Mecogonopodium carpathicum, Mock, Andrej & Tajovský, Karel, 2008

Mock, Andrej & Tajovský, Karel, 2008, Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp. (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Attemsiidae), a new troglophilic millipede from Slovakia, Zootaxa 1778, pp. 26-36 : 27-35

Mecogonopodium carpathicum , n. sp.

Figs. 1–28

Type specimens. Male holotype from Slovakia, Č ierna hora Mts., Netopieria Cave, No. NHMW 7094, 2.IV.– 18.VI.1998 (PF), leg. A. Mock. Female paratypes from Slovakia, Č ierna hora Mts., Malá kvapľová Cave, No. NHMW 7095, 9.VI.2005, leg. A. Mock, (2 females) and from the closed Veľká rużínska Cave, No. ESMK Z- 16 243-E, 9.6.2005, leg. A. Mock (1 female).

Other examined material: All records come from the Č ierna hora Mts., the Rużínok Valley, the district of Košice-okolie, Slovakia (48°50´– 48°51´N, 21°06´– 21°09´E, 520–800 m a.s.l., grid reference of the Databank of the Fauna of Slovakia 7192) ( Fig. 29 ).

Unless stated otherwise, all the material was collected by A. Mock. Aside from type material, all other specimens are deposed in the collections of both authors, in the Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia and the Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Č eské Budějovice, Czech Republic.

Material from caves:

Antonova Cave (600 m a.s.l.), 2.IV.1998 – 18.VI.1998 (PF), 30 m from the cave entrance, 2 Ψ; 15 m from the cave entrance, 2 juveniles; 18.X. 2006, 10 m from the entrance, 1 juvenile.

Hadia Cave (580 m a.s.l.), 27.IV.1999 – 8.VII.1999 (PF), 5 m from the entrance, 1 subadult Ψ; 19.II. 2007, 5 m from entrance, 1 juvenile.

Malá kvapľová Cave (602 m a.s.l.), 2.IV.1998 – 18.VI.1998 (PF), 5 m from the cave entrance, 2 Ψ; 7.IV. 2000, 8 m from the entrance, 2 &; 7.IV.2000 – 14.X.2000 (PF), 10 from the entrance, 1 subadult %; 12.IX. 2001, 5 m from the entrance, 1 juvenile; 9.VI.2005, 3– 10 m from the entrance, 4 &, 3 subadult &, 8 juveniles; 18.X.2006, 3– 6 m from the entrance, leg. K. Tajovský and A.Mock, 3 juveniles.

Medvedia Cave (535 m a.s.l.), 27.VI.1999 – 7.VIII.1999 (PF), 20 m from the entrance, leg. Ľ. Kováč, 2 Ψ.

Netopieria Cave (621 m a.s.l.), 5.XII.1997 – 2.IV.1998 (PF), 15 m from the entrance, 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, 1 juvenile; 2.IV.1998 – 18.VI.1998 (PF), 15 m from the extrance, 2 Ψ, 1 juvenile.

Ve ľká rużínska Cave (614 m a.s.l.), 2.IV.–18.VI.1998 (PF), 60 m from the entrance, 1 Ψ, 1 subadult ɗ, 1 juvenile; 30–40 m from the entrance, 1 Ψ; 5m from the cave entrance, 1 ɗ, 2 Ψ, 1 subadult Ψ, 2 juveniles; 18.VI.1998, 50– 90 m from the entrance, 1 Ψ, 3 subadult Ψ; 25.V.1999 – 8.VII.1999 (PF), 5 m from the entrance, 1 juvenile; 8.VII.1999 – 17.XI.1999 (PF), 75 m from the entrance, 1 Ψ; 50 m from the entrance, 1 subadult Ψ; 5 m from the entrance, 1 Ψ, 3 juveniles; 18.9.2001, 50– 70 m, 2 Ψ, 2 juveniles; 13.IV. 2003, 60 m from the entrance, 1 ɗ, 3 Ψ; 3.VI. 2004, 40 m from the entrance, 1 juvenile; 9.VI.2005, 2– 90 m from the entrance, 1 Ψ, 2 subadult Ψ, 10 juveniles.

Material from the surrounding habitats (ravine forests):

Bokšovská skala Mt. (800 m a.s.l.), 7.XI.1997 – 18.VI.1998 (PF), limestone debris on the western slope, 1 ɗ.

Malý Rużínok Valley (520 m a.s.l.), 27.4.1999, in humus under litter, 1 Ψ, 2 subadult Ψ.

In total, the examined material consists of 86 specimens; 5 adult males, 29 adult females, 52 juveniles

(stadium III to VIII).

Etymology: The species is named for its occurrence in the Carpathian Mountains, as the only representative of the genus Mecogonopodium found in this mountain range, substantially distant from the occurrence of other species of this genus.

