Cryptops (Trichocryptops) iucundus Würmli, 1972

Lewis, John G. E., 2016, On the Cryptops subgenus Trichocryptops Verhoeff, 1937, with a discussion of the problems of differentiating Cryptops species (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Cryptopidae), Zootaxa 4139 (4), pp. 575-584 : 579-580

Cryptops (Trichocryptops) iucundus Würmli, 1972

( Figs 14 – 18 )

C. (T.) iucundus Würmli, 1972: 99 , figs 19–23. Sumba, Indonesia.

Material examined. NMB. 597a. C. (Trichocryptops) iucundus Würmli , Holotypus 268, Langgai [aus Bodenlaub des Urwald Mbana] 14. 7.1949. E. Sumba, Dr Bühler, Dr. Sutter.

Diagnosis. Length 17 mm. With dark subcuticular pigment. Cephalic plate without sutures. Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite weakly bilobed with 4+3 fine submarginal setae. Tergites with a median keel and almost complete paramedian sulci (sutures not observed). Sternites strongly punctate, the cruciform sulci narrow. Posterior margin of ultimate sternite gently rounded. Pore field with 14 – 17 pores occupying anterior 60% of coxopleuron. Ultimate legs with 1+6 – 7+4 saw teeth. Ultimate leg prefemur with fine and some slightly thickened setae and with a longitudinal medial glabrous area. Tarsi of legs 1 – 19 incompletely divided, accessory spines minute, about 10% the length of the pretarsus.

Scale bars: Fig.14 = 0.25 mm, Fig. 16 = 0.5 mm, Figs 17 & 18 = 0.1 mm.

Description. (Würmli’s (1972) data in parentheses). Length 17 mm. Colour dark yellow with dark brown subcuticular pigment dorsally, a double central strip from segments 3 – 20 and laterally on segments 3 – 6 and 17 – 20 (very much dark pigment from segment 3). Antennal articles 17+17 (17+18!). The basal two antennal articles with scattered long setae, article 3 with long and short, 4 and subsequent with dense short and basal whorl of long setae. Cephalic plate without sutures, the posterior margin overlapped by T1. Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite weakly bilobed (“very flat”) with 4+3 fine submarginal setae ( Fig. 14 ).

Tergites punctate, with paired sulci delimiting a weak median keel, paramedian sulci almost complete from 4. NB sutures were not observed. Würmli did not distinguish between sutures and sulci using the term Furche for both, describing the Furchen as almost complete, widening posteriorly, very similar to C. brachyraphe . His Fig. 20 shows sulci rather than sutures. Lateral crescentic sulci from T4. Tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment with triangular posterior margin apically rounded. Sternites strongly punctate. (Cruciform sulci forming an approximately equal cross). Würmli’s Fig. 21 shows the narrow transverse sulcus, almost reaching the sternite margin, the longitudinal somewhat wider and truncated. (Ultimate sternite broad, only slightly attenuated with obtusely triangular anterior margin ( Fig. 15 )).

Coxopleural pore-field occupying anterior 60% of coxopleuron, with about 16 pores (17+14). Posterior edge of coxopleuron with 6 setae and 3 in pore-free strip, at least 3 minute setae in pore-field ( Fig. 16 ).

Ultimate leg with fine setae. Prefemur with some slightly thickened setae ( Fig. 17 ) and a wide longitudinal medial glabrous area. Saw teeth 1+(6)7+4.

Legs 1 – 19 with tarsi incompletely and obscurely divided from 6 or 7 ( Fig. 18 ) (with 2 segmented tarsi). Accessory spines minute, about 10% the length of the pretarsus. Leg 20 without dense setae ventrally.

Remarks. Würmli (1972) stated that C. iucundus is closely related to C. brachyraphe , the main differences being in its lack of pigmentation and having leg 20 without dense short setae ventrally. Pigmentation may or may not be significant but dense ventral setae on leg 20 are currently regarded as a male secondary sexual character in Cryptops . The two species are certainly very similar and could be treated as conspecific. Both have a regular row of submarginal coxosternal setae, lack a longitudinal depression on the ultimate tergite and have a median longitudinal glabrous area on the ultimate leg prefemur but, bearing in mind the present paucity of material, they are here retained as separate species. For the present C. brachyraphe may be differentiated from C. iucundus by its virtual lack of dark subcuticular pigment and short pretarsal accessory spines as opposed to dark subcuticular pigment and minute pretarsal accessory spines.

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 18. Cryptops (T.) iucundus Holotype. 14. Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite. 15. Sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment after Würmli (1972). 16. Detail of left coxopleuron lateral view. 17. Ventrolateral setae from prefemur of ultimate leg. 18. Detail of a leg to show the incomplete subdivision of tarsus 1 and 2.