(C) 2013 Xin Sun. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
For reference, use of the paginated PDF or printed version of this article is recommended.
Citation: Sun X, Deharveng L, Wu D (2013) Broadening the definition of the genus Thalassaphorura Bagnall, 1949 (Collembola, Onychiuridae) with a new aberrant species from China. ZooKeys 364: 1–9. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.364.6332
A new species belonging to the tribe Thalassaphorurini, Thalassaphorura problematica sp. n., is described from Northeast China. The new species is closest to the large genus Thalassaphorura by its simple vesicles in PAO and its furcal rudiment, but it does not fit the definition of the genus by the absence of chaeta d0 on head, the number of chaetae in the distal whorl of tibiotarsi and the labium type. We discuss the relative weakness of these last characters at generic level, which lead us to assign the new species to Thalassaphorura instead of erecting a new genus. The diagnosis of Thalassaphorura is broadened accordingly.
Thalassaphorurini, head chaetotaxy, tibiotarsi, labium
The tribe Thalassaphorurini was established by
Specimens were collected by Berlese extraction of forest soil and humus, cleared in lactic acid and then mounted in Marc André II solution. They were studied using a Nikon Eclipse 80i microscope. The material is deposited in the Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun.
Labial types are named after
Ant.—antennal segments, PAO—postantennal organ, Th.—thoracic segments, Abd.—abdominal segments, ms—microsensillum, pso—pseudocellus, psx—parapseudocellus, Sp—posterior S-chaeta on Abd. V tergum, m—unpaired pseudopore or parapseudocellus.
The pseudocelli, parapseudocelli and pseudopores formula are the number of pseudocelli, parapseudocelli or pseudopores by half-tergum (dorsally) or half-sternum (ventrally) as follows: head anterior, head posterior/Th. I, Th. II, Th. III/Abd. I, Abd. II, Abd. III, Abd. IV, Abd. V (for instance: 32/133/33343).
Holotype female; paratypes 9 females and 3 males on slides—China, Heilongjiang: Wulindong town, 46°33'N, 133°40'E, 16 Aug 2010, forest soil and humus, Wu Donghui, Liu Dong, Yuan Xiaoqiang and Yuan Yabin leg.
Pso formula as 32/133/33343 dorsally, 11/000/00010 ventrally; psx formula as 0/000/112001+1m ventrally; Ant. III sensory organ with two granulated clubs (inner one bigger than outer); labium with 5 proximal chaetae; labial type AB; tibiotarsi of legs I–III with 14 (1, 7, 6) chaetae each; male ventral organ present on ventral tube as modified distal chaetae; anal spines 1.1–1.2 times as long as inner edge of hind unguis.
Body white in alcohol. Size 1000-1300 µm in females, 800–1100 µm in male; holotype: 1050 µm. Body subcylindrical, body sides parallel.
Pseudocellar formula: 32/133/33343 dorsally, 11/000/00010 ventrally, subcoxa 1 of legs I-III with 2, 2 and 2 pso respectively (Fig. 1A, B). Parapseudocellar formula: 0/000/112001+1m (each of anal valve with one psx) ventrally, absent dorsally (Figs 1A, B, 2G). Pseudopore formula: 0/011/11110 dorsally, 00/111/0001m0 ventrally (Fig. 1A, B).
Thalassaphorura problematica sp. n. A dorsal side of body B ventral side of Abd. I–VI C PAO D clubs and papillae of AIIIO E Labium F Antenna. Scales: 0.1 mm (A–B, F), 0.01 mm (C–E).
Thalassaphorura problematica sp. n. A dorsal side of head B ventral side of head C Abd. IV–VI terga D ventral tube (showing male ventral organ) E distal part of leg III F furca G anal valves. Scales: 0.1 mm (A–C and F–G), 0.01 mm (D–E)
Head. Antennae short and distinctly segmented, as long as head. Length ratio of Ant. I: II: III: IV as about 1: 1.5: 1.5: 1.5. Subapical organite of Ant.IV with globular apex; basolateral ms at about 1/3 length from base, above the second proximal row of chaetae (Fig. 1F). Ant. III sensory organ composed of 5 papillae, 5 guard chaetae, 2 sensory rods and 2 granulated clubs, the inner bigger than the outer, and a lateral ms (Figs 1D, F). Ant. II with 13 chaetae. Ant. I with 8 chaetae. Antennal base well marked. PAO composed of 20–24 simple vesicles (Fig. 1C). Dorsal cephalic chaeta d0 absent (Figs 1A, 2A). 3+3 p-chaetae present between two inner posterior pso, p1 anterior to others. Mandible with strong molar plate and 4 apical teeth. Maxilla bearing 3 teeth and 6 lamellae. Maxillary palp simple with 1 basal chaeta and 2 sublobal hairs. Labral formula 4/1, 4, 2;. Labium with 5 proximal, 4 basomedian (E, F, G, f) and 5 basolateral (b, c, d, e, e’) chaetae (Fig. 2B); labial type AB, papillae A–E respectively with 1, 4, 0, 3 and 2 guard chaetae (Fig. 1E). Head ventrally with 4+4 postlabial chaetae along ventral groove (Fig. 2B).
Body chaetotaxy. S-chaetae subcylindrical, apically rounded, 11/011/222121 dorsally, 11/000/000110 ventrally (Figs 1A, B); subcoxae 2 of legs I, II and III with 0, 0, 1 S-chaeta respectively. Tiny and blunt ms, present on Th. II–III. Ordinary chaetae differentiated into meso- and macrochaetae, ratio Sp: m1: p1 on Abd. V tergum = 1: 2–2.3: 0.8. Th. I tergum with 7–8+7–8 dorsal chaetae. Th. II–III terga with 4+4 chaetae and Abd. I–III terga with 3+3 chaetae along axis respectively (Fig. 1A). Abd. IV–V terga with one axial chaeta (p0) each, sometimes with asymmetric chaetae along axis. Abd. VI tergum with two axial chaetae (a0 and p0) (Figs 1A, 2C). Sterna of Th. I, II, and III with 0+0, 1+1, 1+1 chaetae respectively.
