Pseudonannolene caatinga Iniesta & Ferreira 2014

Iniesta, Luiz Felipe Moretti & Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes, 2014, New species of Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895 from Brazilian limestone caves with comments on the potential distribution of the genus in South America (Spirostreptida: Pseudonannolenidae), Zootaxa 3846 (3), pp. 361-397 : 375-376

Pseudonannolene caatinga Iniesta & Ferreira 2014 , new species

( Figs. 10 , 14 f)

Material examined. Holotype: 1 male ( ISLA 3627) from Toca dos Ossos cave (10º93’09”S 41º05’75”W), Ourolândia/BA, Brasil, 10/VI/2012. Collected by R.L. Ferreira.

Paratypes: 5 males ( ISLA 3628, 3629, 3630, 3631, 3634); 3 females (3632, 3633, 3635) from Toca dos Ossos cave, Ourolândia/BA, Brasil, 10/VI/2012. Collected by R.L. Ferreira.

Etimology. Caatinga refers to a semi-arid biome that comprises the only exclusively Brazilian biome and in which the species was found. The word is formed by a combination of two words of origin of the Tupi ( Brazil ´s indigenous language): Ka'a, meaning "forest" and Tinga meaning white. Therefore, caatinga means "White Forest".

Comparative diagnosis. Body and eyes pigmented. Labrum with 6 supralabral setae; 20 labral setae. Mandibles with 7 rows of pectinate lamellae (difficult to see). P. caatinga has the internal branch of the gonopod as the observed in the species P. ros i ne i i, P. taboa , P. leopoldoi , P. ambuatinga ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013b), P. s p el a ea ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013a), P. rolamossa , P. gogo ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013c), P. chaimowiczi , P. imbirensis , P. tocaiensis ( Fontanetti 1996b) and P. microzoporus ( Mauriès 1987) . The solenomere is bifurcated, as in the species P. ros i ne i, P. t a bo a, P. leopoldoi , P. chaimowiczi , P. imbirensis , P. rolamossa , P. gogo , P. anapophysis ( Fontanetti 1996a) , P. strinatii ( Mauriès 1974) and P. tricolor ( Brölemann 1902) . The pre-femoral process is proportionally shorter than pre-femur, as observed in P. xavieri , P. leopoldoi , P. s p e l a e a, P. robsoni , P. imbirensis , P. silvestri and P. tricolor ( Fontanetti 2002; Iniesta & Ferreira 2013a).

Description of adults. Measurements: Length from 65 up to 72 mm; maximum midbody diameter between 3.2 to 4.64 mm; body rings ranging between 65 to 68; length of antennae ranging from 3.52 to 3.8 mm (relation to diameter ranging 0.81 to 1.1); length of legs 2.96 to 3.39 mm (relation to diameter ranging 0.73 to 0.93); length of tarsal claw 0.22 to 0.27 mm (relation to diameter ranging 0.06).

Color: Visualization after fixation in 70% alcohol. Bicolor, with the anterior region of each ring darker and posterior reddish brown.

Head ( Fig. 10 a): Head glabrous and pigmented. Labrum with a row containing 20 labral setae, and above a row with 6 supralabral setae. Mandibles slightly pigmented, with 2 external teeth, 4 internal teeth and 7 rows of pectinate lamellae. Eyes with 29–35 ocelli arranged in 5 rows. Antennae pigmented and densely setose. First antennomere small, second and third similar, fourth, fifth and sixth short, being the last larger. Presence of basiconic sensilla in latter edge of fifth and sixth antennomere. Gnatochilarium typical of the genus.

Trunk: Body pigmented. Prozone dark and metazone reddish brown. Lateral region of each ring with transverse striae. Telson, anal shield and anal valve pigmented.

First male pair of legs ( Fig. 10 b): Coxae (Cx) larger; densely setose; triangle-shaped. Prefemur (Prf) with elongated oral process parallel (P) to the coxae. P with bristles arranged on base and base width equal to the distal region.

Gonopod ( Fig. 10 c, d): Gonopod elongated, stout and sclerified. Coxae reduced; glabrous and adhered to basal region of gonopod. Basal section (Bs) with width little larger than half of length; Basiconic bristles arranged in rows along the entire the base of gonopod. Shoulder (Sh) short and rounded. Distal section (Ds) as long as wide and smaller than half of length of Bs. Solenomere (S) with distal region squamous, bifurcated, with an acute external tip and rounded internal with a seminal spine (Sp). Internal branch (Ib) starting right below the Sh line on Bs; short and wide, like a shield of S; bristles arranged in middle-distal region and exceeding the S.

Notes on the natural history and habitat. The cave ( Fig. 15 g) is extensive (more than 15 km long), predominantly dry, and associated with quite metamorphosed carbonates of the Una group. This cave has extremely labyrinthine architecture, presenting very heterogeneous conditions along its length. Specimens of P. caatinga were found only in more humid regions of the cave, which comprise few areas. Migrations of species between these areas probably occur during rainy periods, in which the cave becomes wetter. Food resources for species consist primarily of plant debris brought by the wind (that preferentially deposited near skylights) and bat guano. The outer region has undergone profound impacts of mining activities, which have intensified in the last decade. Numerous changes resulting from this activity are observed inside the cave, such as deposition of blocks, siltation and clogging of entrances, where there was mining over the cave. Fortunately, this mining is currently inactive. The population of P. caatinga can be considered large because in some places dozens of individuals can be seen.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Pseudonannolene caatinga sp. n. (holotype, ISLA 3628): a) Anterior region; b) Pre-femoral process; c) Caudal view of gonopod; d) Oral view of gonopod. Scale bar: a) 1 mm; b) 350 µm; c) 700 µm; d) 700 µm.

FIGURE 14. Live specimens: a) Pseudonannolene xavieri sp. n.; b) Pseudonannolene leopoldoi sp. n.; c) Pseudonannolene robsoni sp. n.; d) Pseudonannolene marconii sp. n.; e) Pseudonannolene rosineii sp. n.; f) Pseudonannolene caatinga sp. n.; g) Pseudonannolene taboa sp. n.; h) Pseudonannolene fontanettiae sp. n.

FIGURE 15. Caves where the specimens were found: a) Paranoá cave (P. rosineii sp. n.); b) Rei do Mato cave (P. erikae sp. n. and P. longisima sp. n.); c) Lapa do Zu cave (P. leopoldoi sp. n.); d) Casa da Pedra cave (P. fontanettiae sp. n.); e) Taboa cave (P. taboa sp. n.); f) Milagrosa cave P. marconii sp. n.); g) Toca dos Ossos cave (P. caatinga sp. n.); h) Lapa do Baio cave (P. xavieri sp. n.); i) Brega cave (P. robsoni sp. n.).