Congocepheus ektactesi n. sp.

(Figs 11-18; Table 2)

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet is derived from the exceptional characteristic found in this species; “ ektactesi ” derives from έκτακτες (Grec = extraordinary).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Holotype: 1 ♀, Makokou, Ogoové-Ivindo Province, 0°34’0”N, 12°52’0’’E, 500 m. altitude; dense evergreen humid forest; Y. Coineau coll. I.1974 (MNHN).

Paratypes: same date as Holotype and preserved in ethanol 70%; 3 ♀♀ (MNHN), 4 ♀♀ (MHNG), 3 ♀♀ (NMP); 6 ♀♀ not deposited, used for SEM .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Makokou, Ogoové-Ivindo Province, north-eastern Gabon; situated at 0°34’0”N, 12°52’0’’E.

DIAGNOSIS (ADULT FEMALE). — Setae; lanceolate-rugous; one medial vein: ro, in, c 1, c 2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1, h 2, h 3, p 1, p 2, p 3, ad; le; lanceolate-dentate; in directed outwards; c 2, directed forwards; c 1, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1, h 2 directed backwards; p 1, p 2, p 3, h 3 directed backwards and down; epimeric: simple: aggenital, with three long pectines; genital and anal: simple, basally somewhat inflated.

Prodorsum; polyhedral; elevated interlamellar process, medially elevated, with three zones; two paraxial and one medial; large medial cuticular ribbon separating shallow lamellar furrow, deeper than usual; lamellar tip, short polyhedral apex; superior cornea of naso present; bothridial opening laterally; bothridial ring smooth, incomplete with bothridial tooth. Arching uncinate sensillus.

Notogaster; posterior oval; medial zone more or less rectangular; finger like projection clearly visible, smooth flat digitiform expansion. Polyhedral notogastral anterior depression, deep; two inclined lines delimiting posterior part, originating in the proximity of anterior zone of finger like projection; anterior part extending forwards reaching prodorsum; large central zone bordered by conspicuous depressed zones on both sides; clearly discernible polyhedral humeral apophysis; circumgastric furrow easily discernible.

Infracapitulum; transversal depression anterior to subcapitular seta h.

Elevated cuticular ribbons delimiting epimera; epimeral chaetotaxy 3-1-3-3; discidium triangular, rounded apex expansion; anterior genital furrow well discernible; four pairs of genital setae; two pairs of anal setae; anal plate with small sharp tip; aggenital, adanal and anal setae present; several medium-depth polyhedral depressions laterally to genital opening and anteriolaterally to anal opening; lyrifissure adanal, not discernible.

Legs: trochanter III, paraxially with a crown of small spines, three spines almost dorsally.

DESCRIPTION

Measurements

SEM: 475 Μm (470-498) × 237 Μm (221-243) (material used for SEM studies not deposited). Light microscopy: 480 Μm (476-502) × 240 Μm (233-242).

Shape

Elongate oval (Figs 11A; 13D). Colour

Specimens without cerotegument, dark brown to brown; slightly shiny when observed in reflected light.

Cerotegument

Specimens covered by thin layer, following cuticular irregularities, permitting observation of integumental characteristics. Behind c 2 setae, cerotegument granulate (Fig. 11C). Dirt present, generally on l.l.f (Fig. 15C) and a.g.f (Fig. 14A).

Integument

Prodorsal microsculpture; foveate (Fig. 15E): lamellae, e.i.p, bothridial and rostral area (Fig. 15 A-D); smooth: l.l.f (Figs 12E; 15A, D) zone between l.l.f; (Figs 12E; 15A, D); zone surrounding ro; CSO and in setal insertions (Figs 11A; 15A, C, D).

Notogastral microsculpture; large irregular fovea: dorsal zone (Figs 11A, B, D; 13D; 15A; 16B, C, D); foveate: h.ap, and zone between h 1 setal insertions (Figs 12E; 16B); smooth: n.a.d, zone in front of c 1, la setal insertion (Figs 15A, 16C); f.l.p (Figs 11A, C, E; 15A; 16C); behind lp, h 2, h 1 insertion to s.c (Fig. 16B).

Lateral microsculpture; foveate: lamellae; zone below tu; Pd I, superior part well defined and below less so, gradually becoming smooth; Pd II faintly defined but visible (Figs 12E; 13A; 16A, B); smooth: behind legs and zone of large polyhedral depressions (Fig. 13A).

