Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette, n. sp.

(Figs 11; 12; 15)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 606E8E10-CBB2-4B05-8AFA-C9F6C3AA902E

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Brazil • ♂ (parts in micropreparations); Gruta do Mandacaru cave, Ituaçu, state of Bahia; 13°50’23.46”S, 41°19’14.52”W; 523 m a.s.l.; 23.II.2019; M. E. Bichuette, D. F. Torres & J. E. Gallão leg.; LES 27994.

Paratype. Brazil • 1 ♀ (in micropreparations), 1 juvenile; same data as holotype; LES 27995 .

ETYMOLOGY. — The new species is named after the native Brazilian Cactaceae Cereus jamacaru, also known as Mandacaru, typical for xeric environments. This name is used also for the locality where the specimens were collected, namely Gruta do Mandacaru.

DESCRIPTION

Maximum body length: ♂ and ♀ 3 mm. Color brown with typical muscle spot insertions; cephalon, pereonites 1-5 posterior portion, pereonites 6 and 7, pleon and telson more pigmented. Body outline as in Figure 11A. Pereonite 1 slightly directed frontwards, not surpassing cephalon, pereonites 2-7 gradually more arched and directed backwards. Dorsal surface densely covered with fan-shaped scale-setae (Fig. 11B). One line of piliform noduli laterales per side, longer than scale-setae (Fig. 11B); d/c and b/c coordinates as in Figure 11C and D, respectively. Cephalon (Fig. 11E, F) with rounded lateral lobes, suprantennal line bent down in middle; eyes with 5-6 ommatidia. Pleon slightly narrower than pereon, epimera slightly developed, acute and directed backwards (Fig. 11A). Telson (Fig. 11G) with lateral sides slightly concave, apex right-angled. Antennula (Fig. 11H) distal article longest bearing about seven aesthetascs in two rows plus apical pair. Antenna (Fig. 11I) reaching second pereonite when extended backwards; flagellum with first and second articles subequal in length, third article bearing lateral aesthetascs, apical organ bearing two long free sensilla. Mandibles (Fig. 11J, K) with molar penicil of about five branches. Maxillula (Fig. 11L) inner endite with two hairy penicils, distal margin rounded; outer endite with 4+3 teeth, two apically cleft at apex, outer margin strongly concave equipped with long setae. Maxilla (Fig. 11M) inner lobe rounded covered with thick setae; outer lobe twice as wide as inner lobe covered with thin setae. Maxilliped (Fig. 11N) palp with proximal article bearing two long setae; endite subrectangular, medial seta surpassing distal margin, distal margin sinuous. Dactylus of two claws subequal in length, dactylar and ungual setae simple, not surpassing outer claw. Uropod (Fig. 12A) protopod subquadrangular, protopod and exopod grooved on outer margin, exopod longer than endopod, endopod inserted almost at same level.

Male

Pereopod 7 without apparent sexual dimorphism (Fig. 12B). Genital papilla (Fig. 12C) with triangular ventral shield, papilla longer than ventral shield bearing two subapical orifices. Pleopod 1 (Fig. 12D) exopod subtriangular, slightly longer than wide, inner margin rounded, outer margin slightly concave; endopod stout, longer than exopod, medial portion with lobe, distal portion triangular, directed outwards, bearing short setae on medial margin. Pleopod 2 (Fig. 12E) exopod triangular, outer margin concave bearing four long setae; endopod longer than exopod. Pleopod 3 and 4 exopods (Fig. 12F, G) triangular, outer margin almost straight bearing long setae. Pleopod 5 exopod (Fig. 12H) triangular, outer margin slightly convex bearing long setae.

REMARKS

Novamundoniscus mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette, n. sp. is readily distinguished from the congeneric species in the shape of the male pleopod 1.

This species is considered to be a troglophile due to the absence of troglomorphic characters. The cave where the specimens of N. mandacaru Campos-Filho, Araujo & Bichuette, n. sp. were collected is inserted in the Caatinga domain (Morrone et al. 2022). Probably the species inhabits caves due to their resources and favorable micro-habitat conditions (Fernandes et al. 2016, 2019).