Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus, Shelley & Mercurio, 2005

Shelley, Rowland M. & Mercurio, Randy, 2005, Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus, a new centipede genus and species from Jalisco, Mexico; proposal of Ectonocryptopinae, analysis of subfamilial relationships, and a key to subfamilies and genera of the Scolopocryptopidae (Scolopendromorpha), Zootaxa 1094 (1), pp. 25-40 : 34-38

Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus , new species

Figs. 1 –2, 5–16

Type specimens. Two syntypes ( AMNH) collected by R. T. Schuh and B. M. Massie, 4–7 April 1985, at the Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico Field Station on Highway 200 (the coastal highway) at Chamela, 59 km (36.9 mi) N Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico .

Diagnosis. With the characters of the genus.

FIGURE 2. The same, close up photo of terminal segment and ultimate leg.

Syntypes. Bodies slender, fragile, and in poor condition, legs mostly detached and broken, only one ultimate leg still in place; cuticles detached from underlying tissues. Lengths ca. 10–12 mm, maximum widths ca. 0.7 mm. Preserved coloration light yellow, head and T1 darker. Cephalic plate ( Fig. 5 ): longer than wide, slightly prolonged and truncate between antennal bases; sides slightly curved, caudal margin linear; surface essentially glabrous, with only a few short, fine hairs, sulci not detected. Antennae: reaching back to around midlength of T3; 17 antennomeres in both antennae in one syntype, but only 15 in the left antenna and 14 in the right in the other. Antennomeres 1–4 with a few scattered, relatively long setae, 6 th to ultimate articles with dense, fine pubescence; distal 8–9 articles extended and loosely connected to each other on all antennae, revealing narrow, central, basal portions ( Fig. 6 ). Coxosternum: anterior margin gently bowed outward and slightly thickened, without tooth plates or lobes; surface with only a few short hairs, sulci not detected ( Fig. 7 ). Forcipules: set well apart basally with tarsungula substantially overlapping in closed position, with scattered setae, without processes, teeth, or tubercles ( Fig. 7 ). Tergites: smooth, glabrous, and glossy, with only a few short hairs on T1–T2. T1 with angular anterior transverse suture, paramedian sulci converging slightly but well separated on caudal margin ( Fig. 5 ). Sulci on other terga difficult to discern on detached cuticle, but apparently with complete paramedian ones on T2–T22; lateral and oblique sulci not detected. Pretergites evident from T4–T22 ( Fig. 5 ). Ultimate tergite (T23) shorter than preceding, without paramedian sulci, with lateral sulci setting off slightly elevated margins ( Fig. 8 ). Sterna : relatively long and wide, glabrous, without depressions or sulci, configuration generally that of an inverted triangle; endosterna narrower, fitting into complementary depressions on anterior surfaces of succeeding sterna ( Fig. 9 ). Ultimate sternum short and narrow. Coxopleura: short and narrow, with one darkened, lateral spine apiece; apical spines sharply acuminate, not pigmented; pores not detected ( Fig. 10 ). Leg pairs 1­22: longer than body widths, with 5 podomeres; prefemora with two short, stiff, ventral bristles, femora and tibiae with one ventral bristle apiece ( Fig. 11 ). Ultimate legs ( Figs. 12–16 ): femora slightly longer than prefemora; tibiae and 1st tarsi inflated and bulbous, latter excavated dorsally forming rounded terminal lobes, also with shallow apical depressions and fine, minute hairs arising from within. Prefemora with 3 ventral spinous processes, not aligned linearly, most apparent in medial and lateral profiles, also with numerous smaller spines of varying sizes on medial, lateral, and ventral surfaces but only one spine and a few scattered setae dorsally; femora with small spines of varying sizes on medial, lateral, and ventral surfaces in addition to 2 large, ventral spinous processes, dorsal surfaces with small distolateral spines; tibiae and 1 st tarsi with only faint, scattered setae on all surfaces.

Variation. While the number of ventral spinous processes on the ultimate prefemora and femora is constant, the number and arrangement of the small spines varies. The spinous processes are best viewed in medial and lateral profiles; the podomeres are so minute, <ca. 0.25 mm long, that they appear subsimilar to the other spines in direct ventral views.

Ecology. The syntypes were recovered from subtropical thorn forest litter at roughly 30 m (98 ft) elevation by Berlese extraction.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Etymology. Literally translated, the specific name means "four parts foot," and references the four podomeres on the ultimate legs.

Remarks. Because of the detached cuticles and the poor conditions of the syntypes, we were unable to detect the spiracles; E. kraepelini has 11 pairs, on segments 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 ( Crabill 1977). The positions of the spiracles and the structures of the mouthparts need to be characterized from fresh material in good condition.

Crabill (1977) did not record the width of Ectonocryptops kraepelini , but presumably it is approximately the same as that of Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus , because the two ectonocryptopines are essentially the same length. At only 0.7 mm wide, the latter is the smallest known scolopocryptopid and at first glance appears to be a cryptopid; however, the specimens are even smaller than adults of North American species of Cryptops . We cannot be certain that either syntype is an adult, but they are essentially the same size and all external features seem fully developed. Crabill (1977) reported "about 20 small pores" on the ventral 2/3 of the coxopleura of Ectonocryptops kraepelini ; however, RMS examined both specimens of Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus from varying angles under varying intensities of both direct and incident light without detecting any, and the pores are readily visible in slightly larger individuals of C. leucopodus (Rafinesque, 1820) . According to Lewis (1981), scolopendromorphs "frequently bear numerous pores" on the coxopleura, but the only other genera that we know of without pores are Asanada Meinert, 1886 , and Asanadopsis Würmli, 1972 ( Scolopendridae : Scolopendrinae ) ( Kraepelin 1903, Attems 1930, Lawrence 1955, Dobroruka 1969, Würmli 1972). Apparently, Ectonocryptoides also belongs in this rare category.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus, lateral view of syntype with one attached ultimate leg.

FIGURES 5–11. 5, Cephalic plate and T1–T4, dorsal view; 6, right antenna, setation omitted; 7, coxosternum and forcipules; 8, ultimate and penultimate tergites; 9, midbody sterna; 10, right coxopleura, lateral view; 11, midbody leg, caudal view. Scale line = 1.00 mm for figs. 5–6 & 9, 0.50 mm for figs. 7–8 & 10–11.

FIGURES 12–16. 12, Reconstruction of ultimate tergite (T23) and legs, the right leg, still attached, is inverted and drawn on the left to simulate the natural condition. 13–16, spine and setal patterns on detached right ultimate leg; 13, ventral view; 14, medial view; 15, dorsal view; 16, lateral view. Scale line = 0.67 mm for fig. 12, 0.50 mm for figs. 13–16.