Acanthophorella irystoni

Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016, The Caucasus as a major hotspot of biodiversity: Evidence from the millipede family Anthroleucosomatidae (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida), Zootaxa 4211 (1), pp. 1-205 : 152-155

Acanthophorella irystoni gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 126–128

Diagnosis. Differs from the other two species of the genus by the presence of denticulate lateral lamellae of the anterior gonopods, by very small coxal processes on the posterior gonopods and by the general shape of the gonopod.

Etymology. The new species is named after its type locality, Ossetia (Iryston in Ossetian language), a noun in apposition.

Material studied (total: 2 males, 3 females, 2 juveniles). Holotype. RUSSIA: male, North Ossetia, S of Ordzhonikidze (= Vladikavkaz), between Chmi and Baltik, Quercus & Alnus on slope, litter and under stones, 2 Jun. 1982, S. Golovatch leg. ( ZMUM ρ3403).

Paratypes (total: 1 male, 3 females, 2 juveniles). All from RUSSIA: 1 male, 3 females, 2 juveniles, same data as holotype ( ZMUM ρ3404).

Type locality. RUSSIA: North Ossetia, S of Ordzhonikidze (= Vladikavkaz), between Chmi and Baltik, Quercus & Alnus on slope.

Description. Body with 31 segments (including telson) in adults.

MEASUREMENTS. Males 9–9.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.8 mm. Females 8.5–9.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.8–0.85 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 126 ). Dorsal and lateral sides of prozonites greyish, dorsolateral and ventrolateral sides with yellowish spots. Metazonites brownish, lateral keels with yellowish spots.

HEAD. Flattened in males. Labrum with three medial teeth and 5+5 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates with 6+6 setae, on each plate arranged in two rows. Stipites with 25+25 setae. Antennae 1.4 mm long in holotype. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.09), II (0.15), III (0.34), IV (0.19), V (0.35), VI (0.17), VII (0.1) and VIII (0.01). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (1.5), III (4.2), IV (2.4), V (3.5), VI (1.7) and VII (1.3). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 13–16, arranged in 4–5 rows in males; 13–17 in 4–5 rows in females.

COLLUM. Narrower than head, with six macrochaetae. Anterior edge semi-circular, posterior margin gently concave.

BODY SEGMENTS ( Fig. 126 ). Lateral keels like lateral swellings. Macrochaetae long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.9; MIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 2; PIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.5; MA (pleurotergite 15) ~ 106˚.

TELSON. Epiproct with a pair of spinnerets and 3+3 setae (1+1 paramedian, 2+2 marginal). Hypoproct with 1+1 apical setae. Paraprocts with 3+3 marginal setae.

WALKING LEGS. In both sexes, leg-pairs 1 and 2 with tarsal combs; prefemora with several long and robust setae; femora and postfemora with a group of several long and robust setae.

MALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS ( Fig. 127 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged. Leg-pairs 3 and 4 each with a basal exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 5 with a basal oral protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 6 with a small, basal, exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 7 with a posterior, wide, squarish, thin, lamellar coxal process. Leg-pair 10 with coxal glands and with a short coxal horn orientated posteriorly. Leg-pair 11 with coxal glands, without other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Fig. 128 A–C). Sternal plate (sp) with a small, medial, hairless, sternal sac (ss). Gonopods consisting of two medial shields (mp), divided distally; apically, mesal edges folded inside and forming a posterior projection (ppr); lateral sides partly covering well-developed thorn-like processes (tp) that arise from the fused base of the gonopods. The lateralmost parts of anterior gonopods are lateral denticulate lamellae (ll) curved posteriorly and mesally. Lateral lamellae lower than thorn-like processes. Posteriorly a pair of lobes (us) can be seen.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Fig. 128 D). Coxites (c) divided. Telopodites (t) present on posterolateral sides. Coxal processes (cp) on posterior side, small. Anteriorly, high, partly chitinized and partly membranous processes (cvp) with coxal vesicles present.

Distribution. Russia (known only from type locality) ( Fig. 169 , blue circle).

Figures

FIGURE 126. Acanthophorella irystoni gen. et sp. nov., paratype male habitus. Scale line = 1 mm.

FIGURE 127. Acanthophorella irystoni gen. et sp. nov., holotype male. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 4. C. Leg 6. D. Leg 7. E. Leg 10. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 128. Acanthophorella irystoni gen. et sp. nov., holotype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. C. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. D. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. c = coxite; t = telopodite; cp = coxal process; ll = lateral lamella; mp = medial shield; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; tp = thorn-like process; us = undefined structure; cvp = chitinised and membranous process; ppr = posterior projection. Scale line = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 169. Distribution of the Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Flagellophorella complex.