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Zoology Publications from Victoria University of Wellington—Nos. 71, 72 and 73

A New Species of Ceratrimeria (Collembola: Neanuridae) from Zaire

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A New Species of Ceratrimeria (Collembola: Neanuridae) From Zaire

Abstract

The new species described and illustrated here is similar to C. pulchella Handschin but differs in the structure of the post antennal organ and the claw.

Introduction

This species is described from part of a large collection of Collembola made by Dr N. Leleup and others some years ago in Central Africa. The collection was sent to the senior author for study by Dr J. Decelle, Musee Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium.

Description
Ceretrimeria leleupi sp. nov.
Figs. 1-9

Colour: Dorsally mottled purple to black; ventrally pale yellow: legs and furcula pale yellow mottled with dark purple; antennae dark purple.

Clothing: Rather sparse of short simple setae.

Body: Length up to 5 mm, almost half as wide as long, flattened, with large paratergal areas on each thoracic segment (Figs. 9A & 9B), smaller ones on Abds I-IV. Abd. VI clearly seen from the dorsal surface (Figs. 4 & 9A). The antennae subequal to the head length with segments III and IV partially fused; Ant IV longer than Ant III, the segments related as 20:27:20:32. Sensory organ on Ant III close to the posterior border and consisting of two short curved sense rods each in its own individual cuticular pouch (Fig. 8). Ant IV apically with three eversible sensory knobs and several long and short blunt exposed sense rods (Fig. 7) ; long curved setae on the basal two-thirds of Ant IV. Mandible (Fig. 6) clawlike with six teeth on the head and the shaft twisted so that the teeth form a shallow basin or scoop. The maxilla is needle-like consisting, on close examination, of two slender shafts one of which is slightly shorter than the other and faintly recurved or crochet-like at its apex (Fig. 5). Ocelli eight to each side, subequal and on black fields. Post antennal organ (PAO) broadly elliptical with 27-30 elongated tubercles arranged irregularly as two distinct groups; an outer on the periphery of the ellipse and an inner rather incomplete group sometimes reduced to only three or four (Fig. 3). Cuticle of the body finely tuberculate. Corpus of tenaculum naked and each ramus with three barbs.

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Figs. 1-8. Ceratrimeria leleupi n.sp.

Figs. 1-8. Ceratrimeria leleupi n.sp.

Fig. 1, Base of manubrium with mucrodens; Fig. 2, Claw; Fig. 3, PAO and adjacent ocellus; Fig. 4, Outline of Abd. VI as seen from the dorsal surface; Fig. 5, Apex of maxilla; Fig. 6, Outline of apex of mandible; Fig. 7, Apex of Ant. IV; Fig. 8, Sensory organ of Ant. III with two short sense rods.

Magnification: Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, Scale A; Figs. 1 and 2, Scale B; Fig. 4, Scale C.

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Foot: Claw (Fig. 2) stout and tuberculate basally with a very short outer basal, stout, spine-like seta and a very large single inner basal tooth.

No outer teeth. Hind claws more tuberculate than other claws.

Furcula: Reduced (Fig. 1), about one quarter length of antennae. Manubrium, dens and mucro related as 45:40:15. Manubrial hooks quite large. Five simple setae arranged as two groups of three transverse basal and two distal on each dens. Mucro slightly recurved, granulate basally and with the two ventral edges finely corrugated. Cuticular granules of dens larger than those of body.

Localities: Africa, Zaire, Kivu: Terr. Lubero, at 2,200 m altitude, in humus; also in humus at Terr. Uvira, Lac Langue, 2,700 m; Terr. Kalepe, 1,600 m; and Terr. Kalehe, 2,200 m.

We have much pleasure in naming this species for its collector, Dr N. Leleup.

Fig. 9. Ceratrimeria leleupi n.sp.

Fig. 9. Ceratrimeria leleupi n.sp.

A, dorsal view; B, ventral view (two different specimens). Magnification × 19.

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Type Material

Holotype from Kivu mounted on glass slide, 10 paratypes mounted on glass slides, and 11 tubes of paratype specimens preserved in alcohol are deposited in the Musee Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium.

Four paratypes on glass slides deposited in the National Meuseum, Wellington, New Zealand.

Discussion

This new species is closely related to the species Ceratrimeria pulchella Handschin, but differs from it in the structure of the PAO and also in the form of the claw, particularly in the possession of a short outer basal seta, and the absence of outer teeth.

Professor J. T. Salmon,
65 Seddon Street,
Waikanae,
New Zealand.

Dr E. C. G. Adams,
Victoria University of Wellington,
Private Bag,
Wellington,
New Zealand.