Catalogue of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Peru, with new records of Circoniscus ornatus (Scleropactidae) and Ethelum americanum (Eubelidae)

Abstract

This work aims to list all known species of terrestrial isopods from Peru until September, 2020. Also, Circoniscus ornatus (Verhoeff, 1941) (Scleropactidae) and Ethelum americanum (Dollfus, 1896) (Eubelidae) are recorded for the first time from Nueva Alianza and Nuevo Sucre, Contamana, Loreto department, Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

Keywords
Neotropics; New records; Nueva Alianza; Nuevo Sucre; Oniscidea

INTRODUCTION

Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) are one of the most diverse groups within Isopoda due to their morphophysiological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations, which allowed a successful colonization of almost all terrestrial habitats since ancient geological periods (for a more comprehensive overview, see Schmalfuss, 1984; Hornung, 2011; Broly et al., 2013; Richardson and Araujo, 2015; Sfenthourakis and Hornung, 2018; Taiti, 2018). The Oniscidea comprise more than 3,700 species in more than 500 genera and 38 families (Schmalfuss, 2003; Javidkar et al., 2015; Sfenthourakis and Taiti, 2015).

The group has a worldwide distribution (Schmalfuss, 2003), conditioned by biotic (e.g., vegetation heterogeneity and available food sources), abiotic (e.g., temperature and humidity), and anthropogenic factors (e.g., uses and fragmentation of land and urbanization) at different spatial scales (Warburg, 1984; Fraj et al., 2010; Sfenthourakis and Hornung, 2018). This diversity is reduced or completely absent in places with very harsh conditions and in extreme latitudes (Arctic habitats) and altitudes with elevation above 4800 m a.s.l. in both hemispheres (Van Klinken and Green, 1991; Beron, 1997).

Oniscidean ecological importance relies on their contribution as "key regulators" in ecosystem processes, specifically in decomposing organic matter (e.g., leaf litter, decayed wood and other organisms), nutrient recycling, and the trophic chain. Their outstanding biology also has led them to be used in environmental monitoring as bioindicators and bioaccumulators (Paoletti and Hassall, 1999; Zimmer, 2002; Quadros and Araujo, 2008; David and Handa, 2010).

Among Neotropical countries, Peru exhibits a wide range of ecosystems in its four natural regions (Coast, Andean, Yunga, and Rainforest) (MINAM, 2015), in which forests dominate, in particular: coastal dry forest, western montane forest, inter-Andean forest, high Andean forest, montane cloud forest, premontane forest, and lowland forest (MINAM, 2014). However, information about oniscidean diversity from Peru is very scarce (Del Solar et al., 1970; Leistikow and Wägele, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003) even though they are often mentioned vaguely and collectively as a group (Isopoda) in a few types of studies on soil macrofauna (e.g., Lavelle and Pashanasi, 1989; Pashanasi, 2001; Tapia-Coral et al., 2002; 2012; 2014; Burgos and Huamaní, 2021), as well as in gray literature.

This work lists all known species of terrestrial isopods from Peru until September, 2020. Moreover, Ethelum americanum (Dollfus, 1896) (Eubelidae) and Circoniscus ornatus (Verhoeff, 1941) (Scleropactidae) are recorded for the first time from the department of Loreto.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The checklist is based on an extensive bibliographic survey on Oniscidea from Peru. The list includes publications with original descriptions and synonyms mentioning species occurring in Peru. Geographic distribution and some ecological remarks are also considered.

All new material was preserved in 70 % alcohol and deposited in the Museum of Natural History Collection in San Agustín National University, Arequipa, Peru (MUSA). The images were obtained using a NIKON binocular stereomicroscope model SMZ745T and a mounted TOUPCAM camera E3ISPM. New records have been incorporated into the checklist.

Regarding nomenclature and taxonomy, we follow Schmalfuss (2003) and Schmidt (2007) and the updated database in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (https://www.marinespecies.org/).

