Rampalia cheathamensis Shear & Marek, 2022

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2022, The millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1893. VI. Six new genera and thirteen new species from western North America (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striarioidea), Zootaxa 5205 (6), pp. 501-531 : 517-519

Rampalia cheathamensis Shear & Marek , n. sp.

Figs 33–36 , 72–75

Types: Male holotype and paratype from Owen R. Cheatham Redwood Grove, along Rt. 36 and Van Duzen River , 40.4829°N, - 123.9630°W, 270’ asl, Humboldt Co., California, collected 18 December 1977 by A. K. Johnson. Parts of male paratype on SEM stub WS35-5. Deposited in FSCA . Male paratype from Along Rt. 101, 1.5 mi by road south of Scotia , 40.4626°N, - 124.0871°W, 120’ asl, Humboldt Co., California, collected 3 January 1977 by A. K. Johnson, deposited in FSCA .

Etymology: The name is derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis: As for the genus, see above.

Description: Male holotype. 30 rings. Length, 5.0 mm, width 0.45 mm. Three black ommatidia on each side of head ( Fig. 33 , om). Sixth crests well extended as broad paranota. Telson lobes clearly divided. Metazonital setae not seen, absent or concealed by heavy cerotegument. Color after long preservation pale whitish tan with slight purplish brown markings on crests. First legs enlarged, with needle-like setae. Second legpair smaller, when coxae apposite, appearing to have common seminal opening. Flasks of third coxae long ( Fig. 34 , cf), when extended posteriorly reaching to posterior margin of sixth coxae; telopodites with broad, flattened prefemora ( Fig. 34 , pf3). Fourth through sixth legs encrassate, podomeres flattened, with prominent characteristic modified setae. Seventh coxae with large, flattened lobes covering bases of gonopods ( Fig. 35 , cx7). Other characters as described for genus.

Gonopods ( Figs 36 , 72, 73 ) moderately large. Sternum massive, short ( Fig. 36 , s). Coxae ( Figs 72, 72 , cx) with 3–4 setae on mesal side, 2 setae laterally, extended into long, twisted and apically flattened processes bearing short, recurved subterminal branch ( Figs 72, 73 , cp). Anterior angiocoxites projecting anteriorly between coxae, fused in midline, simple ( Figs 36 , 72, 73 , aac). Posterior angiocoxites reduced to sheath for single flagellocoxite ( Fig. 72 , fc) Colpocoxites ( Fig. 73 , cc) pushed anteriorly, with many small finger-like extensions. Ninth legs with median, apically bifurcate coxosternal process ( Figs 74, 75 , cxp); telopodites free, small, narrow, with subapical lobe densely setose in posterior view, fitting into locking notch in pleurotergite 7 ( Fig. 36 , pt7). Tenth coxae not much swollen, gland openings anteriodorsal.

Females not collected.

Distribution: Known only from two localities in Humboldt Co., California.

Note: The gonopods of this species presented difficulties in interpretation and we cannot be entirely sure that the homologies we have suggested are correct. Alternatively, the fused median structure we have called the anterior angiocoxites could be a process from the sternum, but Fig. 36 shows them quite separate from the sternum and basically as a double structure. The coxal processes in this interpretation might be the anterior angiocoxites, but they are continuous with the coxae and the coxal setae are set more distally than we have seen in other striariids. The collection of additional material and further study with SEM should resolve the question. The unique ninth legs seem to set this species well apart from the others described here.

Figures

FIGURES 30–34. Striariid millipedes. Figs 30–32. Lamparia millicoma, n. gen., n. sp. 30. Coxal flasks of legpair 3 of male, ventral view. 31. Gonopods, anterior view. 32. Female genitalia, ventral view Figs 33, 34. Rampalia cheathamensis, n. gen., n. sp. 33. Ommatidia and Tömösváry organ of male, lateral view. 34. Legpair 3 of male, lateral view.Abbreviations: aac, anterior antiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cf, coxal flasks of leg 3; fc, flagellocoxite; om, ommatidium; pac, posterior angiocoxite; pf3, prefemur of leg 3; To, Tömösváry organ.

FIGURES 35–40. Striariid millipedes. Figs 35, 36. Rampalia cheathamensis, n. gen., n. sp. 35. Coxae of male legpair 7, ventral view. 36. Gonopods, anterioventral view. Figs 37–40. Plaramia arcata, n. gen., n. sp. 37. Head, collum and ring 2 of male, lateral view. 38. Legpair 3 coxae of male, ventral view. 39. Gonopods, ventral view. 40. Right gonopod, mesal view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cf, coxal flask of leg 3; col, collum; cp, coxal process; cx, gonopod coxa; cxs, coxosternite of leg 9; cx5, coxa of leg 5; cx7, coxa of leg 7; L1, leg 1; m, mandible; s, sternum of gonopods; t9, telopodite of leg 9; 2, ring 2.

FIGURES 71–78. Striariid millipedes. 71. Right leg 9 of male Lamparia millicoma, n. gen., n.sp., anterior view. Figs 72– 75. Rampalia cheathamensis, n. gen. n. sp. 72. Right gonopod, lateral view. 73. Right gonopod, mesal view. 74. Male ninth legpair, anterior view. 75. Male ninth legpair, posterior view. Figs 76–78. Plaramia arcata, n. gen., n. sp. 76. Right gonopod, lateral view. 77. Right gonopod, mesal view. 78. Left leg 9 of male, anterior view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cxp, coxal process; cx, gonopod coxa; fc, flagellocoxite; pac, posterior angiocoxite; t9, telopodite of ninth leg.