Coarazuphium ricardoi, Bená, Daniela De Cassia & Vanin, Sergio Antonio, 2014

Bená, Daniela De Cassia & Vanin, Sergio Antonio, 2014, A new troglobitic species of Coarazuphium Gnaspini, Vanin & Godoy (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Zuphiini) from a cave in Paraná State, Southern Brazil, Zootaxa 3779 (2), pp. 288-296 : 289-296

Coarazuphium ricardoi , new species

( Figs. 1–24 )

Type material: Holotype, male, labelled 8-9.IX.2011, R. Pinto-da-Rocha col. ( MZSP). Paratypes, 1 male, 2 females, same data ( MZSP); 1 male, same data, but 28.II.2012, Herlon Nadolny col. ( MZSP).

Type locality: BRAZIL, Paraná, Doutor Ulysses: Gruta do Varzeão, 24o37'49''S 49o29'58"W, 808m.

Description. Holotype male ( Figs.1–4 ): Length (from anterior margin of clypeus to apical margin of elytra): 4.0 mm; width (at widest region of elytra): 1.75 mm. General color yellowish to pale brown. Dorsal integument entirely covered with very short recumbent hairs, except for glabrous top of head ( Figs. 1 and 4 ). Head ( Figs.2 and 5 ) as long as wide, subtrapezoidal, wider at1/4 from base, 1.2 times as long as pronotum; (dorsal surface bearing one pair of setae laterally to eyes, and one pair close to posterior margin of head) dorsally with one pair of supraorbital setae and one pair of occipital setae (posteriad to anterior supraorbital pair); ventral surface bearing one pair of anterior setae, located equidistant from head and gular area, and one pair medially, close to gula ( Fig. 6 ). Microphthalmous, ommatidia not evident at 50X ( Fig. 3 ). Antenna ( Fig. 4 ) 4.25 times as long as pronotum; antennomere 1 (scape) about 0.9 times as long as pronotum and as long as 2nd–4th combined; 2nd very short, 0.2 times as long as scape and about half lenght of 3rd; segments 3rd–10th subequal. Pronotum ( Figs. 1 and 4 ) trapezoidal, slightly longer than wide (1.1X), widened very close to anterior margin, sides strongly converging from rounded anterior angles to acute posterior ones; median impression extending about 80% of pronotum length; with one pair of prosternal setae; ventral surface with one pair of anterior median setae. Elytra free, not fused along suture ( Fig. 12 ), elongate oval, about 3 times as long as pronotum and 1.35 times as long as wide, narrowed anteriorly and posteriorly, maximum width near middle; humeri rounded, apical margin truncate, not sinuate, with seven pairs of very long setae, three near anterior angle, one near midline, and three posteriorly, with some small setae at the external margin, interspaced between long setae; surface with inner discal striae shallow but distinct, intervals microrugose. Hind wing very reduced, without veins ( Fig. 13 ). Two abdominal tergites visible dorsally. Legs ( Fig. 4 ): Protibia 1.25 times as long as tarsi combined; metatibiae slightly shorter than tarsi combined (0.9 times). Male genitalia ( Figs. 14–19 ). Phallus elongate and narrow (PW/PL 0.30), narrowed anteriorly, distal margin triangular shaped, apical region short (AL/PL 0.085), ostial membrane extensive (OM/PL 0.488). Left paramere (lp) subtriangular, conchoid ( Figs.14 and 17 ); right paramere (rp) distinctly shorter ( Figs. 15 and 19 ) (0.38 times), T-shaped, broad, slightly wider than longer. Male genital segment triangular shaped ( Figs. 14–16 ).

Variation. Length (from anterior margin of clypeus to apical margin of elytra) of three males 4.0- 4.8 mm, and of two females 4.6-4.7 mm. Females are very similar to males, but can be recognized by the apices of gonocoxites protruding distally or seen due to transparence of last abdominal tergite and sternite ( Figs. 8–11 ). Female genitalia ( Figs. 20–24 ). Ovopositor ( Figs. 23–24 ): gonocoxite 1(gc1) twice longer than gonocoxite 2, with transverse oblique row of long trichoid setae in distal margin; gonocoxite 2(gc2), in lateral aspect falciform, apex pointed, with one furrow peg bearing a nematiforn seta near apex, and many scattered pit pegs. Female genital tract ( Fig. 22 ). Bursa copulatrix (bc) bulbous, expanded anteriorly to insertion point of common oviduct (co). Spermatheca (sp broken) long and slender, dilated distally, forming ampoule; spermathecal duct inserted near common oviduct insertion; spermathecal gland (spg) rounded; spermathecal gland duct (spgd) inserted closer to spermathecal duct insertion point. Helminthoid sclerite and secondary spermathecal gland absent.

