10), I 6 (rarely 5 or 7), II 6-9, III 6, IV 10-13; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse. Pedipalp (Figs 13-16): trochanter 2.5-2.7 (male, female) times as long as broad, with three or four weak button-like tubercles on antiaxial face; femur 7.27-8.2 (male) or 6.7-7.2 (female) times as long as broad, smooth, weakly and gradually enlarged distally; patella 5.65-5.9 (male) or 5.15-5.5 (female) times as long as broad, club-shaped, ratio between club and pedicel 2.85-3.0 (male) or 2.55-2.7 (female); chela with pedicel 5.45-5.9 (male) or 5.35-5.5 (female) times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 2.95-3.35 (male) or 3.1-3.15 (female) times as long as broad, elongate oval, gradually narrowing towards pedicel; fixed chelal finger with 98-105 (male, female) small contiguous teeth with dental canals (Figs 15-16), venom duct short, nodus ramosus subterminal (Fig. 16); movable chelal finger with 96-103 (male, female) small contiguous teeth with dental canals (Figs 15-16) reaching back beyond sb; trichobothria as in Figs 14-15, ist slightly distal to middle of fixed finger, st mostly halfway between t and sb; relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis: it 0.15-0.17/et 0.17-0.19/ est 0.25-0.28/ist 0.40-0.45/isb 0.76-0.77/ib 0.78-0.85/ esb 0.91-0.93/eb 0.92-0.94/t 0.24-0.26/st 0.42-0.46/ sb 0.67-0.70/b 0.86-0.88; ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 0.85-0.91 (male) or 0.79-0.83 (female); ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable finger 1.52-1.55 (male) or 1.54-1.59 (female); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 2.03-2.10 (male, female). Leg I (male, female): trochanter 1.55-1.65 times as long as deep, femur 6.4-7.3 times as long as deep and 1.4-1.5 times longer than patella, the latter 5.2-6.0 times as long as deep, tibia 6.8-7.8 times, basitarsus 4.25-5.1, telotarsus 5.45-6.8 times as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.75-0.85, subterminal seta dentate, claws with small dorsal tooth; leg IV (male, female) (Figs 17-18): trochanter 2.65-2.95 times as long as deep, femur + patella 9.3-9.8 times as long as deep, ratio between femur and patella 0.75-0.9, tibia 11.3-12.6 times, basitarsus 5.6-6.15 times, telotarsus 7.7-8.15 as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.79-0.82, subterminal seta dentate, claws with small dorsal tooth (Fig. 18).

Measurements: Body length 4.3-4.4 (male) or 5.2-5.7 (female). Carapace 1.43-1.48 × 1.05-1.15 (0.88-0.93 anteriorly) (male) or 1.48-1.55 × 1.24-1.27 (0.96-1.05 anteriorly) (female). Chelicera 0.86 × 0.44 (male) or 0.89-0.96 × 0.455-0.47 (female); movable finger length 0.56-0.63 (male, female). Pedipalp: trochanter 1.03-1.06 × 0.40-0.42 (male) or 1.05-1.20 × 0.41-0.44 (female); femur 2.90-3.11 × 0.38-0.40 (male) or 3.02-3.20 × 0.43-0.46 (female); patella 2.55-2.70 × 0.45-0.46 (male) or 2.57-2.75 × 0.47-0.51 (female); chela with pedicel 3.95-4.04 × 0.67-0.74 (male) or 4.04-4.30 × 0.74-0.80 (female); hand with pedicel length 2.18-2.24 (male) or 2.28-2.54 (female); movable finger length 1.9-2.0 (male) or 1.90-2.02 (female). Leg I: trochanter 0.45 x 0.27 (male) or 0.45-0.50 x 0.29-0.32 (female); femur 1.32 × 0.18 (male) or 1.39-1.43 × 0.20-0.22 (female); patella 0.95 × 0.17 (male) or 0.94-0.98 × 0.16-0.18 (female); tibia 0.92 × 0.135 (male) or 1.0-1.06 × 0.135 (female); basitarsus 0.51 × 0.12 (male) or 0.56-0.59 × 0.11-0.13 (female); telotarsus 0.60 × 0.11 (male) or 0.71-0.75 × 0.11-0.125 (female). Leg IV: trochanter 0.69 x 0.26 (male) or 0.71-0.83 x 0.25-0.28 (female); femur + patella 2.23 × 0.24 (male) or 2.25-2.36 × 0.23-0.25 (female); tibia 1.83 × 0.16 (male) or 1.92-2.02 × 0.16-0.17 (female); basitarsus 0.76 × 0.135 (male) or 0.76-0.85 × 0.125-0.14 (female); telotarsus 0.96 × 0.125 (male) or 0.96-1.04 × 0.12-0.13 (female).

