Cryptops iheringi Brolemann 1902
Creators: name: Borges, Diva Maria
name: Bichuette, Maria Elina
name: Chagas-Jr, Amazonas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Chilopoda
Scolopendromorpha
Cryptopidae
Cryptops
Cryptops iheringi

description: Cryptops iheringi in Chagas and Bichuette (2018), p. 28
(Figures 3–7)
Type material examined
Holotype (LES – UFSCAR 0026263) Brazil, São Paulo, Iporanga, Lage Branca Cave, collected by J. Barbosa, M.E. Bichuette, J. Gallão, and M.V.A. Duarte, 12 March 2023. Paratype (CZUFMT-MY 0541) Brazil, São Paulo, Iporanga, Ressurgência das Areias das Águas Quentes Cave (part of the Areias Cave System), collected by Nelson in July 1979.
Diagnosis. Antennae extend to the posterior margin of T8; T1 with an anterior transverse suture, along with lateral and posterior sutures that connect to the paramedian sutures. The ultimate legs with 19 + 7 saw teeth.
Description of the holotype
Colouration. The trunk segments are orange, while the cephalic plate is a darker, brownish hue. The ultimate legs are a lighter shade of yellow.
In life, the trunk segments exhibit a yellowish hue, while the cephalic plate is darker, tending towards brown. The ultimate legs are lighter, of a light yellow colour.
Total body length. 43 mm.
Cephalic plate. With complete paramedian sutures that diverge anteriorly; posterior margin that overlays the anterior margin of tergite 1. Its dimensions are 3.1 mm in width and 2.5 mm in length.
Antennae. 17 elongated articles (15 mm), extend to the posterior margin of tergite 8 (Figure 4 (a)); first antennomere with a suture in the proximal/ventral part, which branches into a suture running along the dorsal surface (Figure 4 (d)). The first article is adorned with lanceolate setae, primarily concentrated in the proximal, dorsal, and ventral regions, leaving the inner part devoid of setae. The second article has fewer setae, while articles 3 ‒ 17 exhibit a ring of short, thin setae in the proximal region. Articles 2 ‒ 17 are covered with thin, short, hair-like bristles. The articles progressively increase in length and decrease in width, with articles 1 ‒ 3 being as long as they are wide. Articles 4 ‒ 6 are 3 times as long as wide, and articles 7 ‒ 17 are 3.5 times as long as wide.
Forcipular coxosternum. Anterior margin bilobed, accompanied by a pair of chitinous thickenings, each bearing a row of 9 + 9 setae (Figure 4 (c)). A longitudinal median suture characterises the anterior region, extending to one-third of the coxosternum. This suture bifurcates posteriorly in the median region, which has a transverse suture. Inner margin of the trochanteroprefemur with a row of 9 ‒ 10 lanceolate setae.
Second maxillae. Apical claw of second maxilla with slender hook distally, with a ventral pointed projection (Figure 6 (a)).
Clypeus. This area features deltoid-shaped sutures, with three setae on the left side and two on the right. It also includes a triangular suture (Figure 4 (d)).
Labrum. Row of 16 prelabial setae, with a single middle tooth.
Tergites. The anterior transverse suture of Tergite 1 is covered by the posterior margin of the cephalic plate (Figure 4 (b)). Complete paramedian sutures on Tergites 1 ‒ 20, with anterior oblique sutures on Tergites 3 ‒ 5. A lateral suture, connected to the transverse suture, contours the tergite to the posterior region, linking the paramedian sutures. Tergites 1 ‒ 4 are longer than wide, tergites 6 ‒ 20 are slightly longer than wide. All tergites are covered with short, fine setae, with tergites 19 ‒ 21 featuring a few short, thick setae. Tergite 21 has a pointed posterior margin and a depression that begins in the middle of the tergite (Figure 5 (a)).
Sternites. Trigonal sutures on sternites 4 ‒ 6 (Figure 5 (c)). Sternites 2 ‒ 19 exhibit crossed sutures. Sternite 21 with straight posterior margin, rounded sides (Figure 5 (b)). The sternites are covered with thin, spaced bristles of varying sizes. Spiny bristles are found on sternites 20 ‒ 21.
Coxopleura. With about 496 pores.
Spiracles. The third and fifth spiracles are more elongated and slit-shaped, while the remaining spiracles are simply elongated.
Walking legs. Pairs 1 ‒ 20 with strongly bipartite tarsi, each accompanied by a pair of accessory spines. These spines measure approximately one-fourth the size of the pretarsus (Figures 6 (b), 7(a)).
Ultimate legs. Long, measuring 15.6 mm, and adorned with numerous short bristles (Figure 7b,c). Prefemur with a slight dorsal depression, resembling a groove. Both the prefemur and femur, as well as the tibia, feature a pair of spinose processes in the distal dorsal region (Figure 7a). The spinose processes of the prefemur and femur are marginally smaller than those of the tibia. The prefemur is equipped with lateral and ventral spines. In the dorsal region, these spines are more widely spaced and less numerous. Tibia with 19 saw teeth (Figure 7f), while tarsus 1 with 7 teeth (Figure 7e).
Remarks on the paratype
The paratype’s ultimate legs exhibit 3 + 21 + 8 saw teeth (Figure 8 (a)), in contrast to the holotype’s 19 + 7 saw teeth. The trio of saw teeth is situated on a ridge in the femur’s distal region (Figure 8 (b)). Additionally, the paratype displays anterior oblique sutures on tergites 2 ‒ 4, while the holotype’s anterior sutures are found on tergites 3 ‒ 5. The paratype also features a pair of rudimentary spinose processes on the prefemur, femur, and tibia of the ultimate legs (Figure 8 (a ‒ c)).
Distribution. Cryptops (T.) didi sp. n. has been found in two locations, namely Lage Branca Cave and Areias Cave System, situated in Iporanga, São Paulo state, in south-eastern Brazil. Etymology. Named in honour of Oides Rodrigues Andrade (Sr. ‘Didi’, in memoriam), a renowned field guide and expert of the Upper Ribeira region. He discovered numerous caves and was a staunch protector of this unique heritage.
description: Published as part of Borges, Diva Maria, Bichuette, Maria Elina & Chagas-Jr, Amazonas, 2024, Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) didi sp. n. (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Cryptopidae): expanding the cryptopid biodiversity in a Brazilian hotspot of subterranean fauna, pp. 1303-1317 in Journal of Natural History 58 (33 - 36) on pages 1307-1311, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2024.2373469, http://zenodo.org/record/13758363