Trachysphaera lobotarsus ( Attems, 1943 )

Antić, Dragan, Šević, Mirko, Macek, Oliver & Akkari, Nesrine, 2021, Review of Trachysphaera Heller, 1858 (Diplopoda: Glomerida: Glomeridae) in Serbia, with taxonomic notes on the genus, Zootaxa 5047 (3), pp. 273-299 : 283-286

4. Trachysphaera lobotarsus ( Attems, 1943)

Figs 1D, E , 6 , 12A .

Gervaisia lobotarsus Attems, 1943: 78 , 80, 81, figs 1–4.

Gervaisia lobotarsus — Attems (1959: 330, 332, 333, figs 61–64).

Trachysphaera lobotarsus — Tabacaru (1988: 58); Makarov et al. (2004: 241, 295); Kime & Enghoff (2011: 37, 131).

Material examined. Serbia ( IZB) : 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Mucina voda, near Ivanjica, 18.03.1997, S. Pešić leg. ; 1 ♂, Mountain Jablanik , 10.08.2011, D. Antić leg. ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Medvednik Mt. , Fagus forest, 07.06.2021, D. Antić, M. Šević, D. Stojanović leg. Bosnia and Herzegovina ( NHMW types) : ♂ lectotype (designated herewith, NHMW MY1852 ) , 6 paralectotypes ( NHMW MY10245 ), Vrbastal (zwischen Banjaluka und Jezero ), 21.IX.1901, C. Attems leg.

Remarks. By its habitus, this species fails to differ from T. schmidtii and T. cristangula , being characterized by high transverse ridges in the posterior parts of the tergites ( Figs 1D, E , 6A, B ). However, T. lobotarsus is certainly one of the best defined species within the genus Trachysphaera , based on the structures of the telopods. The tibiae of the telopods are distinguished by a very particular triangular lobe ( Fig. 6E, F ). Prior to its description by Attems (1943: 78, 80, 81, figs 1–4), based on specimens collected in the Vrbas River Valley, between Jezero and Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Attems (1929) identified specimens from Jezero as T. multiclavigera ( Verhoeff, 1898) , syn. n. (= T. schmidtii ), probably based only on the habitus. However, after revisiting the relevant material and reviewing the telopods, Attems (1943) realized the special configuration of the telopods and described his taxon.

Since the original description, this species has been mentioned only a few more times. In Attems’ (1959) posthumous paper, where this species was recorded from a cave near Kreševo , Bosnia and Herzegovina. However , At- tems (1929) had previously recorded T. costata from that very cave. This was again a misidentification, even though both species showed a completely different habitus. Later , Makarov et al. (2004) cited the species from the vicinity of Ivanjica, western Serbia, as new to the Serbian fauna. Having reviewed that sample, as well as one male from the Jablanik Mountain , and one male and one female from the Medvednik Mountain , all three in western Serbia, we confirm the presence of this species in the country .

In order to stabilize the species concept, a male lectotype has been designated from the type series ( NHMW MY1852 ) .

At Mucina voda, near Ivanjica, this species occurs in sympatry with T. cristangula . Sympatry or even syntopy is quite usual in Trachysphaera species [e.g., Gruber (2009)].

Type locality. Vrbas River Valley , between Jezero and Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina .

General occurrence. So far known from a few localities in the Dinaric region, in central and northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and western Serbia.

Occurrence in Serbia. Known only from three localities, all in western Serbia: near Ivanjica ( Makarov et al. 2004), Jablanik and Medvednik Mountains (present study) ( Fig. 12A ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Trachysphaera species in situ, Serbia (IZB). A–C. T. cristangula (Attems, 1943) from Mucina voda, near Ivanjica (A, B—♂, C—♀). D, E. T. lobotarsus (Attems, 1943) from Medvednik Mt. (D—♂, E—♂ and ♀). F, G. T. schmidtii Heller, 1858 (F—specimens from Avala Mt., G—♀ from Stražilovo, Fruška gora Mt.). H, I. T. similicostata (Radu & Ceuca, 1951) from Stara Planina Mt. (H—specimen from near Ponor, Dojkinci village, I—specimens from no-name cave I, Temska village). All pictures by Dragan Antić, except for G by Dragiša Savić.

FIGURE 6. Trachysphaera lobotarsus (Attems, 1943), ♂ from Jablanik Mt., Serbia (IZB). A, B. Habitus, lateral and dorsal views, respectively. C. Leg-pair 17, anterior view. D. Leg-pair 18, anterior view. E, F. Telopods, anterior view. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B) and 0.2 mm (C–F).

FIGURE 12. Distribution of the genus Trachysphaera Heller, 1858 in Serbia. A. Identified specimens. B. Unidentified specimens.