Philosciids with pleopodal lungs? The case of the genus Aphiloscia Budde-Lund, 1908 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea), with a description of six new species

Respiratory structures in the pleopodal exopods of the species of the isopod genus Aphiloscia Budde-Lund have been investigated. Three different types have been found: (1) the annulicornis-type uncovered lung, with slightly wavy surface; (2) thefusca-type uncovered lung, with many tubuliform folds; and (3) the maculicornis-type covered lung, which consists of irregular branches joining into an atrium that opens to the outside through a single spiracle, the surface around the spiracle being differentiated into a perispiracular area of polygonal verruca-like protuberances. The diagnostic characters of the genus Aphiloscia are discussed and all its species listed. Six species are described as new: A. rwandaensis from Rwanda; A. humicola from Somalia; A. fusca, A. madagascarensis and A. bipunctata from Madagascar; and A. tinglei from Zimbabwe. The type species, A. annulicornis Budde-Lund, and A. maculicornis Budde-Lund are also illustrated. Aphiloscia congolensis Arcangeli and Massaiscia obstii Verhoeff are considered to be junior synonyms of A. maculicornis.