Anaphiloscia simoni Racovitza, 1907

Figs 2, 3, 4, 15 A

Anaphiloscia sicula, Arcangeli 1934; p. 152–158; figs 1–19; new synonymy.

? Anaphiloscia sicula, Vandel 1946; p. 202–208; figs 50–59 (see remarks).

Material examined.

Spain – Balearic Islands • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Coves del Drac (Manacor, Mallorca); 1. 04. 2024; leg. Alberto Sendra; CLLG 1311 • 2 ♀♀, 1 immature; Coves del Drac (Manacor, Mallorca); 18. 01. 2025; leg. Alberto Sendra and Ferran Palero; CLLG • 2 ♀♀; Cova de Canet (Esporles, Mallorca); 20. 05. 1979; leg. Jaume Damians; CLLG 1328 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Cova des Riuet (Manacor, Mallorca); 16. 02. 2011; leg. Mateo Vadell; CLLG • 8 ♀♀; Cova den Passol (Felanitx, Mallorca); without date; leg. Mateo Vadell; CLLG • 1 ♀; Cova des Genet (Manacor, Mallorca); 9. 09. 2010; leg. Mateo Vadell; CLLG • 1 ♀; Avenc des Verdet (Calvià, Mallorca); 21. 03. 2010; leg. Mateo Vadell; CLLG • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Cova des Moro (Dragonera); 21. 11. 2019; leg. Angel Ginés; CLLG • 10 ♀♀; Cova de Sa Llumeta (Illa des Conills, Cabrera), 19. 03. 1994; leg. Guillem X. Pons; CLLG • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; Cova des Burrí (Cabrera), 18. 03. 1994; leg. Guillem X. Pons; CLLG • 1 ♂; Avenc d’en Corbera (Esporles, Mallorca); 3. 01. 1980; leg. Oleguer Escolà; CRBA 85228 • 5 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, Coves del Pirata (Manacor, Mallorca); 10. 04. 1974; leg. M. Romero; CRBA 91155 • 1 ♂; Cova Ses Figueres (Sant Lluís, Menorca); 29. 12. 1987; leg. Xavier Bellés; CRBA 85223 • 2 ♀♀; Cova de sa Tauleta (Ciutadella, Menorca); 31. 12. 1987; leg. Xavier Bellés; CRBA 85229. – Alicante • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Font de la Llobera (Xixona); 1. 11. 1977; leg. Oleguer Escolà; CRBA 85226, CRBA 85227 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Cova de la Pinta Misteriosa (Callosa d’en Sarrià); 29. 06. 1968; leg. C. Alcoy; CRBA 85224, CRBA 85225. – Almería • 1 ♀; Covadura (Sorbas); 24. 05. 2001; leg. C. Ruiz-Portero; CLLG • 1 ♀; Complejo GEP (Sorbas); 5. 04. 2000; leg. C. Ruiz-Portero; CLLG • 2 ♂, 3 ♀♀; same locality, 23. 01. 2001; leg. C. Ruiz-Portero; CLLG • 2 ♀♀; Sima Termal (Sierra de Gádor); 12. 11. 2000; leg. Pardo-Piquer; CLLG. – Jaén • 4 ♀♀; Cueva de la Morciguilla (Villacarrillo); 24. 03. 2002; leg. Toni Pérez-Fernández / G. E. V; CLLG • 1 ♂, 6 immature; same locality; 24. 02. 2013; leg. Toni Pérez-Fernández / G. E. V.; CLLG 349. – Málaga • 8 ♀♀; Cueva del Yeso III (Antequera); 25. 04. 2008; leg. Toni Pérez-Fernández / G. E. V.; CLLG • 7 ♀♀; same locality; 28. 09. 2008; leg. Toni Pérez-Fernández / G. E. V.; CLLG • 1 ♂, 6 ♀♀; same locality; 29. 03. 2008; leg. Toni Pérez-Fernández / G. E. V.; CLLG 183.

Remarks.

Racovitza (1907) established the genus Anaphiloscia and described Anaphiloscia simoni, from a female specimen (3.5 mm in length) collected in a cavity on the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands). Therefore, the male sexual characters of this species have remained unknown until now. Topotypical and near-topotypical specimens from Mallorca and surrounding islets (i. e., Dragonera and Cabrera islands), and Menorca, have been examined and a male specimen (4.4 mm in length) collected at the type locality has been fully illustrated. In addition, specimens from various cavities in the Iberian Peninsula, mainly from the Levantine region and Andalusia, have been examined. They exhibit slight morphological differences, mainly in the number and shape of the tergal scale-setae, a character that varies with the size (i. e. age) of the specimens. Anaphiloscia simoni shows sexual dimorphism on the fifth segment of the antennal peduncle, which is slightly thicker in adult males (Fig. 2 G, H), whereas no differences have been observed in the pereopods. In immature individuals, the fifth peduncular article of the antenna is swollen both in males and females.

Male specimens of A. simoni were also compared with the published illustrations of the male of A. sicula. The specimen illustrated by Arcangeli (1934) is clearly an immature individual, measuring less than 2 mm, according to the stated magnification. According to the original description, A. sicula is distinguished from A. simoni only by having four penicils on the left mandible instead of three, and three versus four antennular aesthetascs (identical in shape and arrangement), as well as other minor details that may be related to growth. The shape of the male pleopods and mouthparts is identical in both species (note, for example, the outline of the maxilliped endite, the maxilla lobes, and the maxillular teeth). Therefore, A. sicula is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of A. simoni.

The specimens from Portugal studied by Vandel (1946), also identified as A. sicula, apparently exhibit some notable differences, such as the composition of the antennula, the dactylar morphology and the shape of the male first pleopod exopod and endopod. These Portuguese specimens may belong to a different, undescribed species. To confirm this, direct comparison with specimens from Mallorca and the eastern Iberian Peninsula is necessary.