Ventral microsculpture; foveate: infracapitulum, zone surrounding and slightly behind subcapitular seta h insertion (Fig. 14B); epimeric paraxial zone (Figs 13D; 14A) faintly defined; genital plate anterior zone, faintly defined (Fig. 13C); between adjacent polyhedral depressions, rarely present; smooth: infracapitulum, anterior part (Figs 13C; 14B); antiaxial epimeric zone; genital plate; posterior zone; anal plate and zone of large polyhedral depression (Figs 13C; 14A, C).

Setation

Lanceolate; ro, in, c 1, c 2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1, h 2, h 3, p 1, p 2, p 3, ad, all with more or less rugousdentate margin (Figs 12 A-E; 13 A, D; 14 G; 15 A-D; 16 B, C) and one clearly visible medial vein, but in slightly inclined observation, there are several faint lines parallel to medial vein (Fig. 11D); ro setae forward directed (Figs 12E, 13A; 15A, C, D); in outwards directed (Figs 12E; 13D; 15 A-D); le lanceolate-dentate (Figs 12E; 17C); c 2 forward directed (Figs 13A, D; 15A; 16C); c 1, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1, h 2 backwards directed (Figs 11A, B, D; 13A, D; 15A; 16 A-C; 17 A, B); p 1, p 2, p 3, h 3 backwards directed and down (Figs 13A; 16B). Notogastral setae c 1, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, more or less of even width and length; c 2 thin, similar length to other notogastral setae as cited above; h 1, h 2 slightly narrower and shorter than other seta cited above (Fig. 16B), but size and lengths are variable (Figs 11B; 17A, B); h 3, p 3, p 2, p 1 thin and smallest of all notogastral setae (Figs 11A; 13A; 16B). Adanal (Fig. 14A, G); ad 1, ad 2 largest. Simple; epimeric (Fig. 14F), more or less of equal length; but setae 1a, 1c, 2a and in several cases 3c and 4c hardly discernible, generally broken (Figs 13C; 14A). Aggenital; with long pectins, generally three (Figs 13C, 14E). Genital and anal simple, basally slightly inflated (Figs 13C; 14C, H).

Prodorsum

Polyhedral (Figs 11; 13D; 15A, D); e.i.p medially elevated (Figs 11A; 13; 15A; 16 A-C); in setal insertion zone most prominent part of e.i.p (Figs 11A; 15A, B). Backwards to in setal level, prodorsal structure complex; two paraxial zones (p.zo) and one medial zone (m.zo) are clearly delimited (Figs 15A; 16C); m.zo triangular to polyhedral shape, delimited laterally by elevated cuticular ribbon (l.c.r); cuticular rectilinear ribbon (m.c.r) in medial zone, delimiting two concave zones (Figs 16B, C); posterior of m.zo rectilinear. The p.zo situated laterally to m.zo; zones adjoining l.c.r large and concave (Figs 16B, C). Anterior part of e.i.p from in setal insertion, presenting deep l.l.f, separated by large medial cuticular ribbon (Figs 15A, D); l.l.f ending in front of in the la.ti (Fig. 15C); CSO situated in the anterior part of medial cuticular ribbon, between ro setae insertions, smooth ovoid structure (dorsal view) and convex (in lateral view) (Fig. 15C, D); la.ti polyhedral, short apex (Figs 15C; 17C). Rostral anterior margin round-lobed (Figs 12E; 15C). Lamellae running dorso-laterally.Bothridial opening lateral, (Figs 13A; 16A, B; 17D); bo.ri smooth, incomplete; bo.to sharp tip clearly visible (Fig. 17D); si uncinate, arching (Fig. 17D).

Notogaster

Shape (dorsal view): oval (posterior zone); rectangular (medial zone); concave (anterior zone); polyhedral (laterally, zone h.ap) (Figs 11A; 13D); lateral view:convex elevated; polyhedral (zone h.ap) (Figs 13A; 16A); d.sj hardly discernible, narrow, concave (Fig. 13D).

Notogastral anterior depression (n.a.d), deep, complex structure; pair of inclined lines delimiting posterior zone, originating in the proximity of anterior zone of f.l.p (Figs 11C; 15A; 16C); in frontal view (Fig. 15A), these two lines delimiting a triangular depression, extending laterally to h.ap. Anterior zone extending forwards and exceeding d.sj up to posterior zone of prodorsum, given a complex polyhedral shape (Figs 11C; 15A). At the bottom a large polyhedral middle zone, bordered on both sides by a deep zone (Fig. 11C, indicated by arrow) (see Lateral Region). Humeral apophysis, polyhedral structure (Figs 11A; 13D; 16C). Fourteen pairs of setae (c 1, c 2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h 1, h 2, h 3, p 1, p 2, p 3), f.l.p, well visible (Figs 11A, C, E; 13D; 15A; 16C). Circumgastric furrow well discernible (Figs 11A; 13D; 16B; 17A, B).

