Porcellionides lucasioides (Vandel, 1953)

Figs 2F, L, 3F, 14, 15A–D, 16, Table 1

Metoponorthus sexfasciatus lucasioides Vandel, 1953: 52, fig. 2.

Material examined

SPAIN – Almeria • 8 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Nijar, Cabo de Gata; 15 Feb. 1984; A. Pollo leg.; cited by Cifuentes (2021a); MNCN 20.04/7164 . – Córdoba • 2 ♂♂; Venta del Charco; 3 Apr. 1985; J. Cifuentes leg.; cited by Cifuentes (2021a); JC352 • 17 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; cited by Cifuentes (2021a); JC216. – Murcia • 4 ♀♀; Cabo Tiñoso; 14 May 2022; I. Escarabajal Bernabé leg.; JC649 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; JC648 .

Remarks

Vandel (1953: 52) originally classified this taxon as a subspecies of P. sexfasciatus . He indicated distinctive characters, including pronounced granulations (Fig. 14A), few pores in the glandular fields, cephalon with a small median lobe, and medium-sized lateral lobes. In males, the carpus of the pereopods 1 and 2 possess dense setae, and the exopod I has a widened inner lobe at the base, terminating in a fine, narrow point (Figs 14C, 15A). The b/c and d/c coordinates are relatively low (Figs 2F, L, 14B). Additionally, it is noteworthy that the scale-setae possess a broad tip (Fig. 3F). The male exopod of the pleopod II is triangular (Figs 14D, 15B). Females exhibit a minor incision in the tracheal field on exopods I and II (Fig. 15C–D). Considering the aforementioned, we consider that P. lucasioides (Vandel, 1953) possesses sufficient distinct characters to be considered a valid species (Table 1), rather than a subspecies of P. sexfasciatus .

In some specimens of both immature and adult P. lucasioides, the inner tip of the exopod I is occasionally underdeveloped, which increases the potential for misidentification with P. glabe r. However, distinguishing between these two species is feasible, as P. lucasioides has pronounced granulations and medium-sized lateral lobes on the cephalon, while P. glabe r either presents a smooth body or, in some specimens, may have sparse and very fine granulations on the cephalon, and lacks lateral lobes.

Distribution

Spanish providences of Almería: Fondón, Laujar de Andarax (Vandel 1953) and Níjar (Cifuentes 2021a); Ávila: Piedralaves (Pollo Zorita 1986b); Córdoba: Morrón Grande (Garcia 2019) and Venta del Charco (Cifuentes 2021a); Cuenca: Ruinas de Segóbriga (Pollo Zorita 1986a, 2015); Jaén: Peñas (Garcia 2019).

It is recorded for the first time in the Spanish province of Murcia (Fig. 16).