Neotyphloceras pardinasi, Sanchez, Juliana & Lareschi, Marcela, 2014

Sanchez, Juliana & Lareschi, Marcela, 2014, Two new species of Neotyphloceras (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae) from Argentinean Patagonia, Zootaxa 3784 (2), pp. 159-170 : 164-168

Neotyphloceras pardinasi n. sp.

Figures 12–21

Type specimens. Holotype male: ex Abrothrix longipilis (Waterhouse) Cañadón de la Madera, Sierra de Tepuel, Chubut Province (43º51’55”S, 70º43’34”W), (MLP-PPA5-1); allotype female, (MLP-PPA5-2); Paratypes: ex A. longipilis , 4 males (MLP-PPA5-3, MLP-PPA11, NHM-PPA18, CNP-PPA68-1), 3 females (NHM-PPA14, CNP- PPA68-2, MLP-PPA69); ex Loxodontomys micropus Waterhouse, 4 males (MLP-PPA17, MLP-PPA 22, MLP- PPA40-1, MLP-PPA 40-2); ex Euneomys chinchilloides (Waterhouse) , 2 males (MLP-PPA31-1, MLP-PPA31-2); ex E. morgani , 1 male (MLP-PPA56); ex Phyllotis xanthopygus (Waterhouse) , 2 females (MLP-PPA54, MLP- PPA89); ex Chelemys macronyx (Thomas) , 4 females (MLP-PPA59, MLP-PPA66, MLP-PPA67, MLP-PPA96).

Additional specimens examined. Ex A. longipilis , Ea. El Maitén, Chubut Province (42º03’34”, 71º09’48”W), 10 males (LTU495, LTU496-1, LTU496-2, LTU505-1, LTU505-2, LTU507, LTU508, LTU509, LTU511-1, LTU511-2), 1 female (LTU504); ex A. olivacea , 2 males (LTU504-1, LTU504-2); ex A. longipilis , Ea. Leleque, Chubut Province (42º19’56”S, 70º59’00”W), 8 males (DUS125-1, DUS125-2, DUS141-1, DUS141-2, DUS143-1, DUS143-2, DUS172, DUS174), 3 females (DUS125, DUS141, DUS173); ex A. olivacea , 1 female (DUS155).

The male holotype, female allotype, 8 male and 7 female paratypes and other specimens will be deposited in the Colección de Entomología del Museo de La Plata ( MLP). Two male and 1 female paratypes will be deposited in the “Annexes” of the Colección de Mamíferos del Centro Nacional Patagónico-CENPAT (CNP), and 2 male and 1 female paratypes in the Natural History Museum (NHM).

Diagnosis. Neotyphloceras pardinasi n. sp. is similar to N. chilensis , N. crackensis n. sp., N. crassispina crassispina and N. crassispina hemisus in general appearance, but differs from N. chilensis and N. crackensis n. sp. by the length of the fourth spine of the genal comb and from N. crassispina hemisus by the absence of abdominal spinelets. The male of N. pardinasi n. sp. is similar to N. crassispina crassispina and N. crassispina hemisus but differs from N. chilensis and N. crackensis n. sp. in the location of the last seta of the fixed process of the clasper and by the concavity of the dorsal edge of the distal arm of the sternum IX. Male N. pardinasi n. sp. are unique in the shape of the apex of the crochet of the aedeagus, the proximal margin with one large pointed projection, forming an angle ≤ 45º and distal margin straight, ( N. crassispina crassispina and N. crassispina hemisus with proximal margin bearing one large, almost rounded projection and distal margin almost convex; N. crackensis n. sp. with proximal margin of the apex forming two projections and distal margin almost straight or slightly concave; N. chilensis with one rounded projection on proximal margin and distal margin strongly convex). Furthermore, in males of N. pardinasi n. sp. the apex of the distal arm of sternum IX bears one small dorsomarginal seta in the centre and seven curved, spine-like ventromarginal setae, the first seta strongly pigmented and located above the others ( N. crassispina crassispina and N. crassispina hemisus with six or seven spine-like ventromarginal setae, the first three strongly pigmented and located at the apex above the others; in N. crackensis n. sp. apex forming a projection bearing six curved spine-like setae, five on ventral margin and one on the apex; in N. chilensis dorsal margin slightly concave and bearing five ventral, curved spine-like setae, the first seta located in the centre above the others).