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Ricardo Pinto-da-Rocha, who collected most of the type specimens, in recognition of his outstanding efforts to advance knowledge about the cave fauna of Brazil.

Geographic distribution. The "Gruta do Varzeão" ( Figs.25–26 ), registered as cave PR-0216, is the second largest cave of the State of Paraná, and is located at the foot of the “Serra de Paranapiacaba”, about 12 km of downtown Dr. Ulysses, near the riverside of the "Ribeirão Teixeira" ( Sessegolo et al. 2006). C oarazuphium ricardoi is the first species of the genus found in the speleologic province Vale do Ribeira. This is the southernmost record for the neotropical genus Coarazuphium .

Biological notes. According to Dr. Ricardo Pinto-da-Rocha (pers. comm.), four adult specimens of C. ricardoi were collected in guano of insectivorous bats, about 30 m from a secondary cave entrance to the "Gruta do Varzeão".

Taxonomic discussion. Coarazuphium ricardoi is microphthalmus, as most species of the genus. The only anophthalmous species of Corazuphium described to date is C. cessaima . Four microphtalmous species of the genus have the apical margin of elytra sinuate ( C. bezerra , C. caatinga , C. formoso and C. tessai ) and, although similar, cannot be confused with the new species. The remaining three microphthalmus species ( C. pains , C. tapiguassu and C. whiteheadi ) have the apical margin of elytra truncate. Coarazuphium ricardoi can be distinguished from each one of these three species by the following characters: C. pains has the head dorsally with 3 pairs of setae, the maximum elytral width of elytra posteriad to the transverse midline, and has 2 pairs of prosternal setae ( Álvares & Ferreira 2002) ( C. ricardoi : head dorsally with 1 pair of setae, the maximum width of elytra near middle, and 1 pair of prosternal setae); C. tapiguassu does not have the pair of posterior supraorbital setae and elytra are proportionately longer and slender (Pellegrini & Ferreira 2011) ( C. ricardoi : with one pair of posterior supraorbital setae and elytra proportionately shorter and broader); in C. whiteheadi the head has 3 pairs of setae dorsally and the anterior margin of labrum is irregularly convex ( Ball & Shpeley 2013) ( C. ricardoi : head dorsally with 1 pair of setae and the anterior margin of labrum is broadly concave).

The male genital segment of C. ricardoi is triangular shaped ( Figs. 14–16 ), instead of elliptical, as reported for C. tessai , C. bezerra and C. cessaima ( Gnaspini et al. 1998: 299, 307 Fig. 11 ). The shape of the male genital segment has been illustrated only for C. cessaima and C. ricardoi . The study of this character should be considered in a future revision of the genus.

The four most similar species of Coarazuphium are widely allopatric. Two Brazilian species occur in karst regions; C. ricardoi is known from a karst cave in the Vale da Ribeira in the State of Paraná, while C. pains occurs in karst caves in the Bambuí speleological province, in the State of Minas Gerais ( Álvares & Ferreira 2002). The third Brazilian species, C. tapiguassu , is known from small canga caves, located in a complex iron outcrop in Curinópolis, State of Pará ( Pellegrini & Ferreira 2011b). The fourth species, C. whiteheadi , was collected in the remains of a cloud forest, in Oaxaca, southern Mexico ( Ball & Shpeley 2013).