Remarks: Among the subterranean species of Neobisium, subgen. Blothrus, from the Dinaric Alps, N. latellai n. sp. is probably most closely related to Neobisium (Blothrus) peruni Ćurčić, 1988 and Neobisium (Blothrus) perunoides Ćurčić & Rađa in Ćurčić et al., 2006a, both from caves on Mt Biokovo, Dalmatia, Croatia, with which it shares chiefly the shape of the pedipalpal chela, i.e. with elongate oval hand and short fingers. The main differences among N. peruni, N. perunoides and N. latellai are presented in Table 1.

Holotype: MHNG; male; Albania, Dibër County, Mat, Burrel, Macukull, Shpella Haruska (5 km SSE of Valgjini) (41°39′53″N, 20°07′54″E), 1480 m a.s.l.; 28.VI.2015; A. Valsuani leg.

Paratypes: CGG; 1 female; same data as for holotype. - CGG; 1 male; Albania, Dibër County, Mat, Burrel, Macukull, Shpella Bushiti (near Valgjini) (41°25′44″N, 20°03′58″E), 1131 m a.s.l.; IV.2014; A. Valsuani leg. - CGG; 1 female; Albania, Dibër County, Mat, Burrel, Macukull, Shpella Linozi-Leftari, 1868 m a.s.l.; 10.VII.2015; A. Valsuani leg.

Diagnosis (male, female): A large subterranean troglomorphic Neobisium that differs from other Dinaric species of the genus in the following combination of characters: no eyes or eye-spots; carapace with 6 setae in posterior row, epistome triangular; standard chaetotaxy of tergites I-II 6:6; pedipalps smooth; chelal fingers homodentate, teeth small and contiguous; pedipalpal femur slightly longer than movable finger, the latter longer than hand of chela with pedicel; ratio between club and pedicel of patella 1.65-1.95 (male, female); chela with pedicel length 5.8-6.35 mm, 4.75-5.6 (male, female) times as long as broad; trichobothrium ist near middle of fixed finger; trichobothrium st closer to t than to sb; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse.

Etymology: Named in honour of Alessandro Valsuani, who first collected the species during speleological research in Albania coordinated by A. Gobetti (Gruppo Speleologico Piemontese CAI-UGET, Torino).

Description of adults (male, female): Carapace, chelicera, pedipalps and palpal coxae red-brown; pedipalps smooth, pleural membrane granular. Carapace (Fig. 19) 1.1-1.2 times as long as broad, without eyes or eye-spots, anterior margin with prominent triangular epistome, apically rounded, rarely acuminate; 22-24 macrosetae, 4 in anterior and (5)6 in posterior row, besides 2 or 3 “preocular” setae on each side. Chaetotaxy of tergites I-XI 5-7:6-7:6-7:6-8:7-10:7-10:8-10:9-11:10-11:8-11:10; tergite I of a male and a female with 6, of a male with 5, of a female with 7 setae; sternite II of a female with 7 setae. Chaetotaxy of sternites II-XI (male): 26-29:52-53(29-30 of them along posterior margin of genital opening):19-20:15-20:18:17-18:18:17-18:17:13, setae of genital atrium and median genital sac not seen; chaetotaxy of sternites II-XI (female) 12:24-27:20-22:17-18:17-20:16-22:16-20:17-21:16-20:14-16; sternites III and IV (male, female) with 4-5 (rarely 3 or 6) and 4-5 (rarely 3) microsetae in front of each stigma, respectively; anal cone with 2 + 2 setae. Chelicera (Fig. 20) 1.95-2.1 (male, female) times as long as broad, palm with 6 (rarely 7) setae; fixed finger with 11-13 subequal teeth proximally decreasing in size; movable finger with 7-11 teeth, most of them prominent and situated together at level of gs; gs ratio 0.68-0.71, spinneret absent or slightly prominent, with 10-12 silk ducts; rallum with 13-17 blades, the two distal ones dentate; serrulae interior and exterior with 37-40 and 40-42 blades, respectively. Manducatory process with 5-7 (mostly 5) setae. Coxal setae: pedipalp 9-12 (mostly 9), I 5-9 (mostly 8), II 6-10, III 7-9 (mostly 8), IV 14-19 (mostly 19); anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse. Pedipalp (Figs 21-24): trochanter 2.4-2.6 (male, female) times as long as broad, with a weak button-like tubercle on antiaxial face; femur 6.5-6.8 (male) or 6.15-6.5 (female) times as long as broad, smooth, weakly enlarged distally; patella 4.3-5.0 (male) or 4.45-4.5 (female) times as long as broad, club-shaped, ratio between club and pedicel 1.7-1.85 (male) or 1.65-1.95 (female); chela with pedicel 5.25-5.6 (male) or 4.7-4.75 (female) times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 2.45-2.6 (male) or 2.25-2.4 (female) times as long as broad, oval, abruptly narrowed towards pedicel; fixed chelal finger with 120-140 (male, female) small contiguous teeth with dental canals (Figs 23-24), venom duct short, nodus ramosus subterminal (Fig. 24); movable chelal finger with 118-140 (male, female) small contiguous teeth with dental canals (Figs 23-24) reaching back near b; trichobothria as in Figs 22-23, ist near middle of fixed finger, st closer to t than to sb; relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis: it 0.125-0.145/et 0.14-0.155/est 0.17-0.19/ ist 0.45-0.50/isb 0.75-0.85/ib 0.85-0.90/esb 0.90-1.0/eb 0.95-1.0/t 0.15-0.19/st 0.325-0.395/sb 0.68-0.79/b 0.88-0.935; ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.26-1.32 (male) or 1.11-1.26 (female); ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable finger 1.08 (male) or 1.11-1.12 (female); ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 1.85-2.15 (male, female). Leg I (male, female): trochanter 1.48-1.55 times as long as deep, femur 5.9-6.4 times as long as deep and 1.4-1.5 times longer than patella, the latter 4.35-4.8 times as long as deep, tibia 6.8-7.85 times, basitarsus 4.75-5.2, telotarsus 6.2-6.8 times as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.75-0.83, subterminal seta dentate, claws with small dorsal tooth; leg IV (male, female) (Figs 25-26): trochanter 2.7-3.1 times as long as deep, femur + patella 8.0-9.7 times as long as deep, ratio between femur and patella 0.79-0.83, tibia 12.5-13.0 times, basitarsus 5.0-5.6 times, telotarsus 7.05-8.45 as long as deep, ratio between basitarsus and telotarsus 0.73-0.77, subterminal seta dentate, claws with small dorsal tooth (Fig. 26).

