A survey of Collophora Richards (Collembola, Collophoridae), with a new species from Brazil and an identification key for the genus

Katiannoidea Bretfeld is a widespread superfamily of Symphypleona that holds taxa with a trochanteral organ on leg III. Collophoridae is a monogeneric family of Katiannoidea composed solely of Collophora Richards, and its species are characterized by having 4 + 4 eyes and a modified capitate bothriotrichum D. The genus has a mostly Holotropical distribution, with species found in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The overall morphology of Collophora remains poorly understood, as most species descriptions are insufficient by current Symphypleona taxonomic standards.

In this study, we describe a new species of Collophora from northeastern Brazil, characterized especially by its purple body, the presence of ciliated chaetae on the fourth antennal segment, a manubrium with 4 + 4 chaetae, and a dens with eight dorsal chaetae, four of which are modified into spines. We also provide a bibliographic survey with the diagnoses of all Collophora species, an identification key, and a brief discussion on the validity of the families within Katiannoidea, which have never been properly tested using modern phylogenetic methods.