Integrative taxonomic studies on Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae) with two new species from India Author Amina, Poovoli Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghat Regional Centre (Recognised Research Centre of Calicut University), Calicut, Kerala (India) aminapoovoli@gmail.com Author Rajmohana, Keloth Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata (India) mohana.skumar@gmail.com Author Dinesh, K. P. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western Regional Centre (WRC), Pune (India) kpdinesh.zsi@gmail.com Author Asha, Gopalan Department of Animal Science, Central University of Kerala. Padanakkad, Kerala (India) ashagkoppal@gmail.com text Zoosystema 2022 2022-02-11 44 3 109 124 journal article 20663 10.5252/zoosystema2022v44a3 65940e57-c549-4ba2-9955-99636016befb 1638-9387 6080151 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CC0C887B-C05F-4B76-BA88-7F585F510749 Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana n. sp. ( Figs 1 ; 3 ; 7A ; Table 1 ) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8C629647-1999-45D7-BAB7-F16A1C792D1C TYPE MATERIAL . — Holotype (Soldier). India • Kerala , Ernakulam , Urulanthanni ( Thattekadu Bird Sanctuary ); 10°7’41”N , 76°45’18”E ; 5.I.2015 ; Amina Poovoli leg.; Colony code:ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/4610. Paratypes ( 12 soldiers , 10 workers ). India • 10 soldiers , same data as for holotype • 10 workers ; same data as for holotype • 2 soldiers ; Kerala , Idukki ( Thekkady , in Periyar Tiger Reserve ); 9°27’43”N , 77°14’12”E ; 6.IV.2013 ; K. Rajmohana & party leg.; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4611 . Sequenced specimens. Same as paratypes . ETYMOLOGY. — The species epithet name is derived from the latin term ‘silvius’ meaning forest as the new species was predominant in forested habitat. DNA BARCODE. — Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana , n. gen., n. sp. is showing sister relationship with Rinacapritermes abundans n. sp. exhibiting genetic divergence of 7.3% to 8.3% for COI gene ( Fig. 4 ). Both the species can easily be distinguished morphologically (see key below) and both the species type localities are isolated in range of distribution ( Fig. 5 ). DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA . — From two adjoining districts of Kerala (Ernakulam and Idukki); could be a limited-range endemic species restricted to south of Palghat Gap. DESCRIPTION Imago Not known Soldier ( Fig. 1 A-E; Table 1 ) Monomorphic. Head capsule pale yellowish brown; fontanelle gland area pale yellow; antennae paler than head; labrum translucent at arterial and lateral part and pale yellow on rest; left mandible blackish brown; right mandible reddish brown; legs and body whitish yellow. Head Capsule. Moderately hairy with long and a few short hairs. Antennal segments with long and short hairs on entire surface; labrum with a few hairs on anterior part; postmentum with a very few short hairs at distal third. Anterior margin of pronotum with 5-8 long hairs. Body densely hairy with long hairs; legs covered with long hairs, more concentrated at last tarsal segments. Head capsule in dorsal view. Subrectangular; sides substraight, slightly narrowing at anterior end; minimum width being at base of mandibles; posterior margin rounded. Frons sharply inclining in front; median suture of head short, extending up to 1/4 of head-length from posterior margin; fontanelle transverse, situated anteriorly at distal 1/5 of head; fontanelle gland large, extending beyond middle of head. Antennae with 15 segments; segment 2 longer than 3; segment 4 slightly longer than or sometimes subequal to 3; segment 3 sometimes shortest; 5-10 gradually increasing in length and remaining segments subequal. Labrum slightly asymmetrical; anterior margin substraight with broad based, robust and long antero-lateral points. Mandibles strongly asymmetrical; left mandible strongly twisted at middle; with blunt apex. Right mandible blade-like with sharp, pointed apex, facing upward; inner margin of right mandible incurved at middle region; apical blade substraight. Postmentum club-shaped; length more than 1/2 of head length; with a narrow waist lying posteriorly. Title. Pronotum saddle-shaped, anterior and posterior margin without any notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs; outer spur not very distinct. Abdomen. Elongated; cerci short; 2 segmented. Worker (n = 5) Monomorphic. Head capsule, antennae, postclypeus whitish yellow; thorax and legs paler than head; abdomen translucent with intestinal contents showing through. Head capsule moderately hairy with many long and short hairs, post clypeus with long hairs and body sparsely hairy with a few long hairs and very short hairs. Total body length 3.9-4.40 mm . Head. Subcircular; length to tip of labrum 1.13-1.23 mm , length to base of mandible 0.68-0.76 mm and maximum width 0.88-0.92 mm ; width of head capsule widest at base of mandibles. Epicranial suture slightly distinct; fontanelle plate translucent and oval. Antennae with 14-15 segments; segment 3 shortest; segment 2 longer than 3 and 4. Postclypeus swollen; almost straight anteriorly and rounded posteriorly; length less than half of width (length 0.19-0.22 mm ; width 0.45-0.47 mm ). Mandible ( Fig. 1F ). As for genus. Digestive tube. As for genus. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped (length 0.24-0.26 mm ; width 0.48-0.53 mm ); anterior and posterior lobe without notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs; dorsal spur of foretibia at times indistinct; foretibia somewhat swollen. REMARKS Dorsal spur of fore tibia is sometimes indistinct. So both the 3:2:2 and 2:2:2 conditions are seen in the soldiers as well as the workers of the same colony.