Ball & Shpeley's key (2013: 34) can be modified as follows to include the new species and the recently described C. caatinga Pellegrini & Ferreira 2014 :

1. Anophthalmous ( Gnaspini et al. 1998: 307, fig.6). Maximum width of elytra near middle. Male genitalia: right paramere ( Gnaspini et al. 1998: 306, fig. 10) styliform, about as long as left paramere......... C. cessaima Gnaspini, Vanin & Godoy

1'. Microphthalmous. Maximum width of elytra near middle, or posteriad middle. Male genitalia: right paramere styliform or not, distinctly shorter than left paramere....................................................................... 2

2 (1'). Elytron with apical margin truncate, not sinuate. Male right paramere styliform or broad............................ 3

2'. Elytron with apical margin sinuate. Male right paramere broad, not styliform, distinctly shorter than left paramere........ 6

3(2). Head dorsally without setae posteriad the anterior supraorbital setae (Pellegrini and Ferreira 2011: 49, fig.2A).................................................................................... C. tapiaguassu Pellegrini & Ferreira

3' Head dorsally with one to three pairs of setae posteriad the anterior supraorbital setae............................... 4

4 (3'). Male rigth paramere slender, styliform ( Ball & Shpeley 2013, fig. 10C).................... C. whiteheadi Ball & Shpeley

4'. Male right paramere broad, not styliform ( Fig. 19 )........................................................... 5

5. Two pairs of prosternal setae ( Álvares & Ferreira 2002: 42, fig.3). Maximum width of elytra posteriad transverse midline ( Álvares & Ferreira 2002: 42, fig. 1)................................................ C. pains Álvares & Ferreira

5' One pair of prosternal setae ( Fig. 6 ). Maximum width of elytra near middle ( Figs. 1 and 4 )........ C. ricardoi new species

6 (2'). Head dorsally with three pairs of setae posteriad the anterior supraorbital setae.................................... 7

6'. Head dorsally with one or two pairs of setae posteriad the anterior supraorbital setae................................ 8

7 (6'). Slight apical sinuosity of elytron ( Pellegrini & Ferreira 2014, figs. 12A and 12C)......... C. formoso Pellegrini & Ferreira

7'. Pronounced apical sinuosity of elytron (Pelegrinni & Ferreira 2014, figs. 12B and 12D)... C. caatinga Pellegrini & Ferreira

8(6') Head dorsally with two pairs of setae (posterior suopraorbitals and occipitals) at posterior border of head capsule ( Gnaspini et al. 1998: 304, fig. 1.) Male left paramere broad, conchoid ( Gnaspini et al. 1998: 305, fig. 3).................................................................................................. C. bezerra Gnaspini, Vanin & Godoy

8'. Single pair of setae (posterior supraorbitals) at posterior border of head capsule ( Godoy & Vanin 1990: 796, fig. 1). Male left paramere styliform ( Godoy & Vanin 1990: 798, fig. 2)................................... C. tessai (Godoy & Vanin)

Figures

FIGURE 4. Coarazuphium ricardoi new species, male holotype, habitus, dorsal view.

FIGURES 1 – 3. Coarazuphium ricardoi new species, male holotype (1) habitus, dorsal view, (2) head lateral view and (3) detail of eye (Figs. 2 – 3).

FIGURES 5 – 11. Coarazuphium ricardoi new species 5 – 7 male holotype. (5) head, pronotum and prothorax, lateral view, (6) prothorax, ventral view, (7) labrum. (8 – 11) female paratypes, distal segments of abdomen, (8 – 9) retracted, (10 – 11) protracted, coxites exposed.

FIGURES 12 – 13. Coarazuphium ricardoi new species, female paratype. (12) habitus, dorsal view, right elytron removed, arrow pointing to reduced hind wing; (13) detail of reduced hind wing.

FIGURES 14 – 19. Coarazuphium ricardoi new species, male holotype. (14) genital segment and aedeagus, left view, (15) genital segment and aedeagus, right view, (16) genital segment, (17) aedeagus left view, (18) aedeagus dorsal view and (19) aedeagus right view. Legend: lf, left paramere; rp, right paramere.

FIGURES 20 – 24. Coarazuphium ricardoi new species, female paratype. (20) terminalia, dorsal view, (21) terminalia ventral view, (22) reproductive tract, ventral view, (23) gonocoxites lateroventral view, (24) gonocoxites, laterodorsal view. Legend: bc, bursa copulatrix; bs, bursal sacculus; co, common oviduct; gc 1, gonocoxite 1; gc 2, gonocoxite 2; Lt, latero tergite; spg, spermathecal gland; spgd, spermatecal gland duct.

FIGURES 25 – 26. The " Gruta do Varzeão ", registered as cave PR- 0216. (25) View of cave opening from inside the cave. (26) Deeper inside the cave.