Porcellio cavernicolus Vandel, 1946

Reboleira, Ana Sofia P. S., Gonçalves, Fernando, Oromí, Pedro & Taiti, Stefano, 2015, The cavernicolous Oniscidea (Crustacea: Isopoda) of Portugal, European Journal of Taxonomy 161, pp. 1-61 : 43-46

Porcellio cavernicolus Vandel, 1946

Figs 28 A–G, 29A–F

Porcellio cavernicolus Vandel, 1946: 330 , figs 137–143.

Porcellio cavernicolus – Schmölzer 1965: 208, figs 745–746; 1971: 37, 95, 149. — Schmalfuss 2003: 220. — Reboleira et al. 2011 a: 27, fig. 3, table 1.

Material examined

PORTUGAL: 8 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Gruta d’el Rey, Cantanhede-Outil Massif, 19 May 2009 ( MZUF); 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 6 juvs, same locality, 8 Oct. 2009 (SR); 5 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, Gruta da Senhora da Estrela, Sicó Massif, 11 Jun. 2009 ( MZUF); 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same locality, 20 Nov. 2009 (SR); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same locality, 29 Aug. 2009 ( ZMUC); 1 ♂, Gruta do Soprador do Carvalho, Sicó Massif, 30 Jul. 2007 ( MZUF); 2 ♂♂, same locality, 17 Jan. 2009 (SR); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, same locality, 30 Jul. 2009 ( ZMUC); 1 juv., same locality, 21 Mar. 2009 (SR); many ♂♂ and ♀♀, Gruta do Algarinho, Sicó Massif, 21 Mar. 2012 ( MZUF); many ♂♂ and ♀♀, same locality, 10 Jun. 2012 (SR); 1 ♀, 2 juvs, Gruta da Cerâmica, Sicó Massif, 28 Nov. 2009 (SR); many ♂♂ and ♀♀, same locality, 28 Nov. 2009 ( MZUF); many ♂♂ and ♀♀, same locality, 21 Mar. 2010 (SR); 1 ♂, same locality, 29 Aug. 2009 (SR); many ♂♂ and ♀♀, same locality, 27 Dec. 2010 ( ZMUC); 1 ♀, 3 juvs, Gruta Abrigo Tomar I, Sicó Massif, 26 Sep. 2011 (SR).

Previous records

Algar da Lapa, Ansião; Gruta dos Alqueves, São Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra ( Vandel 1946). 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Gruta Maior da Furjaca, Pampilhosa, Coimbra, 26 Feb. 1987, A. Serra leg. ( Cruz 1990).

Distribution

Species endemic to caves in central Portugal, from Cantanhede-Outil to the southernmost border of the Sicó Massif, but so far absent from the Estremenho karst massif.

Remarks

This troglobiotic species is fully illustrated here ( Figs 28–29 ) to facilitate its recognition. The finding of this species in Gruta d’el Rey, Cantanhede-Outil Massif, another isolated karst area far from the Sicó localities from where it was described, considerably enlarges the distribution of this species. Populations from the two distinct karst areas show some small differences which, however, do not seem to justify a split of the species. The specimens from Gruta d’el Rey have the apex of the telson more rounded (compare Fig. 28D with 28G), the male pereopod 1 has less numerous setae on the sternal margin of the merus (compare Fig. 29A with 29E), and the male pereopod 7 has a more concave sternal margin of the ischium (compare Fig. 29B with 29F) than specimens from the type locality.

Ecological notes

This species inhabits the most superficial parts of the caves. It can frequently be found on roots hanging from the ceiling, from which specimens can easily be distinguished by their whitish coloration.

Figures

Fig. 28. Porcellio cavernicolus Vandel, 1946. — ♂ from Gruta da Cerâmica, Sicó. A. Adult specimen in dorsal view. B. Cephalon in dorsal view. C. Epimeron of pereonite 1. D. Pleonites 3–5, telson and uropods. E. Antennula. F. Antenna. — ♂ from Gruta d’el Rey. G. Pleonite 4, 5, telson and uropods.

Fig. 29. Porcellio cavernicolus Vandel, 1946. — ♂ from Gruta da Cerâmica, Sicó. A. Pereopod 1. B. Pereopod 7. C. Pleopod 1. D. Pleopod 2. — ♂ from Gruta d’el Rey, Cantanhede-Outil Massif. E. Pereopod 1. F. Pereopod 7.