Porcellionides ibericus Cifuentes & Da Silva 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Cifuentes, Julio
name: Da Silva, Luís P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Malacostraca
Isopoda
Porcellionidae
Porcellionides
Porcellionides ibericus

description: Porcellionides ibericus sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C921D848-D2E0-4FAB-B6A6-98F30D684DFF
Figs 2K, 25–27, Table 1
Diagnosis
Integument with small granulations. Glandular fields occupy substantial portion of tergite lateral edge and with numerous pores. Scale-setae very short arrowhead-shaped. Cephalon with broadly curved frontal line and well-defined lateral lobes. Pereon with rounded hind margins on first tergites, and without transverse ridges. Pleon slightly retracted from pereon. Pereopods without sexual differentiation. In males, truncated posterior inner tip in exopod of pleopod I, and short and triangular exopod of pleopod II.
Etymology
The specific epithet refers to ‘ IberiaI ’, the term used by Herodotus (circa 484–425 B.C.) to designate the region now recognized as Iberian Peninsula, where P. ibericus occurs.
Type material
Holotype PORTUGAL – Faro • ♂; Gambelas; 37.0400° N, 7.9736° W; 29 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; MNCN 20.04 /20810 (ex. LPS692a).
Paratypes PORTUGAL – Beja • 1 ♂; Alves; 37.6091° N, 7.5644° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS246 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS247 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS248 • 1 ♂; Belmeque; 38.0423° N, 7.3874° W; 12 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS254 • 1 ♀; Belmeque; 38.0422° N, 7.3873° W; 12 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS256 • 1 ♂; Mértola; 37.6421° N, 7.6642° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS227 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS226 • 2 ♀♀; Mértola; 37.6432° N, 7.6645° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS231 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; LPS232 • 1 ♀; Mértola; 37.6432° N, 7.6646° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS233 • 1 ♂; Mértola; 37.6413° N, 7.6693° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS235 • 1 ♀; Mértola; 37.6413° N, 7.6696° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS236 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS237 • 1 ♀; Mértola; 37.6372° N, 7.6665° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS242 • 2 ♀♀; Mértola; 37.6406° N, 7.6685° W; 11 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS244 • 1 ♀; Pias; 38.0216° N, 7.4821° W; 12 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS250 • 1 ♀; Pias; 38.0221° N, 7.4817° W; 12 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS253 • 3 ♂♂; São Matias; 1. Apr. 1983; A. Serra leg.; A. Cruz coll.; CRBA-86572 • 1 ♀; Vale Perditos; 37.8228° N, 7.3799° W; 9 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS216 • 1 ♀; Vale Perditos; 37.8227° N, 7.3799° W; 9Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS217. – Bragança • 1 ♀; Frechas; 41.4059° N, 7.1562° W; 5 Jan. 2023; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS736. – Castelo Branco • 1 ♂; Perdigão; 39.6805° N, 7.7264° W; 1 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS523a • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS523b • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; LPS524a • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS524b • 2 ♀♀; Vila Velha de Ródão; 39.6540° N, 7.6972° W; 1 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS526. – Évora • 1 ♀; Alandroal; 38.7036° N, 7.3996° W; 2 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS564 • 1 ♂; Terena, Santuário de Endovélico de Rocha da Mina; 38.6634° N, 7.4772° W; 3 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS580a • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS580b • 1 ♂; Terena, Santuário de Endovélico de Rocha da Mina; 38.6630° N, 7.4757° W; 3 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS582. – Faro • 1 ♀; Estômbar; 37.1562° N, 8.4993° W; 28 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS690 • 1 ♂; Faro, Gambelas; 37.0413° N, 7.9729° W; 29 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; MNCN 20.04/20811 (ex. LPS691) • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; LPS692a • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; LPS692b • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; JC770 (ex. LPS692b) • 1 ♀; Faro, Gambelas; 37.0422° N, 7.9714° W; 29 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva Leg.; MNCN 20.04/20812 (ex. LPS693b) • 1 ♂; Faro, Gambelas; 37.0420° N, 7.9715° W; 29 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; JC771 (ex. LPS694c) • 1 ♂; Pechão; 37.0597° N, 7.8707° W; 29 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS698a • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS698b. – Portalegre • 1 ♀; Fronteira de Marvão; 39.3537° N, 7.3074° W; 1 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS533 • 1 ♀; Santana; 39.6128° N, 7.6625° W; 1 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS530. – Santarém • 2 ♀♀; Água de Todo o Ano; 39.2874° N, 8.1149° W; 3 Dec. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS589 • 1 ♂; Aldeia do Mato; 39.5456° N, 8.2775° W; 5 Nov. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS505a • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS505b • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MNCN 20.04/20813 (ex. LPS505b) • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; JC773 (ex. LPS505b) • 1 ♂; Tancos; 39.4619° N, 8.3995° W; 5 Nov. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS499 • 1 ♂; Tancos; 39.4620° N, 8.3996° W; 5 Nov. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS501 • 2 ♀♀; Tancos; 39.4621° N, 8.3997° W; 5 Nov. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS502 • 4 ♀♀; Tancos; 39.4645° N, 8.3980° W; 5 Nov. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS503 • 1 ♂; Tancos; 39.4655° N, 8.3980° W; 5 Nov. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; JC772 (ex. LPS504a) • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; LPS504b • 1 ♀; Tancos; 39.4620° N, 8.3951° W; 5 Nov. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS508. – Setubal • 1 ♀; Herdade da Ribeira Abaixo; 38.1070° N, 8.5705° W; 28 Apr. 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS273 • 1 ♀; Marateca; 38.5939° N, 8.6775° W; 24 May 2022; L.P. Da Silva leg.; LPS321.
SPAIN – Cádiz • 1 ♂; Véjer de la Frontera, La Janda, Cueva Quiñones; 17 Jan. 1971; Meseguer and Masot leg.; cited as P. sexfasciatus lusitanus by Cifuentes (2021a: fig. 27); A. Cruz coll.; CRBA-86542.
Description
MEASUREMENTS. Maximum observed length: female 10, 5 mm, male 9 mm.
COLORATION. Highly variable coloration (Fig. 25A–F). Several patterns can be differentiated, which nevertheless establish all series of intermediates between them. First pattern: strongly pigmented specimens, dark brown in color; in pereon, muscle insertions, and central line poorly marked, very small spot at pleonite epimeron edge, pleonite epimera pigmented but with clear lateral edge; in pleon, faint central line, and two clear and wide lateral lines, small light spot at anterior edge, and clear lateral edge. Second pattern: specimens of more or less dark brown color, with middle area and muscle insertions highly pronounced, bordered by darker lines, with large white spots at pleonite epimera edge, and these lightly pigmented. Third pattern: poorly pigmented specimens, light brown in color, with muscle insertions and lines indicated above faintly marked. This coloration generally found in young specimens. Fourth pattern: regardless of coloration, granulations more pigmented, and in many specimens, gradual shift toward reddish tones occurs, starting in anterior pleonite epimeron and extending toward posterior ones, resulting in specimens displaying lateral edge more or less intense red, yellowish, or whitish. Sometimes, body with light reddish tone. Additionally, common for second and third antenna segments to be reddish, although, in some specimens, might be whitish, reddish-brown, or dark, in heavily pigmented individuals.
INTEGUMENTARY CHARACTERS. Integument with small granulations arranged in numerous rows (Figs 25A– H, 26B–C), more pronounced on cephalon and first pereonites and less distinct towards posterior region, although some specimens are nearly smooth. Glandular fields with high number of pores (Table I). Pereonite I bearing granulations on entire lateral edge, remaining pereonites, situated in middle region and extending to about two-thirds, or even more, of pereonite’s edge. In some specimens, this field extended along entire edge of pereonite VII, although pores not reaching extremities. Noduli laterales, except pereonite I situated in middle region, located on posterior third of initial pereonites and gradually shift towards posterior edge in subsequent segments. In heavily pigmented specimens, highly noticeable due to their location in small depigmented region. b/c and d/c coordinates as in Figs 2K, 26B. Circular scales and setae-scales arrow-shaped, short, and rounded tip (Fig. 26A).