Measurements: Body length 6.7 (male) or 7.3-8.1 (female). Carapace 1.87-1.98 × 1.60-1.61 (1.37-1.41 anteriorly) (male) or 1.96-1.98 × 1.70-1.79 (1.47-1.57 anteriorly) (female). Chelicera 1.36-1.48 × 0.70-0.705 (male) or 1.43-1.60 × 0.69-0.81 (female); movable finger length 0.92-1.0 (male) or 0.96-1.1 (female). Pedipalp: trochanter 1.50 × 0.58-0.59 (male) or 1.53-1.58 × 0.61-0.65 (female); femur 3.70-4.01 × 0.57-0.59 (male) or 3.90-3.99 × 0.60-0.65 (female); patella 2.90-3.22 × 0.64-0.67 (male) or 3.10-3.35 × 0.69-0.75 (female); chela with pedicel 5.8-6.0 × 1.07-1.10 (male) or 5.83-6.35 × 1.23-1.33 (female); hand with pedicel length 2.7-2.8 (male) or 2.78-3.20 (female); movable finger length 3.41-3.70 (male) or 3.50-3.55 (female). Leg I: trochanter 0.61-0.66 x 0.41-0.43 (male) or 0.62 x 0.40 (female); femur 1.98-2.06 × 0.31-0.34 (male) or 1.90 × 0.32 (female); patella 1.39 × 0.29-0.32 (male) or 1.38 × 0.31 (female); tibia 1.57-1.59 × 0.20-0.23 (male) or 1.56 × 0.23 (female); basitarsus 0.87-0.94 × 0.17-0.18 (male) or 0.86 × 0.18 (female); telotarsus 1.13-1.16 × 0.17-0.18 (male) or 1.12 × 0.18 (female). Leg IV: trochanter 1.05-1.12 x 0.36-0.39 (male) or 1.07 x 0.38 (female); femur + patella 3.40-3.49 × 0.36-0.38 (male) or 3.22 × 0.40 (female); tibia 3.25-3.39 × 0.25-0.27 (male) or 3.11 × 0.30 (female); basitarsus 1.12-1.15 × 0.20-0.23 (male) or 1.09 × 0.22 (female); telotarsus 1.48-1.52 × 0.18-0.21 (male) or 1.36 × 0.21 (female).

Remarks: Among the subterranean species of Neobisium, subgen. Blothrus, from the Dinaric Alps, N. valsuanii n. sp. is probably most closely related to Neobisium (Blothrus) carnae carnae Beier, 1938, Neobisium (Blothrus) carnae fraternum Beier, 1939 and Neobisium (Blothrus) anaisae Ćurčić & Lemaire in Ćurčić et al., 2009, the two former species from caves of Radoš Planina (Bosnia-Herzegovina), the latter from Krapa (Macedonia). The main differences between these species and subspecies are presented in Table 2.