Description: Body length 14.9–16.2 mm (males), 17.5–22.5 mm (females), width of midbody segments 1.0–1.1 mm, height of midbody segment 0.9–1.0 (males), 1.0–1.2 mm (females). Colour of the body of adults brownish, in juveniles generally pallid, white-ochre. The metazonites, lateral edges of individual sclerites of the head capsule and distal segments of legs (femur–tarsus) brownish to brown ( Fig. 1 ). After fixation in formaldehyde (material from pitfall traps) the typical coloration changes into pale ochre to ochre-yellow, or completely brownish. Eye patches dark brown to black.

Body with 30 segments in both sexes (the mature stadium IX). In width, the head = body segment 3> 2> collum <4 <5 <6, from 6 to 17 equal, caudal body part gently tapering from 18–19 segment toward telson. Eye field triangular, in adults composed of 23–30 convex ocelli. Antennae medium-sized, total length about 2.1 mm, antennomeres densely covered with setae ( Fig. 2 ). Head with dense short setation, labrum with three –teeth at the medial edge ( Fig. 3 ); in males, frons flattened with median longitudinal depression enlarged at both ends, and narrow transverse curved line between the antennae. Cardo of mandibles densely covered with short setae. Each lamella linguale of the gnathochilarium with two long setae on the apical half of the lamella and six short setae on its basal part, palps armed with uniform sensory cones in lateroapical arrangement. Stipes of the gnathochilarium with 5–8 longer setae on the apical and 3–4 short ones on the basal sections ( Fig. 4 ).

Tegument differs in adults and juvenile stages; in adult specimens relatively smooth and bright, in juveniles (till stadium VIII) the metatergum with a matt finish and coarse microsculpture, consisting of small blunt cones and irregularly distributed short papilla-like protuberances ( Fig. 12 ). Collum obcordate, slightly acute at posterolateral edges, with obvious lighter median transverse sulcus (linea). Collum armed with 3+3 macrochaetae.

Paraterga more prominent in males than females (and in juveniles than adults), placed subhorizontally, transverse sulcus in caudal metatergum slightly developed. Metatergal setation of all body segments 3+3, with transversal triangular arrangement ( Fig. 5 ).

CIX = 1.00; MIX = 0.36; MA = 120°, PIX = 0.49

Male ( Figs. 7–11 , 13–26 ): Legs 1 and 2 ( Figs. 7 and 8 ) smaller, reduced as usual, darker in colour than the others. Legs 2 with small ventromedian protuberance (with openings of vasa deferentia) on enlarged coxae ( Fig. 8 ). Legs 3–6 equal to midbody legs, with tarsal papillation on the ventral side. The length of midbody legs longer than male body height. Legs 7 smaller than legs 3–6, approximately as long as legs 1 and 2, with prominent structures on coxal and tarsal segments ( Fig. 9 ). Coxa 7 robust with elongated finger-like medial projection, overgrowing coxal segment ( Figs. 9 , 13–14 ). Coxal projection slightly flattened, ventro-caudaly oriented, only anterior (inner) surface armed with tarsal papillation (dense irregular rows of small scale-like structures), the most markedly formed in medial part ( Fig. 15 ). Tarsal segment 7 covered on the ventral side by regularly distributed spoon-like papillae, not uniform in shape and easily visible at higher magnification, and at the end with one flattened seta on caudal side ( Fig. 13 ). Main tarsal claw with one small dorsal and one ventral accessory claws.

Gonopods: Anterior gonopods ( Fig. 10 ) form compact, not segmented structure, with finely wrinkled surfaces (easily visible under SEM) ( Figs. 16–19 ). Cheirites robust, and in their apical part extended into large posterior and shorter anterior apices, easily visible externally and ventrally ( Figs. 17 and 19 ). Smaller dens, or apices, present in the middle inner part of cheirite arms ( Fig. 18 ), single small projection on anterior inner edge of each cheirite arm ( Fig. 16 , marked by arrows). Median syncoxite projection of the anterior gonopods of prolonged triangular shape, arched, with apex curved posteriorly ( Figs. 17–18 ).

Posterior gonopods ( Figs. 11 , 20–22 ) consist of sternal plate and elongated coxites. Short apical segment has elongated setae on the top and sole conical projection on the external side ( Fig. 22 ).

Legs 10 ( Figs. 23–24 ) and 11 ( Figs. 25–26 ) with sacs on enlarged coxal segments. Spoon-like papillae (of similar shape as on legs 3–7) only on 4/5 of the ventral side of the tarsi, the last section of tarsus without papillae, markedly narrowed to the apex ( Figs. 23 and 25 ). The tarsal papillation present on all subsequent leg pairs, except for last four.

Female ( Figs. 6 , 27–28 ): No prominent sexual characters on the female legs. Vulvae ( Fig. 6 ) compact, grown together. Bursae on ventral side with transversal low wall enclosing anterior field covered by dense, long setae against posterior part. This part with sparse setation passes at both lateral sides into incisions ( Fig. 27 ). The apical (cranial) ends of each bursa are elongated into structures running closely together under operculum. These structures are without setation ( Figs. 6 and 27 ). Operculum edges armed with densely arranged long setae enclose largely anterior and external parts of each bursa ( Fig. 28 ).

