Asphalidesmus minor, Mesibov, Robert, 2011

Mesibov, Robert, 2011, New species of Asphalidesmus Silvestri, 1910 from Australia (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Dalodesmidea), ZooKeys 93, pp. 43-66 : 51-53

Asphalidesmus minor sp. n. Figs 3F8map fig. 12

Holotype.

Male, 3 km W by S of Mt Haig, Lamb Range, Qld, 17°06'S, 145°34'E ± 1 km, 1150 m, 3 April 1984, A. Calder and T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 952, rainforest, ANIC 64-000209.

Paratypes.

2 males, details as for holotype, ANIC 64-000205; 1 female, Lamb Range, 19 km S of Mareeba, 17°06'39"S, 145°34'04"E ± 0.5 km, 1200 m, 3 December 1988, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 804, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S90029.

Other material.

None known.

Diagnosis.

Gonopod telopodite sharply ridged posteriorly, not obviously divided into branches, instead extending apically as thin-walled, tube-like structure; 4 transverse rows of tubercles on midbody metatergites.

Description.

Males and female approximately the same size, length ca 4 mm, ring 6 vertical diameter ca 0.4 mm and maximum width ca 0.6 mm. Midbody metatergites with 4 transverse rows of tubercles dorsally. Paranota wide (Fig. 3F); anterior and lateral margins in single convex curve, posterior margin straight; 4 weakly defined marginal lobes.

Posterior surface of gonopod telopodite (Fig. 8) abruptly produced as sharp ridge from ca one-quarter telopodite height. Numerous small bumps on posterior surface basal to ridge; larger, nearly contiguous bumps lateral to ridge to ca three-quarters telopodite height; surface medial to ridge nearly smooth, flat; a few scattered setae close to ridge to ca three-quarters telopodite height. Telopodite apex extending distally as thin-walled structure with narrow posterolateral opening; apical margin extended at medial end of wall as subquadrate tab with pointed extension at its posterior end; lateral end of apical wall extended as rhomboid with rounded distal corner and rounded notch near its anterior corner. Prostatic groove on anteromedial surface of telopodite, bending abruptly at anterior end of base of subquadrate tab and directed laterally, terminating in small process projecting into space surrounded by apical wall.

Distribution.

So far known only from tropical rainforest on the Lamb Range in far north Queensland (Fig. 12).

Etymology.

Latin minor, ‘less’. Asphalidesmus minor is the smaller of the two Asphalidesmus species found on the Lamb Range.

Remarks.

As with Asphalidesmus bellendenkerensis sp. n., the topology of the telopodite apex in this tiny species is surprisingly complex, and I have not yet had a clear view under the scanning electron microscope of the tiny process carrying the opening of the prostatic groove (Fig. 8). The course of the groove before it reaches this process, however, is clearly visible under a light microscope (not shown; see Description, above).

Latitude/longitude data in italics are from the QM collection database.