Pseudonannolene marconii Iniesta & Ferreira 2014

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 : 371-373

Pseudonannolene marconii Iniesta & Ferreira 2014 , new species

( Figs. 8 , 14 d)

Material examined. Holotype: 1 male (fragmented, ISLA 4106) from Gruta da Pedra Suspensa cave (15º23’31.42”S 39º44’18.41”W), Pau Brasil /BA, Brasil, 21/I/2005. Collected by R.L. Ferreira.

Etimology. The specific epithet is in honor of the biospeleologist Marconi Souza Silva for his contribution to our knowledge of Brazilian subterranean biology. It is noteworthy that this biologist developed work in caves of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and he has contributed significantly to the expansion of knowledge of the subterranean fauna of this biome.

Comparative diagnosis. Body and eyes pigmented. Labrum with 6 supralabral setae; 28 labral setae. Mandibles with 10 rows of pectinate lamellae (difficult to see). P. marconii also of the internal branch of gonopod like a shield, as those observed in the species P. ro s i n e i i, P. taboa , P. leopoldoi , P. ambuatinga ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013b), P. s pe l ae a ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013a), P. rolamossa , P. gogo ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013c), P. chaimowiczi , P. imbirensis , P. tocaiensis ( Fontanetti 1996a; Fontanetti 1996b) and P. microzoporus ( Mauriés 1987) . However, the solenomere is slightly bifurcated, being similar to P. rolamossa , P. gogo , P. anapophysis ( Fontanetti 1996a) , P. strinatii ( Mauriès 1974) and P. tricolor ( Brölemann 1902) . A notable difference in the gonopod is the elongated shape, being the basal region with length two times longer than the width. The pre-femoral process is proportionally longer than pre-femur, as in the species P. taboa , P. ros i n ei i, P. imbirensis , P. silvestri and P. tricolor ( Fontanetti 2002) .

Description of adults. Measurements: Length from 58 mm; maximum midbody diameter between 5.63 mm; 60 body rings; length of antennae ranging 3.32 mm (relation to diameter 0.59); length of legs 3.82 mm (relation to diameter 0.68); length of tarsal claw 0.24 mm (relation to diameter 0.04).

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

Head ( Fig. 8 a): Head glabrous and pigmented. Labrum with a row containing 28 labral setae, and above a group of 13 supralabral setae. Mandibles slightly pigmented, with 2 external teeth, 4 internal teeth and 10 rows of pectinate lamellae. Eyes with 34 ocelli arranged in 4 rows. Antennae pigmented and densely setose. First antennomere small, second and third similar, fourth, fifth and sixth lower and similar, 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 yellow reddish. Lateral region of each ring with transverse striae. Telson, anal shield and anal valve pigmented.

First male pair of legs ( Fig. 8 b): Coxae (Cx) larger; densely setose; triangle-shaped. Prefemur (Prf) with elongated oral process parallel (P) to the coxae. Bristles arranged on base of P to the middle region; base wide and distal region short.

Gonopod ( Fig. 8 c, d): Gonopod elongated; thin and slightly sclerified. Coxae reduced; glabrous and adhered to basal region of gonopod. Basal section (Bs) with length little larger than two times the width. Presence of a short process between the coxae supporting a seta. Basiconic bristles arranged in rows along the entire the base of gonopod. Shoulder (Sh) short and rounded. Distal region (Ds) as wide as long and little short than half of length of Bs. Solenomere (S) with a short trunk, distal portion squamous; slightly bifurcated, with an acute external tip and rounded internal. Internal branch (Ib) stout, wide, and like a shield of S. Bristles arranged in almost all edge and exceeding the S.

Notes on the natural history and habitat. The Pedra Suspensa cave is located in the carbonate group Rio Pardo, which occurs in the southeastern state of Bahia. This formation covers several caves; however, most of them are dry. Although the area is in Atlantic forest areas, deforestation is intense. The cave has a single entry and its conduit is almost entirely covered with guano produced by bats from different diets, among which stands out guano produced by Desmodus rotundus , a hematophagous species. The population of P. marconii is extremely large, dozens of specimens were observed throughout the cave, except for the area near the entrance. This condition differs from most species found in caves of Brazil, for which extremely large populations are not often observed. The species was found in the same karst region as P. tricolor ( Trajano et al. 2000) , though in different caves. The species was also found in Milagrosa ( Fig. 15 f) and Califórnia caves, located in the same area.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Pseudonannolene marconii sp. n. (holotype, ISLA 4106): a) Anterior region; b) Pre-femoral process; c) Caudal view of gonopod; d) Oral view of gonopod. Scale bar: a) 1 mm; b) 500 µm; c) 500 µm; d) 500 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.).