Guipuzcosoma comasi Vicente & Mauriès, 1980

Antić, Dragan & Mauriès, Jean-Paul, 2022, Two new species of the previously monospecific genus Guipuzcosoma Vicente & Mauriès, 1980 from Spain, with establishment of Guipuzcosomatidae fam. nov. (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida), Zootaxa 5093 (2), pp. 142-168 : 147

Guipuzcosoma comasi Vicente & Mauriès, 1980

Figs 1 , 12

Guipuzcosoma comasi Vicente & Mauriès, 1980: 10 , 12, 13, figs 7–12.

Guipuzcosoma comasi — Galan (1993: 65, 66); Spelda (2015: 11); Reboleira & Enghoff (2017: 358); Kime & Enghoff (2021: 138 , 242).

Diagnosis. Differs from both congeners in the structure of the angiocoxites 1, which are characterized by a completely reduced distal processes, in the form of a lateral bump whose height does not exceed the height of the posterior processes of angiocoxites 1. In the two new species this structure is strongly developed and elongated, clearly surpassing the posterior one. Further, G. comasi is characterized by semicircular expanded lateral parts of the colpocoxites in posterior view, while in the two new species these structures are more or less subtriangular. The anterior part of the medial bursal structure of the vulvae in G. comasi is heart-shaped, while in two new species it is more or less subquadrangular. Significant differences also exist in the shape of the posterior part of the medial structure of the vulvae in all three species.

Remarks. This species is known only from the type material including a holotype male and two paratype females. After the original description, the species was not found again.

In the original description, Vicente & Mauriès (1980: 12) incorrectly labelled the anterior gonopods, thus gave a wrong description of, and terms for, certain parts of the gonopods, mixing the anterior and posterior view [ Vicente & Mauriès (1980: figs 7, 9)]. This has led to the misinterpretation of the angiocoxite and colpocoxite, which were incorrectly labelled and described. This is corrected and modified here ( Fig. 1 ).

Also, Vicente & Mauriès (1980: 13) stated that leg-pairs 7, 10 and 11 are without peculiarities. Since we found certain structures on these legs in the two new species, it is possible that they were overlooked in G. comasi . Thus, we prefer not to use these characters in the diagnosis when comparing G. comasi with the two newly described species. Additionally, a pair of anterior concave bulges of the gonopodal sternum of the posterior gonopods were found in both new species, but these structures were not stated for G. comasi .

Even though this species is known only from one cave so far, based on the discovery of two new species not so far away in epigean habitats, G. comasi , which also could have a larger number of ommatidia compared to two newly described congeners, can at best be characterized as a troglophile.

Distribution. Known only from its type locality, Sima Aundia III Cave (= Leize Aundia III), part of the Sabesaia—Leize Aundia system, Ernio Massif, near Alkiza, Gipuzkoa province ( Fig. 12 , red circle).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Guipuzcosoma comasi Vicente & Mauriès (1980), ♂ holotype gonopods, ♀ paratype vulvae. A–D. Anterior gonopods, anterior, posterior, lateral and distal views, respectively. E. Posterior and anterior (black) gonopods, posterior view. F. Vulvae, distal view. Abbreviations: A1: angiocoxite 1; A2: angiocoxite 2; B: bursa; C: colpocoxite; Ct: coxotelopodite; Cx: coxite; h: mesal horns; mbs: medial bursal structure; O: operculum; Pgm: postgenital membranous structure; S: gonopodal sternum. Modified from Vicente & Mauriès (1980). Scale bar: 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 12. Distribution of the genus Guipuzcosoma Vicente & Mauriès (1980).