Unveiling a hidden diversity: descriptions of nine new species of Ctenorillo Verhoeff, 1942 (Isopoda, Armadillidae) discovered in Brazilian caves and their importance for conservation Author Cardoso, Giovanna Monticelli Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Centro de Estudos em Biologia Subterrânea, Departamento de Biologia, programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia Aplicada, Campus Universitário, CP 3037, 37200 - 000 Lavras, Minas Gerais (Brasil) gmcardoso. bio @ gmail. com (corresponding author) bio@gmail.com Author M, Diego de Author Bento, edeiros Author Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Centro de Estudos em Biologia Subterrânea, Departamento de Biologia, programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia Aplicada, Campus Universitário, CP 3037, 37200 - 000 Lavras, Minas Gerais (Brasil) drops @ ufla. br drops@ufla.br text Zoosystema 2024 2024-03-05 46 5 95 132 https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/zoosystema2024v46a5.pdf journal article 10.5252/zoosystema2024v46a5 1638-9387 10803267 1B0779F3-FAE4-4105-8130-A26DE519721E Ctenorillo quiteriensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. ( Figs 16 ; 17 ; 27G ) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 660D19DD-C840-4D69-A90B-F85FA9E916E8 TYPE MATERIAL . — Holotype . Brazil • 1 ♂ ( 7 mm ) (part in slide); Ceará state; Santa Quitéria municipality; SQ_39; 4°33’42”S , 39°46’46”W ; 10-18.III.2021 ; Carste leg.; ISLA 96038. OTHER MATERIAL . — Brazil • 1 ♀ ; Ceará state; Santa Quitéria municipality; SQ_P12; 4°33’39”S , 39°45’48”W ; 10-18.III.2021 ; Carste leg.; ISLA 96059 . ETYMOLOGY . — The new species name is a noun in apposition that refers to the people who are born in the municipality where the specimens were found (Santa Quitéria). DIAGNOSIS . — Dorsum covered with conical tubercles and lateral ribs with three rows on cephalon (4, 2, 6); four rows on pereonite 1 (4, 5, 10, 7); two rows on pereonites 2-4 (8 + 7) and on pereonites 5-7 (10 + 7); one row of four tubercles on pleonites 3-5; and two paramedian tubercles telson. Pleopod 1 exopod with protruding distal portion, triangular, outer margin straight; endopod with distal portion straight, slightly swollen, three times longer than exopod. DISTRIBUTION . — Santa Quitéria municipality, Ceará state . DESCRIPTION Maximum size: ♂ and ♀ , 7 mm . Color brown with lateral margin depigmented ( Fig. 27G ). Dorsum covered with conical tubercles and lateral ribs ( Fig. 16 A-C): cephalon with three rows (4, 2, and 6 from front to back of vertex); pereonite 1 with 26 in four rows (4, 5, 10 and 7); pereonites 2-4 with 15 (8 +7); pereonites 5-7 with 17 (10 +7); pleonites 3-5 with one row of four tubercles; telson with two paramedian tubercles. Dorsal cuticle with short triangular scale setae; pereonites 1-7 bearing one line of noduli lateralis per side on outer surface of posterior tubercle of second line of tubercles. Cephalon with frontal shield protruding above vertex; eye consisting of eight ommatidia ( Fig. 16A, D ). Pereonite 1 with posterior margin distinctly sinuous at sides; inner lobe of schisma rounded, extending beyond posterior margin of outer lobe; pereonite 2 with triangular ventral tooth reaching posterior margin of epimera ( Fig. 16E ). Pereonites 2-7 ( Fig. 16A ) with wide quadrangular epimera slightly bent outwards. Telson ( Fig. 16F ) hourglass-shaped, proximal portion broader than distal portion. Antennula ( Fig. 16G ) of three articles, second article shorter than first and third, third article with three apical and five subapical aesthetascs. Antenna ( Fig. 16H ) short and stout, flagellum shorter than fifth article of peduncle; second article of flagellum about three times as long as first. Buccal pieces as C. pelado Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. ( Fig. 16 I-K). All pleopod exopods with monospiracular covered lungs. Uropod ( Fig. 17A ) protopod flattened, enlarged on basal portion; exopod very short, inserted dorsally close to medial margin of protopod. Male Pereopods without particular modifications ( Fig. 17B, C ). Pleopod 1 exopod ( Fig. 17D ) wider than long, protruding distal portion, triangular, outer margin straight; endopod with distal portion straight, slightly swollen, three times longer than exopod. Pleopod 2 endopod longer than exopod ( Fig. 17E ). Pleopods 3-5 exopods as in Figure 17 F-H. FIG . 16. — Ctenorillo quiteriensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. , holotype (male, 7 mm, ISLA96038): A , habitus, lateral view; B , disposition of dorsal tubercles; C , cephalon and epimeron 1, dorsal view; D , cephalon, frontal view; E , epimera 1-3 ventral view; F , pleonites 3-5, uropods and telson, dorsal view; G , antennula; H , antenna; I , right mandible; J , maxillula; K , maxilliped. Scale bar: 0.5 mm. HABITAT Specimens of C. quiteriensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. were found in two limestone caves inserted in the caatinga biome in northern Ceará state . The regional climate is also classified as BSh according to the Köppen system, characterized by the same patterns of precipitation and temperature as described for C. cearensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. Also, no data were available about the caves or the conservation status of the surrounding region. Regrettably, external inventories were not conducted during the sampling process in the area, making it difficult to determine the precise distribution of this species. It is likely that C. quiteriensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. occurs in external habitats surrounding the caves, as observed in other species described here. As with C. cearensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. , the establishment of quarries for uranium extraction in the future could pose a significant threat to the habitats of this newly discovered species. It is essential to undertake further studies to determine the extent of its distribution and the potential impacts of anthropogenic activities in the region to develop conservation strategies to safeguard this species. REMARKS Ctenorillo quiteriensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. occur in the same region as C. cearensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. and they clearly differ in the shape and number of tubercles, being more developed in C. quiteriensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. On pereonite 1, C. quiteriensis Cardoso & Ferreira , n. sp. presents 26 tubercles, resembling C. ferrarai in the presence of a lateral rib on the pereonites that are more developed posteriorly.