Omobrachyiulus caucasicus (Karsch, 1881) Vagalinski & Golovatch, 2021

Vagalinski, Boyan & Golovatch, Sergei I., 2021, The millipede tribe Brachyiulini in the Caucasus (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae), ZooKeys 1058, pp. 1-127 : 1

Omobrachyiulus caucasicus (Karsch, 1881) comb. nov.

Fig. 12

Julus caucasicus Karsch, 1881: 20.

Brachiulus (sic!) Brachiulus brachyurus Attems, 1899: 326-328, figs 72-75, syn. nov.

Chromatoiulus brachyurus : Rasulova and Rakhmanov 1973: 519.

Chromatoiulus (Omobrachyiulus) brachyurus : Lohmander 1936: 114-120, figs 86, 87, 93-95, 102.

Chromatoiulus (Omobrachyiulus) brachyurus dagestanus Lohmander, 1936: 121-123, figs 96-98; Lang 1959: 1791.

Chromatoiulus brachyurus brachyurus : Kobakhidze 1964: 190; 1965: 393, 396; Samedov et al. 1972: 1245; Rakhmanov 1972: 116; Bababekova 1996: 90.

Chromatoiulus brachyurus dagestanus : Kobakhidze 1964: 191.

Chromatoiulus (Omobrachyiulus) brachyurus brachyurus : Lang 1959: 1791; Lokšina and Golovatch 1979: 385.

Megaphyllum brachyurum brachyurum : Samedov 1991: 195.

Megaphyllum brachyiurum (sic!): Loginova 1993: 151-153.

Megaphyllum caucasicum caucasicum : Kokhia 1999: 232.

Megaphyllum brachyurum : Enghoff and Moravvej 2005: 66; Golovatch and Matyukhin 2011: 116; Zuev 2014: 352, map 4.

Omobrachyiulus brachyurus : Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018: 94-96, figs 184-188; Kokhia and Golovatch 2018: 41; 2020: 206.

Material examined.

