Altajosoma arshaty Mikhaljova

Mikhaljova, Elena V., Burkitbaeva, Ulzhan D., Tuf, Ivan H. & Ulykpan, Kaman, 2013, The millipede order Chordeumatida (Diplopoda) in Kazakhstan, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3635 (5), pp. 533-544 : 534-535

Altajosoma arshaty Mikhaljova sp. nov.

Figs 1–4

Material examined. Holotype: 1 male (IBSS), Kazakhstan, Arshaty , slope, 49°18´26´´ N, 86°32´55´´ E, 1250 m a.s.l., 2 August 2007, leg. F. Pĕ ek. Paratype: 1 female (IBSS), together with holotype, 2 August 2007, leg. F. Pĕ ek.

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners mainly by the large smooth, curved horn-shaped lateral sheath processes of the posterior gonopod colpocoxites. The new species seems to be particularly closely related to Altajosoma corniferum Mikhaljova, Nefediev, Nefedieva, 2008 from Republic of Altai, Siberia, Russia (Mikhaljova et al. 2008), but differs mainly by the shape of the lateral sheath processes of the posterior gonopod colpocoxites as large smooth, arcuate horns, by bifurcated distal parts of posterior gonopod colpocoxites, and the shape of the anterior angiocoxal processes: broadened at the base and directed at an angle to the axis of the colpocoxites.

Description. Male. Length about 15 mm, width with paraterga about 1.2 mm. Coloration in alcohol tan (probably faded by preservation). Legs pale tan. Ocellaria black. Antennae tan. Forehead with light spot.

Body with 32 segments. Head covered with relatively long setae. Eye patches subtriangular, each composed of at least 27 ocelli. Collum semi-circular. Body width gradually increasing until somite 7, body parallel-sided on somites 8–21(22), thereafter gradually tapering. Paraterga beginning on somite 2, well developed on somites 3–26, reduced on somite 27, onward missing. Paraterga of pregonopodal somites smaller. Metazonital macrochaetae in transverse row on somites 28–31, arranged in elongate (to different degrees) triangle on preceding somites. Numerous macrochaetae broken off, remaining ones in posterior part of body long, pointed apically; anterolateral macrochaetae shortest, caudolateral ones longest.

Legs long and slender. Leg pairs 3–7 somewhat enlarged, femora swollen. Legs (including leg pairs 10 and 11) with small group of funnel-shaped tarsal papillae apically near claw, however tarsal papillae gradually reduced toward middle part of body; at least legs of somite 17 and hindmost legs devoid of tarsal papillae. Claws of postgonopodal legs (including leg pairs 10 and 11) at base with two small additional claws dorsally and a long setoid filament ventrally, but small additional claws gradually missing toward posterior part of body; at least claws of hindmost legs at base devoid of such additional claws. Prefemur, femur, postfemur and tibia covered with tiny knobs ventrally, however such knobs gradually reduced toward posterior part of body.

Legs 10 and 11 with coxal glands. Coxae 10 somewhat projecting ventrally.

Anterior gonopod telopodite 1-segmented, flagelliform, its distal part hidden inside narrow sheath groove ( Fig. 1 ). Telopodite base and distal part of coxosternum attached to adjacent mesal portion of posterior gonopod. Posterior gonopod colpocoxites fused to 2/3 extent, arcuate, curved caudad. Colpocoxite with distal part of broad (bb) and narrow (nb) blades bifurcated. Lateral sheath process of colpocoxite (lp) as large smooth, arcuate horn. Mesal sheath processes of colpocoxite absent. Angiocoxite with a globule in posterior view. Posterior angiocoxal process (pp) large, curved forward, its apex pointed. Angiocoxites with depressions and ridges in anterior view, each supplied with digitiform process (ap) blunted apically ( Fig. 2 ). Anterior angiocoxal process broadened at base and directed at an angle to the axis of colpocoxite. Posterior gonopod telopodite 2-segmented, setose, with a long femur and claw vestige.

Female. Length about 15 mm, width with paraterga 1.1–1.2 mm. Body with 32 segments. Legs brown with marbled distal parts. Numerous macrochaetae broken off, remaining ones in anterior part long, pointed apically; anterolateral macrochaetae shortest, caudolateral and medial ones subequal in length. Eye patch each composed of at least 27 ocelli. Paraterga smaller than ones in male. Other nonsexual characters as in male. Vulvae small, near ovoid ( Figs 3–4 ). Valves with long setae in distal parts. Operculum (o) short devoid of setae.

Name. The specific epithet refers to the type locality, a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Altajosoma arshaty sp. nov., male holotype (1 – 2), female paratype (3 – 4). 1, gonopods, caudal view; 2, gonopods, front view; 3, vulva, lateral view, somewhat rotated outwards; 4, vulva, ventral view; bb, broad blade of posterior gonopod colpocoxite; nb, narrow blade of posterior gonopod colpocoxite; lp, lateral sheath process of posterior gonopod colpocoxite; pp, posterior process of posterior gonopod angiocoxite; ap, anterior process of posterior gonopod angiocoxite; o, operculum. Scales in mm.