Austrotyla stephensoni, Shear, William A. & Steinmann, David B., 2013

Shear, William A. & Steinmann, David B., 2013, Cave millipedes of the United States. XIII. A new, troglobiotic species of Austrotyla from Colorado (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Conotylidae), Zootaxa 3745 (4), pp. 486-490 : 487-488

Austrotyla coloradensis (Chamberlin 1910)

Figs. 1 , 3–6

Chamberlin (1910) gave the type locality of this species only as “Colorado” and the type had been lost by 1961. Causey (1961) designated a neotype male from Allen’s Park, Boulder County, Colorado (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University). Shear (1971) reported the species from Larimer, Jackson, Eagle, Pitkin, Chaffee, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral and Conejos Counties, Colorado, and noted that most records were from coniferous forests above 7000’ (2134 m) asl. With increased exploration of the many limestone caves in Colorado, coloradensis has also emerged as a troglophile, with several records from caves in Eagle County. The following are new county records; all collections by David Steinmann and deposited in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. COLORADO: Jefferson Co.: Fault Cave, 6250’ (1905 m) asl, 15 February 2012, m; 12 January 2010, mmff; Garfield Co.: Buffalo Cave, White River National Forest, 9200’ (2804 m) asl, juv.; Twenty-Pound Tick Cave, 7500’ (2286 m) asl, 14 October 2010, juv.

Chamberlin (1910) reported coloradensis from Ruidosa, New Mexico, and in 1971, Shear mentioned specimens from nearby Mescalero. Chamberlin’s specimens have disappeared along with the types of coloradensis , and the present whereabouts of the Mescalero specimens are unknown. Geographically, it is not very likely either of these samples represent coloradensis or montivaga , and there may be an undescribed Austrotyla species in southern New Mexico.

Drawings of the male third ( Fig. 3 ) and fourth legs ( Fig. 4 ) and of the gonopods ( Figs. 5, 6 ) of A. coloradensis from Fault Cave (see records above) are presented here for direct comparison with those of Austrotyla stephensoni n. sp. Figures 1 and 2 compare the field appearance of A. stephensoni with sympatric A. coloradensis .

Figures

FIGURES 1, 2. Field appearance of Austrotyla millipedes. Fig. 1. Austrotyla coloradensis, penult male. Fig. 2. Austrotyla stephensoni, mature male. Photograph by David Steinmann.

FIGURES 3 – 10. Structures of male Austrotyla millipedes. Figs. 3 – 6. Austrotyla coloradensis. Fig. 3. Right third leg, posterior view. Fig. 4. Right fourth leg, posterior view. Fig. 5. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. Fig. 6. Posterior gonopods, anterior view. Figs. 7 – 10. Austrotyla stephensoni. Fig. 7. Right third leg, posterior view. Fig 8. Right fourth leg, posterior view. Fig. 9. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. Fig. 10. Posterior gonopods, anterior view.