RESUMO
Falcomurus Mandal is currently a monotypic genus of Heteromurinae described from India in 2018. Its key characters are the first antennal segment subdivided, the second undivided and the third annulated; the first abdominal segment lacking macrochaetae; and the presence of a sinuous modified macrochaeta on the proximal dens. Some details of its morphology were recently put in doubt, and so its genus status and affinities remain uncertain. Here, we revise the genus based on the type material of Dicranocentrus litoreus Mari-Mutt, as well as provide the description of two new species from Australian archipelagos and a reinterpretation of the chaetotaxy of Falcomurus chilikaensis Mandal and D. halophilus Mari-Mutt. After our revision, Falcomurus shows a well-conserved chaetotaxy and overall morphology, which allowed us to provide an updated generic diagnosis. While the antennae morphology of Falcomurus resembles that of Dicranocentrus Schött, its dorsal sensillar and macrochaetotaxy suggest it is closely related to Heteromurus Wankel, as originally stated by Mandal. The main features useful to separate Falcomurus species are the head, mesothorax and fourth abdominal segment chaetotaxy. We also provide a key to its five species, a comparative table and notes on the affinities and distribution of Falcomurus.
RESUMO
Herein, eyeless Pseudosinella species from Brazilian caves are reviewed, including the description of 23 new species, new records plus additional notes on the descriptions of P. ambigua Zeppelini, Brito, and Lima and of P. guanhaensis Zeppelini, Brito, and Lima. We also provide an identification key to 27 eyeless species recorded from Brazil. To organize the 26 Brazilian eyeless taxa analyzed in this work, we organize them in apparently artificial groups: 11 species have one larger tooth on the unguiculus outer lamella (petterseni group); one presents unguiculus outer lamella smooth or serrated (never with a larger tooth), with 9 held prelabral chaetae undivided and the last 6 held prelabral chaetae bifurcated. The Brazilian species of eyeless Pseudosinella herein described present a remarkably conservate dorsal chaetotaxy; therefore, the main diagnostic characters are related to other features like prelabral, labral, and ventral head chaetotaxy and empodial complex morphology. In addition, our study suggests that Brazilian caves possibly shelter a great diversity of Pseudosinella taxa, several of them potentially cave dependent.