Key for the separation of the known Endopodoseius species

1. Podonotal and opisthonotal shields at least partially fused; palp femur with five setae (d 3 present)..................... 2

– Podonotal and opisthonotal shields totally separated; palp femur with four setae (d 3 absent).......................... 3

2. Podonotal and opisthonotal shields with deep lateral incisions at their line of fusion; setae j 2, s 5 and r 2 present, and J 3 absent; with a pair of slender presternal platelets, micro-punctate; sternal shield micro-punctate and without reticulation, with the first pair of lyrifissure (iv 1) positioned on the margin of the shield; genu I with two anteroventral setae; tibia IV with two posterodorsal setae................................................... E. xerophilus Barros & Castilho sp. nov.

– Podonotal and opisthonotal shields without lateral incisions at the line of their fusion; setae j 2, s 5 and r 2 absent, and J 3 present; presternal region sclerotised, transversely striate and consolidated with sternal shield; the latter micro-punctate and reticulate, with the first pair of lyrifissure (iv 1) positioned in the central region of the shield; genu I with one anteroventral seta; tibia IV with three posterodorsal setae......................... E. edmilsoni Abo-Shnaf & Castilho in Abo-Shnaf et al., 2023

3. Podonotal and opisthonotal shields micro-punctate and partially reticulate; setae s 1, Jv 3, Zv 3 and Zv 4 present, and j 2, s 5 and J 5 absent; sternal shield with lyrifissure iv 1......................... E. hydrophilus Gonzalez-Cano & Castilho sp. nov.

– Podonotal and opisthonotal shields micro-punctate, without reticulation; setae s 1, Jv 3, Zv 3 and Zv 4 absent, and j 2, s 5 and J 5 present; sternal shield without lyrifissure iv 1................................................................ 4

4. Bases of setae av and pv of palp tibia well separated; sternal shield reticulate; corniculi bifurcate; endopodal strip represented by three elongate fragments along coxae II-IV; lacinia divided about 35 to 40% their total length....................................................................... E. erikae Abo-Shnaf & Marticorena in Abo-Shnaf et al., 2023

– Bases of setae av and pv of palp tibia close together; sternal shield smooth; corniculi entire; endopodal strip entire between coxae II-IV; lacinia divided about 55% their total length....... E. zaheri Abo-Shnaf & Moraes in Abo-Shnaf et al., 2023