Texicerberus Hutchins and Schwartz, 2021

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Suggested Common Name: Texas-Cerberuses
Number of subordinate taxa: 3 species, all endemic to our area
Etymology: Texas + -cerberus, the common suffix for Microcerberid genera. Common name is a direct translation of the scientific name.
Taxonomic History: Texicerberus Hutchins and Schwartz, 2021
Size Range: to 2.24mm
Description: (based off of Hutchins, Schwartz & Coleman, 2021) Head without rostrum. Antennae 1 segment 3 medial margin angulate but without spine. Maxilliped segments 2-3 less than 2x as long as other segments, less than 2.5x as wide as segment 1. Pereopod 1 propus palm with 2 prominant serrated basal setae. Pereopods 2-4 simple, not projecting. Pleopod 1 absent. ♂ pleopod 2 endopod uniramous. Pleopod 4 small, biramous, smaller than or similar to in size to pleopod 3, not extending laterally past telson. Uropod protopod quadrate; exopod less than half as long as endopod
Type taxon: Texicerberus amistad Hutchins and Schwartz, 2021
Notes: Texicerberus is the most recently described genus in Microcerberidea. All three species are only known from Texas (although T. amistad almost certainly occurs in nearby parts of Coahuila). Like many subterranean isopod taxa in the region, this genus likely originated from the Cretaceous embayments of the region, becoming stranded inland when sea levels dropped.

Subordinate taxa: Texicerberus amistad, Texicerberus castilloi, Texicerberus schotteae

Key to species (adapted from Hutchins, Schwartz & Coleman, 2021)
1 a. Pereopod 1 propus palm with 1 serrate and 1 simple seta; maxilliped basis lobe not longer than palp segment 1; uropod exopod minute, not extending past tip of protopod; ♂ pleopod 2 endopod lacking setae --> Texicerberus schotteae
b. Pereopod 1 propus palm with 3 serrate setae; maxilliped basis lobe longer than palp segment 1; uropod exopod extending past tip of protopod; ♂ pleopod 2 endopod with setae --> 2

2 (1) a. Pereopod 2 dactyl about as wide as long; uropod exopod with 2 long simple distal setae; ♂ pleopod 3 with about 20 short distal setae --> Texicerberus amistad
b. Pereopod 2 dactyl about 2 longer than wide; uropod exopod with 1 long simple distal seta; ♂ pleopod 3 with 0-1 short distal setae --> Texicerberus castilloi

Sources

Hutchins, B. T., Schwartz, B. F. & Coleman, W. T. (2021). Three new microcerberids (Isopoda:
Microcerberidae) from subterranean freshwater habitats in Texas, USA. Journal of Natural History,
55(35-36):2261-2278.

Published: Feb 15, 2023