Study area for new records

The area included two localities in the department of Loreto, south of the city of Contamana. Nueva Alianza is located in the buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park (Fig. 1) and comprises a floodplain forest with a predominance of Cecropia sp. (cetico), palms and patches of yucca, banana, and papaya crops (Fig. 2A). The locality of Nuevo Sucre (Fig. 1) includes a low hill forest with vegetation mainly composed of Apeiba sp. (monkey comb), Astrocaryum sp., Phytelephas sp. (yarina) and also patches of cocoa, cob, yucca, and banana crops (MINAM, 2015) (Fig. 2B).

Figure 1.
Map of the study area showing the collection sites of Nueva Alianza and Nuevo Sucre, Contamana, province of Ucayali, department of Loreto, Peru. The white square indicates previous records of Circoniscus ornatus, and the white star indicates the new records of Circoniscus ornatus and Ethelum americanum.

Figure 2.
Photos of the habitats in the collection sites: A, Meandric floodplain (Nueva Alianza); B, low hill forest (Nuevo Sucre). Microhabitats: C, Philander sp. skull; D, decayed termite nests; E, F, rotten logs.

For new reports, specimens of E. americanum and C. ornatus were collected in November 2019, at the beginning of the rainy season. Manual sampling was performed in four microhabitats: a marsupial’s skull (Philander sp.) (Fig. 2C), decayed termite nests (Fig. 2D), rotten logs (Fig. 2E, F), under the bark of trees and decayed pseudostem of banana plants.

RESULTS

Checklist

A total of 24 species of terrestrial isopods have been reported from Peru, classified in the genera: Ligia (Ligiidae, one sp.), Andenoniscus ( Philosciidae, one sp.), Androdeloscia (Philosciidae, eight spp.), Benthanoides (Philosciidae, two spp.), Erophiloscia (Philosciidae, two spp.), Ischioscia (Philosciidae, four spp.), Scleropactes (Scleropactidae, one sp.), Circoniscus (Scleropactidae, one sp.), Rhyscotoides (Rhyscotidae, one sp.), Ethelum (Eubelidae, one sp.), Porcellio (Porcellionidae, one sp.) and Porcellionides (Porcellionidae, one sp.). To date, terrestrial isopod species have been recorded from eight of the 24 departments in the country: Huánuco, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Cajamarca, Ayacucho, Lima, Ica, and Loreto. Eighteen species have a restricted distribution in the country, two species are cosmopolitan, four species have an American distribution and two species recorded from Peru are considered as nomina dubia: Ischioscia nitida = Philougria nitida (Miers, 1877) and Scleropactes peruvianus = Sphaeroniscus peruvianus (Budde-Lund, 1885) (Schmalfuss, 2003; Schmidt, 2007).

Systematic Account

Family Ligiidae Leach, 1814

Genus Ligia Fabricius, 1798

1. Ligia (Nesoligia) novizealandiae (Dana, 1853)

Lygia novi-zealandiaeDana, 1853: 739, pl. XLIX, fig. 2a-d.

Ligia (Nesoligia) novae-zelandiae - Van Name, 1936: 54-56, fig. 5h-12. - Strouhal, 1961: 187-189, figs. 1-9. - Del Solar et al., 1970: 15.

Ligia novaezelandiae - Pastor et al., 2017: 330. - Ramírez et al., 2015: 30.

Ligia litigiosa - Schmalfuss, 2003: 144. - Pérez-Schultheiss, 2009: 54.

Distribution. Coasts of New Zealand, Kermadec islands, and Chile (Juan Fernández Islands, Tierra del Fuego, Bahía “Carumhilla”, Bahía La Herradura and Bahía de Conception and Coquimbo) (Schmalfuss, 2003; Pérez-Schultheiss, 2009). In Peru, it is recorded from the department of Ica, Chincha Islands and Ballestas Islands; department of Lima, Salto del Frayle near Chorrillos, “Galapago Island” beach in front of Pucusana district (Strouhal, 1961; Del Solar et al., 1970; Pastor et al., 2017); and department of Lambayeque, Lobos de Tierra Island (Ramírez et al., 2015).

