Scleropactes pilosus, VANDEL, 1968

Schmidt, Christian, 2007, Revision of the Neotropical Scleropactidae (Crustacea: Oniscidea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151, pp. 1-339 : 47

SCLEROPACTES PILOSUS VANDEL, 1968

Scleropactes pilosus Vandel, 1968 – Leistikow & Wägele (1999 *); Schmalfuss (2003 *).

Material examined

Type specimens: One ♀ m ( Ecuador: Archidona, 0°55′ S, 77°48′ W, leg. Leleup, April 1965, CV); one ♀ ( Ecuador, Conocoto , 0°20′ S, 78°29′ W, Santo Domingo, leg. Leleup, May 1965); slides with cephalothorax, second antenna, mandible, first maxilla, second maxilla, maxilliped, pleopods 1–5, pereiopods 1 and 4, and tergites 1–3 ( CV 5238-1 to 13 ), and slides with male pereiopods 1 and 7, and pleopods 1 and 2 [ CV 5270-1 to 3 , Ecuador, from one of the locations reported by Vandel (1968); the exact location could not be traced); one manca ( Ecuador, Santo Domingo, leg. Leleup, April 1965, IRSNB 24421 ) (all syntypes).

Other samples: One ♀ m ( Ecuador, Napo Prov., Rio Hollín , altitude c. 1000 m, leg. Bartolozzi, 17 February 1993, MZUF) .

Description ( Figs 124–127 )

Female 9.4 × 4.2 mm to 11.0 × 5.0 mm, manca 2.9 × 1.5 mm.

Tergites with exceptionally large scale-like setae that produce a pilose appearance. These setae are much larger in relation to body size in small individuals. Noduli laterales situated on posterior margins and smaller than scale setae. First coxal plate with very concave hind margin. Cephalothorax with transverse furrow, and small but distinct lateral lobes. Eyes composed of approximately 23 ommatidia in adult specimens. First antenna three-jointed, the apical article with aesthetascs arranged in three rows. Second antenna with three-jointed flagellum; second and distal articles with a transverse ‘row’ of two aesthetascs; apical organ as long as the distal article, with (one?) minute lateral free seta. Mandibles: right lacinia mobilis smaller, hairy lobe with right one/left two penicils, one penicil each between hairy lobe and pars molaris, the latter represented by a tuft of numerous hairy setae. First maxilla lateral endite on distal margin with lateral group of four large, simple setae and a very short and stout seta (homologous with the ‘triangular lobe’ found in many other species of Scleropactidae ) and a slender seta; mesal group of six more slender, simple teeth, and two subapical small setae with furcate tip; distal third of lateral margin fringed. Mesal endite bearing two stout penicils, laterodistal corner rounded. Second maxilla bilobate, mesal lobe with row of sensilla, both lobes covered with pectinate scales; between both lobes are two setae. Maxilliped endite hairy, with strong penicil near the apical margin and one seta on the caudal face. Maxilliped palp three-jointed, basal article bearing two subequal large setae; second article on the mesal margin with proximal tuft of only one small seta, distal tuft of several setae on a socket, and two single small setae near this socket, lateral margin with three slender setae and one broad seta; distal article with distal tuft of setae and one seta on the lateral margin. Pereiopod 1 with antennal brush. Dactylus with bifurcate, feathery dactylar seta, slightly curved ungual seta, one seta on the frontal face, some scales and setae or seta-like structures and a small seta in place of the inner claw. Pleopod exopodite 1 without marginal setae, exopodites 2–5 with two to six marginal setae. A distinct, but small dorsal respiratory field could only be seen with certainty on the second exopodite. Male exopodite 1 with concave apical margin, endopodite 1 not distinctly constricted beyond the basal portion, with a row of small spine-shaped setae along the spermatic furrow. Genital papilla long, ventral shield exceeded by a rounded lobe with orifices in subapical position. Male exopodite 2 distally extended into a long lobe, only slightly shorter than the endopodite. Pleopod 5 exopodite on caudal face with transverse strip of several rows of pectinate scales. Uropod endopodites exceptionally large.

Comparison of the manca, the female with marsupium and the smaller female shows that the number of ommatidia and steepness of coxal plates increases, whereas the relative size of the dorsal tricorn-like setae decreases, with body size. The number of ommatidia of the manca could not be precisely counted, but is clearly lower than 23 (of the adult specimen).

Biology

The female has six embryos in the marsupium.

Figures

Figure 124. Scleropactes pilosus Vandel, 1968: syntype ♀, 9.4 × 4.2 mm, habitus lateral (Ecuador, exact locality unknown, altitude 600–4200 m, leg. N. Leleup, March–April 1965, MNHN).

Figure 125. Scleropactes pilosus Vandel, 1968: syntype ♀, mouthparts, first antenna (Ecuador, exact locality unknown, altitude 600–4200 m, leg. N. Leleup, March–April 1965, MNHN).

Figure 126. Scleropactes pilosus Vandel, 1968: syntype ♀, pereiopod 1, coxal plates 1 and 2, second antenna (Ecuador, exact locality unknown, altitude 600–4200 m, leg. N. Leleup, March–April 1965, MNHN).

Figure 127. Scleropactes pilosus Vandel, 1968: syntype ♀, pleopods 1 and 2; ♀ syntype, pleopods 2–5 (Ecuador, exact locality unknown, altitude 600–4200 m, leg. N. Leleup, March–April 1965, MNHN).