Cryptops (Cryptops) spelaeoraptor, Ázara, Ludson Neves De & Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes, 2014

Ázara, Ludson Neves De & Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes, 2014, Cryptops (Cryptops) spelaeoraptor n. sp. a remarkable troglobitic species (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) from Brazil, Zootaxa 3826 (1), pp. 291-300 : 292-297

Cryptops (Cryptops) spelaeoraptor n. sp. Ázara & Ferreira, 2014

( Figures 1–3 , 5 C–D)

Type material. Holotype: ISLA 5000 from Toca do Gonçalo cave (10º30'41"S, 40º53'39.8"W), Campo Formoso, Bahia, Brazil, 08/I/2014, leg. R. L. Ferreira.

Etymology. The name is given as a reference to the Latin word spelaeus, meaning “living in caves” and to the latin word raptor, meaning “one who kidnaps”, referring to the last pair of legs, which probably constitute an effective predatory or defensive “device”.

Diagnosis. Very long setae on the first three antennal articles with the longest setae about the same length as the maximum width of antennal article 2; cephalic plate covered with transverse rows of fine, long setae, half the length of the longest setae on the first three antennal articles; anterior apex of the cephalic plate not indented; last pair of legs presenting 28 saw teeth on prefemur, 30 on femur, 24 on tibia, 17 on tarsus 1 and 17 on tarsus 2; the teeth of tarsus 2 on a ridge.

Description. Length (anterior margin of cephalic plate to posterior margin of ultimate tergite) 17.2 mm. Cephalic plate 0.7 mm long and 0.6 mm wide, antenna 3.5 mm long.

Head and three anterior most trunk segments light yellowish to whitish ( Figure 1 A). Posterior trunk segments and legs depigmented.

Cephalic plate not overlapping tergite 1, with about the same width and length; posterior corners rounded, sides convex, anterior apex not indented ( Figure 1 B). Paramedian sutures present only at the anterior part, extending about 1/3 the total length of the head plate. Head covered with transverse rows of long fine setae, the lateral sides with long fine scattered setae, half the length of the longest setae on the first three antennal articles.

Antenna composed of 17 articles; articles 1–5 increasing in length and decreasing in width, articles 2–12 having an average length of 0.42 mm and articles 13–17 an average length of 0.34 mm, maximum length of article 5 0.5 mm; articles quadrangular ( Figure 1 A). Article 1 with a transversal suture forming a ring on the anterior part. Articles 1–3 with a high density of very long setae of varied length, with the longest setae about the same length as the width of antennal article 2; articles 4–5 with a low density of these setae only in the anterior part of each article; from article 5, short, fine setae form a fur-like covering with long setae only encircling the proximal and distal part of each article; articles 14–17 without circle of setae on the distal part.

Anterior setose area on clypeus bearing four lanceolate setae; a disordered row of 15 prelabal setae; 4 lanceolate setae between anterior margin of clypeus and prelabal setae. Labrum with sidepieces notched ( Figure 1 E).

Anterior edge of forcipular coxosternite straight, with a disordered row of 7+7 submarginal setae. Inner surface of trochanteroprefemur with 6 lanceolate setae; surface of coxosternite and trochanteroprefemur with scattered fine and long setae. Femur, tibia and proximal part of tarsangulum with a row of lanceolate setae longer than the lanceolate setae of trochanteroprefemur. Tarsungulum articulated with trochanteroprefemur along wide hinge ( Figure 1 E).

Apical claw of second maxilla with slender hook distally, slightly curved on distal part, occupying 1/2 of article 3. Dorsal brush dense, running along the distal half of article 3.

Tergite 1 with complete anterior transverse suture ( Figure 1 C). Tergites 1–21 with homogeneous short and long setae. Tergites 1–19 with paramedian sutures, 4–19 with lateral crescentic sulci. Tergites 1–21 with scattered long fine setae ( Figure 1 D). Tergite 21 slightly longer than wide, posterior margin with rounded apex ( Figure 2C –D). Pretergites 2–20 with a transverse irregular row of fine setae and some scattered fine setae, with the pretergite 6 a fifth of the total length of that tergite.

Spiracles elongated, elliptical.

Sternites 2–19 with median longitudinal and curved transverse sulci, their intersection forming a depression. Sternites 1–20 with short and long setae ( Figure 2 A). Sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment with sides gently convex and converging posteriorly; posterior corners rounded ( Figure 2 B); Coxopleural pore field elliptical, with about 40 pores; short and moderately long setae only in the ventral portion of the pore field, less numerous than pores. Posterior margin of coxopleuron with spiniform setae.

Legs long and thin, e.g., leg 10 with prefemur 0.4 mm, femur 0.3 mm, tibia 0.2 mm, tarsus 0.4 mm ( Figure 2 E). Legs 1–20 with tarsi not bipartite. Ultimate pair of legs: prefemur 0.8 mm, femur 0.7 mm, tibia 0.6 mm, tarsus 1 0.4 mm, tarsus 2 0.5 mm; prefemur and femur about 4 times as long as their maximal width at the distal end. Ventral part of leg 1 with strong lanceolate setae on prefemur, femur and tibia, dorsal and ventral part of tarsus 1 and 2 and dorsal part of femur, prefemur and tibia with fine lanceolate setae; setae on legs 2 to 20 similar but less dense. Distal spinose processes lacking on prefemur, femur and tibia. Pair of accessory spines of pretarsus on legs 1–20 divergent, 2/3 the length of pretarsus ( Figure 2 F); accessory spines lacking on ultimate leg. All segments of the ultimate pair of legs bearing saw teeth, the teeth the same size on each segment ( Figure 3 A), 28 on prefemur, 30 on femur ( Figure 3 B), 24 on tibia, 17 on tarsus 1 and 17 on tarsus 2, with the teeth of tarsus 2 on a ridge ( Figure 3C ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cryptops (C.) spelaeoraptor n. sp. (ISLA 5000): A) Cephalic plate, antenna and anterior tergites; B) cephalic plate and three first antennal articles; C) first tergite; D) tergite 8; E) ventral view of head.

FIGURE 2. C. (C.) spelaeoraptor n. sp. (ISLA 5000): A) Sternite 4; B) sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment; C – D) tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment; E) leg 10, lateral view; F) pretarsus of leg 10.

FIGURE 3. C. (C.) spelaeoraptor n. sp. (ISLA 5000): A) Leg 21, lateral view; B) saw teeth on prefemur and femur of leg 21, lateral view; C) saw teeth on tibia, tarsus 1 and 2 of leg 21, lateral view.

FIGURE 5. A) Entrance of the Toca do Gonçalo Cave; B) inner conduit of the cave; C – D) Cryptops (C.) spelaeoraptor n. sp., living specimen inside the cave.