Colomboscia andina Schmidt, 2007

Schmidt, Christian, 2007, Revision of the Neotropical Scleropactidae (Crustacea: Oniscidea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151, pp. 1-339 : 32-33

COLOMBOSCIA ANDINA ( VANDEL, 1972) COMB. NOV.

Scleropactes andinus Vandel, 1972 – Leistikow & Wägele (1999 *); Schmalfuss (2003 *).

Material examined

Lectotype – one ♂ ( Colombia, Bogotá, above calle 71, altitude 2750 m, 14 February 1969, CV) (other syntype specimens transferred to Colomboscia parva sp. nov.).

Description ( Figs 72–74 )

Male; c. 3.6 × 2.1 mm. Coloration: irregular pattern of approximately one-third dark brown and two-thirds pale yellow (or colourless). Pereiopod basipodites somewhat darkly pigmented, ischium pale, merus, carpus and propodus weakly pigmented. Otherwise ventrally not pigmented. Surface not perfectly smooth, but with only very shallow tuberculation. Cephalothorax with distinct lateral lobes. Transverse furrow deep, evenly curved, and laterally reaching the eyes. Eyes large, composed of 16 ommatidia.

Anterior corner of first coxal plate delimited by a distinct ridge. (This is the ridge that delimits the lateral sulcus.) Noduli laterales very small but distinct, located on the posterior margins of tergites and all at same distance from lateral margin.

Second antenna with three-jointed flagellum; the three articles slightly increase in length from proximal to distal. Apical cone slender, nearly as long as the flagellum. Maxilliped basis with scales on the proximolateral quarter of its caudal (ventral) surface, and with few scale setae; laterodistal edge with fine hairs (pectinate scales). Epipodite without hairs or

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF COLOMBOSCIA

1. Tergite 1 with two pairs of very large, finger-like protruding tubercles, and tergites 2–7 and cephalothorax with one pair of such tubercles............................ Colomboscia bituberculata Taiti, Allspach & Ferrara, 1995

1.* Tergites with small tubercles only or without tubercles................................................ 2

2. Non-conglobating forms with well-developed median lobe of the cephalothorax............................ 3

2.* Conglobating forms with lateral lobes only.......................................................... 4

3. Lateral and median lobes of cephalothorax divided by an acute angle; median lobe triangular............................................................................... Colomboscia cordillierae Vandel, 1972

3.* Lateral and median lobes divided by a right angle; median lobe rounded................................................................................................ one unnamed species ( Taiti et al. 1995)

4. Tergites with large but shallow tubercles................................ Colomboscia gaigei ( Pearse, 1915)

4.* Tergites smooth................................................................................. 5

5. Transverse groove on cephalothorax evenly rounded...................... Colomboscia andina ( Vandel, 1972)

5.* Transverse groove in its median part more or less straight........................ Colomboscia parva sp. nov.

scales. Endite rectangular, distally and on the mesal margin hairy (elongate scales), with a short (?) penicil near the inner corner. Maxilliped palp on proximal article with only one large seta (the lateral seta lacking), second article on inner margin with a proximal tuft of three subequal setae and a distal tuft of numerous equal setae on a common socket, and two single setae beside this socket, and one slender and one broad seta on the lateral margin; distal article with an apical tuft of numerous setae and one single seta on the lateral margin. Pereiopod 1 with brush composed of elongate, partly fringed scales on the carpus and of spines and scales on the propodus. As only one male was available for examination, it is not known exactly to what extent the scales belong to the brush present in both sexes, or to the ventrofrontal scale-fields present only in males. On the carpus, approximately the ventral two-thirds are covered with scales belonging to either of the mentioned structures; on the merus, only the ventral face is occupied by the male scale-field. The other pereiopods were not dissected, but no scale-fields were seen on the following pereiopods. Male pereiopod 7 with distinct scale-rows belonging to the water-conducting system on basis and ischium, and less distinct scalerows on merus and carpus. Ischium with a concave area on the frontal face, near the distal margin; merus with an acute triangular dorsolateral lobe on the frontal face, near the midlength. Dactyli with frontal and caudal subapical setae, curved ungual seta with smaller seta beside it, which reaches about half the length of the inner claw. Dactylar seta in its distal portion with one row of setules and apically narrowed into a very fine tip. In addition, there are some scales and few other structures probably setae.

Male pleopod 1 endopodite only very weakly curved, with a row of 25 small setae beside the medial margin of the spermatic furrow, some backwards-directed lobes or scales on the lateral face of the distal portion, a row of scales along the base of the spermatic furrow, and some pectinate scales on the portion that is opposite to the genital papilla and on the lateral margin, near the base. Pleopod 1 exopodite rounded triangular, with only a few pectinate scales along its margins; no distinct respiratory area can be seen. Male pleopod 2 with slender endopodite exceeding the exopodite. Exopodite 2 with convex lateral margin, a furrow covered with pectinate scales along the medial margin, and a single marginal seta. Pleopod 2 sympodite laterally with one small seta.

Pleotelson short, with sinuate posterior margin. Pleon-epimera 5 with convex inner margin. Uropod sympodite distal margin with narrowly rounded tip, exopodite as long as visible part of the sympodite. Endopodites in dorsal view ending at the same level as the exopodites.

Remark

Known only from the lectotype. The species can probably be recognized by the distinctive colour pattern and by the structure of the anterior corner of the first coxal plate. In the original description, Vandel (1972) referred to two localities, without indicating the number of specimens. In Vandel’s collection, there is one male specimen from Bogotá, labelled Scleropactes andinus , and another male from Resina, labelled Scleropactes gaigei Pearse. As the collecting data of the second specimen are identical with those in the original description of Scleropactes andinus and the name Scleropactes gaigei is not mentioned by Vandel (1972), the identity of both specimens as syntypes of Scleropactes andinus is confirmed. Obviously, Vandel later recognized the differences and (mis)identified the second specimen as Scleropactes gaigei Pearse. This seems to be unpublished. Here, the first specimen is designated as a lectotype of Scleropactes andinus , and the second is made a holotype of a new species, Scleropractes parvus (see above).

Figures

Figure 72. Colomboscia andina (Vandel, 1972): holotype ♂, c. 3.6 × 2.1 mm (Colombia, Bogotá, altitude 2750 m, leg. H. Sturm, 14 February 1969, MNHN).

Figure 73. Colomboscia andina (Vandel, 1972): holotype ♂, c. 3.6 × 2.1 mm, maxilliped, pleopods 1 and 2 (Colombia, Bogotá, altitude 2750 m, leg. H. Sturm, 14 February 1969, MNHN).

Figure 74. Colomboscia andina (Vandel, 1972): holotype ♂, c. 3.6 × 2.1 mm, pereiopods 1 and 7 (Colombia, Bogotá, altitude 2750 m, leg. H. Sturm, 14 February 1969, MNHN).