Scleropactes cotopaxii, Schmidt, 2007

Schmidt, Christian, 2007, Revision of the Neotropical Scleropactidae (Crustacea: Oniscidea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151, pp. 1-339 : 44-45

SCLEROPACTES COTOPAXII SP. NOV.

Material examined

Type specimens: ♂ holotype ( Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas , 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 23–24 February 1993, MZUF) ; paratypes – one ♂, six ♀ m, three ♀ without marsupium, one juvenile (same data as holotype) ; two ♂, two ♀ m and one ♀ without, one juvenile ( Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas , 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 22–27 February 1993, MZUF) ; one ♂ ( Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., around San Francisco de las Pampas , 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, in soil of epiphytes of Lauraceae , leg. L. Bartolozzi, 22 February 1993, MZUF) ; two (immature?) ♂, one (immature?) ♀ ( Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., Otonga c/o San Francisco de las Pampas , altitude c. 1900 m, ‘ mag. 1460 ’, leg. G. Onore, 7 October 1993, MZUF) .

Description ( Figs 112–117 )

Male 11.6 × 6.6 mm, cephalothorax 3.13 mm wide, 28/ 28 ommatidia; adult female 15.4 × 8.0 mm, cephalothorax 3.95 mm wide, 26/26 ommatidia.

Dorsal face of animals of this species extensive, irregular dark (black?) patches on pale ground. The pale areas occupy less than half of the surface and are concentrated at margins. Fourth and fifth articles of second antenna always dark, whereas flagellum in all specimens pale. However, as the animals were examined after being preserved in alcohol for 7 years, this preservation may have altered the coloration. Therefore, it cannot be stated whether the pale areas originally were yellow (as they appear now) or probably white, or red.

Cephalothorax with deep furrow behind frontal line. Frontal shield with shallow grooves for the second antenna; a median area is distinctly set off the grooves. Small lateral lobes projecting about half of length of eyes. Tergites smooth. All coxal plates simple. Tergal scale setae small and inconspicuous. Noduli laterales not visible on entire animal.

First antenna three-jointed; second article shortest and bears one small seta. Distal article has a sharp tip, two large apical aesthetascs and c. 12 smaller aesthetascs. Second antenna approximately as long as pereiopod 7, but more slender. Flagellum consisting of three subequal articles, second and third articles with a transverse row of three or four aesthetascs, third bearing a slender apical cone. The apical cone as long as distal flagellar article and has one small lateral sensillum at 0.25 from its base (only one sensillum could be seen). Holotype male with flagellum of only two articles, distal one twice as long as basal one. As all other specimens had a three-jointed flagellum, the condition found in the holotype male is considered to be an individual variation.

Mandibles with a pars molaris represented by a tuft of numerous hairy setae, and one hairy seta between the pars molaris and the hairy lobe. Hairy lobe with one hairy seta on right and two hairy setae on left mandible. Both mandibles seem to have a secondary molar surface formed by pars incisiva and lacinia mobilis; the latter is larger in the left mandible. First maxilla lateral endite on distal margin with lateral group of four large tooth setae, one small triangular lobe and one slender seta, and mesal group of six more slender tooth setae, all with simple tips. In subapical position near the mesal group of tooth setae, there is a pair of small serrate setae. Mesal endite of first maxilla with two equal, stout penicils, laterodistal margin hairy. Second maxilla apically bilobate, with small group of sensilla on the mesal lobe and hairs (pectinate scales) on both lobes. Two or three sensilla between lobes. Maxilliped base covered with scales in lateral portion, and with scale setae. Epipodite with some fine hairs. Endite densely hairy, with one strong seta on caudal face (partly covered by the hairs; therefore not easily visible on the drawing), and short, stout penicil on the frontal face. Maxilliped palp on the basal article with two large setae. Second article on mesal margin with proximal tuft of three small setae, distal tuft with numerous small setae on a common socket, and two single small setae beside socket, and one broad seta with rounded tip and three small, slender setae on lateral margin. Distal article with a ridge on frontal face, apical tuft of numerous small setae, and one or two small, slender setae on the outer margin.

