Cylindroiulus jijelensis, 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 : 1512-1514

Cylindroiulus jijelensis sp. n.

( Figures 33–37 )

Material studied. Holotype: Algeria: „, Jijel F. t. de Guerrouch, 1100 m, 10 November 1984, collected by the MRSN Spedizione ‘‘Algeria’84’’ Boffa, Casale, Cavazzuti, Gavetti, Giachino, Levi ( MRSN). Paratypes: 1 juvenile „, 2♀, details as above.

Total material examined. 4 (1 „).

Diagnosis. A smaller, pale species. With very high, steep paracoxal rim, solenomerite with large tooth-like projection. Projections X and Y present but small/medium.

Descriptiυe notes. „ ( holotype), 53+2, length 29 mm, diameter 2.2 mm, 40 ocelli in either 10 or 11 rows; ♀ (paratype), 42+4, length 24 mm, diameter 2.3 mm, 29 ocelli in eight rows; ♀ (paratype), 47+4, diameter 2.0 mm, ocelli in nine rows; juvenile „ (paratype), 32+5, diameter 1.4m m, ocelli in six rows .

Colour. Much paler than all other species so far described. Head and first three segments pale to mid-brown, telson brown. Main trunk pale yellow with darker ozopores in mature male. Middle-sized female tinged with grey dorsally.

Eyes. More or less readable, not greatly reduced.

Telson . Lacking any dorsal projection even in male. Preanal ring with 9–17 setae, ventral scale with three or more setae. Anal valves with around 11–15 pairs of setae mostly marginal.

Oυerall body shape. Posterior attenuation absent, anterior constriction almost absent.

Legs. Legs 0.59 X body height in male, accessory claw surpassing claw by 80% of claw length.

Male sexual characters

Mandibular stipites. Smoothly expanded.

First pair of legs. Small simple hooks.

Gonopods ( Figures 33–37 ). Promerite simple and rounded in anterior view. Flagellum normal. Mesomerite longer than promerite and more slender, curved anteriorly at apex. Paracoxal process absent. Paracoxal rim very high and steep though not extensive along the antero–posterio axis. Extensive phylacum posteriorly. Solenomere with large projection apically, seen most clearly in anterior or posterior view. Projection X flange-like in lateral view, clearer in posterior view. Brachite with ‘‘hood’’ shape, and a small projection Y just below the apex.

Female sexual characters

The operculum of the female dissected was small and simple.

Etymology

Jijel refers to the place where this species was found.

Comments

In gonopods this species resembles others in the group but has relatively small projections X and Y and is distinctive in the shape of the brachite and the large extension to the solenomere. It differs from all other previous species by the relative lengths of pro- and mesomerites and height and sharpness of the paracoxal rim. Apart from C. djebelensis it also differs from others in the group in its small size, pale colour and relatively short accessory claw.

Figures

Figures 33–37. Gonopods of C. jijelensis from Algeria, Jijel F. t. de Guerrouch. (33) Lateral view. (34) Mesal view. (35) Posterior view. (36) Anterior view. (37) Anterior view of posterior gonopods. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.