Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette, 2023

Campos-Filho, Ivanklin Soares, Sfenthourakis, Spyros, Gallo, Jéssica Scaglione, Gallão, Jonas Eduardo, Torres, Dayana Ferreira, Chagas-Jr, Amazonas, Horta, Lília, Carpio-Díaz, Yesenia Margarita, López-Orozco, Carlos Mario, Borja-Arrieta, Ricardo, Araujo, Paula Beatriz, Taiti, Stefano & Bichuette, Maria Elina, 2023, Shedding light into Brazilian subterranean isopods (Isopoda, Oniscidea): expanding distribution data and describing new taxa, Zoosystema 45 (19), pp. 531-599 : 547

Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette , n. sp.

( Figs 11 ; 12 ; 15 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:606E8E10-CBB2-4B05-8AFA-C9F6C3AA902E

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Brazil • ♂ (parts in micropreparations); Gruta do Mandacaru cave, Ituaçu , state of Bahia; 13°50’23.46”S, 41°19’14.52”W; 523 m a.s.l.; 23.II.2019; M. E. Bichuette, D. F. Torres & J. E. Gallão leg.; LES 27994 .

Paratype. Brazil • 1 ♀ (in micropreparations), 1 juvenile; same data as holotype; LES 27995 .

ETYMOLOGY. — The new species is named after the native Brazilian Cactaceae Cereus jamacaru , also known as Mandacaru, typical for xeric environments. This name is used also for the locality where the specimens were collected, namely Gruta do Mandacaru.

DESCRIPTION

Maximum body length: ♂ and ♀ 3 mm. Color brown with typical muscle spot insertions; cephalon, pereonites 1-5 posterior portion, pereonites 6 and 7, pleon and telson more pigmented. Body outline as in Figure 11A . Pereonite 1 slightly directed frontwards, not surpassing cephalon, pereonites 2-7 gradually more arched and directed backwards. Dorsal surface densely covered with fan-shaped scale-setae ( Fig. 11B ). One line of piliform noduli laterales per side, longer than scale-setae ( Fig. 11B ); d/c and b/c coordinates as in Figure 11C and D , respectively. Cephalon ( Fig. 11E, F ) with rounded lateral lobes, suprantennal line bent down in middle; eyes with 5-6 ommatidia. Pleon slightly narrower than pereon, epimera slightly developed, acute and directed backwards ( Fig. 11A ). Telson ( Fig. 11G ) with lateral sides slightly concave, apex right-angled. Antennula ( Fig. 11H ) distal article longest bearing about seven aesthetascs in two rows plus apical pair. Antenna ( Fig. 11I ) reaching second pereonite when extended backwards; flagellum with first and second articles subequal in length, third article bearing lateral aesthetascs, apical organ bearing two long free sensilla. Mandibles ( Fig. 11J, K ) with molar penicil of about five branches. Maxillula ( Fig. 11L ) inner endite with two hairy penicils, distal margin rounded; outer endite with 4+3 teeth, two apically cleft at apex, outer margin strongly concave equipped with long setae. Maxilla ( Fig. 11M ) inner lobe rounded covered with thick setae; outer lobe twice as wide as inner lobe covered with thin setae. Maxilliped ( Fig. 11N ) palp with proximal article bearing two long setae; endite subrectangular, medial seta surpassing distal margin, distal margin sinuous. Dactylus of two claws subequal in length, dactylar and ungual setae simple, not surpassing outer claw. Uropod ( Fig. 12A ) protopod subquadrangular, protopod and exopod grooved on outer margin, exopod longer than endopod, endopod inserted almost at same level.

Male

Pereopod 7 without apparent sexual dimorphism ( Fig. 12B ). Genital papilla ( Fig. 12C ) with triangular ventral shield, papilla longer than ventral shield bearing two subapical orifices. Pleopod 1 ( Fig. 12D ) exopod subtriangular, slightly longer than wide, inner margin rounded, outer margin slightly concave; endopod stout, longer than exopod, medial portion with lobe, distal portion triangular, directed outwards, bearing short setae on medial margin. Pleopod 2 ( Fig. 12E ) exopod triangular, outer margin concave bearing four long setae; endopod longer than exopod. Pleopod 3 and 4 exopods ( Fig. 12F, G ) triangular, outer margin almost straight bearing long setae. Pleopod 5 exopod ( Fig. 12H ) triangular, outer margin slightly convex bearing long setae.

REMARKS

Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette , n. sp. is readily distinguished from the congeneric species in the shape of the male pleopod 1.

This species is considered to be a troglophile due to the absence of troglomorphic characters. The cave where the specimens of N. mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette , n. sp. were collected is inserted in the Caatinga domain ( Morrone et al. 2022). Probably the species inhabits caves due to their resources and favorable micro-habitat conditions ( Fernandes et al. 2016, 2019).

Figures

FIG. 11. — Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho,Araujo & Bichuette,n. sp., female paratype, LES 27995:A, dorsal habitus;B, pereonite 1 and scale-seta; C, noduli laterales d/c coordinates; D, noduli laterales b/c coordinates;E, cephalon, dorsal view; F, cephalon,frontal view; G, pleonite 5 and telson; H, antennula; I, antenna; J, left mandible; K, right mandible; L, maxillula outer endite; M, maxilla; N, maxilliped. Scale bar: A, 1 mm.

FIG. 12. — Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette, n. sp.: A, female paratype, LES 27995: uropod; B-H: male holotype, LES 27994: pereopod 7 (B); genital papilla (C); pleopod 1 (D); pleopod 2 (E); pleopod 3 exopod (F); pleopod 4 exopod (G); pleopod 5 exopod (H).

FIG. 15. — Distribution map of the Novamundoniscus species: Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette, n. sp., N. kayabi Campos- Filho, Sfenthourakis & Araujo, n. sp. and N. canopus Campos-Filho, Gallo & Gallão, n. sp. Abbreviations of states: BA, Bahia; GO, Goias; MG, Minas Gerais; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MT, Mato Grosso; SP, São Paulo; TO, Tocantins.