Protracheoniscus ehsani, Kashani, Ghasem M., 2014

Kashani, Ghasem M., 2014, Description of two new species and redescription of one species of agnarid terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea, Agnaridae) from western Iran, ZooKeys 440, pp. 45-56 : 53-56

Taxon classification Animalia Isopoda Agnaridae

Protracheoniscus ehsani sp. n.

Material examined.

Holotype: male, 8 mm, Markazi, Saveh to Boin-Zahra, Vardeh, 35°15.3'N, 50°16.5'E, 18 July 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi (ZUTC Iso.1122).

Paratypes: Markazi, same data as holotype, one male and one female (IRIPP Iso.1049); same data as holotype, five males and seven females, some with marsupium (PCGMK 1652); Shazand, 9 October 2004, leg. G.M. Kashani, one male (PCGMK 1109); Qazvin, 20 Km N Qazvin, 36°20.7'N, 50°10.7'E, 19 July 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, one male (SMNS T310); 20 Km N Qazvin, 36°20.7'N, 50°10.7'E, 19 July 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, one female with marsupium (SMNS T311); 20 Km N Qazvin, 36°20.7'N, 50°10.7'E, 19 July 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, two males and seven females (PCGMK 1675); Qazvin to Razmian, Barajin village, 19 July 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, two females (IRIPP Iso.1048); Qazvin to Razmian, Barajin village, 19 July 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, eight females, two males and seven juveniles (PCGMK 1669); Zanjan, 25 km to Chavarzaq from Zanjan, 28 April 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani, one male (PCGMK 1614); 25 km to Chavarzaq from Zanjan, 6 May 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani, one male and five females (PCGMK 1615); Abhar, 36°09.4'N, 49°15.4'E, 12 September 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, four males and four females (PCGMK 1697); Abhar to Darasajin, 36°03.6'N, 49°13.2'E, 12 September 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, three males and one female (IRIPP Iso.1050); Abhar to Darasajin, 36°03.6'N, 49°13.2'E, 12 September 2013, leg. G.M. Kashani & B. Eshaghi, five males and four females (PCGMK 1699).

Diagnosis.

Head with developed rounded median lobe much more protruding than lateral ones. Male pereopod VII carpus with a triangle ridge on dorsal margin. Male pleopod endopodite I with two rows of long setae at apex.

Description.

Maximum length, male 8 mm and female 11 mm. Color dark brown with the usual pale muscles spots. Body outline as in Fig. 6A. Cephalon with very small lateral lobes not protruding compared with broadly rounded frons (Fig. 6B). Antenna long, surpassing the posterior margin of pereon tergite III; fifth article of peduncle as long as flagellum, with length:width ratio 7:1; flagellum with two articles, proximal article as long as the distal one (Fig. 6D).

Pereon smooth.

Pereon tergite I with rounded posterolateral margin. Noduli laterales on pereonites I to IV distinctly more distant from the lateral margins than those on pereonites V to VII (Fig. 6A).

Pleon narrower than pereon (Fig. 6A). Telson triangular in distal part, with rounded apex, slightly surpassing uropod protopodites (Fig. 6C). Uropod exopodites long, almost two times as long as telson (Fig. 6C). Pleopod exopodites I–V with monospiracular covered lungs (Fig. 7 B–I).

Male: Pereopods I–III merus and carpus with brushes of setae (Fig. 6E). Pereopod I ischium triangular, carpus with depression on rostral surface equipped with slender scales; propodus narrow and long, proximal part of sternal margin concave with dense small scales, distal part bearing strong setae; dactylus with one dactylar and one ungual seta (Fig. 6E). Pereopod VII ischium with concave ventral margin, carpus with a triangle ridge in dorsal margin, propodus narrow and long, dactylus with one dactylar and one ungual seta (Fig. 6F, G). Pleopod exopodite I hind lobe variable in shape, with rounded short to truncate long distal margin; outer margin equipped with few to several strong setae (Fig. 7 B–E); endopodite I straight with apical part slightly bent inwards bearing two rows of long setae (Fig. 7A). Pleopod endopodite II longer than exopodite; exopodite triangular, outer margin convex equipped with a line of strong setae (Fig. 7F). Pleopod exopodites III–V as in Fig. 7 G–I.

Etymology.

The name of the species is after my late friend, Ehsan Entezari, who unfortunately passed away tragically during a field study.

Remarks.

Protracheoniscus ehsani sp. n. is characterized by short lateral lobes of head, a triangle ridge on dorsal margin of male pereopod VII carpus, and two rows of long setae at apical part of male pleopod endopodite I. This species is similar to Protracheoniscus darevskii , but differs from that in the shape of pleopod endopodite and exopodite I, and in the conspicuous ridge on the dorsal margin of carpus of pereopod VII.

Distribution.

Central Iran.