Boreohesperus vascellus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 75C21DCD-E403-4B9E-A72E-DFEA369EEED7

Figs 4–5

Diagnosis

This species can be distinguished from all other species in the genus by combined features of the male gonopod: this has an extremely broad femorite, a distinctively shaped (flame-shaped, broadest at its mid-point) non-seminiferous branch and a relatively long, pointed curved posterior process.

Etymology

The gonopod of this species is reminiscent of a small vase (from the Latin ‘ vascellum ’, noun dim., vessel, vase).

Type material

Holotype

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: ♂, Koolan Island, 16º07′45″ S, 123º 46′49″ E, dry pitfall trap, 20–24 Jan. 2006, B. Maryan leg. (WAM T137095).

Paratypes

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 2 ♂♂, same data as for holotype (WAM T 73954).

Description

Male (holotype)

Body approximately 18 mm long; mid-body approximately 1.5 mm wide dorsally with distinct waist between prozonite and metazonite; legs of moderate length, approximately equal to length of 1–2 mid-body rings. Colour uniform chestnut brown. Paranota absent. Sternites, other than those of the fifth body ring, with no noticeable features. Anterior spiracles at mid-body, very small, flat, ovoid, slightly posteriorly facing. Antennae not obviously clavate, sixth antennomere only slightly wider than proximal ones, short, not extending to body ring 2, antennomeres moderately slender (Fig 4A). Gonopod (Fig. 4D) extending to posterior edge of fifth body ring; coxa (C) robust and approximately 2× as long as broad; prefemur (PF) short, sub-globose; femorite (F) half the length of acropodite, narrow at base, then broadening considerably; non-seminiferous branch (NSB) extending almost to solenomere tip as an upright, very broad, process, narrowing abruptly to a pointed tip; process on medial surface of NSB (nsbp) very short and pointed, arising approximately midway on the length of the NSB; solenomere (S) relatively long and slender, arising midway between NSB tip and prefemur, curving away slightly from NSB and tip curling back towards gonopod midline to form a small loop; solenomere tip with small process (stp); solenomere process (sp) absent; separate posterior process (pp) arising near solenomere base, slender, pointed, curving away almost a right angles from the solenomere to abut against the NSB.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

This species in known from only three males on Koolan Island (Fig. 5).