Shearia longa, Mikhaljova, Elena V., 2012

Mikhaljova, Elena V., 2012, The class Diplopoda in Mongolia, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 3418, pp. 41-50 : 42-47

Shearia longa sp. nov.

Figs 1–11

Material examined. Holotype: male ( IBSS), Mongolia, Altai, Bayan-Ulegeyskii Aimak, Tsengel Somon, 2100–2300 m a.s.l., Larix forest, 15 July 2010, leg. K. Ulykpan and B. Bayartogtokh; Paratypes: 3 males, 3 juveniles ( IBSS), same locality as in holotype, July 2010; 2 males, 1 female ( IBSS), together with holotype, 15 July 2010; 3 males, 1 female ( ZMUM), 1 female ( IBSS), same locality as in holotype, 19 July 2010; 2 males, 1 female, 4 juveniles ( IBSS), 1 male, 1 female (NUM), same locality as in holotype, 20 July 2010; 9 males, 2 females, 1 fragment ( IBSS), 1 female (PU), same locality as in holotype, 22 July 2010; 6 males, 1 female ( IBSS), same locality as in holotype, 23 July 2010; 3 males (PU), same locality as in holotype, 30 July 2010; all leg. K. Ulykpan and B. Bayartogtokh.

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners mainly by the long, twisted anterior gonopod telopodites, short anterior angiocoxal branches and the shape of the posterior gonopod colpocoxite and shallow cup-shaped structure into which both mesal sheath processes merge.

The new species seems to be particularly closely related to Shearia rybalovi Mikhaljova, 2000 from Russia, Siberia, Krasnoyarsk Province, but differs by longer twisted telopodites of anterior gonopods, narrower posterior gonopod colpocoxites (especially in their distal parts), smaller excavation in distal part of each colpocoxite, narrower anterior angiocoxal processes of posterior gonopods and shorter branches of the anterior angiocoxal processes.

Description. Male. Length 14–16 mm, width with paraterga 1.9-2.0 mm. Coloration in alcohol brown-tan, legs weakly marbled, ocellaria black.

Body with 32 segments. Anterior part of head covered with sparse, relatively long and short setae. Each eye patch composed of at least 25 ocelli. Collum semi-circular. Body width gradually increasing until somite 7, body parallel-sided on somites 8–23(24), thereafter gradually tapering. Paraterga beginning on somite 2, well developed on somites 4(5)–27, onward missing. Numerous macrochaetae broken off, remaining ones relatively long, pointed apically.

Leg pairs 3–7 enlarged. Legs of anterior body part (including leg pairs 10 and 11) with a small group of funnelshaped tarsal papillae apically near claw. Tarsal papillae gradually growing reduced towards posterior body end; at least midbody and hindmost legs devoid of any tarsal papillae. Claw of legs 5–7 at base without dorsal additional claws, but with a long setoid filament ventrally. Claw of legs 10 ( Fig. 1 ) and 11 as well as following midbody legs at base with two small additional claws dorsally and a long setoid filament ventrally (to see two additional claws, it is necessary to look above; if you look at it sideways, only one such claw can be seen). However, claws of hindmost legs at base without dorsal additional claws; ventral filament either present or absent.

Legs 10 and 11 with coxal glands. Coxa 10 with a caudoventral subconical setose process ( Figs 2 , 8 ). Coxa 11 normal, without process ( Fig. 3 ).

Anterior gonopod telopodite 1-segmented, flagelliform, ribbon-shaped with a longitudinal furrow, very long, its middle part positioned inside colpocoxite sheaths with elevated edges, its distal part twisted ( Figs 4 , 9 ). Telopodite base and distal part of coxosternum attached to adjacent mesal portion of posterior gonopod. Posterior gonopod colpocoxites fused basally, each with a small excavation in distal part. Mesal sheath processes closely approximated medially into a single cup-shaped structure (ms). Lateral sheath process (lp) as a narrow plate. Angiocoxite with a globule in posterior view. Posterior angiocoxal process (pp) small plate-shaped. Angiocoxite depressed centrally in anterior view ( Figs 5 , 10 ), supplied with two relatively short branches (ap). Outer branch somewhat shifted onto lateral face of colpocoxite. Posterior gonopod telopodites 2-segmented, setose; femur relatively long, its apex can be supplied with a claw vestige.

Female. Length 14–15(16) mm, width with paraterga 1.9–2.0 mm. Body with 32 segments. Each eye patch composed of at least 25 ocelli. Unlike males claws of hindmost legs at base with two small additional claws dorsally and a long setoid filament ventrally. Other nonsexual characters as in male. Vulvae small, subglobular ( Figs 6, 7 ). Bursa setose. Groove spirally twisted. Operculum (op) devoid of setae, with rounded bilobate apical margin ( Figs 6 , 11 ).

Name. The specific epithet refers to the very long telopodites of anterior gonopods.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Shearia longa sp. nov., male paratype. 1, distal part of leg 10; 2, leg pair 10, front view; 3, leg pair 11, front view.

FIGURES 4 – 5. Shearia longa sp. nov., male paratype. 4, gonopods, caudal view; 5, gonopods, front view; ms, mesal sheath processes of posterior gonopod colpocoxites; lp, lateral sheath process of posterior gonopod colpocoxite; pp, posterior process of posterior gonopod angiocoxite; ap, anterior process of posterior gonopod angiocoxite.

FIGURES 6 – 7. Shearia longa sp. nov., female paratypes. 6, right vulva, lateral view; 7, right vulva, ventral view; op, operculum.

FIGURES 8 – 11. Shearia longa sp. nov., male paratypes (8 – 10), female paratype (11). 8, coxa 10, caudal view; 9, gonopods, caudal view; 10, gonopods, front view; 11, apical margin of vulva operculum; ms, mesal sheath processes of posterior gonopod colpocoxites; lp, lateral sheath process of posterior gonopod colpocoxite; pp, posterior process of posterior gonopod angiocoxite; ap, anterior process of posterior gonopod angiocoxite. Scales in mm.