Protaphorura ombrophila (Stach, 1960)

Kaprus', Igor, Weiner, Wanda & Pasnik, Grzegorz, 2016, Collembola of the genus Protaphorura Absolon, 1901 (Onychiuridae) in the Eastern Palearctic: morphology, distribution, identification key, ZooKeys 620, pp. 119-150 : 128-129

Taxon classification Animalia Collembola Onychiuridae

Protaphorura ombrophila (Stach, 1960) Figs 33-36, 59

Onychiurus ombrophilus Stach, 1960: 509 - 514, pl. LXV

Type material.

Lectotype (female) (by present designation): Afghanistan, "Tchehel Sotoun" Cave near Jalrayz, W Kabul, with the original label: "Tchehel Sotoun-Höhle (nahe Djalrez), 20.III.1959", leg. Dr. K. Lindberg. Paralectotypes: 1 male and 8 females, same data as lectotype.

Redescription.

Lectotype (female) length 1.9 mm, length of paralectotypes: 1.8 mm (male) and 1.8-2.2 mm (females). Shape of body typical of the genus: cylindrical with strong AS on distinct papillae. Colour in alcohol white. Granulation more or less uniform, distinct. Usually 11-13 grains around each pso.

Antennae slightly shorter than head, their base well marked. Ant. I with 10 chaetae, Ant. II with 16-18 chaetae. AIIIO consisting of 5 guard chaetae, 5 papillae, 2 smooth sensory rods, 2 straight and granulated sensory clubs, ventro-lateral microsensillum present. Ant. IV with subapical organite in unprotected cavity without clear cuticular papilla. Microsensillum on Ant. IV in usual position above second proximal row of chaetae. Sensilla indistinct on Ant. IV.

PAO of middle length, consisting of 24-38 simple vesicles. Labral formula of chaetae: 4/342. Maxillary outer lobe with simple palp, basal chaeta and with two sublobal hairs. Labial palp of type A. Chaetotaxy of labium invisible.

Pso formula dorsally 32/022(3)/33(2)3(2)43, ventrally 2/000/0001 (Figs 33-36). Subcoxae 1 of I–III legs without pso. Submedial pseudocelli a and b on Abd. terga I–II located far apart, i.e. on similar distance as on Abd. tergum III (Fig. 33). Psx formula 0/000/11?00?.

Dorsal chaetotaxy rather symmetrical. Dorsal chaetae well differentiated into macrochaetae and microchaetae. On head p2 chaetae are displaced forward in relation to p1 and p3 (Fig. 34). Chaetae p6 on head located between pseudocelli a and b. Th. tergum I with 8 –10+8– 10 chaetae, chaeta m absent (chaetotaxy type i2-). Both Th. terga II and III with lateral microsensilla. Chaetae s' absent on Abd. terga I–III and V (Fig. 35). On Abd. tergum IV in axial area between M2 and P2 macrochaetae located 6-7 chaetae, medial chaeta m0 present. Abd. tergum V usually with 1 unpaired microchaeta m0 (p0 absent) (Fig. 35). Abd. tergum VI with 1 medial chaetae m0. Relative position of prespinal microchaetae usually divergent or parallel type (Fig. 35). M/s ratio on Abd. tergum V as 18.2/8.8 (AS = 10). AS 0.8-0.9 times as long as inner edge of claw and 2.8-3.4 times longer then their basal diameter.

Perilabial area with 4+4 a-chaetae. Th. sterna I–III without chaetae. VT with ca. 8 –9+8– 9 chaetae, and 1 chaetae at base. Furcal rudiment: cuticular fold (located on the anterior edge of the sternum) with 2+2 dental microchaetae in 2 rows. Chaetotaxy of manubrial field: 4 chaetae present in ma-row, 2 chaetae in mm’ -row, 4 chaetae in mm-row and 5 chaetae in mp-row (Fig. 36). MVO absent. Each lateral anal valves with a0 and 2a1 (a2 absent); upper anal valve with chaetae a0, 2a2, 2b1, 2b2, c0, 2c1 and 2c2 (as in Protaphorura vasilinae , Fig. 59).

Subcoxae 1 of I, II and III legs with 5, 6, 5-6 chaetae, tibiotarsi with four rows of chaetae (distal whorl (A+T)+B+C): 11+8+3, 11+8+3, 11+8+4 chaetae respectively. Claw with very small denticle in 1/2 of inner edge of claw. Empodial appendage 0.7-0.8 times as long as inner edge of claw, without basal lamella.

Remarks.

Protaphorura ombrophila has been described by Stach (1960) from Afghanistan about 55 years ago, when many important diagnostic characters remained unknown. Latter Yosii (1966), during his research on some Collembola of Afghanistan, India and Ceylon, discovered three females of the species in Afghanistan and wrote: "They (i.e. Protaphorura ombrophila ) coincide fairly well with the detailed description of Stach. However, the posterior margin of head has 3+3, 3+2 and 2+2 pseudocelli. In other respects no difference is to be found". Parimuchová and Kováč in their recent publication ( 2016) devoted to the critical analysis of Palearctic species of the genus Protaphorura and assigned this species to the group "species dubia". Here we present first redescription of Protaphorura ombrophila based on characters currently used in taxonomy of Protaphorura . See also the discussion in Protaphorura tuvinica sp. n.