Gephyrodesmus regilacus, Mesibov, 2008

Mesibov, Robert, 2008, The millipede genera Gephyrodesmus Jeekel, 1983 and Orthorhachis Jeekel, 1985 in southeastern Australia, a new Lissodesmus Chamberlin, 1920 from Victoria, and observations on male leg setae, spinnerets and metatergite sculpture (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae), Zootaxa 1790, pp. 1-52 : 17

Gephyrodesmus regilacus n. sp.

Fig. 11; map Fig. 12

Holotype: Male. Board Road, Mt Disappointment State Forest , Vic, 37º25'37"S 145º08'50"E, 730 m, 20 September 2007, R. Mesibov. In MV, K-10639.

Paratypes: In MV: 1 male, 1 female, Belgrave West , Vic, November 1930, J. Clark, K-10636, 10637 ; 1 male, Kinglake National Park , Vic, 28 October 1983, 'M.F.N.C.', pitfall trap, K-10638 ; 1 male, 1 female, details as for holotype, K-10640, 10641.

Other material examined: None available.

Diagnosis: Medial branch of gonopod telopodite divided into two subequal, bluntly rounded tips; anterior edge of ring 7 aperture well separated from anterior edge of prozonite; metatergite sculpture hard to see.

Description: As for the genus. Male/female approximate measurements: length 19/ 20 mm, midbody prozonite diameter 1.8/ 1.9 mm, midbody width across paranota 2.5/ 2.7 mm. In alcohol, well-coloured (Board Road) specimens mainly light greyish-brown with complex pattern of small, pale patches; antennae and distal podomeres darker. Antennal sockets separated by ca. 2X a socket diameter. Collum wider than head, narrower than tergite 2, D-shaped with the posterior margin slightly indented on either side. Raised areas on metatergites, except for posterior lateral area (extending onto posterior paranotal corner) very low, poorly defined. Gonopod aperture about one-third width of prozonite, ovoid, slightly wider than long, anterior edge well separated from anterior edge of prozonite, lateral edge raised posteriorly.

Gonopod telopodite ( Fig. 11) base wider than long; long setae on posterolateral surface to level of branching at about one-third telopodite height. Solenomere a slightly tapering cylinder at base, directed distally and slightly posteriorly; abruptly tapering at about three-quarters the telopodite height and curving slightly anteromedially, the tip narrow and shallowly notched. Medial branch stouter than solenomere, curving slightly posteriorly near apex, branching at level of solenomere bend into more or less equal lateral and medial tips, both tapering and bluntly rounded, terminating no further posteriorly than the solenomere bend.

Female slightly larger than male, legs not swollen. Genital aperture with posterior margin raised as long, low, straight-edged flange, just over one-third the metazonite diameter. Cyphopods not examined.

Distribution: Known from eucalypt forest at three localities in central Victoria ( Fig. 12). At the type locality, found on the underside of small pieces of rotting wood on the ground.

Etymology: Latin regis, king, + lacus, lake, noun in apposition, for Kinglake National Park, one of the localities for this species.