Nepalmatoiulus pallidus, Mikhaljova, 2020

Mikhaljova, Elena V., 2020, New data on the fauna of China, part I: the taxonomy of the millipede family Julidae (Diplopoda), Zootaxa 4729 (1), pp. 47-66 : 57-59

Nepalmatoiulus pallidus new species

Figs 46–58

Material examined: Holotype: male ( ZMUM), China, Yunnan Province, Lijiang Shangrila , 214 Ntn. Road WSW of Edi village, 27°20´3´´ N, 99°52´34´´ E, H = 3365 m asl., 30 May 2013, leg. I. Belousov, I. Kabak, G. Davidian. Paratype: 1 juvenile ( ZMUM), same locality as in holotype, 30 May 2013, leg. I. Belousov, I. Kabak, G. Davidian.

Diagnosis. The species seems to be particularly closely related to Nepalmatoiulus muli sp. nov., but differs mainly in the rectangular apex of the anterior gonopod, broader posterior gonopod solenomere, shorter subapical branch of solenomere, nearly diamond-shaped penis, male coxae 2 with two setae, distal ring of male leg pair 1 with one seta, axial and near apical position of gland opening on male coxa 2, and lighter coloration.

Description. Male holotype. Length about 34 mm, vertical diameter about 2.8 mm, with 54 (–1) rings, excluding telson. Coloration yellow-grayish, with a narrow middorsal dark line and two broad lateral marbled brown stripes; the stripes gradually growing brighter and more noticeable toward telson. Preanal ring dark brown; anal valves brown. Venter (including basal parts of legs) yellowish. Anterior and ventral portions of head yellowish. Occiput and forehead marbled brown, dark brown stripe between eye patches. Eyes black. Antennae dark brown. Distal parts of legs marbled brown. Head smooth, 2 epicranial setae, 4 supralabral setae, and 28 labral setae. Eye patches almost oval, composed of about 80 ocelli. Antennae medium-sized, rather slender and clavate. Length ratios of antennomeres 3–7 as 4:3.4:4:2.6:1, width ratios as 1.7:1.8:1.9:1.7:1, respectively. Antennomeres 5 and 6 with incomplete distodorsal corolla of sensory bacilli ( Fig. 48 ). Mandibular stipites with triangular lobes. Gnathochilarium: not less than 15 nonapical stipital setae; lamellae linguales each with not less than 10 setae. Collum laterally with distinct lower striae of different length at posterior margin not reaching to anterior margin (excluding lowest 1–2 striae), dorsally with distinct short striae at posterior margin only. A transverse row of setae at hind edge of collum. Body rings circular. Prozona smooth except for ventral part with very shallow obliquely located striae and for dorsal part with transverse very indistinct striae. The metazonite gradually growing narrower toward body ventral part. Metazona with dense, regular, longitudinal striae reaching hind margin (23–24 striae in an approximate square with sides equal to metazonital length of a dorsal side of midbody ring). Limbus straight, smooth (of Type 1 in Enghoff 1987). A transverse row of sparse, thin setae at hind edge of metazonites, setae gradually growing denser and longer toward telson. Ozopores small, lying behind suture dividing pro- and metazona without touching the suture. Telson with caudal dorsal projection straight and long, covered with setae and carrying at tip a claw-shaped process curved dorsally. Preanal ring, anal valves, and subanal scale densely setose. Legs relatively short and slender. Very delicately serrate ventral pads present on postfemur and tibia, starting from legs 2. Claw of all legs at base with a long (longer than claw) setiform accessory claw ventrally but without accessory claw dorsally. Leg pair 1 forming a hook, the distal ring not coming into close contact with the basal rings (“open hook” type in Enghoff 1987); postfemur with inflated scaly-rugose ventral surface, tip indistinctly wrinkled, coxa with one seta, distal ring with seta, without tarsal remnant ( Fig. 51 ). Coxa 2 with two mesapical oral setae, gland opening positioned in apical and axial position ( Fig. 47 ) according to Enghoff (1987) (the seta attached to one of the coxal gland openings is probably outside debris). Penis subtrapezoidal, about 1.3 times longer than wide, with apical excavation ( Fig. 46 ). Ventral margin of body ring VII with ventrad subtriangular apically rounded lobes. Gonopods slightly protruding. Anterior gonopod flattened, with parallel margins, apically obliquely rounded, in posterior view apically excavated for accommodation of mesomeral process, distal margins of the excavation papillate, subcentrally with knoblike flattened rudimentary telopodite ( Figs 53–55 ). Flagellum slender, middle length, caudally covered with cuticular conical obtuse denticles in the distal part ( Fig. 56 ); basal part of the flagellum covered with cuticular spikes ( Fig. 57 ). Opisthomere with slender mesomeral process, its apex with several tiny papillae; velum steeply sloping ( Figs 49–50, 52 , 58 ). Additional membrane (m) small, with a smooth edge. Solenomere densely spinose throughout, with relatively short subapical branch (b) covered with spines throughout (the base of the subapical branch is hard to see in the figures 49–50).

Juvenile. Length about 17 mm, vertical diameter about 2.0 mm, with 32 (–2) rings, excluding telson. Legs without ventral pads.

Female unknown.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the lighter coloration as compared to the N. muli sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 58. Nepalmatoiulus pallidus sp. nov., male holotype. Opisthomere, mesal view. Scale in mm.

FIGURES 46–52. Nepalmatoiulus pallidus sp. nov., male holotype. 46, penis, front view; 47, coxae 2, front view; 48, distal part of antenna; 49, gonopods, mesal view, slightly rotated around its axis; 50, central part of opisthomere, mesal view, slightly rotated around its axis; 51, leg pair 1, front view; 52, apex of opisthomere mesomeral process; m, accessory membrane; b, solenomere subapical branch. Scales: 20 μm (Figs 46–47, 50–52), 100 μm (Figs 48–49).

FIGURES 53–57. Nepalmatoiulus pallidus sp. nov., male holotype. 53, promere, caudal view; 54, distal part of promere, caudal view; 55, central part of promere, caudal view; 56, distal portion of promere flagellum; 57, basal portion of promere flagellum. Scales: 2 μm (Figs 56–57), 10 μm (Fig. 55), 20 μm (Fig. 54), 100 μm (Fig. 53).