Erythrocricus sanguineostriatus ( Schubart, 1962 )

Rodrigues, Patrícia Elesbão Silva & Rodrigues, Everton Nei Lopes, 2021, Taxonomic review of the genus Erythrocricus Schubart, 1962 (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Rhinocricidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 748, pp. 177-187 : 179-183

Erythrocricus sanguineostriatus ( Schubart, 1962)

Figs 1–3

Rhinocricus (Erythrocricus) sanguineostriatus Schubart, 1962: 70 , figs 1, 2, 4.

Rhinocrinus (Erythocricus) sanguineostriatus — Marek et al. 2003: 72.

Erythrocricus miniatostriatus Schubart, 1962: 71 , figs 3, 5. Syn. nov.

Justification of synonymy

Schubart (1962) described two species, Erythrocricus sanguineostriatus and E. miniatostriatus , both similar in body pattern and gonopods structure. Despite the similarities, both species present variations in

the red coloration on body rings wich in E. sanguineostriatus is present dorsally and in E. miniatostriatus dorsally and ventrolaterally. Our examination of the type species revealed that there is no significant difference either in external morphology or the structure of the gonopods between the species. Still, during examination of fresh specimens, we observed that the differences in the red coloration, seems to reflect only intraspecific variation.

Diagnosis

Erythrocricus sanguineostriatus ( Schubart, 1962) resembles E. electrofasciatus ( Schubart, 1957) comb. nov. by the shape of the anterior gonopod ( Figs 2A , 5A ) with a triangular sternite having the medial portion distally rounded and the anterior gonopod wider than long but differs by the telopodite of the anterior gonopod with a reduced lobe in posterior view ( Fig. 2B ), and the red coloration presented as a transverse red line on all metazonites, collum and telson ( Fig. 1B, D–F ) and a rounded process of the coxae of leg pair 3 of the male ( Fig. 1C ).

Material examined

Holotype

BRAZIL • 1 ♂; São Paulo, Presidente Epitácio ; 52º06′56″ W, 21º45′48″ S; 22 January 1950, O. Schubart leg.; MZSP 2039 .

Paratypes

BRAZIL • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Goiás, Santa Helena de Goiás ; 50°35′18″ W, 17°49′23″ S; Nov.1960, G.A. Oliveira leg.; MZSP 2114 .

Other material

BRAZIL • 1 ♂; Goiás, Jataí ; 51º42′52″ W, 17º52′53″ S; Jan. 1955; M. Carreira leg.; MZSP2038 • 1 ♀; Aragarças ; 52º15′03″ W, 15º53′51″ S; 18 Jun. 1952; H. Sick leg.; MZSP1153 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Minaçu, Usina Hidrelétrica Serra da Mesa ; 48º13′12″ W, 13º31′59″ S; 1–10 Oct. 1990; A.B. Bonaldo and L.A. Moura leg.; MCN406 .

Redescription

Male (MCN 406)

MEASUREMENTS. With 52p+1a+T. Total length 55.0 mm, maximum width of midbody body rings 5.1 mm.

COLORATION (in 70% alcohol) ( Fig. 1 ). Antennae and legs dark brown. Collum red with yellowish margins. Prozonites grey; metazonites in dorsal portion with transverse red line on all body rings, posterior margins whitish. Telson red.

HEAD AND BODY RINGS ( Fig. 1 ). Antennae with numerous apical sensory cones. Collum rounded laterally. Tegument smooth, without setae. Ozopores starting from 6 th ring. Scobinae starting from 7 th ring, semicircular and small.

LEGS ( Fig. 1C ). Coxae of leg pairs 3–5 of male expanded into a process. Coxae of leg pair 3 rounded.

TELSON (Fig. F). Epiproct short, not extended over paraprocts. Hypoproct subtriangular.

GONOPODS ( Fig. 2 ). Anterior gonopod wider than long, sternite triangular, medial portion with rounded apex. Sternite as long as coxite and shorter than telopodite ( Fig. 2A ). Coxite rounded, in posterior view with margins projected medially. Telopodite thickened with reduced distal lobe ( Fig. 2B ). Posterior gonopod distally bifid. External branch laminated and folded over solenomere. Solenomere long and thin ( Fig. 2C ).

Female (MCN 406)

Coloration ( Fig. 3 ) as in male, with 52p+T. Total length 56.0 mm. Width 5.2 mm.

Distribution

Known from Presidente Epitácio, state of São Paulo, and Santa Helena de Goiás, Minaçu, Aragarças, state of Goiás.

Figures

Fig. 1. Erythrocricus sanguineostriatus (Schubart, 1962), ♂ (MCN 406). A. Head. B. Anterior body rings, lateral view. C. Anterior body rings, ventral view. D. Posterior body rings, dorsal view. E. Midbody rings, lateral view. F. Posterior body rings and telson, lateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 2. Erythrocricus sanguineostriatus (Schubart, 1962), ♂ (MCN 406). A. Anterior gonopod, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopod, posterior view. C. Left posterior gonopod, anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Erythrocricus sanguineostriatus (Schubart, 1962), ♀ (MCN 406). A. Head and anterior body rings, lateral view. B. Head and anterior body rings, ventral view. C. Posterior body rings, dorsal view. D. Posterior body rings and telson, lateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 5.Erythrocricus electrofasciatus (Schubart, 1957), ♂ (MZUFMT-MYR0481). A.Anterior gonopod, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopod, posterior view. C. Rigth posterior gonopod, posterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.