Laureola leucocephala, Li & Wang, 2022

Li, Weichun & Wang, Yutao, 2022, Laureola leucocephala sp. nov., representing a new record genus from China (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Armadillidae), Zoological Systematics 47 (4), pp. 332-335 : 332-335

Laureola leucocephala sp. nov. ( Figs 1–2 )

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( JXAUM-HN2204 ), China: Hainan, Baoting (18°38′N, 109°41′E), elev. 700 m, 10.XI.2021, leg. Yutao Wang and Weizhao Tang. Paratypes. 1♂ 4♀ ( JXAUM-HN2201 –HN2203, JXAUM-HN2205 –HN2206), same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Greek prefix leuco = white, and the Greek cephalus = head, in reference to the species with a white head in dorsal view.

Diagnosis. The new species can be diagnosed by: Cephalon with frontal shield distinctly protruding above vertex and with triangular process, dorsally with five long spines; epimera of pereonites 2−7 developed into spiniform projections; pereonite 1, pereonite 2–6, pereonite 7 with eleven, nine and eight spiniform tergal tubercles, respectively. It is similar to L. vietnamensis Kwon, Ferrara & Taiti, 1992 and L. indica Kwon, Ferrara & Taiti, 1992 in the cephalon with a frontal shield distinctly protruding above the vertex and with a triangular process in the middle, the second article of antennal flagellum is much longer than the first article, and the dorsum with spiniform tubercles. But the new species differs from L. vietnamensis and L. indica by the number and disposition of the tergal tubercles, such as the new species with a well-developed median spine on pleonite 5 and a basal spine on telson (vs L. vietnamensis without spine on pleonite 5 and none of spines is present in telson of L. indica ).

Description. Body length 3.3–3.5 mm in male, 3.5–3.8 mm in female. Body elliptic, able to roll up into endoantennal conglobation. Colour blackish brown on dorsal surface, medial one third parts of pereonites 3 and 7, and most parts of pereonite 4 and pleon 5 white to yellowish white ( Figs 1 A−C, E). Dorsum with long spines arranged as follows: 4+1 on cephalon; 4+7 on pereonite 1; 9 on pereonite 2–6; 8 on pereonite 7; single median spine on pleonites 3–5 and basal part of telson ( Figs 1 A−C, E).

Head white in dorsal view, blackish brown on anterior margin of cephalon and around ommatidia; cephalon with frontal shield distinctly protruding above vertex and with broad triangular process in middle; eye with 10–11 ommatidia ( Figs 1 A−D). Epimera of pereonite 1 round, pereonites 2−7 with long spine-shaped epimera ( Figs 1 A−C); pereonites 1 and 2 with well-developed lobes on ventral side ( Fig. 1D ). Pleon segment 3–5 with long spine-shaped epimera ( Fig. 1E ). Telson with narrow triangular distal part; uropodal protopodite triangular, exopodite inserted near medial margin, slightly surpassing tip of protopodite ( Figs 1 E−F).

Antenna with second article of flagellum (including apical organ) approximate eight times as long as first article, apical organ thin and long ( Fig. 2A ). Pereopods without apparent sexual specializations, pereopod 1 and 7 without particular modifications ( Figs 2 B−C).

Pleopods, sexual differentiation. Male pleopod 1 exopodite small, width much wider than length, distal part round ( Fig. 2D ); endopodite with broad basal part, narrowed towards apical tip, apical part bent outwards ( Fig. 2E ). Pleopod 2 exopodite concave on outer margin, inner margin basally convex, narrowed towards apical tip ( Fig. 2F ); endopodite thin and long, distinctly shorter than exopodite ( Fig. 2G ).

Distribution. China (Hainan).

Funding This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31960100) to Weichun Li. Acknowledgements Cordial thanks are extended to Weizhao Tang for the fieldwork in the expedition to Hainan Island. Special thanks are given to two anonymous reviewers for their insightful suggestions on the manuscript.

Weichun Li1 *, Yutao Wang2 1College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China

2 College of Tourism, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China

* Corresponding author, E-mail: [e-mail]

Figures

Figure 1. Laureola leucocephala sp. nov. A. Habitus in life. B. Female paratype in dorsal view. C. Female paratype in lateral view. D. Male holotype in ventral view. E. Male holotype in dorsal view. F. Male holotype in ventral view. Scale bars=0.5mm.

Figure 2. Laureola leucocephala sp. nov. A.Antenna.B. Pereopod 1. C. Pereopod 7. D. Pleopod 1 exopodite.E. Pleopod 1 endopodites. F. Pleopod 2 exopodite. G. Pleopod 2 endopodite. Scale bars=0.2mm.