Cylindroiulus djebelensis, Read, 2005

Read, Helen J., 2005, A revision of the Cylindroiulus distinctus Lucas group from north Africa, with descriptions of six new species (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae), Journal of Natural History 39 (18), pp. 1491-1532 : 1509-1511

Cylindroiulus djebelensis sp. n

( Figures 28–32 )

Material studied. Holotype: Algeria: „, Setif Djebel Barbor , 2100 m, 5 November 1984, collected by the MRSN Spedizione ‘‘Algeria’84’’ Boffa, Casale, Cavazzuti, Gavetti, Giachino, Levi ( MRSN). Paratypes: 3 juvenile „, 2♀ details as above; 1 „, 4♀ /juvenile „, details as above ( ZMUC); 1 „, 5♀ /juvenile „, details as above ( MRSN).

Total material examined. 17 (3 „).

Diagnosis. A smaller, paler species, with accessory claws surpassing claws by only 66% of the claw length, sometimes with ‘‘extra’’ smaller ocelli. Gonopods most similar to C. distinctus but with a large accessory projection on the brachite and a much smaller projection X.

Descriptiυe notes. Holotype: „, 51+2, length 31.5 mm, diameter 2.1 mm, 35 ocelli in?rows. Paratypes: body length 29–31.5 mm („) to 39 mm (♀); maximum vertical body diameter 2.1 mm („) to 3.4 mm (♀); number of body rings 51–53 („) to 57 (♀).

Colour. Paler than most of the other species, with clearly seen ozopores. Eyes. Usually readable, several specimens with reduced-sized ocelli especially in early rows. Also some with ‘‘extra’’ small ocelli.

Telson . Lacking dorsal projection in females and juveniles, slightly more pronounced in mature males, but not as obvious as in, for example, C. distinctus . Preanal ring with 7–13 pairs of setae, ventral scale two to five pairs, anal valves 13–20 pairs mostly in a single row.

Oυerall body shape. Posterior attenuation absent, anterior constriction present in segments 2–4. Segment 7 very swollen in mature males.

Legs. Legs 0.58 X body height in male. Accessory claw surpassing claw by 66% of claw length.

Male sexual characters

Mandibular stipites. Expanded very smoothly with no apparent demarcation between extension and basal part.

First pair of legs. Very small tight hooks.

Segment 7. Very swollen, pro- and mesomerite protruding through wide opening.

Gonopods ( Figures 28–32 ). Promerite very slender in anterior view and quite straight. Flagellum of normal length. Mesomerite very slightly longer than promerite, slender and directed anteriorly when seen from lateral and mesal views. Paracoxal process absent, paracoxal rim high and strong. Solenomere fairly broad and with large projection X curved basally especially when seen from posterior view. Brachite large and with additional blunt accessory process terminally seen in lateral and mesal views, appearing more as an integral ‘‘wing-like’’ part of brachite in anterior and posterior views. Flange Y present though small. Brachite linked to solenomere by clear connection. Phylacum present and well sclerotized though rather smaller than other species of the group. Brachite slightly variable in two males examined, that not illustrated has the accessory process bent anteriorly.

Female sexual characters

The operculum of the specimen examined is rather swollen and misshapen.

Etymology

Djebel means mountain.

Comment

This species most resembles C. distinctus in the form of the gonopods, although there are consistent differences in the shape of the brachite, shape of projection X, size of projection Y and the shape of the promerite. There are also differences between somatic characters, for example the number of segments in mature specimens, the overall size and the length of the accessory claw.

Figures

Figures 28–32. Gonopods of C. djebelensis from Algeria, Setif Djebel Babor. (28) Lateral view (AC, accessory to brachite). (29) Mesal view. (30) Posterior view. (31) Anterior view. (32) Anterior view of posterior gonopods. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.