Family Philosciidae Kinahan, 1857

Genus Andenoniscus Verhoeff, 1941

2. Andenoniscus silvaticus Verhoeff, 1941

Andenoniscus silvaticusVerhoeff, 1941a: 71-75, Abb. 1-7. - Del Solar et al., 1970: 15. - Leistikow, 1998: 216, figs. 1, 2. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 20.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Ayacucho, districts of Sivia and Ayna (Del Solar et al., 1970; Leistikow, 1998; Schmalfuss, 2003).

Genus Androdeloscia Leistikow, 1999

3. Androdeloscia conipus Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia conipusLeistikow, 1999: 818, figs. 4-7. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 20.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

4. Androdeloscia feistae Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia feistaeLeistikow, 1999: 819, figs. 8-11. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21. - Schmidt and Leistikow, 2005: 128.

Androdeloscia plicatipusLeistikow, 1999: 821, figs. 12-15. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003; Schmidt and Leistikow, 2005).

5. Androdeloscia ferrarai Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia ferraraiLeistikow, 1999: 826, figs. 30-34. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

6. Androdeloscia longiunguis Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia longiunguisLeistikow, 1999: 825, figs. 26-29. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

7. Androdeloscia malleus Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia malleusLeistikow, 1999: 829, figs. 39-43. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

8. Androdeloscia merolobata Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia merolobataLeistikow, 1999: 823, figs. 21-25. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

9. Androdeloscia poeppigi Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia poeppigiLeistikow, 1999: 828, figs. 35-38. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

10. Androdeloscia taitii Leistikow, 1999

Androdeloscia taitiiLeistikow, 1999: 822, figs. 16-20. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 21. - Schmidt and Leistikow, 2005: 128.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

Genus Benthanoides Lemos de Castro, 1958

11. Benthanoides peruensis (Gruner, 1955)

Benthana peruensisGruner, 1955: 449, Abb. 1-4, 18-24. - Leistikow and Wägele, 1999: 14.

Benthanoides peruensis - Lemos de Castro, 1958: 85. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 62.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Lima, western Andes near Matucana City, Peru (Gruner, 1955; Lemos de Castro, 1958; Leistikow and Wägele, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

12. Benthanoides villosus (Jackson, 1926)

Philoscia (Benthana) villosaJackson, 1926: 195, pl. VII, figs. 145-151. - Van Name, 1936: 133, fig. 64.

Benthana villosa - Gruner, 1955: 451. - Ellis and Lincoln, 1975. - Leistikow and Wägele, 1999: 14.

Benthanoides villosa - Lemos de Castro, 1958: 85.

Benthanoides villosus - Schmalfuss, 2003: 62.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Lima, western Andes near Matucana City, Peru (Jackson, 1926; Van Name, 1936; Gruner, 1955; Lemos de Castro, 1958; Leistikow and Wägele, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003).

Genus Erophiloscia Vandel, 1972

13. Erophiloscia acanthifera Leistikow, 2001

Erophiloscia acanthiferaLeistikow, 2001a: 44, figs. 12-16.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 2001a).

14. Erophiloscia recurvata Leistikow, 2001

Erophiloscia recurvataLeistikow, 2001a: 39, figs. 8-11.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Leistikow, 2001a).

Genus Ischioscia Verhoeff, 1928

15. Ischioscia hanagarthi Schmalfuss, 1980

Ischioscia hanagarthiSchmalfuss, 1980a: 134, figs. 15-20. - Leistikow and Wägele, 1999: 17. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 132. - Leistikow and Schmidt, 2002: 175.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Schmalfuss, 1980a; 2003).

