Trogolaphysa palaciosi sp. nov.

Figs. 17 A–I Table 4

Etymology. This species is dedicated to José Palacios-Vargas, for all his contributions to the understanding of the Neotropical fauna of micro-arthropods.

Material examined. Holotype, slide-mounted MEXICO, Oaxaca, Valle Nacional, Cueva Arroyo Seco, NAD27 14 786827 1980 384 191 Zara 2281, 25.iv. 2008, Geoff Hoeset, coll., 1 paratype, slide-mounted, same collection information as holotype; 2 paratypes, slide-mounted, Oaxaca, Jacatepec, Cueva del Rancho Gavilán, NAD27 14 797756 1972053 366 Zara 2299, 21.iv.2008, Geoff Hoeset, coll. All material deposited in the collection of the Laboratorio de Ecología y Sistemática de Microartrópodos, UNAM, Mexico City.

Description. Size up to 2.3 mm.

Color pattern. Unknown.

Head: Ant. 4 subapical sense organ not seen. Sense organ of Ant. 3 oval (Fig. 17 B). Eyes 8+8, eyes G and H greatly reduced, not visible in some individuals; eye valley with 4 ciliate chaetae (Fig. 17 A). Head dorsally (Fig. 17 A) with 2 anterior (A0, A2) and 2 posterior (Pa5, Pm3) macrochaetae. Pre-labral chaetae smooth. Distal margin of labrum without denticles. Labial triangle with M1M2rEL1L2A1–5: anterior chaetae smooth; chaeta r stout and smooth, all other posterior chaetae ciliate. Post-labial field with 8 chaetae between columns I and O.

Body. Body macrochaetae 32/0243+0+6. Thoracic chaetotaxy as in Fig. 17 E: Th. 2 with 1 anterior (a5) and 3 posterior (p3 complex) macrochaetae; Th. 3 with 1–2 macrochaetae (Figs. 17 E–H). Abd. 1 chaeta a6 present. Abd. 4 (Fig. 17 I) with pseudopore in field posterior to bothriotrix T4; macrochaetae A3, A5, B4 and B5 present; A3, in field posterior to T2; A5 and B4 more or less equidistant from pseudopore and B5; laterally with 6 large macrochaetae; posterior chaetae 12+12

Legs. Trochanteral organ with up to 26 chaetae. Metathoracic claw complex in holotype as in Fig 17 G, claw complex in smallest individual examined (1.2 mm) as in Fig. 17 F; tenent hair acuminate, 0.9x as long as unguiculus in holotype. Hind unguis with 2–3 inner teeth, basal paired teeth subequal; unpaired tooth, when present, as long as basal teeth; teeth spread as 24%, 24% and 59%. Dorsal tooth minute, barely projecting; lateral teeth ending on basal fourth of unguis. Unguiculus basally swollen or weakly truncate, with one outer tooth in holotype and other large individuals; smallest individual with one inner tooth, outer tooth absent.

Furcula. Dens with 2 rows of ciliate spines: inner row with 22–25 spines; outer row with 32–36 spines. Mucro with 4 short, stout, sequential teeth (Fig. 17 D); mucro 2.3–2.6x as long as width of dens tip.

Remarks: Trogolaphysa palaciosi sp. nov. is unique among New World members of the genus with 6–8 eyes in having 4 dorsal head macrochaetae (A0, A2, Pa5, Pm3), 3 mesothoracic and 1–2 metathoracic macrochaetae, Abd. 4 with 4 macrochaetae, smooth pre-labral chaetae and acuminate tenent hair. Trogolaphysa cotopaxiana Thibaud & Najt, 1988 is the only other species with 6–8 eyes and 3 mesothoraxic macrochaeta, but differs from the new species in having ciliate pre-labral chaetae, Abd. 4 with 3 macrochaetae, and tenent hair spatulate.

Polymorphism in claw morphology related to postembryonic development has been reported in the troglomorphic Pseudosinella gisini Christiansen, 1961 (Soto-Adames 2010) . It is possible that differences in claw morphology reflect habitat partitioning by juveniles and adults.