Newportia (Newportia) potiguar Azara & Ferreira, 2014

Chagas-Jr, Amazonas & Bichuette, Maria Elina, 2018, A synopsis of centipedes in Brazilian caves: hidden species diversity that needs conservation (Myriapoda, Chilopoda), ZooKeys 737, pp. 13-56 : 23

Newportia (Newportia) potiguar Azara & Ferreira, 2014

Published records.

( Ázara and Ferreira 2014b).

Material examined.

None.

Taxonomic notes.

Newportia potiguar is a recently described species, with two small specimens characterized by marked troglomorphism: elongation of the ultimate legs (half of the body length) and antennae, cuticle sclerotization, as well as reduced pigmentation ( Ázara and Ferreira 2014b). (Even without the latter characteristic, the former two traits are sufficient for troglomorphic characterization) Indeed, juveniles of the troglobitic S. troglocaudatus are completely pale, even in the appendages ( Chagas-Jr and Bichuette 2015). Therefore, the character of reduced pigmentation should be investigated in other juvenile centipedes to properly interpret its application as a troglomorphic trait. Newportia potiguar resembles N. brevipes Pocock, 1891, but is closely related to N. stolli (Pocock, 1896) based on morphology of the ultimate and locomotory legs. The former exhibits four spinous processes on the prefemur and two on the femur; the latter has ventral, lateral, and tarsal spurs ( Ázara and Ferreira 2014b). Distinct from N. stolli , N. potiguar has posterior transverse sutures on tergite 1 and paramedian sutures on tergite 2. Although considered a troglobitic species, no collections were conducted outside the cave to confirm this categorization.

Distribution.

This species is known only from two limestone caves of Rio Grande do Norte, a semi-arid state in northeastern Brazil ( Ázara and Ferreira 2014b).

Habitat.

Cave (under rocks - humid substrate).

Conservation.

The caves are not under legal protection. Primary threats are exploration for petroleum and illegal limestone extraction. Newportia potiguar was not evaluated in the last Red List of Brazilian Threatened Fauna ( MMA 2016).