Polyplectropus narifer Flint

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 142-143

Polyplectropus narifer Flint

Figs. 70, 134

Polyplectropus narifer Flint, 1974: 35 . [Type locality: Surinam, Brownsberg , mountain creek near Golddiggers camp; RNH; male].

Polyplectropus narifer was recovered as sister to P. minensium , new species in the species-level phylogenetic analysis, even though many characters were coded as missing for P. narifer . In this instance, the original description and illustrations of P. narifer were suitable for this study. Besides possessing features characteristic of the group, both species have a tripartite intermediate appendage, with at least one of the lobes sclerotized and a rounded apex (instead of acute) of the ventral branch of the inferior appendage. Polyplectropus narifer can be distinguished from P. minensium by the rounded apex of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage, by the short dorsal digitate lobe of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, by the posteriorly directed hook-shaped sclerotized lobe of the intermediate appendage (dorsally directed in P. minensium ), and by the broader, more robust apex of the dorsal phallic sclerite.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin submedially produced, posterior margin sinuate; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin highly concave, posterior margin entire. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, bipartite and laterally hook-like, medially digitate, setose; in dorsal view lateral process deltoid with cuspidate apex, mesal process deltoid with rounded apex. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, directed anterad, recurved posterad, tapering into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view deltoid, in lateral view digitate; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with basal dorsal digitate lobe, ventral margin concave, posterior margin truncate. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view clavate; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin angled, entire, posterior margin rounded, mesal margin sinuate, angled, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, in lateral view oblong, apically acute; in ventral view rounded, mesal margin slightly angled, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate.

Distribution. Surinam

Remarks. No material was examined for this species and description of the male genitalia is based on the original publication ( Flint 1974).