Rhysida celeris (Humbert & Saussure, 1870)

Schileyko, Arkady A., 2014, A contribution to the centipede fauna of Venezuela (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha), Zootaxa 3821 (1), pp. 151-192 : 183

Rhysida celeris (Humbert & Saussure, 1870)

see figs 1–10 in Chagas, 2013

Rhysida celeris: Attems, 1930 :

Rhysida celeris: Bücherl, 1974: 119 ; Rhysida celeris: Chagas, 2013: 19 .

Locus typicus:?

Material. Venezuela, Falcón Edo., [loc.8], [Municipio Silva], Playa Mero, Parque [National] Morrocoy, 62.1, litter of Conocarpus erectus L., Rhizophora mangle L., 0 2.01.1986, leg MGP, 1 juv, N 7168. 1 specimen in all.

Additional material. Brazil, Para State, Acará, 1 ad, N 7272. Peru, Region Loreto, near Iquitos, 1 ad, N 6685; Peru, Region Ukayali, Coronel Portillo Province, 60 km E of Pucalpa: 2 subad, N 6336; 1 juv, N 6338; 1 ad, N 6689. Cuba, 1 ad + 1 subad, N 6337.

Description of juvenile N 7168. Length ca 18 mm (maximal length for this species 70 mm according to the Attems, 1930). Color in ethanol: uniformly yellow-whitish.

Antennae composed of 19 articles, reaching the middle of tergite 6 when reflexed. 2.7 basal articles virtually glabrous, remaining articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate nearly round in shape and without sutures, its posterior margin covered by tergite 1.

Forcipular segment: coxosternite without sutures, chitin-lines present. Tooth-plates visibly wider than long; each plate with 4 teeth, both the lateral and the median teeth are lower than the other two teeth. Trochanteroprefemur with long process, which has two median tubercles; this process extends beyond the toothplates (see fig. 2 in Chagas, 2013). Tarsungula normal, their interior surface with two well-developed longitudinal ridges (very similar to those of Otostigmus ).

Tergites 1–3 without sutures, tergites 4–20 with poorly-developed paramedian sutures; lateral longitudinal sutures absent. Tergite 21 nearly as long as wide, not narrowed towards the convex posterior margin; its sides slightly curved. Tergites 7(8)–21 marginate, the margination much better developed on posterior tergites.

Sternites of the posterior body half slightly narrowed posteriorly. Sternites with very short anterior paramedian sutures (see fig. 6 in Chagas, 2013) and one median depression close to the posterior margin. Ultimate sternite nearly as long as wide, distinctly narrowed towards the straight posterior margin; its sides curved.

Legs 1–2 with one tibial spur, legs 1–17 with two tarsal spurs, legs 18–20 with one tarsal spur. Pretarsus of legs 1–20 with two widely spread accessory spines.

Coxopleuron (excluding coxopleural process) slightly longer than sternite 21; coxopleural pore field nearly oval, with scattered coxal pores; coxopleural process and a wide area bordering the posterior margin of coxopleuron poreless. Coxopleural process (see figs 8–10 in Chagas, 2013) short, conical, with 2 apical spines only. Posterior margin of coxopleuron (including posterior margin of ultimate pleuron) straight, without spines.

Ultimate legs missing.

Range. Southern USA. Mexico. Neotropics: Cuba; Jamaica; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Nicaragua; Suriname; Colombia; Bolivia; Ecuador; Paraguay; Peru (Region Loreto, Iquitos; Region Ukayali, Pucalpa; Rio Colorado; Chandemayo; San Ramon; Purus); Brazil (State Amazônas, Manaus; State Pará: Barcarena; Rio Acará, Ilha do Combu).

In Venezuela: Falcón State, Municipio Silva, Playa Mero, Morrocoy National Park; Bas Sarare.

Remarks. Judging from its comparatively small size, very light color and soft integument this specimen is a juvenile, so some structures, e.g. paramedian sutures, are less developed than normally in adults.

Chitin-lines of forcipular coxosternum are described here for the first time for the genus Rhysida .