16. Ischioscia longicauda Schmalfuss, 1980

Ischioscia longicaudaSchmalfuss, 1980a: 135, figs. 21-26. - Leistikow and Wägele, 1999: 17. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 132. - Leistikow and Schmidt, 2002: 175.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Schmalfuss, 1980a; 2003).

17. Ischioscia stenocarpa Schmalfuss, 1980

Ischioscia stenocarpaSchmalfuss, 1980a: 132, figs. 9-14. - Leistikow and Wägele, 1999: 17. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 133. - Leistikow and Schmidt, 2002: 175.

Distribution. To date, this species is recorded only from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station, Peru (Schmalfuss, 1980a; 2003).

18. Ischioscia variegata (Dollfus, 1893)

Philoscia variegataDollfus, 1893: 343, pl. X, fig.10a - d.

Philoscia (Ischioscia) variegata - Van Name, 1936: 118-123, figs. 54-56 - Del Solar et al., 1970: 15.

Distribution. Panama, Venezuela, French Guiana?, Lesser Antilles: Dominica? (Schmalfuss, 2003). In Peru, it is recorded from department of Cajamarca (Van Name, 1936); department of Lima, Salto del Frayle near district of Chorrillos (Del Solar et al., 1970).

Family Scleropactidae Verhoeff, 1938

Genus Circoniscus Pearse, 1917

19. Circoniscus ornatus (Verhoeff, 1941)

Fig. 3A

Figure 3.
Habitus in lateral view of: A, Circoniscus ornatus (Verhoeff, 1941); B, Ethelum americanum (Dollfus, 1896).

Parcirconiscus ornatusVerhoeff, 1941b, 169, figs. 1-9.

Circoniscus gaigei - Schmalfuss, 1980b: 4. - Leistikow and Wägele, 1999: 38. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 81.

Circoniscus ornatus - Schmidt, 2007: 68, figs. 209-216.

Material examined. 24♀, 9♂, 39 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 001), Nueva Alianza, Contamana, Loreto, 7°24ʹ49.95ʺS 74°57ʹ43.44ʺW, November 2019, leg. A. Ocampo and C. Ruelas; 65♀,13♂,12 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 002), 7°24ʹ37.81ʺS 74°57ʹ42.69ʺW, same data as previous; 6♀, 6♂, 2 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 003), 7°24ʹ38.52ʺS 74°57ʹ54.92ʺW, same data as previous; 24♀, 12♂, 8 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 004), 7°24ʹ52.53ʺS 74°58ʹ1.68ʺW, same data as previous; 12♀, 8♂, 4 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 005), 7°24ʹ47.90ʺS 74°57ʹ52.70ʺW, same data as previous; 14 ♀, 1♂ (MUSA-ENT-ISO 006), 7°24ʹ31.72ʺS 74°57ʹ46.08ʺW, same data as previous; 18♀, 1♂ (MUSA-ENT-ISO 007), Nuevo Sucre, Contamana, Loreto, 7°24ʹ47.21ʺS 74°56ʹ8.51ʺW, same data as previous; 91♀, 29♂, 34 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 008), 7°25ʹ1.24ʺS 74°56ʹ5.76ʺW, same data as previous; 2♀, 1 manca (MUSA-ENT-ISO 009), 7°25ʹ18.21ʺS 74°56ʹ19.50ʺW, same data as previous.

Distribution. Guyana, Surinam, and Brazil (Amapá, Amazonas, and Pará States) (Schmidt, 2007; Boyko et al., 2008a; Campos-Filho et al., 2018). It is recorded in Peru from the department of Huánuco, Panguana Biological Station (Schmalfuss, 1980b; Leistikow and Wägele, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003; Schmidt, 2007; Boyko et al., 2008a). The present article extends the knowledge of its distribution to the department of Loreto, in the buffer zone of the Cordillera Azul National Park (Nueva Alianza) and the locality of Nuevo Sucre.