Neobisium (Blothrus) vjetrenicae Hadži, 1932: 102, figs 1-4. - Hadži, 1933: 49, figs 1-2. - Beier, 1939: 70, figs 84-85. - Beier, 1963: 151, fig. 155.

Material examined: CGG; 1 ♂; Albania, Shkodër County, Shkodër, Bogë, Dotek Pass, Helmit Abyss, 1540 m a.s.l.; VIII.1995; S. Meggiorini leg.

Short description of adult (male): Carapace, chelicera, pedipalps and palpal coxae red-brown; pedipalps smooth, pleural membrane granular. Carapace 1.2 times as long as broad, without eyes or eye-spots, anterior margin with a triangular epistome; anterior row with 4, posterior row with 5 setae. Chaetotaxy of tergites I-XI 4:4:6:7:7:7:8:9:8:9:6. Chaetotaxy of sternites III-X: (4)28(3):(3)14(3):17:16:17:16:14:8. Chelicera 2.0 times as long as broad, palm with 6 setae, fixed finger with 10 subequal teeth, movable finger with a prominent tooth in the distal third; spinneret largely rounded, weakly prominent. Anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse. Pedipalp (Figs 27-29): trochanter 2.6 times as long as broad, with one weak button-like tubercle on antiaxial face; femur 7.6 times as long as broad, weakly enlarged distally; patella 5.3 times as long as broad, weakly and gradually enlarged distally, club 2.54 times longer than pedicel; chela with pedicel 6.3 times as long as broad; hand of chela with pedicel 3.0 times as long as broad; fixed and movable chelal fingers homodentate, with 110 and 109 small and contiguous teeth with dental canals, respectively; trichobothria as in Figs 28-29; relative position of trichobothria along chelal axis: it 0.14/et 0.18/est 0.22/ ist 0.40/isb 0.76/ib 0.87/esb 0.90/eb 0.91/t 0.235/st 0.41/ sb 0.725/b 0.88; ratio between movable finger and hand of chela with pedicel 1.16; ratio between pedipalpal femur and movable finger 1.30; ratio between pedipalpal femur and carapace 2.10.

Measurements: Body length 5.3. Carapace 1.34 x 1.12 (0.91 anteriorly). Chelicera 0.88 x 0.44, movable finger length 0.57. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.99 x 0.38; femur 2.82 x 0.37; patella 2.28 x 0.43; chela with pedicel 3.90 x 0.62; hand with pedicel length 1.86; movable finger length 2.16.

Remarks: Neobisium vjetrenicae was described by Hadži (1932, German translation in Hadži, 1933) on the basis of a single male collected in the cave Pećina Vjetrenica (42°50′45″N, 17°59′02″E) near Zavala, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The species was subsequently redescribed by Beier (1939, reproduced in Beier, 1963) from topotypical specimens of both sexes.

The male from the Helmit Abyss, Albania, is here provisionally asigned to N. vjetrenicae, with which it shares the following characters: epistome triangular, posterior margin of carapace with 4 setae; tergites I-II with 4 setae; pedipalps smooth; chelal fingers homodentate, teeth small and contiguous; pedipalpal femur longer than movable finger, and movable finger longer than hand of chela with pedicel; chela with pedicel 6.3 times as long as broad; trichobothrium ist slightly distal to middle of fixed finger; trichobothrium st closer to t than to sb; anterolateral process of coxa I squat, apically obtuse.

Size and ratios of pedipalpal segments are similar in males from both caves: Vjetrenica - femur length 2.30-2.32 (x7.4), patella 1.80-1.88 (x5.0), club/pedicel of patella x2.6, chela with pedicel 3.60-3.61 (x6.2), hand with pedicel 1.73 (x3.0), finger 1.90-2.02, finger/hand with pedicel x1.17-1.20, femur/finger x1.15-1.21; Helmit - femur length 2.82 (x7.6), patella 2.28 (x5.3), club/ pedicel of patella x2.54, chela with pedicel 3.9 (x6.3), hand with pedicel 1.86 (x3.0), finger 2.16, finger/hand with pedicel 1.16, femur/finger 1.30. In the male from Vjetrenica (Beier, 1939: 70, fig. 84) trichobothrium ist of the fixed chelal finger seems to be more distal than in the male from Helmit (Figs 28-29) and the teeth on the chelal fingers are 130 in the male from Vjetrenica (Hadži, 1933) versus 109-110 in the male from Helmit.