Streamlining Anacroneuriini (Plecoptera, Perlidae): a novel interactive tool for species identification

Anacroneuria Klapálek, 1909 (Plecoptera, Perlidae) is the genus with the largest known species richness in the order Plecoptera. Over time, the importance of some characters and their use for taxonomy in the genus has been variable. In addition, the high rate of species descriptions, which are frequently incomplete or overly succinct, led to dubious and confusing species identity to many of its species. Finally, many of the existing dichotomous identification keys for the genus are incomplete and cumbersome. Currently, identifying species in Anacroneuria is a difficult task. We need, then, new tools to ease the identification of Anacroneuria, with plenty of illustrations and user-friendly characters. As a first step, given the lack of standardized morphological terminology, this work proposes a morphological atlas to include stable terminology in accordance with that of other insect groups for species description and character definition in Anacroneuriini stoneflies. This work then proposes electronic and interactive tools for the identification of known species of Anacroneuria. Based on the known species of Southeastern Brazil, we construct an interactive, multi-access key, which is a flexible, expansible and pictorial resource for species identification in Anacroneuria. The key currently includes almost half of the known species in Brazil and will continue to be in development to include the greatest number of species possible. Keywords: stoneflies; interactive key; taxonomy; Neotropical Region; Xper3; cybertaxonomy.