Xangoniscus loboi Campos-Filho, Gallao & Bichuette, 2022

Campos-Filho 1, Ivanklin S., Gallo 2, Jessica S., Gallao 2, Jonas E., Torres 2, Dayana F., Horta 3, Lilia, Carpio-Diaz 4, Yesenia M., Lopez-Orozco 4, Carlos M., Borja-Arrieta 4, Ricardo, Aguiar 5, Jose O. & Bichuette 2,3, Maria E., 2022, Unique and fragile diversity emerges from Brazilian caves - two new amphibious species of Xangoniscus Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014 (Oniscidea, Styloniscidae) from Serra do Ramalho karst area, state of Bahia, Brazil, Subterranean Biology 42, pp. 1-22 : 1

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.42.75725

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5C413E74-53FA-4AB0-B4CB-B6A332C83030

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0572EC0F-C9B4-4B05-804C-3606AC59A8AF

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:0572EC0F-C9B4-4B05-804C-3606AC59A8AF

treatment provided by

Subterranean Biology by Pensoft

scientific name

Xangoniscus loboi Campos-Filho, Gallao & Bichuette
status

sp. nov.

Xangoniscus loboi Campos-Filho, Gallao & Bichuette sp. nov.

Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 3 View Figure 3 , 8 View Figure 8 , 9 View Figure 9 , 10 View Figure 10 , 11 View Figure 11

Type locality.

Bahia, Feira da Mata, Gruna da Pingueira II cave (14°12'04.3"S, 44°24'39.1"W).

Type material.

Holotype male (LES 27737), Bahia, Feira da Mata, Gruna da Pingueira II cave, 14 October 2020, leg. ME Bichuette, DF Torres, JS Gallo & JE Gallão. Paratypes 2 males, 3 females (one female with parts in micropreparations) (LES 27738), 6 males (one male in micropreparations), 4 females (LES 27739), same data as holotype.

Description.

Body length: ♂ 12 mm, ♀ 10 mm. Body unpigmented, slender and elongated, lateral sides almost parallel (Figs 3C, E View Figure 3 , 8A-C View Figure 8 ). Dorsal surface smooth with scattered fringed scale setae (Figs 8C View Figure 8 , 9A View Figure 9 ). Pereonite 1 epimera with distal corners not developed frontwards, posterior corners right-angled; pereonites 2-4 epimera gradually directed backwards, posterior corners progressively more acute; pleon slightly narrower than pereon, pleonites 3-5 epimera very short, slightly visible on dorsal view (Figs 8A View Figure 8 , 9C View Figure 9 ). Cephalon (Figs 8D View Figure 8 , 9B View Figure 9 ) with large quadrangular antennary lobes; vertex with slightly lateral depression to fit antennae when extended backwards, profrons with V-shaped suprantennal line, not surpassing antennule insertion; eyes absent. Telson (Fig. 9C View Figure 9 ) with well pronounced concave sides and broadly rounded apex. Antennula (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ) of three articles, proximal and distal articles subequal in length, second article bearing short setae on inner margin, distal article with five aesthetascs. Antenna (Fig. 9E View Figure 9 ) with fifth article of peduncle longer than flagellum; flagellum of four articles, first article longest, distal article bearing tuft of free sensilla. Left mandible (Fig. 9F View Figure 9 ) with two penicils, right mandible (Fig. 9G View Figure 9 ) with one penicil and lacinia mobilis leaf shaped. Maxillula (Fig. 9H View Figure 9 ) outer branch with 5 + 5 teeth, apically entire, and two thick plumose stalks; inner branch with three penicils, proximal one longer than two apical. Maxilla (Fig. 9I View Figure 9 ) with setose and bilobate apex, outer lobe smaller bearing one strong seta. Maxilliped (Fig. 9J View Figure 9 ) basis enlarged on distal portion bearing fringe of fine setae; first article of palp with two setae, distal articles fused bearing distal tufts of fine setae; endite rectangular, outer and medial margins setose, apically with one triangular teeth and large triangular penicil. Uropod (Fig. 10A View Figure 10 ) branches inserted at same level, endopod and exopod subequal in length. Pereopods 1-7 gradually elongated, pereopods 1-7 merus, carpus and propodus bearing sparse setae and fringed scales (discernible over 200 × magnification) on sternal margin, pereopod 7 basis with scales of water conduction system; dactylus of one claw bearing many setae on inner and outer margins.