The female of N. pardinasi n. sp. is unique in that the apical margin of sternum VII is wide and the contour of the distal margin is strongly convex in the lower portion; while the distal margin in N. crassispina crassispina and N. crassispina hemisus is rounded, in N. crackensis n. sp. bearing a lobe in the middle, in N. rosenbergi bearing a lobe in the lower portion and in N. chilensis almost straight.

Description ( Figs. 12–21 ). Head ( Figs. 12–15 ) with frons slightly concave, about four times longer than high, with two frontal rows of setae: first row with six or seven equidistant setae on each side, tips exceeding the insertion of setae of the next row; second row with three equidistant setae on each side, the longest seta extending to the distal end of the longest spine of the genal comb. Three placoids along the margin of the frons, without frontal tubercle. Occipital region with four rows of setae. First antennal segment with 10–15 small setae; second antennal segment with 13–15 short setae reaching the first segment of the clavus; antennal clavus subequal in length to the first antennal segment in males ( Fig. 14 ) and twice the length in females ( Fig. 15 ). A row of small setae bordering antennal fossa: 30–35 in males ( Fig. 14 ), 15–20 in females and restricted to the caudal margin of head ( Fig. 15 ). Genal comb with four pointed spines, the first two overlapping and the fourth shorter than the others (<60% of the length to the longest spine). Preoral edge with two setae on each side. Genal process pointed, subequal in length to the longest spine of the genal comb. Maxillary lobe pointed extending beyond half of the maxillary palpus. Maxillary palpus four-segmented, reaching to about the middle of the forecoxa; first and second segments subequal in length; third segment shorter and fourth segment longer than the others. Labial palpus fivesegmented, long, extending to about the distal edge of the forecoxa; first and fifth segment subequal in length and 1.5 times longer than second and third segments. Lacinia slightly serrated and subequal in length to the labial palpus.

Pronotum with one row of 4 or 5 long, equidistant setae on each side; pronotal comb with 8–11 spines on each side; length of longest spine subequal to the width of pronotum ( Figs. 14, 15 ). Mesonotum with three rows of short setae and one apical row with five or six long setae; mesepisternum with a group of small setae on the anterior region and one or two long setae posteriorly; mesepimere with four or five setae; metanotum with two anterior rows of six short setae and one apical row with five or six long setae; lateral metanotal area long, subequal to pleural arch and with a long seta; pleural arch and ridge well developed; metepisternum with one long seta; furca of metasternum about one fourth the length of the pleural ridge; metepimere with six long setae and two or three small ones.

Fore coxa with 40–50 setae distributed over entire surface; with one long seta on posterior margin ( Figs. 12, 13 ). Middle and hind coxae with setae distributed only on anterior margin (10–14, 20–25, respectively). Fore femur with a dorsal marginal row of 11–13 small setae and with a subventral row of five or six setae on the inner side. Middle femur with a subventral row of five or six setae on the inner side. Hind femur with a subventral row of five or seven setae on the inner side and seven or nine setae on the outer side restricted to the distal region, and with one ventral pair of setae on the proximal margin and one dorsal pair of setae on the distal margin, the longest seta reaching the second notch of the tibia. Middle and hind femora with 20–23 dorsomarginal pairs of small setae. Foretibia with 10–14 setae on distal half of the outer side. Middle and hind tibia with 15–20 setae on the outer side and five to seven setae on the inner side. All tibiae with eight dorsomarginal notches bearing large setae from apex to base as follows: foretibia (2; 2; 2; 2; 2; 2; 2; 2); middle and hind tibia (2; 2; 1–2; 1–2; 2; 2; 2–3; 2); longest caudal setae extending to beyond the middle of the first tarsal segment. First hind tarsal segment more than twice the length of the third and fifth segment and more than four times longer than fourth segment.

Abdomen ( Figs. 12–13, 16–17 ) without spinelets. Tergites II–VI with two rows of setae (anterior 4, posterior 8–10), setae of anterior row shorter than those of the posterior row ( Figs. 16–17 ). Tergum VII with two antesensilial setae on each side. Fossa of spiracle of tergites II–VII long (length twice the width), cone-shaped. Sensilium strongly convex posteriorly, with 13–15 sensilial pits. Sterna III–VI with three or four setae on each side. Dorsal anal lobe long, narrow, cone-shaped, ventral anal lobe conical, shorter than dorsal anal lobe; with two long ventral setae on each side.

