Epanerchodus tujiaphilus, Liu & Golovatch, 2018

Liu, Weixin & Golovatch, Sergei, 2018, The millipede genus Epanerchodus Attems, 1901 in continental China, with descriptions of seven new cavernicolous species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Polydesmidae), Zootaxa 4459 (1), pp. 53-84 : 59-61

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.1.2

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:67E956AB-04B1-4EF7-8CC0-E152F95D0563

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5973766

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9005EB48-423F-8E5E-48DA-FF740464FEB5

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Epanerchodus tujiaphilus
status

sp. nov.

Epanerchodus tujiaphilus View in CoL , new species

Figs 3–4 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 .

Material examined: Holotype male ( SCAU eHN2-1) from China, Hunan Province, Longshan County, Huoyan Village, Tujiamei Dong Cave , 2.VII.2014, colls: Mingyi Tian, Weixin Liu, Haomin Yin, Sunbin Huang and Xinhui Wang . Paratypes: 4 males, 9 females ( SCAU eHN2-2), same data as the holotype . 2 males ( SCAU eHN3-1) same data as the holotype, but from different cave: Wulong Dong Cave ; 7 males, 14 females (SCAU eHN4-1), 1 male, 1 female ( ZMUM), same data as the holotype, but from different cave: Panlong Dong Cave ; 3.VII.2014, colls: Mingyi Tian, Weixin Liu, Haomin Yin, Sunbin Huang and Xinhui Wang . 3 males ( SCAU eHN5-1) same data as the holotype, but from different cave: Feng Dong Cave , 30.VI.2015, colls: Mingyi Tian, Weixin Liu, Xinhui Wang and Mingruo Tang.

Diagnosis: Adult males of E. tujiaphiulus n. sp. are distinct from other Epanerchodus species based on the following combination of characters: (1) caudolateral corners of paraterga posterior to collum strongly acute ( Fig. 3A–E View FIGURE 3 ); (2) gonopodal prefemur robust, about 2/3 as long as telopodite; (3) endomere tip unequally bifid; (4) exomere long and spiniform ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ).

The new species is close to E. varius (from caves in Sichuan, Hubei and Chongqing, China), but is distinguished by (1) the strongly reduced gonopodal femorite devoid of any outgrowths ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ) vs. with a spine in E. varius ( Fig. 25 View FIGURE 25 ); (2) gonopod with a clearly longer exomere and a broader endomere ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ) vs. a much shorter exomere and a slenderer endomere in E. varius ( Fig. 25 View FIGURE 25 ).

Description: Based on type specimens. Lengths of body ca 18–22 mm (males) or 20–28 mm (females), widths of pro- and metazonae 1.5–1.8 and 2.8–3.2 mm (males) or 1.6–2.0 and 3.0– 3.2 mm (females). Coloration: in alcohol nearly pallid to light yellowish. Mouthparts light grey-brown, gonopodal telopodites yellowish. Body: Adults with 20 rings. Width: head << collum <ring 2 <3 <4 <5–13, thereafter body gradually tapering posteriorly towards telson. Head: densely pilose, epicranial suture conspicuous ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Antennae long and slender, reaching past anterior margin of ring 4 when extended posteriorly, slightly clavate ( Figs 3B–C View FIGURE 3 ). Exoskeleton: Collum transversely semi-lunar, with an evident lateral incision on each side ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Paraterga evident ( Fig. 3A–C View FIGURE 3 ), midbody paraterga extend metatergite to ca 1.8x width of prozonite. Paraterga 2–7 clearly upturned dorsally above a faintly convex dorsum, other paraterga flat ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Caudolateral corners of paraterga posterior to collum strongly acute, clearly projecting posteriorly past tergal margin. Anterior margin of metaterga bordered and forming a distinct shoulder ( Figs 3A–E View FIGURE 3 ). Integument shining, translucent, prozonae very delicately alveolate. Limbus regularly denticulate. Constriction between pro- and metazonae broad and smooth ( Figs 3A–D View FIGURE 3 ). Metatergal sculpture faint, with three irregular transverse rows of setigerous polygonal bosses. Sulcus between front and middle rows of setae a little deeper than that between middle and caudal rows. Tergal setae visible, short. Three or four faint setigerous incisions at lateral margins of poreless and pore-bearing rings, respectively. Pore formula normal: 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–19, ozopores evident, dorsal, clearly set off from lateral margin and located between last and penultimate marginal incisions. Epiproct long, tip concave, pre-apical lateral papillae evident ( Figs 3D–E View FIGURE 3 ). Hypoproct subtrapeziform, with two setigerous papillae. Pleurosternal carinae absent. Sterna sparsely setose, cross-shaped impressions shallow ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Legs long and slender, about 2.0–2.2 times as long as body ring height in both sexes, without sphaerotrichomes or sternal cones, prefemora not bulging laterally ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Gonopods: subfalcate ( Figs 3F View FIGURE 3 , 4A–B View FIGURE 4 ). Prefemur densely setose and robust, about 2/3 as long as telopodite. Femorite strikingly short, about 1/5 as long as telopodite. Endomere (en) ribbon-shaped, tip unequally bifid, longest branch only slightly longer than a spiniform, simple exomere (ex). A single, prominent, digitiform process (p) at base of, and about half as long as, endomere. Seminal groove (sg) starting mesally, recurved laterad at base of ex, then turning laterobasad to run into an accessory seminal chamber.

Note: Based on the long slender antennae and legs, and a depigmented cuticle, the species is most likely a troglobite.

Etymology: Derived from the local tribe Tujia (± ẎŔ) that populates the area and the Greek “philos”, meaning “liking”; masculine adjective.

ZMUM

Zoological Museum, University of Amoy

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