Troglaphorura, Vargovitsh, 2019

Vargovitsh, Robert S., 2019, Cave water walker: an extremely troglomorphic Troglaphorura gladiator gen. et sp. nov. (Collembola, Onychiuridae) from Snezhnaya Cave in the Caucasus, Zootaxa 4619 (2), pp. 267-284 : 270

Genus Troglaphorura gen. nov.

Type species Troglaphorura gladiator sp. nov.

Diagnosis of the genus. Body white, cylindrical, with broadened abdomen, Abd VI small, indistinctly separated from Abd V, anal spines absent. Integument with fine and regular granulation. Pseudocelli present on dorsal but absent on ventral side of body, head with 1+1 posterior pso, Th I with dorsal pso. Antennal III organ with 5 papillae, morula-like sensory clubs and complicated sensory rods with lateral extensions. Postantennal organ with one simple unlobed vesicle. Labial palp of 0- type, labrum with complete set of chaetae (4/9). Maxillary head with unmodified lamellae. Head dorsum and terga paurochaetotic, with well differentiated pointed micro- and macrochaetae. Chaeta d0 on head absent. Th II and III with lateral microsensilla. Furcal area indistinct, with 1+1 posterior microchaetae. Thoracic sterna without chaetae. Tibiotarsi with 11 chaetae in distal whorl. Claws elongated, empodial appendages absent.

Remarks. Pattern of PAO detaches Troglaphorura gen. nov. from any known tribus of Onychiurinae . However, presence of only one vesicle in PAO, albeit without lobes, together with absence of d0 on head and presence of 11 chaetae on distal whorl of tibiotarsi rather indicate belonging of the new genus to Oligaphorurini with 56 species in genus Oligaphorura Bagnall, 1949 and one in genus Chribellphorura Weiner, 1996. The shape of PAO (unlobed vesicle), AOIII sensory rods (with complicated lateral extensions) and foot complex (absence of empodial appendage) strictly distinguish Troglaphorura gen. nov. from both genera of the tribe.

Etymology. ‘ Trogl- ’ derived from the Greek trōglē = cave. The nomen is formed in a similar and consonant manner to the nomen Oligaphorura , the type genus of Oligaphorurini , and refers to troglobiont ecology and troglomorphic appearance of the representatives of the new genus.