SOMATIC CHARACTERS. Body slightly convex. Cephalon with broadly curved frontal line, distinct lateral lobes, and supra-antennal line generally well-marked (Figs 25G, 26C). Pereon with posterior edge of pereonite I highly rounded (Figs 26G, 27C), less rounded edges on second and third pereonites, and from fourth to seventh, posterior angle increases, forming pointed shape. Pereonites without transverse ridge. Pleon retracted in relation to pereon (Fig. 25A–H). Short telson, barely surpassing protopod of uropods, with very small base and broad, triangular, and pointed tip, separated from base by well-defined angles (Figs 25H, 26D).
APPENDAGES. Thick antennae reaching posterior edge of pereonite III; lacking antennal teeth, with first segment of flagellum slightly longer than second. Uropods with transversely oriented posterior edge on protopods, endopods much longer than telson, exopods short and conical in both sexes (Figs 25H, 26D). Pereopods with no sexual differentiation (Fig. 25I–J). In both sexes, pereopod 1 with strong setae splitting into several tips at end, along with setae for antennal cleaning.
SEXUAL CHARACTERS. In males, outwardly curved endopod of pleopod I (Fig. 26E), exopod wider than long, with well-defined and truncated posterior inner tip (Figs 25K, 26F), with sinuous tracheal field but no notch. In males, long and slender endopod of pleopod II (Fig. 26G) and short and triangular exopod (Figs 25L, 26H), devoid of notch. In females, rectangular exopod I with sinuous but non-notched posterior edge (Fig. 26I), and triangular exopod II without notch (Fig. 26J).
Ecology
This epigean species was mostly found beneath rocks, and occasionally under fallen wood, during the daytime. At night, some specimens were also found beneath rocks, while others were collected from above rocks and on walls. Several specimens were encountered alongside Lucasius pallidus (Budde-Lund, 1885), Porcellio hoffmannseggii Brandt, 1833, and Porcellionides elegans.
Remarks
Porcellionides ibericus sp. nov. lacks the transverse ridges on the tergites, which distinguishes it from P. cingendus, P. glaber, P. lucasioides and P. sexfasciatus. In the males, the carpus of the pereopod 1 features a brush of setae in P. fuscomarmoratus, P. elegans, P. pruinosus and P. lusitanus whereas P. ibericus lacks sexual differentiation in the pereopods (Table 1). The cephalon of P. ibericus has moderate lateral lobes, the antennae are thick with flagellum segments of nearly equal size, and the male exopod of the pleopod I has a truncated posterior inner tip. In contrast, P. hispanus lacks lateral lobes on the cephalon, has long and slender antennae with the first segment of the flagellum larger than the second, and the male exopod of the pleopod I lacks a posterior inner tip. Due to the notable variations in coloration in P. ibericus. (Fig. 25A–F), some specimens could potentially be mistaken for P. molleri (Fig. 19A–H). However, there are specific characters that enable accurate identification. In P. molleri males, the carpus of the pereopods 1 and 2 have dense brushes of setae, the posterior inner tip of the exopod of the pleopod I is only slightly pronounced (Figs 15I, 19J), and the exopod of the pleopod II (Figs 15J, 19K) along with the female exopods of the pleopods I and II (Fig. 15K–L) are notched. On the other hand, in P. ibericus, pereopods lack sexual differentiation (Fig. 25I–J), the posterior inner tip of the male exopod of the pleopod I is highly pronounced and truncated (Figs 25K, 26F), and there are no notches on the exopods of the pleopods I and II in males (Figs 25K–L, 26F, H) or females (Fig. 26I–J).
description: Published as part of Cifuentes, Julio & Da Silva, Luís P., 2024, Revision of the genus Porcellionides Miers, 1877 (Isopoda: Porcellionidae) in the Ibero-Balearic region, pp. 1-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 939 on pages 40-45, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.939.2573, http://zenodo.org/record/12156988