Ecological remarks. Specimens were collected from inside a marsupial’s skull (Philander sp.); decayed termite nests on the leaf litter, a few of them with some termites present; in cavities inside rotten logs and also under the bark of trees, all located in Nueva Alianza (Fig. 2C-E.). In Nuevo Sucre locality, C. ornatus was observed under pseudostem of decayed banana plants and inside rotten logs (Fig. 2F). The isopods shared the microhabitats with ants, termites, roaches, millipedes, centipedes, spiders, mosquitoes, and frogs.

Genus Scleropactes Budde-Lund, 1885

20. Scleropactes incicus Budde-Lund, 1885

Scleropactes incicusBudde-Lund, 1885: 241. - Jeppesen, 2000: 243. - Schmidt, 2007:46.

- Leistikow and Wägele, 1999: 40. - Schmalfuss, 2003: 267.

Distribution. Peru (Budde-Lund, 1885; Schmalfuss, 2003; Schmidt, 2007).

Family Rhyscotidae Budde-Lund, 1904

Genus Rhyscotoides Schmalfuss and Ferrara, 1978

21. Rhyscotoides ortonedae (Budde-Lund, 1908)

Rhyscotus ortonedaeBudde-Lund, 1908: 299-300, figs. 11-31.

Rhyscotus ortonedae - Del Solar et al., 1970: 15.

Distribution. Samoa, Ecuador, Province of Guayas (Schmalfuss, 2003). In Peru, it is recorded from department La Libertad, province of Trujillo (Del Solar et al., 1970).

Family Eubelidae Budde-Lund, 1899

Genus Ethelum Budde-Lund, 1899

22. Ethelum americanum (Dollfus, 1896)

Fig. 3B

Mesarmadillo americanusDollfus, 1896: 397-398, fig. 11.

Material examined. 6♀, 2♂ (MUSA-ENT-ISO 010), Nueva Alianza, Contamana, Loreto, 7°24ʹ49.95ʺS 74°57ʹ43.44ʺW, November 2019, leg. A. Ocampo and C. Ruelas; 14♀, 4♂ (MUSA-ENT-ISO 011), 7°24ʹ37.81ʺS 74°57ʹ42.69ʺW, same data as previous; 37♀, 22♂, 3 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 012), 7°24ʹ38.52ʺS 74°57ʹ54.92ʺW, same data as previous; 20♀, 4♂ (MUSA-ENT-ISO 013), 7°24ʹ52.53ʺS 74°58ʹ1.68ʺW, same data as previous; 15♀, 7♂, 6 mancas (MUSA-ENT-ISO 014), 7°24ʹ47.90ʺS 74°57ʹ52.70ʺW, same data as previous.

Distribution. Lesser Antillas, French Guiana, Guyana, northern Venezuela and Brazil (Pará State: Apeú, Castanhal) (Schmidt, 2003; Schmalfuss, 2003; Boyko et al., 2008b; Campos-Filho et al., 2018). In Peru it is recorded from the department of Loreto, in the buffer zone of the Cordillera Azul National Park (Nueva Alianza). This work provides the first record of this species for Peru and considerably extends its distribution.

Ecological remarks. The specimens were collected in a floodplain forest at Nueva Alianza, sharing the same microhabitats with C. ornatus except for the marsupial’s skull.

Family Porcellionidae Brandt, 1831

Genus Porcellio Latreille, 1804

23. Porcellio laevis Latreille,1804

Porcellio laevisLatreille, 1804: 46.

Porcellio (Porcellionides) aztecus - Miers, 1877: 669.

Porcellio laevis - Verhoeff, 1941a: 76. - Del Solar et al., 1970: 15. - Aguilar, 1976: 67. - Aguilar, 1981: 131. - Iannacone et al., 2001.

Distribution. Species of European and Mediterranean original distribution, now cosmopolitan due to introductions through human activities (Leistikow and Wägele, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003). It is recorded in Peru from the departments of Lima (Miers, 1877), La Libertad, province of Trujillo; and Ayacucho, near the Yucaes River (Verhoeff, 1941a; Del Solar et al., 1970; Aguilar, 1976; 1981; Iannacone et al., 2001).

24. Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833)

Porcellio pruinosusBrandt, 1833:181.

Porcellio (Porcellionides) jelskii - Miers, 1877: 668, pl. LXVIII fig. 3.

Metoponorthus pruinosus - Verhoeff, 1941a: 76.

Porcellionides pruinosus - Del Solar et al., 1970: 15.

Distribution. Species of Mediterranean origin, now with a synanthropic cosmopolitan distribution (Schmalfuss, 2003). In Peru, it is recorded from the department of Lima, department La Libertad, province of Trujillo; and department of Ayacucho, province of Cangallo and province of Lucanas, district of San Pedro de Palco, in southern Peru (Del Solar et al., 1970).

DISCUSSION

The first descriptions and records of Peruvian terrestrial isopods date back to the second half of the 19^th century (Miers, 1877; Budde-Lund, 1885), based on study material collected by foreign scientific expeditions. The richness of this group of crustaceans had a gradual increase in the last two centuries until reaching a total of 24 species, a figure that in turn is very low compared to other countries in South America, such as Brazil, whose species register approximately 192 (Campos-Filho et al., 2020).

The records of terrestrial isopods of Peru come from the departments of Lambayeque, Cajamarca, La Libertad (North of Peru); Lima, Huánuco (Center of Peru); Ica, Ayacucho (South of Peru); and Loreto (Northeast of Peru). The species are mostly present in low and medium altitudinal ranges (0 to 2,615 m a.s.l.). According to bibliographic references, some occurrence habitats are: supralittoral zones in the rocky intertidal shores to amphibious species like Ligia sp. (Carefoot and Taylor, 1995), coastal hills (Aguilar, 1976; López et al., 1978; Burgos and Huamaní, 2021), gardens in urban areas, orchards, and cultivated areas (e.g., commonly synanthropic species) (Aguilar, 1981; Iannacone et al., 2001), valleys from the western Andes (e.g., Benthanoides spp.) (Lemos de Castro, 1958), and tropical amazon rainforest (e.g., Androdeloscia spp., Erophiloscia spp., Ischioscia spp., and Circoniscus) (Schmalfuss, 1980b; Leistikow, 1998, 1999, 2001a; Schmalfuss, 2003). For the species S. incicus habitat data in Peru is not known.

The nomina dubia mentioned in this manuscript as Scleropactes peruvianus = Sphaeroniscus peruvianus (Budde-Lund, 1885) was described from an incomplete specimen which was then destroyed (Schmidt, 2007) and Ischioscia nitida = Philougria nitida described by Miers (1877) does not mention if the original description is based on a male or female holotype and actually the specimen is not available. Nevertheless six females syntypes are stored in the British Museum collection’s (Ellis and Lincoln, 1975; Leistikow, 2001b). Both species do not have a specific type locality in Peru (Leistikow, 2001b; Schmidt, 2007).

The department with the largest number of records is Huánuco (district of Puerto Inca, Yuyapichis River, Panguana Biological Station), with 14 sympatric species (Leistikow, 1999; Schmalfuss, 2003) belonging to one of the most diverse families in genera and species (Philosciidae) (Schmidt, 2003; López-Orozco et al., 2017). Leistikow (2001b) considers such a large number of species found in one location as an interesting finding that could go beyond the “sampling artifact” produced by a systematic collection and more due to speciation processes in one of the many centers of endemism (hot-spot) in the country (Rodriguez and Young, 2000; MINAM, 2008; Brack and Mendiola, 2010).

