Epiperipatus hyperbolicus, Costa & Chagas-Junior & Pinto-da-Rocha, 2018

Costa, Cristiano Sampaio, Chagas-Junior, Amazonas & Pinto-da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2018, Redescription of Epiperipatus edwardsii, and descriptions of five new species of Epiperipatus from Brazil (Onychophora: Peripatidae), Zoologia (e 23366) 35, pp. 1-15 : 7-8

Epiperipatus hyperbolicus sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/ ED926027-E31F-4C19-80CE-321B6B6886CC

Figs 11, 12, 21–23, 37

Diagnosis. Dorsal papillae with conical and small basal piece composed of truncated robust scales and primary papillae of regular size with six or seven scale ranks at base and robust and asymmetric spherical apical piece. Legs with 23 to 25 pairs.

Compound description. Measurements (based on a single male): length 26, width 2.0 and height 3.0. Females: length 22–33, width 17–2.0 and height 2.0–3.0. Color (living specimens). Background color of dorsal body, arrangement of pale primary papillae, and ventral region as in Epiperipatus titanicus sp. nov. Description of body. Dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds, two primary papillae occurring close together or separated by one to three accessory papillae. Dorsal papillae with conical basal piece, composed of truncated scales ( Fig. 21). Primary papillae regular in size with six or seven scale ranks at base and robust and asymmetric spherical apical piece ( Figs 11, 12). Apical piece composed of overlapped scale ranks, six or seven on front and three on back ( Figs 11, 12). Constriction between the two portions of primary papillae hidden ( Figs 11, 12). Needle-shaped sensory bristle curved or straight and dislocated to back side of apical piece.

Head. In holotype antennae with 27 rings (28 rings in paratype, some females with 36, 37 and 41 antennal rings). In both holotype and paratype the antennal tips composed of seven broad rings and terminal bud. Antennal tip followed by alternating narrow and broad rings until sixteenth ring. Jaw blades as in Epiperipatus titanicus sp. nov. with dental formula of holotype and paratype as follows: 1/1/7 and 1/1/11 ( Fig. 23). Legs. Male holotype: 23 pairs of legs. Females: 24 and 25 pairs of legs. Nephridial tubercle on fourth and fifth pairs of legs, between third and the fourth spinous pads ( Fig. 22). Fourth and fifth pairs of legs without evidence of fifth spinous pad ( Fig. 22).

Sexual dimorphism. One or two pairs of pregenital legs present (male) with one crural papilla on each. Anal glands inconspicuous (male); represented only by two pores on anterior margin of anal aperture.

Type material. Holotype. MNRJ 0104 , ♂, Brazil, Alagoas State, Murici, Estação Ecológica de Murici ( Mata da Bananeira ), 11–18.xii.2009, Costa, C.S., Giupponi, A. and Chagas-Jr leg . Paratypes. MNRJ 0105 , ♀, idem ; MNRJ 0106 , 2♀, Brazil, Alagoas State, Murici, Estação Ecológica de Murici ( Mata da Bananeira ), 11–18.xii.2009, Costa, C.S., Giupponi, A. and Chagas-Jr leg .

Distribution ( Fig. 37). Only known from the type locality ( Brazil, Alagoas State, Murici, Estação Ecológica de Murici).

Etymology. The specific name hyperbolicus , hyperbolica, hyperbolicum (Latinized adjective “exaggerated”, from Greek ὑπερβολή, plus suffix - icus) refers to the large spherical shape of the apical piece of the primary papillae of this species.