Thalassozetes bandarensis Ermilov & Marshall, 2026, sp. nov.

Thalassozetes bandarensis sp. nov. (Figs 22A–C; 23A–H; 24A–D; 25A–D; 26A, B) Type material. Holotype (female) and two paratypes (one male and one female): Brunei, Bandar, 3°29 ’ N, 114°56 ’ E, waterfront, estuarine environment, acidified, concrete embankment of Sungai Brunei (river), algal and mussel benthic substratum, June 2023 (collected by David J. Marshall). The holotype is deposited in the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, Germany. Two paratypes are deposited in the University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia. All specimens are preserved in 70% ethanol with a drop of glycerol. Additional material. Four adults (collected from the type locality) were used for SEM. Diagnosis (adult). Body length 345–405. Body cerotegument heterogeneous, represented by large and small tubercles. Lamellae well-developed and distant from each other. Lamellar and interlamellar setae longer than rostral seta. Bothridial seta clavate/fusiform, barbed. Fifteen pairs (c 3 present) of notogastral setae short, setiform, smooth. Adoral setae or 1 and or 2 slightly phylliform. Two pairs of adanal setae present. Adanal lyrifissure transverse. Leg trochanters III and IV anterodorsally with triangular process. Description of adult. Measurements. Body length 390 (female holotype), 345 (male paratype), 405 (female paratype). Body width 270 (female holotype), 240 (male paratype), 255 (female paratype). Integument (Figs 23A–E; 24A–D; 25A–D; 26A, B). Body color brown. Surface microporose and partially microsculptured with simple and oblong microtubercles (visible under high magnification in dissected specimens and via SEM; Fig. 25D). Prodorsum, notogaster, podosomal region, and anogenital region covered with distinct layer of heterogeneous cerotegument, represented by large and small tubercles, and partially obscured by dirt. Prodorsum (Figs 22A, C; 23A, B, F; 24A, C, D; 25A, B). Rostrum rounded, with narrow depression behind rostral margin (Fig. 24C). Transverse furrow (often appearing as ridge in dorsal view) between rostral and lamellar setae present (Figs 23A, B; 24A, C; 25A). Lamella well developed, located dorsolaterally, reaching insertion of lamellar seta. Rostral (11), lamellar (22), and interlamellar (22) setae setiform, thin, smooth. Bothridial seta (34–37) clavate/fusiform, with densely barbed head. Bothridium with lateral incision and triangular tubercle filling space of this incision (Fig. 25B). Exobothridial seta (5–7) acicular. Notogaster (Figs 22A, C; 23A, B; 24A, C, D; 25B). Anterior margin of notogaster distinct medially, straight. Lenticulus diffuse (Fig. 23A). Region between anterior margin of notogaster and setae of c -series slightly depressed (Fig. 24A, C). Fifteen pairs (c 3 present) of notogastral setae (30–34) setiform, smooth. Opisthonotal gland opening and all lyrifissures slightly visible. Gnathosoma (Figs 23C; 24B; 25D). Generally similar to S. bruneiensis sp. nov. Subcapitulum size 101–105 × 75–79. Anterolateral part of rutellum quadrangular (visible under high magnification in dissected specimens, whereas in intact specimens it may illusionary appear triangular). Subcapitular seta m (34) setiform, roughened (Fig. 25D), setae a (24) and h (34) setiform, smooth. Adoral setae (or 1 15; or 2 5) slightly phylliform. Palp length 75–79, setal formula 0-2-1-3-9(+1ω). Postpalpal seta (2) spiniform. Chelicera length 90–94, setae (cha 26; chb 19) setiform, barbed. Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions (Figs 22B, C; 23B, C; 24B–D; 26B). Medial region of epimere I distinctly depressed. Epimeral setal formula 2(1)-0-1-1, seta 1c represented by alveolus, sometimes completely reduced, seta 1b (56–60) setiform, smooth, setae 3b and 4a (both 9–11) acicular. Pedotectum I represented by small lamina. Discidium large, triangular. One pair of lateral podosomal tubercles simple. Anogenital region (Figs 22B, C; 23C–E; 24B, D; 26A). Anogenital setal formula 3-0-2-2. Genital (9–11), anal (7), and adanal (7) setae acicular. Adanal seta ad 1 located posterior or posterolateral, ad 2 located lateral to anal aperture, sometimes asymmetrically (Fig. 23E). Adanal lyrifissure transverse, located anterolateral to anal aperture. Legs (Figs 23G, H; 24A–D; 26B). Generally similar to S. bruneiensis sp. nov. Claw of all tarsi strong, barbed on dorsal side and with one tooth mediobasally (Fig. 26B). Porose area on segments not visible. Trochanters III and IV anterodorsally with triangular process (Fig. 24C). Formulas of leg setation and solenidia: I (0-3-2-3-18) [1-2-2], II (0-3-2-3-15) [1-1-1], III (1-2-1-2-13) [1-1-0], IV (1-2-1-3-12) [0-1-0]. Homology of setae and solenidia indicated in Table 1. Remarks. In having two pairs of adanal setae and well-developed lamellae, the adult of T. bandarensis sp. nov. is similar to that of T. balboa Pfingstl, Lienhard & Baumann, 2019 from the northern Neotropical region. However, the new species can be distinguished from the latter by its larger body size (length 345–405 vs. 277–312), the location of the lamellae (dorsolaterally and well-distant vs. dorsally and convergent), the morphology of the notogastral surface (indistinctly microporose vs. reticulate-foveate), the number of notogastral setae (15 pairs vs. 14 pairs), the orientation of the adanal lyrifissure (transverse vs. slightly oblique), the number of the teeth on ventral side of the leg claws (one vs. two), and longer interlamellar and notogastral setae. Etymology. The specific epithet bandarensis refers to the place of origin, Bandar.