Paredrodesmus bicalcar n. sp.

Figs. 6, 8, 9, map Fig. 12 C

Holotype: Male, Newall Creek, CP789311 (42°09’45”S, 145°32’02”E), 80m, 27.xii.1993, R. Mesibov, QVM 23:41188.

Paratypes: Male, details as for holotype, AM KS86291 ; 3 males (1 dissected), Bracken Ridge, DN897308 (43°04’31”S, 146°52’24”E), 360m, 17.i.1995, R. Bashford, QVM 23 : 41198, pitfall 1–4a; 16 females, Little Rapid River, CQ547397 (41°10’51”S, 145°16’03”E), 400m, 6.x.1993, R. Mesibov, QVM 23 :41187.

Other material examined: 25 males, 28 females and 14 juveniles. See Appendix for details.

Diagnosis: Differs from other Paredrodesmus in having an epiproct divided into two large spurs, a long process on the leg 1 prefemur, setose sternal outgrowths between legpairs 3, 4 and 5, and in the unique form of the gonopod.

Description: As for the genus. Males 10–11 mm long, 0.8–0.9 mm in maximum vertical diameter. In alcohol, well­coloured adults are uniformly pale yellow apart from purple mottling on distal anntennomeres. Antennal bases separated by ca. 1.25 times a base diameter, antennomere 6 about 1 and a third times the width of 5 (Fig. 6 B). Leg 1 with a spurlike prefemoral process extending distad and caudad (Fig. 6 E); genital opening on leg 2 coxa on a prominent mesal projection (Fig. 6 A); legpairs 3, 4 and 5 separated by a densely setose sternal projection (Fig. 6 E), coxae of these 6 legs slightly produced distally and mesally; legpairs 6 and 7 with a wide gap between opposing coxae. Flexed gonopods reach to legpair 5. Epiproct divided into two large spurs (Fig. 9). Gonopod aperture with rear margin raised in the middle. Telopodites (Fig. 8) not closely pressed together. Telopodite base small with a few very long setae; the distal portion of the telopodite arising medially, curving smoothly caudad and expanding into a broad tip with a slightly rounded distal surface. Prostatic groove running along the mesal surface of the telopodite before entering the solenomerite (‘s’ in Fig. 8). Solenomerite a small, blunt process which arises from the anteromesal corner of the telopodite tip and curves first cephalad, then proximad, then distad. The lateral edge of the telopodite tip bears a radiating fan of ca. 40 variably long, peglike structures, and two long setae arise on the anterior surface of the telopodite just proximad to the broad tip.

Distribution and habitat: In well­rotted litter, humus and richly organic soil over ca. 20 0 0 0 km 2 in western Tasmania from near sea level to ca. 1000 m, mainly in wet eucalypt forest and Nothofagus rainforest (Fig. 12 C). Overlaps in range with P. monticolus, P. t a u ­ rulus and possibly with P. p u r p u re u s, co­occurs with P. australis . Over most of its range this species appears to be uncommon.

Etymology: Latin bi, two, + calcar, spur, noun in apposition, referring to the twospurred epiproct in this species.

Remarks: The epiproct spurs are also present in stadium V males, the youngest juveniles examined.