Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2021 | 13(14): 20272–20277
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893
(Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7580.13.14.20272-20277
#7580 | Received 21 July 2021 | Final
received 18 October 2021 | Finally accepted 08 December 2021
A new species of flat-headed
mayfly Afronurus meenmutti
(Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae: Ecdyonurinae) from Kerala, India
Marimuthu Muthukatturaja
1 & Chellaiah Balasubramanian 2
1,2 Department of Zoology, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625009, India.
1 drmkraja83@gmail.com, 2 ulabc62@gmail.com
(corresponding author)
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CCF6F48F-2501-4E7D-99A3-070CB676C876
Editor: Anonymity
requested. Date of publication:
26 December 2021 (online & print)
Citation: Muthukatturaja,
M. & C. Balasubramanian (2021). A new species
of flat-headed mayfly Afronurus meenmutti (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae:
Ecdyonurinae) from Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(14): 20272–20277. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7580.13.14.20272-20277
Copyright: © Muthukatturaja
& Balasubramanian 2021. Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction,
and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to
the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: MoEFCC (AICOPTAX). F.No.
22018/05/2018-RE (TAX).
Competing interests: The authors
declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: Senior author (CB) thanks the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change – AICOPTAX (F. No:
22018/05/2015) for financial assistance. Authors are grateful to the Management
of Thiagarajar College, for their constant support
and encouragement.
Abstract: A new species of mayfly (Heptageniidae: Ecdyonurinae) Afronurus meenmutti sp.
nov. is described based on larvae and imagoes from
the state of Kerala, southern India. The main characteristics that distinguish
the new species from all other species are in having glossae oblong with two stout spines
medially; lingua of hypopharynx deeply cleft; absence of postero-lateral
spines on terga and gill I slightly lobate in the nymph. Hind wing with the
acute costal process; stout spine dispersed on basal and surface of forceps in
the adults.
Keywords: Kallar River, mature larva, mayfly, Meenmutti falls, taxonomy, Western Ghats.
The description of the mayfly
genus Afronurus was illustrated by Lestage
(1924) from Africa. Kimmins (1937) proposed the name Cinygmina for a single species known from India
based on adults only with penes differentiation. Wang
& McCafferty (2004) and Kluge (2004) were synonymised the genus Cinygmina with Afronurus
(Braasch & Freitag 2008). Besides,
median titillators of penis are reduced: they are
either widely separated and diminished (in assamensis
(C.), yoshidae (E.), levis
(E)), or completely lost. This apomorphy is non-unique, but does not occur in
other Heptagenia/f5=g4.
Unique apomorphy of egg equator bears several additional anchors of another
structure: the additional anchor is many times larger than a usual anchor, and
in coiled condition represents a flat spiral for those reasons they were
synonymized with Cinygmina spp. (Koss &
Edmunds 1974; Kopelke 1980; Flowers & Pescador 1984; Kang & Yang 1994). Afronurus
Lestage is an old world heptageniid genus with 66 species described (Yannai et al. 2017) and includes 48 species from the
Oriental region (Kimmins 1937; Braasch
& Soldan 1984, 1987; Flowers & Pescador 1984; Braasch 1987, 1990,
2005, 2011; Venkataraman & Sivaramakrishnan 1989;
Kang & Yang 1994; Nguyen & Bae 2003; Zhou & Zheng 2003; Braasch & Boonsoong 2010; Braasch & Jacobus 2011; Boonsoong
& Braasch 2013). In India, five species of Afronurus have been recorded namely A. assamensis Kimmins, 1937, A.
curtus Dubey, 1971, A. solangensis
Dubey, 1971, A. keralensis Braasch & Soldan, 1987, and A.
kumbakkaraiensis Venkataraman & Sivaramakrishnan, 1987. For three decades, no species has
been described in India. In this study, we describe a new species, Afronurus meenmutti,
based on all life stages, from southern India.
Materials and Methods
The material used in the present
investigation was preserved in 95% ethanol. The nymphs were collected by kick–net
method in the riffle habitats on moderate to fast-flowing streams. Ample
numbers of collected mature nymphs were kept in a plastic tray filled with
cobbles and pebbles in the natural habitat covered with a mosquito net (1 x 2
m). The modified emergence trap was retained until adult emergence. This
emergence trap was monitored each day in the morning and evening until all
adults had emerged. Imagoes were carefully removed from the net and preserved
in 95% alcohol. The collected specimens were examined using a NIKON 1270i
stereo zoom binocular microscope. Drawings were prepared using a camera lucida. Holotype and paratypes were deposited in the
Zoological Survey of India (in alcohol), Southern Regional Centre, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu, India.
Results
Afronurus meenmutti
Balasubramanian
& Muthukatturaja sp. nov.
