Cylindroiulus gauthieri Brölemann, 1931

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 : 1505-1508

Cylindroiulus gauthieri Brölemann, 1931 status nov.

( Figures 21–25 , 59 )

Cylindroiulus (Phalloiulus) distinctus Gauthieri Brölemann 1931: 127 .

Material studied. LECTOTYPE (here designated): Algeria: „, Forêt de Chênes à Tala Kitane (Kabylie), H. Gauthier coll., 11 December 1930, 2755; 5 „, 4 juvenile „, 6♀, details as above; 1 „ (illustrated), 1 juvenile „, 13♀, El Kseur, F. t. d’Akfadou 1320 m, F. ne des IFS, 29 October 1984, collected by the MRSN Spedizione ‘‘ Algeria’ 84’’ Boffa , Casale , Cavazzuti , Gavetti , Giachino , Levi ( MRSN); 2 „ (1 „ SEM), 1♀, Tizi Ouzou Azazga F. t. des Beni-Ghobri, 620 m, 28 October 1984, collected by the MRSN Spedizione ‘‘Algeria’84’’ Boffa, Casale, Cavazzuti, Gavetti, Giachino, Levi ( ZMUC); 1 „, El Kseur, F. t. d’Akfadou, 900 m 12 November 1984, collected by the MRSN Spedizione ‘‘Algeria’84’’ Boffa, Casale, Cavazzuti, Gavetti, Giachino, Levi ( MRSN); 1 „, Kabylie (Gauthier), 2738 ( MNP); 1 „, Kabylie (Gauthier), 2736 ( MNP); 1♀, 1 juvenile „, Forêt de Pins de Baïnem près Alger (Gauthier), 11 November 1930 ( MNP). The original description ( Brölemann 1931) was made on the basis of specimens collected by H. Gauthier as listed above.

Total material examined. 38 (11 „).

Diagnosis. Fairly large, predominantly dark species. Gonopods with an extremely large phylacum, brachite appearing hooded or wing-like, solenomere sometimes with seta-like projections. Large projection X and smaller projection Y.

Descriptiυe notes. Body length 33.5–40.5 mm („) to 49 mm (♀), maximum vertical diameter 2.3–2.8 mm („) to 3.5 (♀). Number of podous body rings 49–52 („), 47–56 (♀).

Colour. Very similar to C. distinctus . Thin black mid-dorsal line usually present but not continuous. Anterior portions of metazonae often yellowish.

Eyes. Usually clearly readable, not reduced. Males with 10–11 rows, females up to 11.

Telson . Pointed, slightly projecting dorsal projection in males, less so in females. Preanal ring usually with 9–12 pairs of setae, mostly arranged dorsally and ventrally with few laterally. Ventral scale with one to four pairs of setae, more usually three or four. Anal valves with 10–15 pairs usually arranged in two rows. (Brölemann’s specimen mostly one row.)

Oυerall body shape. No obvious posterior attenuation or anterior constriction. Metazonal vaulting slight, striae close and even.

Legs. Legs 0.56 X body height, accessory claw surpassing claw by 83% of claw length. Male sexual characters

Mandibular stipites. Well developed.

First pair of legs. Small sharp hook.

Segment 7. With wide gap ventrally.

Gonopods ( Figures 21–25 , 59 ). Promerite long and slender, slightly hooked apically in lateral and mesal views, rounded in anterior view. No clear ‘‘window’’ (cf. C. distinctus ). Flagellum normal. Mesomerite slightly shorter than promerite, fitting snuggly against promerite in mesal and lateral views. Paracoxal process absent, paracoxal rim high. Solenomere rounded subapically and narrower in mesal view than C. distinctus , with apical hook pointing laterally. Large phylacum projecting from posterior surface of solenomere running from just below the apex, with square-ended apical projection bent laterad. Large projection X triangular in anterior view, beak-shaped in lateral view. Large brachite triangular in shape in anterior view, hood-like in lateral view and more extensive than in C. distinctus and lacking additional meso-apical tooth. Small projection Y most clearly seen in anterior view of posterior gonopods. In one male the brachite appears more as if there are two flanges rather than a hood-like structure. The presence/absence of setae-like projections on the solenomere is variable.

Female sexual characters

Operculum broad, as in C. distinctus but with central depression.

Comments

This species seems sufficiently different from Cylindroiulus distinctus to be considered a species rather than a subspecies. Notable differences are: the shape of promerite, the shape of brachite including projections X and Y, the extent of the phylacum.

Figures

Figures 21–25. Gonopods of male C. gauthieri from Algeria, El Kseur, F. t. d’Akfadou. (21) Lateral view. (22) Mesal view. (23) Posterior view. (24) Anterior view. (25) Anterior (and slightly ventral) view of posterior gonopods. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figures 58–61. Scanning electron micrographs of male gonopods. (58) C. attemsi from Algeria, Jijel F. t. de Geurrouch. Anterior and slightly ventral view of posterior gonopods. (59) C. gauthieri from Algeria, Tizi Ouzou Azazga F. t. des Beni-Ghobri lateral and slightly ventral view of posterior gonopods. (60, 61) C. ouridae from Algeria, National Park of Djindjura, Wilaya de Tizi Ouzou, Djebel du Djurdjura. (60) Lateral view of posterior gonopods. (61) Anterior view of posterior gonopods.