Polyplectropus alienus

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 47

Polyplectropus alienus species group

This group was established by Bueno-Soria (1990) to include only the nominal species based on the shape of the inferior appendage having the dorsal and ventral branches greatly separated. The character identified by Bueno-Soria to recognize species in this group can be applied to almost all other groups with the exception of the P. manuensis group and certain species in the P. bredini group. New features characterizing the P. alienus group are presented and a second species is included, P. inarmatus Flint. Polyplectropus alienus had until now only been recorded from Mexico. However, this species has been found to also occur in Bolivia. Polyplectropus inarmatus is distributed throughout northern South America.

The P. alienus group is characterized by the combined possession of the following characteristics:

1. Intermediate appendage large, broadly deltoid, and membranous [ Bueno-Soria (1990: 373) confused the intermediate appendage with the median lobe of segment X] ( Figs. 20A–C, 21A–C);

2. Dorsolateral process of preanal appendage bulbous, bearing dorsal microsetae ( Figs. 20A–C, 21A–C);

3. Mesoventral process of preanal appendage hook-like, apex down-turned and strongly curved ( Figs. 20A, 21A);

4. Dorsal branch of inferior appendage with posteroventral margin slightly produced ( Figs. 20A, 21A);

5. Phallic spines elongate and robust ( Figs. 20E, F, 21E, F);

6. Dorsolateral arms apically fused and produced beyond apex of dorsal phallic sclerite (synapomorphy)( Figs. 20E, F).