Friday, June 7, 2019

[Entomology • 2019] Cristalinaia vitoria • A New and Highly Distinctive Genus and Species of Euptychiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from the Brazilian southern Amazon


Cristalinaia vitoria  Mota, Zacca & Freitas

in Freitas, Mota, Zacca & Barbosa, 2019. 

Abstract
A new genus and species of Euptychiina (Satyrinae), Cristalinaia vitoria Mota, Zacca & Freitas gen. et sp. nov., is described based on three specimens collected in the region of the Cristalino River, Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil. This rare species is known only from this region, where it flies inside the dense bamboo patches typical of that area. The last instar larva and the pupa are described; the larva was observed feeding on mature leaves of the common bamboo Guadua aff. paniculata Munro.

Keywords: Amazonia, Immature stages, Morphology, Molecular phylogeny, Taxonomy

Fig. 1. Habitat and holotype of Cristalinaia vitoria gen. et sp. nov. in the type locality at Cristalino Lodge, Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
(A) A general view of the area; (B) a close view of the bamboo patch where the larva was found;
(C) male holotype of Cristalinaia vitoria sp. nov. (dorsal above, ventral below).


Cristalinaia Freitas, Barbosa & Zacca gen. nov.

Type species. Cristalinaia vitoria Mota, Zacca & Freitas sp.n.

Diagnosis. Cristalinaia gen. nov. differs from all other genera of Euptychiina by the VHW ocelli with very broad orange ocellar rings, reduced black ocelar spots with no pupils (Fig. 1C) and the male 8th abdominal tergite strongly sclerotized, except by the unsclerotized antero-dorsal region (Fig. 4B, C). The female is unknown.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the Cristalino River, a river of dark translucent waters near which the specimens were collected (the word “cristalino” is Portuguese for “crystal clear”, alluding to the translucent waters of the river). It also alludes to the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Cristalino (Cristalino Private Reserve) and to the “Fundação Ecológica Cristalino” (Cristalino Ecological Foundation), both founded by Vitoria da Riva Carvalho. The gender of the name should be considered feminine.

Fig. 2. Lateral view of the head of Cristalinaia vitoria gen. et sp. nov.

Fig. 5. Immature stages of Cristalinaia vitoria gen. et sp. nov. Last instar: (A) lateral, (B) dorsal, (C) frontal view of last instar head capsule. Pupa: (D) dorsal, (E) lateral.

Cristalinaia vitoria Mota, Zacca & Freitas sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Cristalinaia vitoria sp. nov. superficially resembles several other species of Euptychiina (e.g. Pareuptychia species, Pseudeuptychia species, Splendeuptychia toynei Willmott & Hall, 1995, S. aurigera (Weymer, [1911]), S. triangula (Aurivillius, 1929)) by the white ground color on the wings, but it can be easily distinguished from them by the incomplete median line and four tiny ocelli from M1 to CuA2 on the VFW, by the five VHW ocelli between M1 to 2A that have a very broad orange ocellar ring and black ocellar spot in the distal half of ring plus a very small ocelli in Rs-M1, and the broadened VHW reddish brown marginal line forming crescents in each cell.

Distribution. Cristalinaia vitoria sp. nov. is known only from its type locality in the region of Cristalino Lodge, Alta Floresta, northern Mato Grosso. The site is a private protected area (the “Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Cristalino”).


Etymology. The specific name is after Vitoria da Riva Carvalho, in recognition of her pioneering work on the conservation of the southern Amazon, and founder of the Cristalino group (which includes the “Fundação Ecológica Cristalino”, Cristalino Lodge and Cristalino Private Natural Heritage Reserves). The specific epithet should be considered feminine and indeclinable in accordance to the Article 31.2.3 (ICZN, 1999).

   


 André V.L. Freitas, Luísa L. Mota, Thamara Zacca and Eduardo P. Barbosa. 2019. Description of A New and Highly Distinctive Genus and Species of Euptychiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from the Brazilian southern Amazon. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.rbe.2019.05.004