Monday, December 17, 2018

[Chilopoda • 2018] Taeniolinum neusicus • The First Taeniolinum (Geophilomorpha: Ballophilidae) from the Andes Mountains and Colombia


Taeniolinum neusicus
Tulande-M, Prado & Triana, 2018


Abstract
Taeniolinum neusicus sp. n. is described based on 148 specimens collected at the eastern Colombian Andes. Detailed data on environmental and biological preferences are included in the description. The validity of characters such as the number of labral teeth and the clypeal setae to separate Taeniolinum species is also evaluated.

Keywords: Myriapoda, Ballophilidae, Centipede, Soil fauna, Tropical Montane forest


Order Geophilomorpha 
Suborder Adesmata 

Family Ballophilidae 
Genus Taeniolinum Pocock, 1893

FIGURE 4. Specimen of Taeniolinum neusicus sp. n. found inside a dipteran pupa, probably while brooding.
(Photo: Esteban Tulande-M).

Taeniolinum neusicus sp. n.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a latinized adjective, in masculine form, derived from the name of the type locality, Parque Forestal Embalse del Neusa

Type locality: Colombia: Eastern Andes Mountains: Cundinamarca: Parque Forestal Embalse del Neusa and .... 

Habitat and ecological considerations. This is the first record of the genus Taeniolinum in Colombia and the Andes Mountains, the specimens were collected at two tropical high montane forest patchs (Figure 3) within an altitudinal range of 2700 to 3200 meters above sea level, which is a new distribution range for Taeniolinum, as well as the maximum altitude at which it the genus has been recorded.  
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 Esteban Tulande-M., César Camilo Prado and Hernán Darío Triana. 2018. The First Taeniolinum from the Andes Mountains and Colombia (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha).   Zootaxa. 4532(1); 113–124.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4532.1.7