Georgia: Holotype: juvenile ♀ (by monotypy) (ZMB 748), Borjomi ( Karsch 1881). Armenia: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 4 juv. (ZMUM), Byn Kulp(?), 15.VIII.1927, M. Makaryan leg.; 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 1 juv. (ZMUM), halfway between Alaverdi and Bagratashen, Carpinus forest, in litter, 24.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Ijevan, deciduous bush, in litter, 16.IV.1983, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 1 juv. (ZMUM), Odzun, W of Alaverdi, 1500-1550 m, Quercus , Fagus , Carpinus etc. forest, in litter and under stones with ants, 23-24.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 7 juv. (ZMUM), Stepanavan, 1600-1650, Quercus , Fagus , Carpinus etc. forest, in litter and under bark, 21-22.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg. Azerbaijan: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, (SMNG), İsmayıllı District, S of Zərgəran, 40.7310°N, 48.3680°E, 880 m a.s.l., slope with Corylus , Clematis and some Prunus trees, stone heaps overgrown by moss, mainly in thick litter and under stones, 30.III.2015, D. Antić and H. Reip leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Shamakhi District, Pirkuli, near observatory, 1200-1250 m, Quercus , Acer , Taxus etc. forest, litter, 30.IV.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. (ZMUM), Talysh Mts, Djoni, 1500 m, 28-29.V.1976, V.G. Dolin leg.; 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 3 juv. (ZMUM), NW of Bash Layisqi, ca. 20 km NNW of Sheki, 1250 m, Fagus , Carpinus , Acer etc. forest, 3.V.1987, in litter, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ (ZMUM), 9 juv., ca. 5 km N of Kutkashen, 1150-1200 m; Fagus and Carpinus forest, in litter and rotten wood, 2.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; ♂, ♀ (ZMUM), Altyagach National Park, 1050-1100 m, mixed broadleaved forest, litter, 20 and 26.IV.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM), Zagatala (= Zakataly) Nature Reserve, Agkemal, 1800-2100 m, forest, 24- 27.V.1981, SIG and J. Martens leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Laza, 2200 m, 10.VII.1985, H. Aliyev leg.; 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Istisu, ca. 8 km SW of Masally, Quercus , Acer , Carpinus , etc., 80-140 m, litter, under bark and stones, 19-20.X.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Azerbaijan, above Agsu, 120 km W of Baku, 900 m, Quercus , shrub, 22.V.1981, SIG and J. Martens leg.; Georgia: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Borjomi District, Akhaldaba, 1000 m, Nedzura River Valley , Picea , Carpinus and Fagus forest, in litter, under logs, 12.V.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), S of Bakuriani Pass , Tskhratskaro , 2100 m, sparse Betula forest at timberline, 13.V.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Lagodekhi, Fagus , Carpinus etc. forest, XI.1967, T.S. Perel leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), AR Ajara, 15 km W of Adigeni, Abies , Picea , Fagus , Acer forest, 1500-1700 m, litter, logs and under stones, 14-15.V.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Mayakovskii District, above Sairme, 1700-2000, 1.V.1985, E. Kvavadze leg.; 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Babaneuri Nature Reserve , ENE of Akhmeta, near Babaneuri, 500 m, 4-5.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM), Magalakhari Pass, between Akhmeta and Tianeti, Fagus and Carpinus forest, 1200 m, in litter and under bark, 6.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), N of Kvareli, 700-750 m, Fagus , Carpinus , Quercus etc. forest, in litter and under bark, 4.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Batsaro Nature Reserve , ca. 20 km N of Akhmeta, Fagus , Castanea etc. forest, 800-850 m, in litter, 5-6.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), Mariamjvari Nature Reserve , ENE of Sagarejo, 1150-1250 m, Fagus , Carpinus , Acer , Pinus etc. forest, in litter, under bark and stones, 13-14.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂, 7 juv. (ZMUM), Saguramo Nature Reserve , NE of Mtskheta , Zedazeni , 1100-1200 m, Fagus , Carpinus , Acer etc. forest, litter and under bark, 20.VII.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Racha, Oni District, N of Utsera, decidous forest near spring, rock, litter, 20.IX.1981, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), 45 km W Mestia, above Nakra, 1700 m, Abies , Picea etc., forest, in litter and under stones, 3.IX.1986, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), above Sairme, 1700-2000 m, 1.V.1985, E. Kvavadze leg; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (SMNG), NW of Abano, 42.6115°N, 44.3742°E, 2270 m a.s.l., 06.VII.2019, K. Voigtländer leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Georgia, Telavi, in a house garden, 41.9240°N, 45.4670°E, 09.VII.2019, K. Voigtländer leg.; many ♂♂ and ♀♀ (SMNG), Tusheti, Pirikita Alazani Valley , close to Girevi, 42°29'42.1"N, 45°28'43.2"E, stony pasture at river bank, 2010 m a.s.l, 6.IX.2009, F. Walther leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (SMNG), Samtskhe-Javakheti, 500 m W of Gujarula Valley , 41.3078°N, 43.4672°E, 1010 m a.s.l, 17.IX.2011, F. Walther leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. (SMNG), Imereti, Zekari Pass, 41.8522°N, 42.8078°E, 2200 m a.s.l., 22.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Khevsureti, Churo Valley , near mouth of Khone Skali River , 42°34'05.8"N, 45°13'56.2"E, 10-12.IX.2009, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (SMNG), Mtshkheta-Mtianeti, 1.1 km SW of Kobi, 42.5553°N, 44.4973°E, 2060 m a.s.l., 12.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 2 ♂♂ (SMNG), Mukhli, bridge over Rioni River , 100 m from the village; 42.5436°N, 43.2325°E, 640 m a.s.l., 9.X.2011, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Tusheti, Diklo, 42°23'24.0"N, 45°40'41.8"E, 2100 m a.s.l., strongly eroded place near stream, 4.IX.2009, collector?; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ (SMNG), Akhaltsikhe to Borjomi, S of Chobiskhevi, near Chobiskhevi River , 42.7651°N, 43.3265°E, mountain Fagus forest, VII.2011, L. Mumladze leg.; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (SMNG), N of Lagodekhi , Lagodekhi Nature Reserve , Lagodekhiskhevi River , mixed forest, VII.2013, L. Mumladze leg.; Russia: 1 ♂ (SMNG), Stavropol, Tamanskaya Dacha Forest , near Komsomolskiy Reservoir, 45.0481°N, 41.9567°E, 530 m a.s.l., deciduous forest ( Quercus , Carpinus , Acer ), 22.VIII.2012, F. Walther leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM), Stavropol, Russkiy Forest , 6.VII.2013, R. V. Zuev leg. and det.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Stavropol Province, E of Novopavlovsk, Quercus forest, Salix , Alnus etc. along stream, 28.V.1982, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Sergokalinskiy District , Murguk , mixed forest, near a river, 10.VIII.1985, K. Khajialiyev leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Samur Valley , Garakh ca. 35 km SW of Magaramkent, 700-800 m, Crataegus , Quercus , Acer , Rosa etc. scrub, in litter, 23.X.1987, SIG leg.; 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juv. (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Chiragchay Valley , Khiv , 900-950 m, Carpinus , Fagus , Corylus , Rhododendron etc. forest., in litter and under stones, 24.X.1987, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv. (HNHM), Republic of Dagestan, Kurush , 2400 m a.s.l., under stones, 9.VII.1989, Z. Korsós leg.

Diagnosis.

A species of Omobrachyiulus differing from congeners mainly by the opisthomere having a thumb-like apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, bent somewhat anteriad, and by the solenomere ending with a fine, short, sharply pointed, apical process.

Descriptive notes.