(Figure 1–18)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6F9F7C16-2C22-4B3B-AB0D-9C3DE1232CDA
Type material: Holotype (in ethanol): Reg.No. ZSI–SRC/ I/E 425, 12.v.2018, one mature nymph,
India, Kallar River, Kallar,
Trivandrum District, Kerala State, India, 08.7110N, 77.1280E,
839m, coll. M. Muthukatturaja & C.
Balasubramanian.
Paratypes (same data as
holotype): Reg.No. ZSI–SRC/ I/E 426, 5 mature nymphs
deposited in Zoological Survey of India (Southern Regional Centre), Chennai,
Tamil Nadu.
Mature Nymph: (Figures 1–13) (preserved in 95%
ethanol) Dimensions (mm): body length (excluding cerci) 6.5; cerci length 1.84
times longer than body length; median caudal filament 12.0; width of head 2.0;
antennae length 1.0. General body coloration brownish-yellow; legs brown.
Head: Dorsum brownish-yellow; scape
and pedicel of antennae dark brown, flagellum pale. Mouthparts: emargination of labrum slightly concave (Figure 1);
anterior margin with row of stout spines, size of stout spine increases
anterolaterally; dorsum with sparse long setae and a clump of hair-like setae
directed anteromedially on either side of dorsomedial margin. Right mandible
(Figure 2a): incisors trifurcated with numerous serrations; inner incisor with
6–9 hairs laterally; molar with a thick spine at apex, below the molar 7 thin
long setae present, clump of bipectinate setae present between molar and prostheca; 1/2 of lateral margin with thin long hairs
apically; prostheca with bipectinate processes. Left
mandible (Figure 2b): incisors trifurcated with serrations; below the molar
three long thin setae present. Maxilla (Figure 3): maxillary palp
three-segmented; segment III much smaller than segment I & II; outer margin
of segment II with long thin hairs and rows of thin setae apically; 1/3 of
inner margin of segment II with short spines; segment I with long hairs at
inner and outer margin; galea-lacinia with three acute spines; base of galea
with clump of bipectinate setae, ventral base of galea-lacinia with numerous
long hairs and 9–15 thin long setae; apex of galea–lacinia with row of
comb–like setae. Lingua of hypopharynx (Figure 4) deeply cleft; sublingua slender deeply curved inwardly with long setae at
anterior and lateral margin. Labium (Figure 5): two segmented labial palp;
basal segment larger than apical segment; outer margin of apical segment with
tufts of thin setae, inner margin with clump of short spines; glossae oblong with two stout spines medially (Figure 6);
ventral margin with long thin setae; outer margin of glossae
with row of long bipectinate setae; posterior and mesal
margins of paraglossae with row of thin spines;
anterior margin with a row of long
setae.
Thorax: Brown, median suture pale, small
pale maculae on pro and mesonotum. Legs: femora with
scattered prominent brown maculae and median transverse band in fore and
hindlegs, midleg macula scattered. Foreleg (Figure 7): length of femora; tibia;
tarsi; claw viz., 4.0: 3.7: 1.0: 0.4. femora with row of long monopectinate setae at outer margin, inner margin and
dorsal surface with sparse spatulate setae; outer margin of tibia with row of
long setae and inner margin with row of few blunt spines, mesal
margin with row of few spatulate setae; mesal margin
of tarsi with 3 spatulate setae; claw slender, slightly curved with 5
denticles. Midleg (Figure 8): length of femora; tibia; tarsi; claw viz., 4.0:
3.7: 1.0: 0.4. coxae with row of very short spines at dorsomedial margin; posterior
margin of trochanter with row of six spatulate setae; femora, tibia, tarsi and
claw similar to foreleg. Hindleg (Figure 9): length of femora; tibia; tarsi;
claw viz., 4.5: 3.7: 1.2: 0.3. coxa similar to midleg; trochanter similar to
midleg except seven spatulate setae at posterior margin; femora similar to
midleg except few blunt spines distally; tibia of inner margin with row of
spines and with three long blunt spines at apically, distal margin with long
blunt spine, mesal margin with row of bipectinate
hairs; tarsi with three spatulate setae at apically and with row of very short
spines at inner margin; claw hooked with 5 denticles.
Abdomen: Tergum brownish-yellow, sternum
yellow; posterior margin of terga IV–X with brown band medially; absence of postero-lateral spines in all terga; terga III–VII dark
brown with pale yellow maculae, terga VIII–X washed yellow. Gills on abdominal
segments (Figure 10–13) I–VI smoky black to translucent, dorsal lamella tracheated, ventral fimbriate; gill I slightly lobate; gill
lamellae on abdominal segment 5 with acutely pointed apical elongation; gill
VII single lamellate with well developed tracheation.
Cerci brown at posterior region of each segment and reminders translucent.
