Epanerchodus wuxi, Chen & Zheng & Jiang, 2023

Chen, Hui-Ming, Zheng, Chang-Bin & Jiang, Xuan-Kong, 2023, The millipedes (Diplopoda) in Yintiaoling National Natural Reserve, Southwest China, Zootaxa 5257 (1), pp. 49-81 : 77

Epanerchodus wuxi sp. nov.

Figs 32–34

Type materials. Holotype Male: China, Chongqing, Wuxi County, Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve , Hongqi , Longtan Cave , 31°30’40.73” N, 109°49’40.93” E, alt. 1677 m, 14 August 2022, X.K. Jiang & H.M. Chen leg. Paratypes: 12 females, same data as holotype ; 1 male, a manual tunnel near the Longtandong Cave , 31°31’16.83” N, 109°49’51.84” E, alt. 1458 m, same time and collectors as holotype ; 1 female, same cave as holotype, 11 August 2022, Q.D. Zhu leg.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality, Wuxi County.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Epanerchodus latus Liu & Golovatch, 2018 in having the gonopodal femorite with a finger-shaped process distally and a process medially, the endomere carrying a subapical lobe, but distinguished by the broad subapical endomere with a spiny process and a row of apical denticles ( Fig. 34).

Description: Length of holotype 22 mm, male paratypes 22 mm, female paratypes 20–37 mm; width of midbody pro- and metazona in holotype 1.6 mm and 3.1 mm, respectively, another male paratype 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm, in female paratypes up to 1.2–1.9 mm and 2.4–3.5 mm. Live specimens whitish to light yellow and semitransparent ( Fig. 32A), in alcohol light yellow to light brown ( Figs 32B, C, 33).

Adults with 20 segments. Width of holotype: head (1.8) << collum (2.7) <segment 2 (2.8) = 3 = 4 = 5 <6 (2.9)– 8 <9 (3.1) –16, thereafter segments 17 (2.9)–19 (1.7). Body gradually tapering posteriorly towards telson ( Figs 32, 33). Head covered with sparse pubescence throughout, vertigial sulcus apparent ( Figs 32A, B; 33A, C). Antennae long and slender, clavate, in situ reaching behind segment 4. Collum fan-shaped, with irregular sparse setae, and a faint lateral incision/denticle on each side ( Figs 32A, B; 33C). Paraterga distinct and broad ( Figs 32, 33), midbody metaterga about 1.9 times as wide as prozonae. All paraterga slightly upturned dorsally above a faintly convex dorsum ( Fig. 32). Anterior edge of metaterga forming a shoulder ( Figs 32, 33). Caudolateral corners of paraterga from rings 2 protruded toward back-inner past tergal margin, subsequent ones acuminate, especially on rings 18–19 ( Figs 32, 33). Integument shining, translucent, prozonae very delicately alveolate ( Figs 32, 33C). Three or four notches at lateral margins of paraterga ( Figs 32, 33). Constriction between pro- and metazonae narrow, shallow and smooth ( Fig. 32). Metatergal sculpture faint, with three irregular transverse rows of setigerous polygonal bosses ( Fig. 32). Sulcus between front and middle rows of setae a little deeper than that between middle and caudal rows ( Fig. 32). Tergal setae very short, sparse.

Pore formula normal: 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–19. Ozopores large and evident, located between last and penultimate marginal incisions. Epiproct short, conical, slightly surpassing paraprocts caudally, pre-apical lateral papillae small, with two long setae ( Fig. 32C). Hypoproct lunate, with two setigerous conical papillae at caudal margin ( Fig. 33B, C). Sterna sparsely setose, cross-shaped impressions shallow ( Fig. 33A, B). Legs long and slender, about 2.0 times as long as body ring height.

Coxa of gonopod ( Fig. 34) large and squarish, as usual. Prefemur densely setose and nearly half the length of telopodite. Femorite with a clivus ( cl), a process ( p2) medially and a finger-shaped process ( p1) distally. Endomere ( en) strongly curved, broad subapical, with a small subapical curved lobe ( l), a row of apical denticles ( d) and a spiny protuberance medially ( sp). Seminal groove starting mesally, distally recurved laterad near base of p1, then run into an accessory seminal chamber, the latter opening on a hairy pulvillus, which makes a clear-cut distolateral loop. Exomere absent.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, Wuxi, Chongqing, China.