Decapauropus terrestris, Scheller, 2009

Scheller, Ulf, 2009, New species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Tasmanian temperate rainforests, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 289-329 : 305-307

Decapauropus terrestris sp. nov.

( Figs. 82–93 )

Material Examined. Holotype. Ad.9 (female), Savage River Pipeline Road , Loc. 1, (41°18.5'S, 145°16.3'E), soil core, 21.iv.1989 ( JD).

Paratypes. Frodshams Pass, Loc. 9, (42°49.7'S, 146°22.9'E), soil core, 2 ad. 9 (female), 20.x.1989 ( RC) .

Other material. 2 specimens. Loc. 9, soil core, 1 juv. 3, 20.x.1989 ( RC). Loc. 5, soil core , 1 ad. 9 (male), 22.xi.1989 ( HM) .

Diagnosis. The shape of the antennae and the anal plate indicate that the new species is related to D. vicinus Remy from Madagascar ( Remy 1956c). They can be reliably distinguished as in A. terrestris there is a large semicircular lobe between the st (not in vicinus ), the st are thin and cylindrical (not broad distally) and the anal plate narrows anteriorly (not the opposite).

Description. Length.-(0.59-) 0.61 mm.

Head.-Tergal setae of short to medium length, subcylindrical, densely annulate, blunt. Relative lengths of setae, 1st row: a 1 =10, a 2 =(9-)11; 2nd row: a 1 =(7-)8, a 2 =(16-)20, a 3 =(13-)17; 3rd row: a 1 =14, a 2 =(13-)18; 4th row: a 1 =(7-)10, a 2 =?(18), a 3 =(15-)20, a 4 =18(-19); lateral group setae: l 1 =?, l 2 =17, l 3 =18. The ratio a 1 /a 1 -a 1 in 1st row 0.9(-1.0), 2nd row (0.4-)0.5, 3rd row 0.9 and 4th row 1.0(-1.3). Temporal organs oval in tergal view, their length 1.5 times as long as their shortest distance apart; an unusually large aperture inside posterior margin on a level with l

1

. Head cuticle glabrous.

Antennae.-Segment 4 with 5 cylindrical annulate blunt setae; their relative lengths: p =100, p' =43(-50), p'' =28(-29), r =(45-)46. The p'' ' rudimentary, u absent. Tergal seta p (1.5-)1.6 times as long as tergal branch t. The latter fusiform, 2.0(-2.2) times as long as its greatest diameter and as long as sternal branch s; that branch directed downwards and (1.7-)1.8 times as long as its greatest diameter; anterodistal corner of s only a little more truncate than posterior one. Seta q cylindrical annulate blunt, 1.2 times as long as s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments: F 1 =100, bs 1 =5(-6); F 2 =35(-37), bs 2 =4(-5); F 3 =(83-)85, bs 3 =5. The F 1 (5.3-)5.6 times as long as t, F 2 and F 3 1.8(-1.9) and 4.4 times as long as s respectively. Distal calyces subhemispherical; distal part of flagellar axes fusiform. Globulus g proportionately large, 1.4 times as long as wide; 15 bracts and capsule bottom flattened; width of g 1.1 times as long as the greatest diameter of t. Antennae glabrous.

Trunk.-Setae of collum segment clavate, densely annulate-striate, distal segment large, hemispherical, rudiments of secondary branches probably absent. Sublateral setae 1.8 times as long as submedian ones; sternite process triangular, blunt; appendages narrowing distally and with flat caps; process and basal segment of appendages with distinct, almost erect, short pubescence.

Setae on tergites thin, cylindrical, on anterior tergites as on head, on posterior tergites tapering pointed with short pubescence distally; 4+4 setae on tergite I, 6+6 on II–IV, 6+4 on V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI (0.8-)0.9 of their distance apart and about as long as pygidial setae a 1. Tergites glabrous.

Relative lengths of bothriotricha: T 1 =100, T 2 =106(-113), T 3 =(127-)135, T 4 =(112-)140, T 5 =166(-170), all with simple straight axes, very thin except in proximal 2/3 of T 3; T 3 with whip-like distal half; pubescence thin erect except on T 3, there oblique on thickened part, more distally erect and in distinct whorls, most distal part annulate with a subhemispherical distal segment. A specimen from Mount Victoria with T 3 thinner, without widened distal segment.

Legs.-Setae on coxa and trochanter of leg 9 similar, furcate with subcylindrical blunt branches. Tarsus of leg 9 short, somewhat tapering, 2.8 times as long as its greatest diameter. Setae subsimilar, thin, cylindrical, striate; their length 0.2 of the length of tarsus. Cuticle of tarsus with very delicate pubescence.

Pygidium. Tergum.-Posterior margin between st with large semicircular lobe. Relative lengths of setae: a

1

=100, a

2

=73(-80), a 3 =127(-140), st =47(-60); setae almost straight, blunt; a 1, a 2 and a 3 directed posteriorly, st pointing inwards, almost glabrous except a 3 being striate in distal half. Distance a 1 -a 1 1.4 times as long as a 1; distance a 1 -a 2 (1.3-)1.4 times as long as distance a 2 -a 3; distance st-st (1.5-)1.8 times as long as st and 1.2 times as long as distance a

1

-a

1

. Cuticle glabrous.

Sternum.-Posterior margin between b 1 with a broad indentation below anal plate. Relative lengths of setae (a 1 =100): b 1 =(253-)287, b 2 =93(-107), setae cylindrical, b 1 densely striate, b 2 with short, oblique pubescence. The b 1 (1.6-)1.8 times as long as their distance apart; b 2 as long as distance b 1 -b 2. Anal plate narrowest anteriorly and with somewhat concave lateral margins, being 1.2 times as long as broad and with two short, rounded, posterior lobes separated by a V-shaped incision; the plate glabrous and with two very short, cylindrical, blunt, shortly pubescent appendages on the sternal side of the posterior lobes.

Etymology.-From Latin terra, terrestris = of the earth (soil living).

Distribution in Tasmania. Seems to be a rare but very widely distributed species.

Figures

Figs. 82–93. Decapauropus terrestris sp.nov., holotype: 82, head, median and right part, tergal view; 83, temporal organ, posterolateral part, lateral view; 84, left antenna, tergal view; 85, collum segment, median and left part, sternal view; 86, tergite VI, posterior part; 87, T; 88, T; 89, 1 3 T; 90, seta on trochanter of 9th pair of legs; 91, tarsus of 9th pair of legs; 92, pygidium, median and left part, sternal view; 93, anal plate, lateral 5 view. Scale line a for figure 88; b for figures 86, 87; c for figures 82, 83, 85, 90, 91; d for figures: 84, 89, 92, 93.