A new dwarf species, new distribution records, and supplementary descriptive notes of the centipede genus Ityphilus Cook, 1899 (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Ballophilidae) from central Amazonia, Brazil

Luis Alberto Pereira

doi:10.1590/s0031-10492012002500001

Abstract

A new dwarf species of the centipede genus Ityphilus Cook, 1899, named I. donatellae sp. nov. (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Ballophilidae) is hereby proposed on the basis of specimens from the vicinity of Manaus, Central Amazonia (Brazil), previously identified as Ityphilus calinus Chamberlin, 1957 (hereby designated holotype female, paratype male and paratype female). Supplementary morphological data and new illustrations are provided after this type material. The new species, characterized by having the internal edge of the forcipular tarsungulum serrate, is herein included in a key that will enable the identification of the 10 other Neotropical members of the genus Ityphilus sharing the same trait. New distribution records and supplementary descriptive notes for Ityphilus crabilli Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1994, and Ityphilus demoraisi Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1995 (including the first description of the male of the latter), are also given. Undiluted 2-Phenoxyethanol (CAS No. 122-99-6) has been used as an effective clearing agent/mounting medium for the preparation of temporary mounts of all body parts of the examined specimens.

Highlights

In a former contribution to taxonomy of Neotropical geophilomorphs (Pereira et al, 2000), a few tiny ballophilid specimens collected near Manaus, Central Amazon (Brazil), were assigned to Ityphilus calinus Chamberlin, 1957, whose type locality is in Colombia: 13 miles West of Santiago de Cali (Southern region of the Cauca River Valley)
Of the twenty three species currently assigned to Ityphilus, the vast majority of them occur in the Neotropics; the key below, will enable the identification of those Neotropical members having the internal edge of the forcipular tarsungulum serrate
As is the case for Ityphilus donatellae sp. nov., diverse other examples of reduced body size exist within the order Geophilomorpha

Summary

Introduction

In a former contribution to taxonomy of Neotropical geophilomorphs (Pereira et al, 2000), a few tiny ballophilid specimens collected near Manaus, Central Amazon (Brazil), were assigned to Ityphilus calinus Chamberlin, 1957, whose type locality is in Colombia: 13 miles West of Santiago de Cali (Southern region of the Cauca River Valley). On the basis of current criteria for species discrimination within the genus Ityphilus, it may be concluded in the present contribution that the data given by Chamberlin in his original description of I. calinus (including the traits that can be deduced from the single accompanying figure), very scarce, are important enough to confidently consider the mentioned material from Brazil as belonging to a. 292 Pereira, L.A.: A new dwarf species of Ityphilus from central amazonia, Brazil (Geophilomorpha: Ballophilidae) different species (and new to science), which is proposed under the name of Ityphilus donatellae. Of the twenty three species currently assigned to Ityphilus, the vast majority of them (eighteen, in addition to the new species proposed ) occur in the Neotropics; the key below, will enable the identification of those Neotropical members having the internal edge of the forcipular tarsungulum serrate The genus Ityphilus Cook, 1899, can be distinguished from the other genera recognized in the family Ballophilidae by the following combination of features: (1) antennae somewhat curved at middle to truly geniculate, distally slightly thickened to strongly clavate; (2) mid-piece of labrum membranous, without teeth or with minute hair-like structures; (3) forcipular coxosternite with incomplete to nearly complete chitin-lines; (4) internal edge of forcipular tarsungulum smooth or serrate; (5) ventral pore-fields of anterior region of the body single (subcircular to transversally elliptical in shape), those of posterior region, single or divided into two areas; (6) coxopleura of the ultimate leg-bearing segment each with two internal coxal organs of simple structure (“homogeneous coxal glands”, sensu Brölemann & Ribaut (1912)); (7) legs of the ultimate pair with seven articles; (8) ultimate pretarsus setiform, basally tubercle-like and usually accompanied by a minute spine.

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Conclusion