Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895

Iniesta, Luiz Felipe Moretti & Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes, 2014, New species of Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895 from Brazilian limestone caves with comments on the potential distribution of the genus in South America (Spirostreptida: Pseudonannolenidae), Zootaxa 3846 (3), pp. 361-397 : 363-365

Genus Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895

Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895 . Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 34: 775. Type species: Pseudonannolene typica Silvestri, 1895 , by monotypy. Online publication: Sierwald, P. (ed.). 2006. Nomenclator Generum Diplopodorum, version 2.

Pseudonannolene taboa Iniesta & Ferreira 2014 , new species ( Figs. 2 , 14 g)

Material examined. Holotype: 1 male ( ISLA 4129) from Gruta Taboa cave (19º28’29.68”S 44º19’41.31”W), Sete Lagoas/MG, Brazil, 15/III/2005. Collected by R. L. Ferreira.

Paratypes: 2 males ( ISLA 4130, 4131) from Gruta Taboa cave, Sete Lagoas/MG, Brazil, 15/III/2005. Collected by R. L. Ferreira; 3 females ( ISLA 4132, 4133, 4134) from Gruta Taboa cave, Sete Lagoas/MG, Brazil, 15/III/ 2005. Collected by R. L. Ferreira.

Etimology. The specific epithet refers to the name of the cave in which specimens were collected: "gruta Taboa ".

Comparative diagnosis. Body and eyes pigmented. Labrum with 6 supralabral setae; 23–25 labral setae. Mandibles with 10–12 rows of pectinate lamellae (difficult to see). P. taboa has the internal branch of the gonopod like a shield of the solenomere, similarly to those observed in the Brazilian species P. ambuatinga ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013b), P. s pe l a e a ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013a), P. rolamossa , P. gogo ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013c), P. chaimowiczi , P. imbirensis , P. tocaiensis ( Fontanetti 1996a; Fontanetti 1996b) and P. microzoporus ( Mauriès 1987) . The branch is elongated, with the length similar to the telopodite. The solenomere is bifurcated, with seminal apophysis located on the apex of the inner branch. This morphology is similar to the species P. chaimowiczi and P. imbirensis , in which solenomere have two distinguishable tips ( Fontanetti 1996a). The species P. rolamossa , P. gogo , P. anapophysis ( Fontanetti 1996a) , P. strinatii ( Mauriès 1974) and P. tricolor ( Brölemann 1902) have the solenomere with a bifurcated region, however, less evident. Regarding the pre-femoral process, this has rounded shape and is slightly smaller when compared to the pre-femur, as in the species P. rolamossa , P. gogo , P. ambuatinga , P. tocaiensis , P. mesai , P. leucocephalus , P. ophiulus , P. halophila , P. chaimowiczi , P. strinatii ( Fontanetti 2002) .

Description of adults. Measurements: Length from 85 up to 92 mm; maximum midbody diameter between 5.5 to 6.1 mm; body rings ranging between 72 to 78; length of antennae ranging from 5.4 to 5.7 mm (relation to diameter ranging 0.93 to 0.98); length of legs 2.8 to 3 mm (relation to diameter ranging 0.49 to 0.51); length of tarsal claw 0.14 to 0.16 mm (relation to diameter ranging 0.02 to 0.03).

Color: Visualization after fixation in 70% alcohol. Dark brown color, with the anterior region of each ring darker and the posterior region reddish.

Head ( Fig. 2 a): Head glabrous and pigmented. Labrum with a row containing 23–25 labral setae, and above a row with 6 supralabral setae. Mandibles slightly pigmented, with 2 external teeth, 4 internal teeth and 10–12 rows of pectinate lamellae. Eyes with 34–38 ocelli arranged in 5–6 rows. Antennae pigmented and densely setose. First antennomere small, second little lower than third, fourth, fifth and sixth lower, being the last larger. Presence of basiconic sensilla in latter edge of fifth and sixth antennomere. Gnatochilarium typical of the genus.

Trunk: Body pigmented. Prozone dark and metazone brown reddish. Lateral region of each ring with transverse striae. Telson, anal shield and anal valve pigmented.

First male pair of legs ( Fig. 2 b): Coxae (Cx) larger than remaining legs and densely setose. Prefemur (Prf) with thin and elongated oral process parallel (P) to the coxae. Bristles arranged on base of P.

Gonopod ( Fig. 2 c, d): Gonopod elongated and slightly sclerified. Coxae reduced; glabrous and adhered to basal region of gonopod. Presence of a process supporting a seta. Basal section (Bs) with width little larger than half of length; Basiconic bristles arranged in rows along the entire the base of gonopod. Shoulder (Sh) evident and rounded. Distal section (Ds) as long as wide and half of Bs. Solenomere (S) elongated and trunk wide; latter region rounded; squamous and with two well-marked tips (bifurcated), being the first tip containing seminal spine (Sp); internal branch (Ib) wide and elongated; like a shield of S; bristles exceeding the S.

Notes on the natural history and habitat. The Taboa cave ( Fig. 15 e) is located in the city of Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais). It is a vadose cave, and its main conduit morphology of semi - meander is traversed (half extension) by a subterranean stream that enters the cavity in its deeper portion (farthest from the entrance). The distal portion of the cave is a rather damp, and food resources present include plant debris brought in by the water and especially bat guano. These organic deposits apparently constitute the staple food for the population of P. taboa , which tends to occur preferentially in this deepest region of the cave. The cave is in a zone with pronounced urbanization. The external vegetation has been significantly amended, currently only fragments of native vegetation being observed, primarily associated with rock outcrops, which are unfit for cultivation areas. Many outcrops have been altered or completely destroyed by mining activities. Dozens of caves have been targets of biospeleological inventories in the region where the Taboa cave is located. However, specimens of P. taboa were never found in other caves, indicating its apparent endemism to that cavity.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Pseudonannolene taboa sp. n. (holotype, ISLA 4129): a) Anterior region; b) Pre-femoral process; c) Caudal view of gonopod; d) Oral view of gonopod. Scale bar: a) 2 mm; b) 700 µm; c) 700 µm; d) 700 µm.

FIGURE 14. Live specimens: a) Pseudonannolene xavieri sp. n.; b) Pseudonannolene leopoldoi sp. n.; c) Pseudonannolene robsoni sp. n.; d) Pseudonannolene marconii sp. n.; e) Pseudonannolene rosineii sp. n.; f) Pseudonannolene caatinga sp. n.; g) Pseudonannolene taboa sp. n.; h) Pseudonannolene fontanettiae sp. n.

FIGURE 15. Caves where the specimens were found: a) Paranoá cave (P. rosineii sp. n.); b) Rei do Mato cave (P. erikae sp. n. and P. longisima sp. n.); c) Lapa do Zu cave (P. leopoldoi sp. n.); d) Casa da Pedra cave (P. fontanettiae sp. n.); e) Taboa cave (P. taboa sp. n.); f) Milagrosa cave P. marconii sp. n.); g) Toca dos Ossos cave (P. caatinga sp. n.); h) Lapa do Baio cave (P. xavieri sp. n.); i) Brega cave (P. robsoni sp. n.).