Coarazuphium tapiaguassu (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Zuphiini), a new Brazilian troglobitic beetle, with ultrastructural analysis and ecological considerations Author Pellegrini, Thais Giovannini Author Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes text Zootaxa 2011 3116 47 58 journal article 45866 10.5281/zenodo.203155 09d352ca-ae44-4f52-8751-178aea20afd6 1175-5326 203155 Coarazuphium tapiaguassu sp. n. ( Figs. 1 –11). Description. Minimum and maximum morphometric data from paratypes are given in parenthesis. No distinct sexual differences were observed. Female paratype 1 ( Fig. 2 ). A live female specimen is shown in figure 1. Holotype male. Total length, from the apex of the mandible to the apex of the elytra: 4.14 mm (4.07–4.26), width, from at the widest region of the elytra: 1.29 mm (1.25–1.29). Body pale reddish brown, one paratype is yellowish to pale brown, dorsal integument of the elytra covered with short recumbent hairs. Head. Subtrapezoidal ( Fig. 2 A) with similar width and length, width/length ratio: 0,96 (0.92–1.0). Maximum width of head at its base, 2.3 (2.2–2.3). Head slightly narrower than pronotum. Dorsal surface with one pair of setae internal to the ocular area and one pair of lateral setae located immediately behind ocular area. Ventral surface with a pair of posterior setae close to median line of head, and an anterior pair, close to margin of gular region ( Fig. 2 C). Eyes reduced and despigmented, situated laterally at the end of antennal impression of the head. FIGURE 1. Live specimen of C. tapiaguassu found in SL 35 cave. FIGURE 2. Coarazuphium tapiaguassu . (A) Habitus from female paratype 1. Bar = 10 mm. (B) Pronotum, ventral view. Bar = 0.5 mm. (C) Head and pronotum lateral view. Bar = 1 mm. (D) Aedeagus, left lateral view. (E) Aedeagus, dorsal view (F) Aedeagus, right lateral view. Bar = 0.25 mm. FIGURE 3. Scanning electron micrograph showing antennal segments and sensilla in paratype 1 C. tapiaguassu . s.ch. show sensilla chaetica, s.t. trichoid sensilla, s.b. sensilla basiconica, s.co. coeloconic sensilla. ACP, appendages of cuticular plates. (A) Back view from the attachment on the head and scape. Bar = 20 μm. (B) Pedicel insertion on the scape. Bar = 20 μm. (C) Third antennomere. Bar = 20 μm. (D) Fourth antennomer. Bar = 20 μm. (E) Eight antennomere. Bar = 10 μm. (F) Terminal antennomere. Bar = 20 μm. Antennae. Antennae filiform and flagellar, ( Fig. 2 A) 3.22 mm (3.15–3.40), 5.44 (5.0–5.41) times longer than pronotum; first antennomere elongate, shorter than 2–4 together. First antennomere with a long bristle close to the middle. Antennomeres are almost round in cross-section, except for the tip of the terminal, which is laterally flattened ( Fig. 3 F). Sensilla on the antennae of the paratype 2 were examined. The sensilla chaetoid (s.ch) (sensory bristles or spines) are present in all antennomeres, and are the most abundant ( Figs. 3 B–F). Trichoid sensilla (s.t.) (sensory hairs) can be found on the 4th to 11th antennomeres. Basiconic sensilla (s.b.) (sensory pegs or cones) are present on the 4th to 11th antennomeres. Some Böhm sensilla (B.s.) (sensory pit-pegs) are also present found in areas opposite the intersegmental membrane between head and scape, as well as between scape and pedicel on the scape and pedicel bases, respectively ( Figs. 3 A–B). Coeloconic sensilla (s.co.), (sensory pit-pegs) can be found on the 5th to 11th antennomeres ( Figs. 3 E–F). Appendages of cuticular plates (ACP) were abundant at the bases of all antennomeres, close to the intersegmental joints ( Fig. 3 B). Mouthparts. Sensilla on the mandible, maxilla, labial palpus, labrum, and clypeus of the paratype 1 were examined. The mandible is acutely bent inwardly at its tip. On the ventral side, longitudinal rows of setae are present ( Figs. 4 A–B). On the dorsal surface, a series of hair sensilla projects from the submolar region to near the cuticular processes ( Figs. 4 C–D). FIGURE 4. Scanning electron micrograph showing mandible from paratype 1 C. tapiaguassu . P = principal tooth; b = masticator border. (A) Ventral view from left mandible. Bar = 100 μm. (B) A close-up on ventral view from left mandible. Bar = 20 μm. (C) Dorsal view from right mandible. Bar = 20 μm. (D) A close dorsal view from right mandible. Bar = 10 μm. The maxilla basically consists of the lacinia, maxillary palp, and galea ( Figs. 5 A). The lacinia is shorter than the galea, with an acute and curved end, with rows of long setae and cuticular processes. The galea is biarticulated, composed of 2 segments, with different types of basiconic sensilla. These sensilla become more abundant near the apex of the last segment ( Fig. 5 B). The four-palpomere from maxillary palp is long and filiform with spaced basiconic sensilla present on the surfaces of the segments. Trichoid sensilla are distributed along the maxillary palp, and they become more abundant and smaller on the last segment ( Figs. 5 C–D). There are also grooves in this segment that may indicate a sensory organ or gustatory receptors ( Fig. 5 E). The labium has one pair of small setae and one pair of long