Modified abdominal segments of the male ( Figs. 16 , 18–19 ): Sternum VII with three or four setae on each side. Tergum VIII with four to six setae above the spiracle. Fixed process of the clasper (P) ( Fig. 18 ) with upper lobe (PI) cone-shaped, robust, distal margin and proximal margin forming an angle ≤ 45º; with three or four submarginal setae and one row of 8–10 dorsomarginal setae, the last seta arising from the tip by distance equal to the width of the fixed process at the point of attachment of the seta; lower lobe (PII) with sharp distal edge and without setae. Movable process (F) ( Fig. 18 ) with one strongly pigmented seta on each side and four to six small setae on the apex; distal margin rounded; ventral margin slightly indented, with a row of 11–15 small setae along its edge. With two branches of the manubrium, the upper (MnI) hook-shaped, shorter and narrower than lower (MnII) ( Fig. 16 ). Acetabulum with a vertical row of 11–14 small spiniform setae; below this row a wide, strongly pigmented spatulated spine and two narrow, unpigmented setae. Sternum IX ( Fig. 19 ) with proximal arm (PAIX) and distal arm (DAIX) subequal in length; distal arm with apex forming a strongly concave projection bearing one small dorsomarginal seta in the centre and seven curved, spine-like ventromarginal setae, the first seta strongly pigmented and located in the apex.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 16 , 20 ) with long aedeagal apodeme (AEA), more than six times longer than broad. Median dorsal lobe (MDL) strongly sclerotized. Lateral lobes (LL) present. Sclerotized inner tube (SIT) long, straight, narrow. Apical median sclerite (AMS) present, shorter than inner tube and located near the middle of the inner tube. Crochet of aedeagus (CR) apical, apex with proximal margin forming one large pointed projection, at an angle ≤ 45º, distal margin straight. Two long apodemal struts (APS), proximal strut greater than distal strut and with dorso-proximal margin sclerotized. Crescent sclerite (CS) conspicuous above apodemal strut. Penis rod (PR) uncoiled, with a fold in the anterior portion and subequal to or longer than the tendon of sternite IX (TStIX) ( Fig. 16 ). Without dorsal membranous lobe arising from the dorsal portion of the aedeagus.

On modified abdominal segments of the female ( Figs. 17 , 21 ) sternum VII (StVII) ( Fig. 21 ) with five setae, apical margin wide, contour of the distal margin convex in the lower portion. Sternum VIII narrow, elongated and less sclerotized than the other segments. Tergum VIII (TVIII) ( Fig. 17 ) with long, narrow, oblique spiracles; with small setae placed above the spiracle, the upper lateral seta situated at a variable distance from ventral margin to lowest level of spiracular fossa; distal margin with a small lobe and three or four short, wide, spiniform setae. Anal stylet subapical, more than two times longer than broad at base, with a long apical setae more than twice the length of anal stylet. Spermatheca (SP) ( Figs. 17 , 21 ) with bulga larger than the hilla, cribiform area (CrA) ( Fig. 17 ) circular and heavily sclerotized. Bursa copulatrix (BC) ( Fig. 17 ) strongly sclerotized, bifurcated (Y-shaped).

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. Ulyses F. J. Pardiñas (Centro Nacional Patagónico-CONICET, Argentina), not only for his important contributions to the knowledge of sigmodontines, but for his interest in their parasites. In honouring Dr. Pardiñas, we also express our gratitude for his support during our studies on ectoparasites of small mammals.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 17. Neotyphloceras pardinasi n. sp., optical microscope view. 12) Male. 13) Female. 14) Head and thorax of male. 15) Head and thorax of female. 16) Abdomen and modified abdominal segments of male (AEA = aedeagal apodeme; MnI = upper manubrium; MnII = lower manubrium; PR = penis rod; TStIX = tendon of sternite IX). 17) Abdomen and modified abdominal segments of the female (BC = bursa copulatrix; CrA = cribiform area; SP = spermatheca; StVII = sternum VII; TVIII = tergum VIII).

FIGURES 18 – 21. Neotyphloceras pardinasi n. sp. 18) Fixed process of the clasper (P) (PI = upper lobe; PII = lower lobe) and movable process (F). 19) Sternite IX of male (DAIX = distal arm of esternite IX, PAIX = proximal arm of sternite IX). 20) Aedeagus (AEA = aedeagal apodeme, AMS = apico-median sclerite of aedeagus, APS = apodemal strut of aedeagus, CR = crochet, CS = crescent sclerite of aedeagus, MDL = median dorsal lobe of aedeagus, LL = lateral lobes of aedeagus, SIT = sclerotized inner tube). 21) Sternite VII (StVII) and spermatheca (SP) of female.