Male imago: (Figures 14–18) (preserved in 95%
ethanol) Dimensions (mm): Length: body, 7.5; forewings (Figure 14), 6.5;
hindwing (Figure 15), 1.8. Width: forewings, 2.3; hindwing, 0.8; cerci, 17.0.
Head: length 0.5, light
yellowish-brown, margin darker. Antennae 0.7, scape and pedicel of antennae
yellowish brown, flagellum pale gray. Eyes whitish-black. Basal half of ocelli
black, apical half white. Dorsal diameter of eye 0.4; distance between compound
eyes 0.1.
Thorax: Yellowish-brown, sutures pale;
margins of pronotum brown; venter yellowish-brown. Legs yellowish-brown, all
joints of femora, tibiae and tarsi dark
brown, ratio of segments in forelegs (Figure 16) femur; tibia; tarsus viz.,
2.0/ 2.15/ 3.3, claws pair alike, apically hooked with an opposing hook (Figure
17). Wings longitudinal and cross vein of fore and hind wings pale brown;
membranous fore and hind wings hyaline, except cells C and Sc of fore wing pale
gray; stigmatic area of forewing with 12 intercalary veins; MA forked near 1/2
of distance from the base of wing to margin; MP forked at 1/4 of distance from
the base of wing to margin; anal veins with two fork; first anal area without
pair of long intercalary; hind wing transparent, costal process acute.
Abdomen: Terga I–X washed with dark brown
medially; terga washed yellow laterally except terga VII–X washed with
yellowish-brown, lack of marking in postero-lateral edges of abdominal terga, terga I–X dark
brown band on posterior margin medially; sterna yellowish-brown. Genitalia (Figure
18) forceps 0.7; penes 0.251; penes
pale yellow; basal half of forceps uniformly washed with yellowish-brown,
apical half pale brown; stout spine dispersed on inner and outer margin of
forceps; outer lobe of penis much broader and slightly elevated; median titillators of penes well
developed and prominent; cerci pale brown, annulations at articulations paler.
Female imago: (preserved in 95% ethanol)
Dimensions (mm): Length: body, 8.5; forewings, 8.1; hindwing, 2.1. Width:
forewings, 2.6; hindwing, 0.9; cerci, 19.0.
Head: Length 1.0 , dark brown, margin
darker. Antennae 0.8, scape, pedicel and flagellum of antennae as in male
imago. Eyes and ocelli black. Dorsal diameter of eye 0.35; distance between
compound eyes 0.8.
Thorax: Brownish-yellow, venter pale
yellow; carinae darker; sutures paler. Legs femora of foreleg brownish-yellow
remainders as in male imago, middles and hindleg yellow. Wings details as in
male imago.
Abdomen:terga I–X yellowish-brown, posterior
edges of all terga with dark brown band. Sterna yellow. Cerci pale yellow,
annulations at articulation paler.
Etymology
The described new species is
named after the place of collection, Meenmutti falls
of Kallar River, Thiruvanandhapuram
district, Kerala.
Diagnosis
The larvae of Afronurus
meenmutti sp. nov. can
be separated from all other species by the following combination of characters:
(i) lingua of hypopharynx deeply cleft; (ii) glossae oblong with two stout spines medially (iii) gill I
slightly lobate (Figure 10); (iv) gill lamellae on abdominal segment V with
acutely pointed apical elongation; (v) absence of postero-lateral
spines on terga; (vi) maculae on midleg scattered (Figure 7–9). The imagoes of Afronurus meenmutti sp.
nov. can be separated from all other species by the
following combination of characters: (i) hind wing
with acute costal process; (ii) outer lobe of penis much broader and slightly
elevated; (iii) stout spines on forceps.
Discussion
The flat-headed mayfly genus Afronurus has been recorded in the Palearctic and
Oriental regions. In India, six species have been recorded. Of these, A. kumbakkaraiensis and A. meenmutti
sp. nov. have all life stages described, whereas A.
assamensis, A. curtus,
and A. solangensis are known from adults and
only the larvae of A. keralensis has been
described.
The larvae of A. meenmutti sp. nov. differs
from A. kumbakkaraiensis and A. keralensis by the following combination of characters:
1) gill I slightly lobate, 2) gill lamellae on abdominal segment V with acute
apical elongation, 3) lingua of hypopharynx deeply cleft, 4) posterior-lateral
spines absent on terga, 5) glossae oblong with 2
spines medially.
Male imagoes of A. meenmutti sp. nov. can
be distinguised from A. kumbakkaraiensis
and A. assamensis by the following combination
of characters: (i) stout spine dispersed on basal and
surface of forceps and (ii) outer lobe of penis much broader and slightly
elevated. Female imagoes of A. meenmutti sp.
nov. can be distinguised
from A. kumbakkaraiensis, A. assamensis, A. curtus,
and A. solangensis by the following
combination of characters: (i) stigmatic area of
forewing with 12 intercalary; (ii) size of fore and hind wings are smaller.
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