Glyphiulus portaliformis Zhao & Liu, 2022

Zhao, Yi, Guo, Wan-Ru, Golovatch, Sergei I. & Liu, Wei-Xin, 2022, Revision of the javanicus species group of the millipede genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847, with descriptions of five new species from China (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Cambalopsidae), ZooKeys 1108, pp. 89-118 : 89

Glyphiulus portaliformis Zhao & Liu sp. nov.

Figs 5C , 14 , 15

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (SCAU WL40), China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hechi City, Bama County, Cave Baiyan Dong, 24°03'40"N, 107°08'16"E, 400 m alt., 2015-VII-31, leg. Chen Jujian, Wang Xinhui & Tang Mingruo. Paratypes: 7 ♂, 18 ♀ (SCAU WL40), same data as the holotype.

Etymology.

To emphasise the coxosternum of the anterior gonopods being portal-shaped.

Diagnosis.

Differs from congeners of the Glyphiulus formosus -group by the epiproct showing a small caudal protrusion and the anterior gonopods being portal-shaped, combined with a foliate flagellum of the posterior gonopod. Based on molecular evidence, G. portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. Differs from all other Glyphiulus species analysed in a> 14.4% uncorrected p-distance of the COI barcoding gene.

Description.

Length of both sexes ca. 41.0-56.0 mm, mid-body rings round in cross-section, their width and height similar, 2.2-3.0 mm. Body with 55-67 podous + 1 apodous ring + telson. Colouration brownish, legs almost transparent (Fig. 5C ).

Head surface smooth. Labrum with 4 teeth anteromedially (Fig. 15A ). Ocellaria blackish, with 14-17 ommatidia arranged in 2-3 irregular linear rows (Figs 14B , 15B ). Antennae short, slightly clavate, reaching back to ring 4; in length, antennomeres 5> 3> 2> 4> 6> 1> 7. Antennomeres 5-7 each with a distodorsal field or corolla of bacilliform sensilla (sensory bacilli). Antennomere 7 with four sensory cones (Fig. 15A ). Gnathochilarium with a separate promentum, polytrichous on promentum and mentum, lamellae linguales each with 6-7 setae (Fig. 15A ). Mandible not dissected.

Collum: crests complete and evident; carinotaxy formula I-III+P+M (Figs 14A, B , 15B ). Following metaterga strongly crested; carinotaxy formula 2/2+I/i+3/3 (Fig. 14 ). Ozoporiferous tubercles very large, coniform. Prozonae delicately alveolate-areolate, fine longitudinal striations in front of stricture. Metazonae with an obvious, corrugate, carved texture (Fig. 14 ). Rings 2 and 3 with long pleural flaps.

Epiproct simple, caudal edge with a central conical protrusion and dorsally with a strong central rounded tubercle (Fig. 14E ). Paraprocts regularly convex, each with several irregular rows of setae. Hypoproct transversely bean-shaped, no setae visible (Fig. 14F ).

Legs slender, about 1.1 times as long as mid-body height; claw with a small accessory spine at base, about 1/5 as long as claw (Fig. 15D ). ♂ legs 1 very strongly reduced, represented by a sternum showing a pair of small, fused, paramedian, subunciform prongs directed forward, with about ten long setae at base; flanked by strongly separated, rudimentary, 2-segmented leg vestiges, second segment very large, stout, rod-shaped (Fig. 15F ). ♂ legs 2 slightly hypertrophied, coxae large; penes small, much shorter than coxae, oblong-subtrapeziform, each with two or three strong setae distolaterally (Fig. 15C ). ♂ legs 3 modified through coxae being especially slender and elongate (Fig. 15E ). Both ♂ femora 6 and 7 normal, without modifications.

Anterior gonopods (Fig. 15H ) very tall, with a portal-shaped coxosternum with about 16-18 microsetae near distal margin; apicomesal process of coxite subtriangular, tip small, slightly curved inwards. Telopodite very large and clavate, 1-segmented, lateral in position, slightly higher than lateral corner of coxite, with a field of nine microspinules at base and six strong setae apically.

Posterior gonopods (Figs 15I, J ) compact. Coxite nearly parallelogram-shaped, with an elongated field of about 14 basolateral microspinules in frontal view and with a field of 16 median microspinules in caudal view; apical and mesal parts of coxite with dense, strong and curved setae. Lamelliform lobe membranous, with a relatively long, broad, distally foliate flagellum.

Vulvae very simple, bare, faintly emarginate medially (Fig. 15G ).

Remark.

In the absence of direct troglomorphic traits, this species can only be considered as troglophilic at most.

Figures

Figure 5. Pictures of live animals A G. sinuatoprocessus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Niubi Yan B G. scutatus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Bianfu Dong C G. portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Baiyan Dong D G. xiniudong Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Xiniu Dong E G. conuliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Yanzi Dong.

Figure 14. Glyphiulus portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov., ♂ paratype A, B anterior body rings, dorsal and lateral views C, D mid-body rings, dorsal and lateral views, respectively E, F posterior body rings, dorsal and ventral views, respectively. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 15. Glyphiulus portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov., ♂ paratype A gnathochilarium and left antenna B head and collum C penes D mid-leg and claw E leg 3, caudal view F leg 1, frontal view G ♀ paratype, vulvae H anterior gonopods, caudal view I, J posterior gonopod, caudal and frontal views, respectively. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B, D, E), 0.2 mm (C, F-J).