Male pereiopods 1–4 with ventral scale-brushes on merus and carpus; pereiopod 5 with scale-field on merus only. Pereiopod 1 with antennal cleaning brush consisting of a small field of scales (or spines) on propodus, which has a distal transverse row of hyaline scales with rounded tips (partly covered by other scales and therefore not distinct) and a long field with tongue-shaped scales, at least some of which have a fringed distal margin, on the carpus. Surface of all pereiopods is covered with scales, which appear to be more regularly arranged on basipodites than on more distal parts. Large setae are found on ventral faces of merus, carpus and propodus, and on the distal margins of joints; small scale setae are scattered among the scales. Male pereiopod 7 with elongate ischium bearing a dorsodistal depression on the frontal face and having a very slightly concave ventral margin. Merus with subbasal, ventral depression covered with scales. On basipodite, a distinct longitudinal groove with one row of scales is seen on the frontal face. At least some of these scales have a fringed distal margin. Pereiopod dactyli with curved ungual seta, the thinner seta beside it being longer than the short inner claw, one small seta on frontal and caudal surfaces, dactylar seta apically fringed on one side, and numerous scales.

Male pleopods: pleopod 1 and 2 exopodites with weakly wrinkled respiratory fields. Exopodite 1 broader than long, distal margin concave, with one or two minute marginal setae. Exopodites 2–5 with 9–16 marginal setae. Exopodite 5 on dorsal (caudal) face with irregular transverse band of pectinate scales, and with a furrow along the medial margin. Endopodite 1 apically slightly curved in lateral direction. Row of 36 small setae along the spermatic furrow; apex of endopodite with a tuft of fine hairs and some subapical wrinkles on the lateral face. Endopodite 2 as long as exopodite. Uropod sympodite more than four times as wide as exopodite. Sympodite approximately as long as wide (at the base), with rounded outer corner. Endopodite slightly longer than sympodite, with dense fringe of scales (and/or setae) on the inner surface.

Figures

Figure 112. Scleropactes cotopaxii sp. nov.: holotype ♂, 11.6 × 6.6 mm, cephalothorax 3.13 mm wide, cephalothorax; paratype ♀, 15.8 × 8.0 mm, cephalothorax 3.95 mm wide, habitus, pleon (Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 23–24 February 1993, MZUF).

Figure 113. Scleropactes cotopaxii sp. nov.: holotype ♂, 11.6 × 6.6 mm, cephalothorax 3.13 mm wide, mouthparts, first antenna; paratype ♀, 14.5 × 7.0 mm, cephalothorax 3.10 mm wide, mandibles (Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas, 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 23–24 February 1993, MZUF).

Figure 114. Scleropactes cotopaxii sp. nov.: holotype ♂, 11.6 × 6.6 mm, cephalothorax 3.13 mm wide, pereiopods 1–3 frontal, uropod dorsal (Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas, 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 23–24 February 1993, MZUF).

Figure 115. Scleropactes cotopaxii sp. nov.: holotype ♂, 11.6 × 6.6 mm, cephalothorax 3.13 mm wide, pereiopods 4–6 frontal, P4 dactylus frontal and caudal, uropod ventral (Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas, 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 23–24 February 1993, MZUF).

Figure 116. Scleropactes cotopaxii sp. nov.: holotype ♂, 11.6 × 6.6 mm, cephalothorax 3.13 mm wide, pereiopod 7 frontal and caudal, second antenna ventral and apical cone enlarged; paratype ♀, 15.8 × 8.0 mm, cephalothorax 3.95 mm wide, second antenna flagellum (Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas, 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 23–24 February 1993, MZUF).

Figure 117. Scleropactes cotopaxii sp. nov.: holotype ♂, 11.6 × 6.6 mm, cephalothorax 3.13 mm wide, pleopods 1–5 (Ecuador, Cotopaxi Prov., San Francisco de las Pampas, 0°26′ S, 78°58′ W, altitude c. 1300 m, leg. L. Bartolozzi, 23–24 February 1993, MZUF).