Caprainea marginata (formerly called Sminthurus marginatus) is rare. It is only known from two sites, Vigo Cave in the west of Ireland and Keston Common, Kent. The species is pink or pale rusty brown in colour and reaches a length of 1.4 mm. The fourth antennal segment (ant4) is divided into 15 subsegments. Some setae on the third antennal segment (ant3) are longer than others. Both edges of the mucro are serrated (Fig. 1). The female sub-anal appendages (SAA) are feathered at the tip (Fig. 2). The empodium of the foot is about the same length as the claw (Fig. 3).

Back to main page

Fig. 1 (above): Mucros of Caprainea marginata collected from Keston Common, Kent in November 1955 by Peter Lawrence. In the mucro on the right side of the photo, the outer dorsal edge is in focus whereas in the mucro on the left side, the inner dorsal edge is in focus. Both edges are serrated.

Fig. 2 (above): Female sub-anal appendage (SAA) of the same specimen of Caprainea marginata shown in Fig. 1. Note that the tip (towards the left) is feathered.

Fig. 3 (above): Foot of the third leg of the same specimen of Caprainea marginata shown in Fig. 1.