Megaphyllum tauricum (Attems, 1907)

Lazányi, Eszter & Vagalinski, Boyan, 2013, Redefinition of the millipede subgenus Megaphyllum sensu stricto Verhoeff, 1894 and neotype designation for Megaphyllum austriacum (Latzel, 1884) (Myriapoda: Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), Zootaxa 3741 (1), pp. 55-100 : 88-89

Megaphyllum tauricum (Attems, 1907)

Figs 19a–f

Brachyiulus tauricus Attems, 1907: 13 –14, Figs 11–14 .

Chromatoiulus tauricus: Attems 1927: 223 , 236, Figs 318–320. Chromatoiulus (Chromatoiulus) tauricus: Attems 1940: 306 . Megaphyllum tauricum: Golovatch 1990: 362 .

Material examined. Ukraine: Inv. No. 3134, 1♂, 3♀, Syntypen, Krim, Alupka, leg. Stuxberg 1897, don. Jägerskiöd, Museum Göteborg (NHMW); ZMB 8652, 1♂, Krim [det. Verhoeff?] (MNB).

Distribution. Ukraine: Krimean Peninsula: Alupka, Jalta [Yalta], Gursuff (today: Gurzuf), “Dschatyr Dagh” [Mt. Chatyr-Dagh] (type localities).

Diagnosis. Differs from the most similar species M. rhodopinum by the wider, apically more rounded posterior opisthomere process (pp) ( Figs 19a–b, 19d ), and by the somewhat more tapering promere with a longitudinal indentation (i) ( Figs 19a, 19c ).

Promeres (P) ( Figs 19a–c ) posterolaterally with a significant longitudinal indentation (i); lateral margins of each promere parallel to each other. Opisthomere’s ( Figs 19a–b, 19d ) posterior process (pp) as long as solenomere. Anterior solenomere process (asp) much longer than posterior process (psp). Both sexes seem to be uniformly brown like M. rhodopinum . Body length and height: males: 28.6–30.9mm, 2.2mm. Females were not measured in the present study, but their height according to Attems (1907): 3.5mm.

Remarks. Attems (1927) mistook M. sjaelandicum for M. tauricum , the latter described by him in 1907. This misidentification was commented on by Lohmander (1936) who noticed differences between the original description of M. tauricum and its later treatment in Attems’ (1927) paper. We investigated both Attems’ type material and the material published in 1927, supplemented with material from MNB, probably identified by Verhoeff, judging by the handwriting on the labels. M. tauricum is a valid species, and in fact, the sample cited by Attems (1927) consists of M. sjaelandicum individuals.

Female vulva unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 19 a – f. Megaphyllum tauricum. Syntype male from Krim, Alupka, Inv. No. 3134: (19 a) gonopods, posterior view; (19 b) left gonopods, mesal view; (19 c) left promere, meso-posterior view; (19 d) left opisthomere, postero-lateral view. Other male from Krim, ZMB 8652: penis, (19 e) posterior and (19 f) right lateral views. Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump; ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, i: indentation, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 11 a – g. Megaphyllum monticola. Males from Korakas Mts, Greece, ZMB 1300: (11 a) gonopods, posterior view and (11 b) right gonopods, mesal view and (11 c) left promere, meso-posterior view. Males from Ostrovo, Greece, Inv. No. 8019: (11 d) Right opisthomere, lateral view, penis, (11 e) posterior and (11 f) right lateral views, (11 f *) another, bent penis, left lateral view. (11 g) Left vulva, posterior view, female from Korakas Mts, Greece (setae omitted). Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 12 a – g. Megaphyllum bosniense. Syntype male from Bosnia, ZMB 2625: (12 a) gonopods, posterior view; (12 b) left gonopods, mesal view; (12 c) right promere, meso-posterior view; (12 d) left opisthomere, meso-posterior view. Male from Treskavac Mts, Montenegro: penis, (12 e) posterior and (12 f) right lateral views. Female from Maljen Mts, Serbia: (12 g) left vulva, meso-posterior view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; pa: posterior ampulla, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 13 a – f. Megaphyllum rosenauense. Syntype male from Transylvania, Romania, ZMB 2622: (13 a) gonopods, posterior view; (13 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (13 c) right promere, posterior view; (13 d) right opisthomere, lateral view. Male from Miercurea Ciuc, Romania: penis, (13 e) posterior and (13 f) right lateral views. Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 14 a – g. Megaphyllum transsylvanicum and Megaphyllum kievenese. M. transsylvanicum syntype male from Transylvania, Romania, ZMB 4380: (14 a) gonopods, posterior view; (14 b) left gonopods, mesal view; (14 c) left promere, meso-posterior view. M. transsylvanicum male from Dobrostan, Bulgaria: (14 d) left opisthomere, antero-lateral view. M. kievense male, after Lohmander (1928): (14 d *) opisthomere. M. transsylvanicum. male from Fruska Gora, Serbia: penis, (14 e) posterior and (14 f) right lateral views. M. transsylvanicum. female from Sinemorec, Bulgaria: (14 g) right vulva, posterior view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; pa: posterior ampulla, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, rp: rod-like process, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.