Gordius paranensis Camerano, 1892

(Figure 10)

1892. Gordius paranensis Camerano. 965– 966.

Holotype. 1 male Palmeira Parana, Brasil

Host. Pleioplectron simplex Hutton, 1897 ( Rhaphidophoridae, Orthoptera) (Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2000).

Material examined: 1 male [QCAZI 10003], Napo province, Tena Talag, Ecuador (00º59´97´´ S – 77º48´03´´ W). I. Benitez col. 27/02/1994.

Description. The length of the male specimen is 297 mm and 0.7 mm in diameter. The body color is light brown. The anterior end is not distinctly tapered and lacks the white calotte. The posterior end is bilobed (Fig. 10 A). Tail lobes are 312.5 µm long and 187.5 µm wide. Cloacal opening is round; it lies on a small central cuticular protuberance. This protuberance could be an artificial result of dehydration. Circumcloacal spines are absent (Fig. 10 B). Anterior of the cloacal opening is a semicircular row of bristles that are not furcated apically. Posterior of the cloacal opening is a semicircular crescent (Fig. 10 B). Around the cloacal opening the cuticle is smooth. Body cuticle is smooth (Fig. 10 C).

Distribution: Paraguay, Asunción (1 male and 2 females, Camerano 1894), Villa Rica and Monda-y stream (4 males and 1 female, Camerano 1901a). Brasil, Parana, Palmeira, (1 male, Camerano, 1892); Urucum Matto Grosso (3 males, Camerano 1901b). Chile, Casablanca (6 males Montgomery 1898); Salto, Quilpué, (1 male and 2 females, Camerano 1915); Puyehue (1 male, De Villalobos et al. 2005). Ecuador Napo province Tenac Talag (1 male [QCAZI 10003], new record). New Zealand, South Island of in a small stream at Cass near Arthur’s Pass (mountains of Canterbury) (19 males, Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2000).

Comments. The species of Gordius paranensis have some intraspecific variations, especially concerning body dimensions and coloration (Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2000). This new specimen from Ecuador extends the biogeographical distribution of Gordius paranensis in South America.