Brackenridgia sphinxensis N. Sp. from a Cave with Notes on Other Species from Arizona and California (Isopoda, Oniscoidea)

Abstract

A new species of oniscoid from Sphinx Cave, Cochise County, and eight other species of oniscoids are recorded from Arizona. Other species are recorded from California. The cave species is in the genus Brackenridgia Ulrich and the validity of that generic name is discussed. The new species is blind, pigmentless and a true troglobitic oniscoid. Venezillo arizonicus (Mulaik and Mulaik) is redescribed and reillustrated. The other species recorded are Haplophthalmus danicus Budde-Lund, Agabiformius lentus (Budde-Lund), Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt), Porcellio laevis Latreille, Porcellio dilatatus Brandt and Ratzeburg, Cylisticus convexus (DeGeer) and Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille). Three of the species, H. danicus, P. laevis and P. dilatatus are also recorded from California, the first two being recorded from there for the first time. The nine species from Arizona included all oniscoids recorded from the state and a key and diagnostic characters are presented to identify them. One new cave inhabiting (troglobitic) and eight normal terrestrial isopods or oniscoids are described from Arizona. The nine species represent all of the oniscoids from Arizona (Table 1). Three of the species are also recorded from California, two for the first time from that state. The new species is from Sphinx Cave, Cochise County, and the eight others are from one to several locations throughout the state. The eight are, except for Venezillo arizonicus, common expansive species and are present in suitable habitats in much of temperate North America. Some of the species, especially Agabiformius lentus, have been collected in subtropical locations as well. Venezillo arizonicus is endemic to the southwestern part of the United States and northern Mexico. The records of Haplophthalmus danicus and Agabiformius lentus are the first from Arizona and H. danicus also is recorded from California for the