Appendages. Subcoxa 1 of legs I–III with 4, 5 and 5 chaetae, subcoxa 2 with 0, 4 and 4 chaetae respectively. Tibiotarsi of legs I, II and III with 14 (1, 7, 6) chaetae each (Fig. 2E). Unguis without teeth. Unguiculus short, about 0.3 times as long as inner edge of unguis, with inner basal lamella (Fig. 2E). Ventral tube with 1+1 basal and 8–11+8–11 distal chaetae (8–10+8–10 in female, 11+11 of which 9+9 modified in males) (Fig. 2D). Furca reduced to a field of fine granulation with 4 small dental chaetae arranged in 2 rows posteriorly; only one manubrial row of chaetae present posteriorly to dental chaetae (Fig. 2F).
Genital plate with 14–15 chaetae in females, 33–36 chaetae in male. Anal valves with numerous acuminate chaetae; each lateral valve with a0 and 2a1; upper valves with chaetae a0, 2b1, 2b2, c0, 2c1, 2c2 (Fig. 2G). Anal spines set on distinct papillae, 1.1–1.2 times as long as inner edge of hind unguis.
Named for its unusual characters among Thalassaphorura.
The new species is closest to the genus Thalassaphorura by its simple vesicles in PAO and the furcal rudiment. However, it does not match the definition of this genus proposed by
The new species belongs to the species-group of Thalassaphorura which has modified ventral chaetae in the adult male (“male ventral organ”), including the species Thalassaphorura petiti Sun & Wu, 2013, Thalassaphorura bisetosa Sun & Wu, 2013, Thalassaphorura qinlingensis Sun & Wu, 2013, Thalassaphorura macrospinata Sun & Wu, 2012 and Thalassaphorura qixiaensis Yan, Shi & Chen, 2006, all described from China. These species can be distinguished easily by the position or the number of modified chaetae of the male ventral organ, dorsal and ventral pso formula, and ventral psx formula.
Assigning the new species to this genus led us to re-examine three important taxonomic characters that separate the new species from most other Thalassaphorura.
The distal tibiotarsal chaetae have been recently checked in the genera Allonychiurus, Onychiurus and Thalassaphorura (
Chaeta d0 on head is considered as a stable character at the generic level. It is present in all species of Thalassaphorura (
The third character, labium type, is not stable in several genera of Thalassaphorurini, being AC or ABC in Allonychiurus and Sensillonychiurus (
An amended diagnosis of the genus Thalassaphorura and an updated key of the genera of Thalassaphorurini integrating these changes are given below.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Thalassaphorura
Postantennal organ oval, with numerous simple vesicles perpendicular to the long axis; antennal basis more or less indicated; clubs of AIIIO smooth, ribbed or granulated; Ant. IV with S-chaetae differentiated or not, ms close to the second row of chaetae, and no bulb on Ant. IV; labral chaetae formula 4/1, 4, 2; no multiplication of dorsal pseudocelli, 3 (rarely 4 or 2) pseudocelli in the antenno-basal group, 3–4 (rarely 2 or 5) pseudocelli per half-tergum on Abd. IV, 3 (rarely 4 or 2) pseudocelli per half-tergum on Abd. V (1–3 in a postero-internal group, one in a postero-lateral group); chaeta d0 on head present, rarely absent; Th. I usually with pseudocelli; Abd. VI with one or two axial chaetae (a0 or m0, or both); anal spines present or absent; distal whorl of tibiotarsal chaetae as 6, 7 or 9, no clavate tenent hairs; furcal rudiment as a finely granulated area with 4 small dental chaetae in two rows posteriorly, one manubrial row of chaetae present posteriorly to dental chaetae.
1 | Postantennal organ with simple vesicles | Thalassaphorura |
– | Postantennal organ with compound vesicles | 2 |
2(1) | Chaeta d0 on head present | 3 |
– | Chaeta d0 on head absent | 5 |
3(2) | Multiplication and unusual position of anterior pso on head and on Abd. IV–V | Micronychiurus Bagnall, 1949 |
– | Low number of dorsal pso in usual position | 4 |
4(3) | Anal spines absent | Agraphorura Pomorski, 1998 |
– | Anal spines present | Allonychiurus Yoshii, 1995 |
5(2) | Distal whorl of tibiotarsi with 11 chaetae | 6 |
– | Distal whorl of tibiotarsi with 7 or 9 chaetae | Sensillonychiurus Pomorski & Sveenkova, 2006 |
6(5) | Abd. V–VI terga fused, Abd. III sternum not divided in two sub-sterna | Detriturus Pomorski, 1998 |
– | Abd. V–VI terga not fused, Abd. III sternum divided in two sub-sterna | Spinonychiurus Weiner, 1996 |
The genus Thibaudichiurus Weiner, 1996 was synonymized with the genus Allonychiurus by
Thanks should be given to Wanda Maria Weiner from Polish Academy of Sciences for providing the specimens of Thalassaphorura petaloides from Iraq. The present study was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB951304-4), the Fund for Excellent Young Scholars of Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (DLSYQ13003), the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (31301862, 31311130106, 31370532), and Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professorship for Senior Foreign Scientists (NO. 2012T1Z0016).