Differential diagnosis: The species differs from its congeners by gonopod structure, details on male legs, and by morphology of vulvae. The general features of male sexual characters are similar to those in other two species of the genus Mecogonopodium . The coxal process of the leg 7 is finger-like as in M. bohiniense bohiniense ( Strasser 1933) , in opposite to curved process with two tops in M. bohiniense parvulum ( Strasser 1971) . Legs 7 of M. zirianus Mršić, 1987 , according to the original description, have no coxal process. The anterior gonopods of all Mecogonopodium species are simple and robust, without fine detail. The cheirites of M. carpathicum n. sp. are obtuse-angled, and their curvature starts before the end of the first half of their length, similar to M. zirianus . The cheirites of M. bohiniense are straight, and their distal third is curved at a right angle. Only M. carpathicum has the apical part of the cheirites extended into prominent posterior, and shorter anterior, apices. According to Strasser (1933, 1971), Attems (1959) and Mršić (1987) the cheirites of other two species are simpler, with a single apex.

The compact, grown together vulvae of M. carpathicum differ from those known in other attemsiid species ( Kurnik 1988; 1989; Mršić 1987). Generally the vulvae of M. carpathicum are more similar to M. bohiniense than to M.zirianus (cf. Mršić 1987).

Distribution: The range of M. carpathicum in the Western Carpathians ( Slovakia) is strictly separated from the ranges of its congeners, M. bohiniense and M. zirianus . They are known from the karst of the Mediterranean region of Slovenia (NW part of the Balkan Peninsula). M. carpathicum represents an isolated species with the north-easternmost distribution within the genus, as well as for the whole family Attemsiidae ( Fig. 29 ). Beside Allorhiscosoma sphinx , it represents the second known Carpathian attemsiid. This separate occurrence indicates that this millipede may be a relict of the Tertiary. Its troglophilic habit has facilitated its survival of climatic changes during Quartery in situ. Several other West Carpathians cavernicolous species, representing various arthropod groups, have similar pattern of distribution, recently separated from their main refugium in the Dinarids and the South-East Alps (cf. Košel 2006).

The distribution area of the new species is very limited, all specimens come from an area of about 20 km 2 (slopes of the Malý and Veľký Rużínok Valleys). This small area lies about 550 km north-east of the occurrence of the other Mecogonopodium species in Slovenia. Recent zoological research in neighbouring limestone regions of the Carpathian Mts. did not show its occurrence in other potential localities. This species seems to be stenoendemic.

Habitat: The majority of records come from caves, usually from entrances and adjacent corridors, where the species occurs quite rarely. Most of the material was collected by pitfall trapping, nevertheless some females and juveniles were collected from the cave walls, decaying wood, bark, and leaf litter introduced into the cave entrances. The species was collected only twice in litter and stony debris outside the caves, and was not taken in pitfall traps set in epigean habitats; troglophily is pronounced in all known species of Attemsiidae ( Strasser 1965, 1966, 1971; Mršić 1987).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp., paratype female, specimen fixed in alcohol.

FIGURES 2 – 6. Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp. 2, male antenna. 3, head capsule of male, frontal view. 4, male gnathochilarium. 5, dorsal (a) and lateral (b) view of the male metatergite 15 with position of macrosetae. 6, female vulvae, ventral view. B = bursa, OP = operculum. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. Figures 3 and 5 taken without scale.

FIGURES 7 – 11. Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp., holotype male. 7, left leg 1, posterior view. 8, left leg 2, posterior view. 9, left leg 7, posterior view. 10, anterior gonopodes (legs 8), anterior view. 11, posterior gonopods (legs 9), anterior view. CS = coxal sacs, CH = cheirite, CP = coxal projection, SX = syncoxite. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 12 – 15. Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp., male. 12, surface of juvenile midbody segment, detail of structure. 13, left leg 7 of male, anterior view. 14, left leg 7 of male, posterior view. 15, detail of the coxal projection of the leg 7. CP = coxal projection TP = tarsal papillation, SE = flattened seta. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 16 – 19. Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp., male, anterior gonopods (legs 8). 16, anterior view. 17, ventrolateral view. 18, posterior view. 19, ventral view. CH = cheirite, SX = syncoxite, arrows in Fig. 16 indicate small inner projections of cheirite. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 20 – 26. Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp., male. 20, posterior gonopods (legs 9), anterior view. 21, posterior gonopods, posterior view. 22, apical part of posterior gonopod with conical projection (CC). 23 – 24, legs 10 and 25 – 26, legs 11 with details of the sacs on the coxae. CC = conical projection, TP = tarsal papillation, C S = coxal sacs. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 27 – 28. Mecogonopodium carpathicum n. sp., female, vulvae. 27, ventral view. 28, vento-lateral view from right. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 29. Distribution map of the family Attemsiidae (grey fields) and individual species of the genus Mecogonopodium: full (black) triangle – M. bohiniense (Slovenia), empty triangle – M. zirianum (Slovenia), full (black) ring – M. carpathicum n. sp. (Slovakia).