The Terrestrial Isopod Genus Ischioscia in Costa Rica: New Species and Records, and an Analysis of its Phylogeny (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Abstract

Examination of the Isopoda collection of the Museum de la Universidad de Costa Rica revealed new information on the Oniscidea of Central America. Besides representatives of the genus Venrzillo Verhoeff, 1933 (Armadillidae). the "philosciid" genus Ischioscia Verhoeff, 1928 is the most important taxon in Costa Rica. The presence of seven species of Ischioscirr Verhoeff, 1928 in the fauna of Costa Rica is somewhat surprising, since in other parts of the Neotropics fewer spccics are known to coexist. Previously, in Costa Rica three species were found: Ischioscia martinae Leistikow, 1997, 1. rniielleri Leistikow. I YY7 and 1. elongata Leistikow, 1997, and new records are presented for these species. In addition, four specics new to science arc described and figured in detail: I. cadoangelis sp. n., I. plurimaculata sp. n., I. quadri.Ypinis sp. n. and I. marniorafa sp. n.A key to the Costa Rican species is given and the phylogenetic relationships of the genus and the Costa Rican species is discussed.

Terrestrial Isopoda (Crustacea, Oniscidea) from the coasts of Costa Rica, with descriptions of three new species

“…Corcovado, Punta Salsipuedes; Punta Cahuita; Isla San Lucas (Leistikow, 1997a Leistikow, 1997 Philosciidae Planton Leistikow, 1997a (Leistikow, 1997a). Monteverde (Leistikow, 2000a) Costa Rica…”

“…Only 25 species in 16 genera and 10 families are presently recorded, numbers that are certainly very small for a tropical country like Costa Rica. Many records are very old, mainly dated in the first half of 1900 (Richardson, 1910Arcangeli, 1927Arcangeli, , 1957Van Name, 1936), while only the families Philosciidae and Scleropactidae have been recently revised by Leistikow (1997aLeistikow ( , 1997bLeistikow ( , 2000aLeistikow ( , b, 2001 and Schmidt (2007). However, all the records come from sporadic collections.…”