At the same place, Dr. Werner Hanagarth, between 1975 and 1976, collected the first specimens (364 individuals) of C. ornatus (see Schmalfuss, 1980a; Schmidt, 2007). In 1981, Dr. Michael Von Tschirnhaus collected the same species in the same locality mentioned above, at 260 m a.s.l. (Schmidt, 2007). In this latter work, the occurrence of this species is extended to northern Peru on a floodplain (Nueva Alianza) and in a hill forest (Nuevo Sucre). These localities are situated on both sides of the Ucayali River (Fig. 1). The type locality of E. americanum is the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Lesser Antilles) in the Caribbean Sea and specimens were first procured by Mr. Herbert H. Smith between the years 1889-1891 as part of the investigation of the Fauna of the West-India Island carried out by the Joint Committee of the Royal Society and the British Association (Dollfus, 1896; Pearse, 1917; Van Name, 1936; Jass and Klausmeier, 2006). Our specimens were collected at an altitude range of 128 to 153 m a.s.l. in Nueva Alianza, and 136 to 194 m a.s.l. in Nuevo Sucre. Ethelum americanum and Circoniscus ornatus were found in areas modified by man (Schmidt, 2002), preferring saproxilic microhabitats (Marmaneu et al., 2019) and decayed termite nests (termitariophilous) (Lisboa et al., 2013).

The scarcity of studies on Oniscidea taxonomy, ecology and, even in areas such as conservation biology (e.g., population status), in addition to the lack of specialists in the group, results in insufficient documentation of the Peruvian terrestrial oniscofauna. Faced with a scenario that has become less favorable to biodiversity in general, it is not possible to establish an approximation of the response that terrestrial isopods may have to the threats of anthropogenic pressure, climate change, loss of habitats, fragmentation of land, pollution, among other factors (Voy May et al., 2012). This catalogue is the first attempt to provide a starting point for future research on these organisms at the national level, recognizing their importance in ecosystems.

Finally, much of the Peruvian territory still remains unexplored as far as Oniscidea are concerned, and in a similar way to other invertebrate taxa, more research support will be needed to enrich the checklist, clarify some taxonomic problems and fill information gaps.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to José Cerdeña, Marco Delgado, and Oscar Quispe-Colca, members of the Museum of Natural History in San Agustín National University of Arequipa, and to Mario Castro and Eber Quispe, members of Herbarium Arequipense (HUSA). Rachel Kilby, Gabriel R. Navas S., Adriana Quintana, Leydy Ruelas, and Cecilia Maceda are also acknowledged for reviewing the manuscript in English. Thanks also go to Alberto Saldaña and “Daniel” members of the localities of Nuevo Sucre and Nueva Alianza. SERFOR and the Government of Loreto are thanked for the collection permits (RGR Nº 126-2019-GRL-GGR-GRDFFS and RGR Nº 018-2020-GRL-GGR-GRDFFS). We also wish to thank the Vicerector of Investigations of the University of Cartagena for the financial support to the Grupo de Investigación Hidrobiología (Plan de Fortalecimiento 2019, Acta de Compromiso N° 024-2019). This work is the result of an Undergraduate Thesis by ATO-M.

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• Zoobank:

  http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DD66D5C5-F00A-412C-94DD-4DC72AED24FD

Data availability

Data citations

Boyko, C.B.; Bruce, N.L.; Hadfield, K.A.; Merrin, K.L.; Ota, Y.; Poore, G.C.B.; Taiti, S.; Schotte, M. and Wilson, G.D.F. 2008a. [Circoniscus ornatus (Verhoeff, 941)].World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database. Available from: Available from: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=883273 Accessed on 18 April 2020.

Boyko, C.B.; Bruce, N.L.; Hadfield, K.A.; Merrin, K.L.; Ota, Y.; Poore, G.C.B.; Taiti, S.; Schotte, M. and Wilson, G.D.F. 2008b. [Ethelum americanum (Dollfus, 1896)]. World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database. Available from: Available from: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id= 260279 Accessed on 18 April 2020.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  21 Mar 2022
• Date of issue
  2022

History

• Received
  25 Sept 2020
• Accepted
  13 Aug 2021