Polyplectropus thilus (Denning, 1962)

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 223-224

Key to the males of P. thilus species group

1 Dorsal branch of inferior appendage with peg-like setae ( Fig. 98A).................................. 2

- Dorsal branch of inferior appendage without peg-like setae ( Fig. 100A)............................... 4

2(1) Dorsolateral process of preanal appendage long ( Fig. 105A)........................................ 3

- Dorsolateral process of preanal appendage short ( Fig. 114A)................. P. venezolanus , n. sp., p. 218

3(2) Dorsal branch with more than 1 peg-like setae on small ventral projection ( Figs. 98A, D)................... ............................................................................................................................................ P. blahniki , n. sp., p. 193

- Dorsal branch with 1 peg-like spine ( Figs. 108A, D)................. P. pugiunculatus Botosaneanu , p. 209

4(1) Dorsolateral process of preanal appendage without apical sculpturing ( Fig. 106A); mesoventral process of preanal appendage not quadrate but apically hooked ( Figs. 106A, 109A)............................. 5

- Dorsolateral process of preanal appendage with apical sculpturing ( Figs. 103A, B); mesoventral process of preanal appendage quadrate ( Fig. 103A).................................. P. cuzcoensis , n. sp., p. 200

5(4) Dorsal and ventral branches of inferior appendage shallowly fused ( Fig. 106A)......................... 6

- Dorsal and ventral branches of inferior appendage not shallowly fused ( Fig. 107A)..................... 7

6(5) Intermediate appendage broad, ventrally with enlarged digitate papillate lobe ( Figs. 106A, C).................................................................................... P. insularis , n. sp., p. 206

- Intermediate appendage narrow; papillate lobe small ( Fig. 109A, C)............. P. puyoensis , n. sp., p. 211

7(5) Intermediate appendage with distinctive membrane surrounding phallocrypt ( Figs. 107A, C).............. 8

- Intermediate appendage entire, without distinctive membrane surrounding phallocrypt ( Figs. 101A, C)...... 10

8(7) Dorsal branch of inferior appendage thin, posterior margin truncate ( Fig. 113A)........................ 9

- Dorsal branch of inferior appendage ‘thick’ ( Fig. 107D); posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 107A).......................................................... P. paradelphae Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal , p. 207

9(8) Ventral branch of inferior appendage elongate and acutely pointed; peg-like setae along entire dorsal surface ( Figs. 100A, D); dorsolateral process of preanal appendage medium-size ( Fig. 100A)...................................................................................... P. carolae Bueno-Soria , p. 196

- Ventral branch of inferior appendage short ( Figs. 113A, D); peg-like setae basal on dorsal surface ( Figs. 113A, C); dorsolateral process of preanal appendage elongate ( Figs. 113A)............. P. thilus (Denning) , p. 216

10(7) Dorsal branch oblong, length more than twice as wide ( Fig. 116A).................................. 11

- Dorsal branch of inferior appendage wide, length no more than twice the width ( Fig. 101A); mesal margin (interior) of dorsal branch with ridges ( Fig. 101G)............................. P. cressae , n. sp., p. 198

11(10) Ventral branch digitate in ventral view ( Fig. 115D).............................................. 12

- Ventral branch deltoid to quadrate and short ( Fig. 104D)......................................... 13

12(11) Apex of mesoventral process of preanal appendage acutely pointed ( Fig. 116C)....... P. zuliae , n. sp., p. 222

- Apex of mesoventral process of preanal appendage rounded ( Fig. 115C)............................................................................... P. yolandae Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal , p. 220

13(12)Ventral branch of inferior appendage deltoid (with mesal margin angled) ( Fig. 105D).......................14

- Ventral branch of inferior appendage quadrate (with mesal margin straight) ( Fig. 104D) ..................................................................................................................... P. deltoides (Yamamoto) , p. 202

14(13) Mesoventral process of preanal appendage apically acute ( Figs. 105A, C)... P. denticulus Bueno-Soria , p. 204

- Mesoventral process of preanal appendage apically truncate ( Fig. 112C) or slightly rounded ( Fig. 110C).................................................................... P. recurvatus (Yamamoto) , p. 213