Arrhopalites sp.

Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael & Fadrique, Floren, 2024, Two new species of Collembola (Arthropoda, Hexapoda) from Cova Urbana, a cave under a city, Subterranean Biology 49, pp. 163-184 : 163-184

Arrhopalites sp.

Fig. 15

Material examined.

One female dehydrated on stub (for SEM observation), Spain: Tarragona city, Tarragona province, Cova Urbana , geographic coordinates 41.114193, 1.248222, 15 m a. s. l. (the entrance is in an urban area), 6/vii/2022, dark zone of the cave, by aspirator ( MZNA code 782956 ). Floren Fadrique leg (BIOSP, Associació Catalana de Biospeleologia). Specimen deposited in MZNA .

Sixth abdominal segment description: three spines per side on the dorsal valve and one on each of lateral; broadened, winged, and sometimes serrated circumanal chaetae (A 1–3, Av 1 ’, Av 1 and Av 3) (Fig. 15 A, B ); anal appendage with denticulation / serration at its tip, and some serrated along (Fig. 15 C ).

Remarks.

All descriptions of the small abdomen of A. caecus mention 2 + 2 cuticular spines per side (two in dorsal valve and two in lateral valves) (e. g. Stach 1945; Zeppelini 2006; Fjellberg 2017) (Vargovitsh per. comm.). In our specimens, there are three spines per side on the dorsal valve and one on each of lateral (a second spine could be hidden under the broad seta in the view of Fig. 15 A ). Considering the spines and arrangement / shape of circumanal chaetae we consider that belongs to an undescribed species of Arrhopalites , but we have only one specimen and more are necessary to complete a description.

Figures

Figure 15. Arrhopalites sp., anal valves and circumanal chaetae A SEM microphotograph B drawing with chaetotaxy C detail of anal appendage. Scale bars: 0.02 mm (A – B); 0.003 mm (C).