Gonopods: Promere (Fig. 12A ) more or less tapering to a mesally slanting apex, median ridge well-pronounced, arched, median and distal grooves broad and deep; flagellum nearly as high as promere. Opisthomere (Fig. 12B-D ): basoposterior process relatively well-pronounced, ending in a roughly thumb-like (in lateral view) apical outgrowth, mesally with a small lamellar part; anterior process running parallel to solenomere, mostly fused to the latter, apically forming a thorn-like outgrowth directed frontad; mesomeroidal lobe well-developed, forming a rounded apicolateral part; mesal side with a rather small lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a small and shallow anteromesal sinus; two rows of rather long spiniform filaments along proximal section of flagellum channel; seminal channel clearly visible; solenomere apically with a very slender, pointed, lateral process, and a much shorter and thicker, lamellar, mesal one. Vulva (Fig. 12E ) somewhat asymmetrical: mesal valve somewhat broader than lateral one, and mesal side of operculum protruding higher than lateral one; opening broad cleft-like; operculum slightly higher than bursa; both bursa and operculum densely setose throughout.

Previous records from the Caucasus.

Numerous records from Georgia; Russia: Republic of Dagestan ( Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018); and Azerbaijan ( Loginova 1993; Bababekova 1996).

General distribution.

Also found in Russia, Kalmykia ( Golovatch and Matyukhin 2011), the Hyrcan area of Azerbaijan, northern and northwestern Iran, northeastern Turkey, and the island of Thassos, Greece (the subspecies O. C. thassensis ).

Comment.

Revision of the holotype of Julus caucasicus Karsch, 1881 revealed that the juvenile specimen belongs to the tribe Brachyiulini . This can be inferred from the relatively short epiproct with the apex turned dorsad, in combination with the ozopores set tightly behind the pro-metazonal suture. Of the Caucasian Brachyiulini occurring in the region of Borjomi, only O. brachyurus (Attems, 1899) and O. macrourus Lohmander (Lohmander, 1928) show the aforementioned condition of the epiproct. However, in O. macrourus the latter is both much longer and broader, as the name of this species implies. Furthermore, the dorsolaterally dark trunk and contrasting yellow legs (according to the original description) is exactly the colour pattern seen in O. brachyurus . Thus, there can be little doubt that O. brachyurus is a junior subjective synonym of J. caucasicus . Lohmander (1936), in his monograph on the Caucasian Diplopoda, omitted J. caucasicus altogether. The earlier use of the proper name ( Kokhia 1999) was based on an unpublished identification of material by one of us (SIG), thus being neither a new formal transfer nor of nomenclatural consequences.

Remarks.

The species is new to the fauna of Armenia, also being among the most common and widespread in the Caucasus region.

The subspecies O. C. dagestanus was described by Lohmander (1936) on the basis of a single male originating from Kumukh, in the south-central part of the Republic of Dagestan. Comparing the original description and drawings of Colchiobrachyiulus dagestanus to the description and drawings referring to the nominate subspecies found in that same paper, the main diagnostic characters of Colchiobrachyiulus dagestanus seem to be the more narrow promere with a straight rather than medially bulging lateral margin, and the opisthomere having a less strongly pronounced, more slanting mesomeroidal lobe and a smaller, tapering apical outgrowth of its basoposterior process. While the promere varies considerably throughout the species’ distribution range, with males from Stavropol and the Hyrcanian part of Azerbaijan showing a similar shape to that seen in the Colchiobrachyiulus dagestanus holotype, the mesomeroidal lobe and the basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth in the examined males from Dagestan are more or less consistent with those depicted by Lohmander (1936), and the aforementioned shapes of the two structures seem to be characteristic of the population that inhabits the northeastern parts of the Caucasus Major. Whether Colchiobrachyiulus dagestanus is a subspecies/geographic variation of the typical O. caucasicus or a separate species is a question that probably requires molecular analyses to receive a reliable answer.

Another subspecies, O. C. thassensis ( Mauriès, 1985), was described from the Greek island of Thassos ( Mauriès 1985). The large distance between the Aegean region and the Caucasus aside, the highly distinct shape of the basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth and the very weakly pronounced mesomeroidal lobe seen in the original figures seem to be enough as evidence of a separate species involved. However, no formal taxonomic changes are proposed here yet, pending the accumulation of more comparative information, both morphology- and molecular-based.

Figures

Figure 12. Omobrachyiulus caucasicus (Karsch, 1881) comb. nov., ♂ (A-D) and ♀ (E) from S of Zərgəran, Azerbaijan (SMNG) A-D gonopods A right promere, caudal view B right opisthomere, mesal view C apical part of the same, meso-caudal view D distal part of right opisthomere, mesal view E right vulva, caudal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A), 0.1 mm (B, E), 0.05 mm (C, D). Abbreviations: al apicolateral part of mesomeroidal lobe, ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, o opening, op operculum, s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus. Pictures by courtesy of Karin Voigtlaender, Hans Reip and Dragan Antic.