Seira potiguara, Zeppelini, Douglas, 2010

Zeppelini, Douglas, 2010, Two new species of Seira (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from Brazilian coast, Zootaxa 2448, pp. 53-60 : 56-58

Seira potiguara sp. nov.

Figs 12–22, 23C, Tab. 1

Type material. Holotype male, Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte, Extremoz, Genipabu Beach 11.iv.2009. Bellini & Berger coll. On slide Nº1947 CM/ MNRJ. Paratypes 10 females and 3 males, the same data as the holotype. On slides Nº1947 CM/ MNRJ.

Description. Holotype length: 1.65 mm. Habitus typically entomobryid (Figs 12, 13). Color of specimens in alcohol pale yellow with light blue pigment covering antennae and lateral halves of abdominal segment V. Dark blue pigment in eyepatches, lateral margins of mesothorax, borders of abdominal segments III and IV, distal femora of legs III (Fig. 12). Color of mounted specimens pale white, with light blue pigment on antennae, head, and lateral borders of meso- and metathorax, dark blue pigment in eyepatches, borders of abdominal segments III and IV, coxae, trochanters and femora of legs III. Brownish apically rounded scales covering antennae I and II, the basal half of antennae III, basal third of antennae IV, head, thorax, abdomen, all leg segments, manubrium and both faces of dens. Collophore without scales.

Fourth antennal segment not annulated, with single apical bulb, without pin setae and with two rows of smooth setae at the apex (Fig. 14).

Eyepatches oval, with largest ocellus A and smallest ocellus E, with three surrounding ciliated setae, two interocular ciliated setae and one interocular macrochaetae (Fig. 15). Labral papillae as in Fig. 16. Prelabral setae ciliated and labral setae smooth. Labial triangle seta r reduced and M1, M2 and E ciliated (Fig. 17).

Trochanteral organ V-shaped with 24 spine-like setae (Fig. 18). Pro-, meso- and metaungues with four inner teeth, one larger pair at the base and two smaller unpaired teeth at the apex (Figs 19–21). Unguiculi slightly truncate, with weakly serrated edges (Figs 19–21). Tenent hair capitate with slightly serrated edges. Anterior part of manubrium with four subapical setae on transversal line. No spine-like setae present on manubrium. Mucro typically falcate (Fig. 22). Dorsal macrochaetae pattern on head and body as in Fig. 23 C.

Remarks. S. potiguara sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished from other species of Seira by: the complexity of the chaetotaxy on cephalic regions 1, 3 and posterior 6; presence of two macrochaetae on region 1A and only one macrochaeta on region 3C of the metathorax; and by the presence of truncate unguiculi. On the other hand the dorsal chaetotaxy of S. potiguara sp. nov. has some similarities with S. brasiliana and S. proannulata (Bonet) ( Christiansen & Bellinger 2000) . The cephalic region 4 is similar among the three species, without any unpaired macrochaetae on the medial line of the dorsal head. The same pattern is also observed in S. americana Jacquemart , S. eidmanni (Stach) (in Christiansen & Bellinger 2000) and even in S. praiana sp. nov. Cephalic regions 2, 5 and superior half of 6 have the same number of macrochaetae in a similar pattern in S. potiguara sp. nov. and S. proannulata . The mesothorax of both species has the same number of macrochaetae on regions 1B, 2 and 3A. The first abdominal segment of S. potiguara sp. nov. has two macrochaetae like S. brasiliana and the chaetotaxy of abdominal segments II, III and IV of both species have also an overall similar pattern of the disposition of the macrochaetae. Other characters of the mentioned species are compared in Table 1 .

Etymology. “ Potiguara ” refers to the native indigenes from the type locality, Rio Grande do Norte State.

Distribution. Good’s biogeographic zone 27: South Brazilian ( Good 1974).

Habitat. S. potiguara sp. nov. was found in Genipabu Beach, in Extremoz municipality, next to Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte State, northeastern Brazil. The specimens were collected at the end of the dry season on a sand dune covered by some cashew trees, about 100m close to the sea. The climate of the area is ‘As’ according to Koeppen’s system ( Kottek et al. 2006). This area was originally covered by Mata Atlântica and Restinga forests. S. potiguara sp. nov. was collected among specimens of Brachystomella agrosa Wray.

FIGURES 13–22. Seira potiguara sp. nov.: 13, habitus; 14, apical bulb of the 4th antennal segment; 15, right eyepatch; 16, Seira potiguara sp. nov. labral papillae (dorsal view); 17, setae of the labial triangle; 18, trochanteral organ; 19, first foot complex; 20, second foot complex; 21, third foot complex; 22, distal dens and mucro.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Regions of dorsal macrochaetae according Jacquemart’s system (1974): A, a redrawn of the system modified by Christiansen and Bellinger (2000); B, S. praiana sp. nov.; C, S. potiguara sp. nov.