setae near the labial palpi ( Fig. 6 A), which has some long hairs within. The types of sensilla on the three-segmented labial palpomeres are the same as those on the maxillary palpomeres ( Fig. 6 B). The labrum is quadrangular and presents tree pairs of setae in dorsal margin ( Figs. 7 A–B). Pronotum. Shape trapezoidal, 1.38 (1.28–1.35) times wider than long ( Figs. 2 A–B). Maximum width close to anterior angle and as wide as head. Anterior and posterior angles are acute. Dorsal surface ( Fig. 2 A) with two pairs of erect setae: one close to the anterior angle of the pronotum and the other, shorter, close to the posterior angle. Ventral surface with one pair of anterior setae medially located ( Fig. 2 B). Elytra. Elytra are free ( Fig. 2 A), together 1.71 (1.74–1.79) times longer than wide. Maximum width nearly one third the distance from the apex and 1.52 (1.48–1.54) times wider than pronotum. Apex of elytra is not sinuous. Seven large setae in each elytron: 3 close to the anterior angle, 2 marginal in posterior half, and 2 on posterior margin. Hind wings absent. Abdominal sterna 1–5, glabrous, sixth sternum with a small pair of setae close to its posterior margin. FIGURE 5. Scanning electron micrograph showing maxilla from paratype 1 C. tapiaguassu . m.p. = maxillary palp; g = galea; l = lacinia. (A) Right maxilla, ventral view. Bar = 100 μm. (B) Right galea, ventral view. Bar = 20 μm. (C) Left maxillary palp. Bar = 20 μm. (D) A view from the apical maxillary palp. Bar = 20 μm. (E) Close-up on maxillary palp, view of a probable sensilla organ. Bar = 10 μm. FIGURE 6. Scanning electron micrograph showing labium with labial palpus from paratype 1 C. tapiaguassu , l.p. = labial palp. (A) Labium, ventral view. Bar = 100 μm. (B) Apex of distal palpomere. Bar = 20 μm. FIGURE 7. Scanning electron micrograph showing labrum from paratype 1 C. tapiaguassu . (A) Dorsal view of the labrum. Bar = 20 μm. (B) Close-up on apical setae insertion in the labrum. Bar = 10 μm. Legs. Procoxa with one pair of setae at posterior margin ( Fig. 2 B); meso and metacoxa with one pair of setae close to the anterior margin. Pro-, meso- and metatrochanter bear one medial setae. Profemur with long and short setae. Profemur 1.04 (0.90–1.12) mm, as long as the mesofemur and 0.90 (0.68–0.75) times the length of metafemur. Protibia 1.15 (1.0–1.09) as long as the mesotibia and 0.61 (0.68–0.79) times the length of metatibia. Protibia 1.21 (1.15–1.60) times longer than protarsus. Mesotibia 0.90 (1.0–1.2) times the length of mesotarsus and metatibia 1.1 (1.04–1.21) times longer than the metatarsus. First tarsomere almost equal to tarsomeres 2–4 together. Length of protibia and tarsus together 2.63 (2.29–2.65) times the length of the pronotum. Mesotibia and tarsus length 2.63 (2.59–2.56) times, and metatibia and tarsus length 3.94 (2.72–3.65) times the length of pronotum. The ultrastructural analysis showed that the coxal segment has 3 types of sensilla: one type is the sharply pointed long trichoid sensilla (s.t.). The other type , the appendages of cuticular plates (ACP) are abundant on the procoxae, covering all the procoxae tissue ( Figs. 8 A–B). Some sensilla chaetica were also observed in the basal part of the coxae ( Fig. 8 B). The trochanter also bears trichoid sensilla ( Fig. 8 C). On the femur, trichoid sensilla are regularly distributed on the whole surface ( Figs. 8 D–E). ACP are abundant at the base of the protibia, close to the intersegmental joint, where there is also an aggregate of basiconic sensilla ( Fig. 8 D). The protibia also has a row of trichoid sensilla, which become more abundant at the apex, and spaced basiconic sensilla occur at its border ( Fig. 8 E). The tarsus has abundant trichoid sensilla ( Fig. 8 F). Aedeagus. Dorsally curved and elongate, presently the biggest and longest aedeagus among Coarazuphium species, with some protuberance at the apices ( Figs. 2 D–F). Left paramere about two times longer than wide, right paramere slighter curved and elongate. FIGURE 8. Scanning electron micrograph showing proleg segments and sensilla in paratype 1 C. tapiaguassu . (A) Back view of coxae and trochanter. Bar = 100 μm. (B) Close-up on back portion from coxae. Bar = 10μm. (C) Trochanter. Bar = 100 μm. (D) Tibia insertion on femur. Bar = 20 μm. (E) Close-up on tibia. Bar = 20 μm. (F) Apical tarsomere and claw. Bar = 20 μm. Etymology. The epithet is from the tupi-Guarani word (Indian Brazilian language) tapiaguassu (Tapiaguaçu) , meaning those of large penis. Differential diagnosis. All characteristics of C. tapiaguassu are consistent with the description of the genus Coarazuphium , except for the non-sinuous margin of the elytra, which was already observed in C. pains . Álvares & Ferreira (2002) suggested that this character be reconsidered for the genus, because it is not present in specimens of C. pains . This new troglobite species of Coarazuphium differs from the others by the absence of setae on the dorsal surface of the head, near the posterior margin; the other species feature one, two or three pairs of setae. Furthermore, the aedeagus is larger and longer than in other all Coarazuphium species.