Thyropygus foliaceus ( Demange, 1961 ) Demange, 1961

Pimvichai, Piyatida, Enghoff, Henrik & Panha, Somsak, 2011, A revision of the Thyropygus allevatus group. Part 4: the T. cuisinieri subgroup (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Harpagophoridae), Zootaxa 2980, pp. 37-48 : 42-44

Thyropygus foliaceus ( Demange, 1961) , new status

( Figs. 3 A–F, 5A–B)

Thyropisthus cuisinieri (Carl) foliaceus Demange, 1961: 122

Material examined. HOLOTYPE (# 3100) male THAILAND, Ubon Ratchathani Province (Ugon in Demange, 1961). 23 March 1929. H. M. Smith leg., ( USNM). 10 males, 4 females THAILAND, Roi-Et Province, Chaturaphakphiman district, Ban Nong Phue, 15° 49ˏ 34˝ N, 103° 31ˏ 11˝ E. 12 April 2009. J. Pimvichai, C. Pimvichai and P. Pimvichai leg., ( CUMZ). 10 males, 10 females THAILAND, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Khong Chiam district, Phataem National Park, 15° 23ˏ 55˝ N, 105° 30ˏ 27˝ E. 25 April 2009. S. Panha, P. Pimvichai and members of Animal Systematics Research Unit leg., ( CUMZ). 1 male THAILAND, Kalasin Province, Sahussakhan District, Phu-Kum-Khao, 16° 41ˏ 33˝ N, 103° 31ˏ 30˝ E. 6 June 2010. P. Pimvichai leg., ( CUMZ). 1 male THAILAND, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Khemmarat district, 16° 2ˏ 14˝ N, 105° 12ˏ 28˝ E. April 2010. J. Tubtimon leg., ( CUMZ).

Diagnosis. A species of the cuisinieri subgroup. Differing from all other species in the subgroup by having a relatively broad, rounded, transparent lamellar lobe (sll).

Description. Adult males with 58–64 podous rings, no apodous rings. Length 9–16 cm, width 5.8–9.7 mm. Adult females with 59–65 podous rings, no apodous rings. Length 9–14 cm, width 6.2–8.5 mm. Overall color of living animal in some populations ( Fig. 5B ) brownish orange, in some populations ( Fig. 5A ) dark brown, antennae and legs brownish orange.

Gonopods ( Figs. 3 A–F): Anterior coxal fold (ac) ( Fig. 3 A) basally slender, becoming broader towards tip, with a prominent projecting lobe (apl) on the lateral surface; distally with two acuminate processes: the outer a slender, sharp spine, curving mesad; the inner basally slightly broader, curving mesad. Posterior coxal fold (pc) ( Fig. 3 C) basally with relatively high lateral paracoxites (px); mesal process (pmp) very small, short, rounded lamellar, directed distolaterad; lateral process (plp) large, thumblike, directed distolaterad, covering pmp in posterior view. Telopodite ( Figs. 3 E–F) leaving coxite over shelf of posterior coxal fold between pmp and plp; femoral spine (fe) very long, pointing back along telopodite shaft, slightly mesad, distinctly crenulated along inner curvature, in situ resting against posterior surface of ac, telopodite distally to fe with a round lobe (lo) projecting distolaterad, further distally with an additional small round lobe (asl); tibial spine (ti) very long, slender, with longitudinal crest (lc) along outer surface, recurved, its tip in situ resting close to lo; apical part with a relatively broad, round, terminating in a slightly pointed, transparent lamellar lobe (sll); palette (pa) simple, flattened; distally with about six to eight brownish blepharochaetae (bp).

Notes. Specimens from Khong Chiam deviate in some characters; the anterior coxal fold (ac) ( Fig. 3 B) is similar to that of cuisinieri . However, a transverse, blunt ridge (tr) ( Fig. 3 D) at base of lateral process of posterior coxal fold (plp) is lacking, and though these specimens seem to have two longitudinal, blunt ridges (lr1 and lr2), these are not distinct as in cuisinieri . The mesal process of the posterior coxal fold (pmp) is similar to that of foliaceus , and the lamellar lobe (sll) is relatively broad (although not as broad as in foliaceus ), rounded. For the time being, we propose to regards these specimens as foliaceus . In specimens from Roi-Et, the femoral spine (fe) lacks crenulation along the inner curvature.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Thyropygus foliaceus (specimen from Phu-Wiang, except B, D), gonopods. A: anterior view, left telopodite removed. B: anterior view, anterior view (specimen from Phataem National Park). C: posterior view, left telopodite removed. D: posterior view, left telopodite removed (specimen from Phataem National Park). E: left telopodite, posterior-mesal view. F: left telopodite, anterior-lateral view.

FIGURE 5. A, B: Thyropygus foliaceus, living males, A: from Phataem National Park. B: from Roi-Et. C: Thyropygus jarukchusri, living male (holotype).