Lateral region (Figs 13A; 16A, B)

Prodorsum; e.i.p slightly elevated. Lam well discernible, terminating in polyhedral la.ti extending slightly towards le setae insertion (Fig. 17C); tu a curving rod-like cuticular thickening, clearly delimited; s.tu.d deep, easily visible. Pedotectum I, prominent extended lamina, directed forward.

Pedotectum II, ovoid to polyhedral lamina, medium size, situated slightly behind acetabulum II, posterior part in contact with trochanter III. Discidium discernible between acetabula III and IV.

Bothridia ovoid to polyhedral; bothridial opening lateral; bo.ri smooth, incomplete with prominent bo.to (Fig. 17D). Large rectangular to polyhedral humeral apophysis; anterior rectilinear, penetrated by posterior bothridial zone. This last zone very complex (Fig. 13B).

Excavated depression on h.ap clearly visible (Fig. 13A, indicated by arrow); s.c excavated, easily discernible (Fig. 16B). Lyrifissures not discernible (see Remarks). Several conspicuous polyhedral depressions behind acetabulum IV.

Posterior aspect (Figs 16B; 17A, B)

Elevated interlamellar process, in setae, bothridium, posterior zone of prodorsum and posterior prodorsal ornamentation clearly visible (Fig.16B). Notogastral setae, h.ap, s.c and notogastral microsculpture easily discernible.

Ventral region

Different observation angles and dispositions are necessary for properly understanding the ventral region. (Figs 13C; 14A; 17B); in flat observation (Figs 13C; 14A) elevated and depressed areas clearly discernible.Subcapitulum (Fig. 14B) with transverse depression immediately in front of seta h. Epimera clearly delimited but it is impossible to establish if delimitations elevated or depressed (Fig. 13C, optical observation).Epimera 3 and 4 fused.Epimera clearly discernible as slightly depressed more or less flat areas Epimeral chaetotaxy 3-1-3-3; dis triangular, rounded apical expansion; a.g.f medium depth, situated towards the front of genital plate. Four pairs of genital setae; two pairs of anal setae. Anal plate with small sharp tip (Figs 13C; 14C, D). Aggenital setae situated posterolaterally to genital plate. Three pairs of adanal setae situated on elevated zone between contiguous depressions (Figs 14A; 17B). Adanal and aggenital setae more or less of equal lengths, different shapes (see Setation). Several polyhedral depressions (medium depth) laterally to genital opening and anterolaterally to anal opening (Figs 14A; 17B). Lyrifissure iad not discernible (see Remarks).

Legs (Fig. 18 A-D)

All legs monodactyle.Setal formulae I (1-3-2-4-15) (1-2-2); II (1-4-3-3-15) (1-1-2); III (2-3-1-2-(14-15) (1-1-0); 1-2-2-2-(12-13) (0-1-0). Tarsus III and IV with in some cases one additional seta (see Remarks).

Several aspects, hardly discernible in optical microscopy, had to be confimed by SEM studies, such as: presence of d setae on tibia I near solenidium φ 2 and the famulus (ε) situated between solenidia ω 1 and ω 2 (Fig. 17E), confirmed by SEM; claw with a tooth ventrally and slight dentition laterally and ventrally (Fig. 17F).

Trochanter III particular, with a crown of small spines (Fig. 18F, indicated by single arrow) on cuticular paraxial thickenings (Fernandez et al. 2013a) and a series of three spines situated almost dorsally (Fig. 18F, indicated by double arrow), exceeding the trochanteral margin and clearly visible antiaxially (Fig. 18E) (see Discussion).

REMARKS

Very fine dirt on these specimens complicated SEM and optic microscopy studies as it prevented observation of details of microsculpture and lyrifissures. In some cases, dirt was attached to setae surfaces and altered their shapes (epimeric setae for example).

We found size variations amongst setae; in is largest in most cases; but in some specimens interlamellar and notogastral setae were of equal size; setae h 1 and h 2 presented large variation from equal in size to very small in comparison to other notogastral setae.

We found variation in numbers of tarsal chaetotaxy of legs III and IV, similar to that found in C. gabonensis n. sp.