Pseudotremia fongi, Shear, William A., 2008

Shear, William A., 2008, Cave millipeds of the United States. VII. New species and records of the genus Pseudotremia Cope. I. Species from West Virginia, USA (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Cleidogonidae), Zootaxa 1764, pp. 53-65 : 60-61

Pseudotremia fongi , n. sp.

Figs. 5–8

Types: Male holotype and female paratype (VMNH) from Falling Springs Cavern, 4.5 miles north of Slaty Fork, Randolph Co., WEST VIRGINIA, collected 11 June 1977 by John Holsinger et al.

Diagnosis: Pseudotremia fongi has a massive ventral colpocoxite process that is unique in the genus; it protrudes far anterior of the angiocoxites and curves ventrally. In addition, the ventral branch of the lateral colpocoxite is deflexed dorsally and bears two short, acute sub-branches.

Etymology: The specific epithet honors Daniel Fong, in recognition of his leadership in the compilation of The Invertebrate Cave Fauna of West Viriginia, Second Edition.

Description: Male holotype about 35 mm long, 2.8 mm wide, third antennal segment 1.5 mm long, Ocelli 22 on each side, well-formed, contiguous and darkly pigmented. Segmental shoulders large, protruding, persisting posteriorly to segment 25. Metazonites anteriorly nearly smooth, posteriorly with 10–12 rugae strongest along posterior margin of each segment, anteriorly on the posterior segments breaking up into low, oblong tubercles; 8–12 obvious, ridge-like lateral striations. Color dark purplish gray-brown, mottled lighter.

Anterior gonopods (figs. 5, 6) large, robust; median angiocoxites relatively short but very broad in lateral view, with subapical spine directed toward midline; lateral angiocoxites divided, ventral branch decurved behind dorsal branch, trifid, with median prong longest, ventral branch entire, narrow, acute. Colpocoxites not deeply divided; ventral colpocoxite process massive, extending anterior to angiocoxites, curved ventrally, apically bifid; ventral process of moderate size, evenly curved, acute. Ninth legs (fig. 7) typically reduced.

Female similar to male, but 31 mm long, 2.6 mm wide. Cyphopods (fig. 8) with median valve longest, posteriorly acute.

Additional record: WEST VIRGINIA: Greenbrier Co., Dry Cave, 10 mi NNE of White Sulphur Springs, 26 April 1969, J. Holsinger & R. Baroody, 1ɗ. 3Ψ, 3 juvs.

Notes: The unique gonopods of this very large species nevertheless conform to the Hobbsi Group model, while also suggesting the seemingly unrelated P. kerboi (described below); however, that species lacks a dorsal colpocoxite process entirely. While collected in a cave, this must be primarily an epigean species because of its well-developed eyes and dark pigmentation. The male from Dry Cave differs slightly from the type in not having the shallow division at the tip of the ventral colpocoxite process, and lacking teeth on the ventral branch of the lateral angiocoxite. The two localities are widely separated and suggest that this species may be a broadly distributed one, known so far just from two distant caves, but present in poorly collected intervening habitats. Alternatively the differences between the two may signify separate species status, but more evidence is needed. Because of this ambiguity, the Dry Cave specimens have not been made paratypes.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 8. Pseudotremia fongi, n. sp. 5. Gonopods, anterior view. 6. Gonopods, lateral view. 7. Right leg 9 of male, anterior view. 8. Right cyphopod, ventral view.