Key to Rhagovelia species of the robusta group from Colombia

Modified after Padilla-Gil (2011).

1. Male length <3.5, maximum width <1.2. Posterior trochanter unarmed, lacking teeth or pegs; male paramere distinctive (Fig. 15)............................................................................ R. zeteki Drake & Capriles

- Male length ≥ 3.8, maximum width ≥ 1.3. Posterior trochanter bearing several small teeth; shape of male paramere variable according to species.................................................................................. 2

2. Posterior femur with 2 regular and parallel rows of teeth on distal half of posterior margin, the dorsal row with varied disposition of these teeth................................................................................ 3

- Posterior femur with a dorsal spine row only, ventral surface of femur below this row bearing either~4 irregular longitudinal spine rows or several small black asperities or pegs of irregular disposition........................................ 7

3. Hind femur with dorsal row bearing a large, forward-curving tooth followed by 5 teeth decreasing size distally (Fig. 14)............................................................................................. R. victoria sp. n.

- Hind femur with dorsal row bearing 2 or more larger teeth separated by others smaller............................... 4

4. Hind femur with dorsal spine row containing 2 teeth of much larger size than the others, separated by 1 or 3 smaller teeth... 5

- Hind femur with dorsal spine row containing 2 or 3 teeth of much larger size than the others, separated by 4 or 5 smaller teeth.................................................................................................... 6

5. Smaller species, male length 3.85, maximum width 1.3. Hind femur with dorsal spine row containing 2 teeth of much larger size than the others, separated by 2 smaller teeth; male paramere distinctive (Fig. 16).................. R. rubra Polhemus

- Larger species, male length 5.8, maximum width 1.8. Hind femur with dorsal spine row containing 2 teeth of much larger size than the others, separated by 3 smaller teeth (Fig. 2); male paramere distinctive (Fig. 17)........... R. cachipai Padilla-Gil

6. Male length 4.35, maximum width 1.4. Hind femur with dorsal spine row containing 2 teeth of much larger size than the others, separated by 4 or 5 smaller teeth; male paramere distinctive (Fig. 18).......................... R. sinuata Gould

- Male length 4.59, maximum width 1.62. Hind femur with dorsal spine row containing 12 teeth, with 3 teeth of much larger size than the others, the first large tooth followed by 5 teeth of progressively decreasing size distally, then 2 more large teeth followed by 4 more decreasing teeth; male paramere distinctive (Fig. 19)..................... R. venezuelana Polhemus

7. Larger species, male length 5.93, maximum width 2.13. Hind femur with a dorsal row and ventral surface bearing with ~4 irregular longitudinal rows. Hind tibia with teeth of equal size, male paramere distinctive (Fig. 20).................................................................................................. R. narinensis Padilla-Gil, 2011

- Smaller species, male length ≤ 5.8, maximum width ≤ 2.0. Hind femur with a dorsal spine row and ventral surface bearing several small black asperities or pegs of irregular disposition. Hind tibia with distal 2/3 with black largest tooth; male paramere distinctive according to species.......................................................................... 8

8. Male length 5.6, maximum width 2.0. Hind femur with a dorsal longitudinal row of 9 black teeth, consisting of 3 small teeth followed by a gap, then 5 teeth on distal 2/3 with 1 very large spine-like tooth, followed by 4 subequal peg-like teeth and 1 moderately large spine-like tooth near center of apex of femur; male paramere distinctive (Fig. 21)..... R. nicolai Padilla-Gil

- Male length 5.86, maximum width 1.72. Hind femur with a dorsal longitudinal row of 6 black teeth, consisting of 1 small tooth on basal third, followed by a gap, then 5 teeth on distal half, with a large, forward-curving tooth followed by 3 teeth of progressively decreasing size distally, then another triangular black tooth near center of femoral apex; male paramere distinctive (Fig. 22)................................................................. R. imperatrix Padilla-Gil