Sinella copiosa sp. nov.

Figs 31–43

Types. Holotype female and one paratype female on slides, New Caledonia: Hienghène, Mont Panié, elevation 1350 m, 30.xi.1995, Kaori forest, litter flotation, Louis Deharveng & Anne Bedos leg. (sample NC95-136). Holotype in MNHN and paratype in NJAU.

Description. Body length up to 2.1 mm.

Ground colour pale yellow in alcohol. Antenna about 2 times as long as cephalic diagonal. Number and kinds of antennal chaetae similar to S. quadriseta sp. nov. Lateral process of labial palp thicker than normal chaetae, with tip not reaching apex of labial papilla (Fig. 31). Labial base as M 1m 2M3Rel1l2; M1, M3 and R ciliate; R 0.5 times as long as chaeta M2; 1–2 smooth chaetae present between G2 and G3; chaeta X smooth; many ciliate chaetae among rows G and H (Fig. 32). Dorsal cephalic chaetotaxy with 5 sutural mac (S) and 4 mac in Gr. II (Fig. 33).

Trochanteral organ with 19–23 smooth spiny chaetae; 9–11 in arms and 10–12 between them (Fig. 34). Ungual basal paired teeth unequal, outer one large, at 0.25 distance from base to apex. Unguiculus with an outer tooth of small size. Tenent hair pointed, slightly shorter than unguiculus (Fig. 35). Abd. IV 4.8 times as long as Abd. III along dorsal midline. Ventral tube anteriorly with 9 ciliate chaetae on each side; 2 of them much larger than others (Fig. 36); posteriorly with 7 apical smooth and 9 distal ciliate chaetae (Fig. 37); each lateral flap with 8 smooth chaetae (Fig. 38). Manubrial plaque with 2 pseudopores and 4 ciliate chaetae (Fig. 39). Distal smooth part of dens subequal to mucro in length. Mucronal apical tooth larger than the subapical one; basal spine short with tip just reaching apex of subapical tooth (Fig. 40).

Th. II with 2 (m1, m 1i) medio-medial, 1 (m4) medio-lateral, and 21–22 posterior mac. Th. III with 26–28 mac; a 6i and p5 as mac (Fig. 41). Abd. I with 4 (m 2i, m2–4) central mac. Abd. II with 3 (a2, m3, m3e) central and 1 (m5) lateral mac. Abd. III with 1 (m3) central and 2 (pm6, p6) lateral mac (Fig. 42). Abd. IV with 6 (I, M, A5‒6, B5–6) central, 6 (F1a, F1, E2p, E2–3, D3) lateral mac and at least 10 short sens; long sens not clear (Fig. 43). Abd. V with 4 sens as in S. quadriseta sp. nov.

Ecology. In litter of kaori forest.

Etymology. Named after the abundant (“copiosus, -a” in latin) labial and postlabial chaetae.

Remarks. This species is characterized by abundant chaetae on the ventral side of head, presence of mac m 1i, a5p and p2e2+ on Th. II, mac p5 on Th. III, 2+2 lateral mac on Abd. III, mac F1a on lateral Abd. IV, some ciliate chaetae on posterior face of ventral tube, long unguis, and 4 ciliate chaetae on manubrial plaque. It is similar to the other Sinella species of New Caledonia described here, but differs from them in abundant labial chaetae, 6+6 central mac on Abd. IV, and more chaetae on posterior face of ventral tube (Table 1).