Gosiulus Chamberlin, 1940

Shelley, Rowland M. & Smith, Jamie M., 2016, Parajulid milliped studies XI: Initial assessment of the tribe Gosiulini (Diplopoda: Julida), Insecta Mundi 2016 (509), pp. 1-17 : 3-4

Genus Gosiulus Chamberlin, 1940

Gosiulus Chamberlin 1940: 10 . Chamberlin and Hoffman 1958: 138. Jeekel 1971: 159. Hoffman 1980: 108; 1999: 154. Shelley et al. 2000: 46.

Ziniulus Chamberlin 1940: 13 . Chamberlin and Hoffman 1958: 149. Jeekel 1971: 180.

Apacheiulus Loomis 1968: 159–160 . Hoffman 1980: 108; 1999: 149. Shelley et al. 2000: 43. New subjective synonymy.

Type-species. Of Gosiulus , G. conformatus Chamberlin, 1940 , by original designation; of Ziniulus , Z. aethes Chamberlin, 1940 , by original designation; of Apacheiulus , A. pinalensis Loomis, 1968 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Moderate-sized to large-bodied Gosiulini . Anterior gonopods with or without detectable coxal lobes; telopodite roughly 1/3 as long as lateral syncoxal process; latter leaning mediad, with or without rounded basal lobe. Posterior gonopod with three ventrally directed projections; prefemoral process (anteriormost branch) long, usually blade-like for most of length, (sub)uncinate apically; process “C” either relatively short, extending distad in varying configurations subparallel to basal part of solenomere or twisted and blade-like, curling around and enveloping dorsal, caudal, and ventral surfaces of solenomere near midlength; latter with basal lobe on outer (caudal) surface, tapering and extending distad, usually sigmoidally, well beyond apices of other projections.

Species. Two that are probably parapatric, with G. timpius occurring in mountains and foothills of the western 2/3 of the tribal/generic ranges and G. conformatus inhabiting the plains, Edwards Plateau, and flatlands of Texas. The former occupies parts of all four US states – Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas - while G. conformatus is known only from Texas but projected for eastern New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, and the Oklahoma panhandle.

Distribution. Known only from the tribal range in the US, but the proximity of samples in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to the Mexican border suggests occurrence, and eventual discovery, of G. timpius in northern Sonora and Chihuahua and G. conformatus in Coahuila (red and black arrows in fig. 13). The latter is also projected for adjoining US states. The eastern distributional limit conforms to the western limit of the Piney Woods biome in eastern Texas.

Remarks. Without question, Parajulus timpius Chamberlin, 1912 , most recently considered of “uncertain generic position or validity” ( Hoffman 1999), is the oldest and correct name for the western/ mountain species. Chamberlin’s illustration of the posterior gonopod (1912, pl. 11, fig. 9) clearly shows process “C” curling partly around the solenomere as in Fig. 17–19 herein. This specific name holds 31 years of priority over Z. navajo .

Figures

Figures 14–21. Gosiulini gonopods. 14) Right anterior gonopod of the neotype of Gosiulus timpius (holotype of Z. navajo), anterior view. 15) The same, lateral view. 16) Right anterior gonopod of male of G. timpius from Culberson Co., Texas, anterior view. 17) Left posterior gonopod of neotype, lateral view. 18) The same, anterior view. 19) The same, medial view. 20) Right anterior gonopod of the holotype of Minutissimiulus biramus, anterior view. 21) Left posterior gonopod of the same, lateral view. cl, coxal lobe; other abbreviations as in Fig. 2–5, 6–12.