Pseudonannolene xavieri 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 : 373-375

Pseudonannolene xavieri Iniesta & Ferreira 2014 , new species

( Figs. 9 , 14 a)

Material examined. Holotype: 1 male ( ISLA 4105) from Gruta da Fumaça cave (10º59’36.81”S 43º42’06.75”W), Iraquara/BA, Brasil, 07/I/2001. Collected by R. L. Ferreira.

Etimology. The specific epithet is in honor to the biospeleologist Xavier Prous for his contribution to our knowledge of Brazilian subterranean biology.

Comparative diagnosis. Body and eyes pigmented. Labrum with 6 supralabral setae; 24 + 2 labral setae. Mandibles with 10 rows of pectinate lamellae (difficult to see). P. xavieri has of the internal branch of the gonopod tumid and digitiform, similar to the observed in the species P. saguassu ( Iniesta & Ferreira 2013b), P. anapophisys ( Fontanetti 1996a) and P. strinatii ( Mauriès 1974) . Regarding the solenomere, it has a slightly bifurcated form, as in the species P. marconii , P. rolamossa , P. gogo , P. anapophysis ( Fontanetti 1996a) , P. strinatii ( Mauriès 1974) and P. tricolor ( Brölemann 1902) . However, differing from those species, the gonopod is short and rounded, but wider. The pre-femoral process is not elongated; however, its distal portion is wider and rounded, as in P. leopoldoi , P. imbirensis , P. silvestri , P. tricolor and P. spelaea ( Fontanetti 2002; Iniesta & Ferreira 2013a).

Description of adults. Measurements: Length from 44 mm; maximum midbody diameter 3.6 mm; 60 body rings; length of antennae ranging from 3.6 mm (relation to diameter 1.07); length of legs 2.43 mm (relation to diameter ranging 0.72); length of tarsal claw 0.22 mm (relation to diameter 0.06).

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

Head ( Fig. 9 a): Head glabrous and pigmented. Labrum with a row containing 24 + 2 labral setae, and above a row with 6 supralabral setae. Mandibles slightly pigmented, with 2 external teeth, 4 internal teeth and 10 rows of pectinate lamellae. Eyes with 29 ocelli arranged in 4 rows. Antennae pigmented and densely setose. First antennomere small, second and third similar, fourth, fifth and sixth lower and similar, 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 whitish. Lateral region of each ring with transverse striae. Telson, anal shield and anal valve pigmented.

First male pair of legs ( Fig. 9 b): Coxae (Cx) larger; densely setose; triangle-shaped. Prefemur (Prf) with elongated and rounded oral process parallel (P) to the coxae. Bristles arranged on base of P.

Gonopod ( Fig. 9 c, d): Gonopod short, stout and sclerified. Coxae reduced; glabrous and adhered to basal region of gonopod. Presence of a process supporting a seta. Basal section (Bs) with width little short than the length; basiconic bristles arranged in rows along the entire the base of gonopod. Shoulder (Sh) evident and rounded. Distal section (Ds) as long as wide and little shorter than half of the length of Bs. Solenomere (S) short but wide and with trunk wide; distal portion squamous; slightly bifurcated, with an acute external tip and rounded internal. Internal branch (Ib) short but swollen, starting right below the Sh line on Bs; bristles exceeding the S and arranged in middle-distal region.

Notes on the natural history and habitat. The Fumaça cave is located in the city of Iraquara (Bahia), as part of a diverse speleological scenario characterized by the presence of dozens of caves, some quite large. The epigean environment is semi-arid ( Caatinga ) and quite urbanized, especially by the presence of several cultivated areas.

The cave is located in a region known as "Chapada Diamantina " comprising one of the most important centers of ecotourism in Brazil. Several caves in the area are open to visitors, regularly receiving hundreds of tourists throughout the year. This is the case of the Fumaça cave, which has much of its extension accessible to tourists. Among the changes that were aimed at improving the access of tourists into the cave are stairs, walkways (built by the relocation of cave soil), and railings. Such structures have changed some parts of the cave, certainly changing microhabitats. The main organic resources present consist of bat guano deposits, and the few individuals were observed always associated with this substrate. Individuals of this species also occur in other caves in the area, though always at low densities ( Fig. 15 h).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Pseudonannolene xavieri sp. n. (holotype, ISLA 4105): a) Anterior region; b) Pre-femoral process; c) Caudal view of gonopod; d) Oral view of gonopod. Scale bar: a) 1 mm; b) 500 µm; c) 500 µm; d) 500 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.).