Male. Pereopods 1-3 (Fig. 10B-D View Figure 10 ) merus with proximal lobe bearing fringed scales and fine setae on sternal margin. Pereopods 4-6 (Fig. 10E-G View Figure 10 ) merus with dense field of short setae on sternal margin. Pereopod 6 (Fig. 10G View Figure 10 ) merus bearing brush of setae on sternal margin. Pereopod 7 (Fig. 10H View Figure 10 ) ischium straight on sternal margin, merus, and carpus with no distinct modifications. Genital papilla (Fig. 11A View Figure 11 ) lanceolate, enlarged on median portion, apical part narrow and pointed. Pleopod 1 (Fig. 11B View Figure 11 ) exopod subtriangular, longer than wide, inner and outer margins bearing fringe of fine setae; endopod slightly longer than exopod, narrow basal article and flagelliform distal article; basipod with stout and broadly rounded medial part bearing fringe of fine setae along outer and distal margins. Pleopod 2 (Fig. 11C View Figure 11 ) exopod triangular, median portion narrower, distal margin almost straight bearing three setae; endopod of two thickset articles, second article about three times as long as first, with complex apical part: distal margin rounded with two narrow transverse processes, subapical circular lobe strongly folded. Pleopod 3 exopod (Fig. 11D View Figure 11 ) triangular, slightly longer than wide, covering pleopods 1 and 2, bearing many short setae on distal margin. Pleopod 4 exopod (Fig. 11E View Figure 11 ) subrectangular, wider than long, distal portion bearing many short setae. Pleopod 5 exopod (Fig. 11F View Figure 11 ) subtrapezoidal, distal margin rounded bearing many short setae.

Etymology.

The new species is named after Alexandre Lobo for all his contributions for knowledge and conservation of the Brazilian speleological heritage.

Remarks.

Xangoniscus loboi sp. nov. differs from all other species of the genus in having the proximal lobe of male pereopods 1-3 merus covered with scales and fine setae, and in the shape of the distal complex apparatus of the male pleopod 2 endopod.

Ecology and behavior.

Xangoniscus loboi sp. nov. occurs in a small stream formed by infiltration water in the limestone rock (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). The small stream crosses an extension of about 9 m through the cave entrance and the twilight zones, with width varying from 0.2 to 1.2 m and depth from 0.05 to 0.25 m. Along the stream, two small waterfalls (ca. 0.6 m of length) with a rocky substrate were observed. In these stretches, the individuals were seen constantly climbing the substrate (see Supplementary Online Material 2). The bottom of the stream is composed mainly of rocky substrate (concretions and small pebbles), with silt and sand sediment in the bottom, offering rich shelter for the isopods (Fig. 3 C, E-H View Figure 3 ). The water is clear, with a very slow current. Physicochemical variables are typical of karst aquifers (high pH values), pH = 8.0-8.5, T = 24.1 °C. A low load of organic and particulate matter was observed in the stream, with some seeds of fruits in the sector close to the cave entrance. The population density in three sectors of the stream were: 54 inds.m-2, 67 inds.m-2 and 342 inds.m-2; minimal abundance was 455 individuals in an area of ca. 5.0 m2. As observed for X. lapaensis sp. nov., the locomotor behavior was very particular. Xangoniscus loboi sp. nov. shows an efficient walking behavior when submerged (see Supplementary Online Material 3) and climbs vertical stretches (upstream direction) in the stretches with relatively strong water flow. They are clumsy out of water (they do not perform as well as in the submersion behavior), but they adhere very well on dry rock. We also observed copulation: three different couples in reproductive behavior, mated for several minutes (at least 5 min.) (see Supplementary Online Material 4 and 5). Several adults and juvenile individuals were observed along the stream, representing possible recruitment at the end of the dry season. Other interesting behaviors are the indifference to light, even under strong flashlight (ca. 600 lumens), and the interactions among several individuals, touching each other, showing no signs of agonistic behavior. In relation to feeding behavior, some individuals were observed foraging on vegetal debris and seeds (see Supplementary Online Material 6). It appears that X. loboi sp. nov. occurs preferentially in microhabitats fed by infiltration water in the limestone. This is very specific and unique, and probably the main habitat of this species is the spaces in rocks filled by water.