Arrhopalites paranaensis, Zeppelini, Douglas, 2006

Zeppelini, Douglas, 2006, The genus Arrhopalites Börner, 1906 (Collembola, Appendiciphora, Arrhopalitidae) in the Neotropical Region, with description of four new cave species from Brazil, Zootaxa 1124, pp. 1-40 : 24-26

Arrhopalites paranaensis sp. n. ( Fig. 11 A –K)

Etymology. This species is named after Paraná state where the Lancinha cave is located.

Type Material. Holotype female Ψ, BRAZIL, Paraná. Rio Branco do Sul, Lancinha cave x­1986. R. Pinto­da­Rocha (MZUSP). Paratypes: BRAZIL, Paraná: 3 female ΨΨ, same data as Holotype.

Description. Caecus ­group (figs. 11 A–K). Body sparsely clothed with very short setae on anterior part of the abdomen (Fig. D­a) and about 7X longer setae on posterior part of the abdomen (Fig. D­b). Antennae of holotype about 1.25X length of head. Ant. I: II; III; IV = 1: 2.28; 4.57; 9.14. Ant. IV 2.14X longer than Ant. III, divided into six indistinctly ringed subsegments (Fig. A); longest setae 1.5X the width of segment; Ant. IV apex with a capitate sense rod (Fig. B). Ant. III without basal swelling; sense organ (Fig. C) with 2 parallel sense rods in a single shallow pit; seta Aai club­shaped and blunt; seta Api slender with bristle like apex, Ape short and acuminate; Ae, Ap and Ai normal. 1+1 eyes, color white. Dorsal cephalic setae A3, M4, M5 and L and IL series spinelike, (Fig. J). Metatrochanteral organ (seta D2) elongate (Fig. G). First unguis lacking tunica, all ungues with an inner tooth (figs. K a–c). All unguiculi with corner tooth, first and second with a long apical filament, exceeding apex of unguis, third unguis with a short apical filament (Fig. K–c). Tenaculum with two setae on anterior unpaired lobe. Dens with 6 dorsal E setae, E1 strongly spinelike, E2 and E3 spinelike; L1 spinelike, L2 and L3 normal, L4 absent; D1, D2, Id2 and Id4 present, Id1 and Id3 absent (Fig. E); 5 ventral rows of slender setae (3,2,2,1,1) present. Mucro narrow, gutter­like, both edges serrate (Fig. F). 3+2 cuticular spines on each side of the anal valve, s0 present; setae C1–C8 lamellate but C7 slender, chaetotaxy as in figure I and table 2. Female subanal appendage flattened, acuminate and unilaterally serrate. Body length of the adult female holotype 0.56mm, head 0.33mm.

Distribution: biogeographic zone 29

Remarks: Arrhopalites paranaensis n. sp. is similar to A. gnaspinii and A. alambariensis but lives in a separate cave system. A. paranaensis differs from other species mainly in the subanal appendage shape and post cephalic spines. The apical filament on third unguiculus also differentiates this species from others in the same group.

Figures

FIGURE 11. A. paranaensis sp. n. A, fourth antennal segment; B, apical subsegment of fourth antennal segment; C, apical sensory organ of third antennal segment; D, body setae (a, anterior, b, posterior); E, ventral and dorsal chaetotaxy of the dens; F, mucro; G, metatrochanteral organ; H, tenaculum; I, anal valve chaetotaxy; J, posterior cephalic chaetotaxy; K, foot complex (a, first leg, b, second leg, c, third leg).