Asphalidesmus carbinensis, Mesibov, Robert, 2011

Mesibov, Robert, 2011, New species of Asphalidesmus Silvestri, 1910 from Australia (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Dalodesmidea), ZooKeys 93, pp. 43-66 : 48-49

Asphalidesmus carbinensis sp. n. Figs 3E5A, 5Bmap fig. 12

Holotype.

Male, Mt Lewis Road, Qld, 29 km from highway, 16°30'44"S, 145°16'10"E ± 0.5 km, 1210 m, 29 November 1997, D. Cook, QM berlesate 964, rainforest, leaf litter, QM S90023, ex QM S35904. Gonopods and remainder of body in two separate genitalia vials in the same sample tube.

Paratypes.

1 male, 1 female, 2 km SE of Mt Spurgeon via Mt Carbine, Qld, 16°27'17"S, 145°12'26"E ± 0.5 km, 1100 m, 20 December 1988, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 825, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S90024.

Other material.

None known.

Diagnosis.

Gonopod telopodite not obviously divided into branches, instead with 4 small, pointed apical processes; 4 transverse rows of tubercles on midbody metatergites.

Description.

Males and females approximately the same size, length ca 5 mm, ring 6 vertical diameter ca 0.5 mm and maximum width ca 0.9 mm. Midbody metatergites with 4 transverse rows of tubercles dorsally. Paranota wide (Fig. 3E); anterior and lateral margins in single convex curve, posterior margin straight; 3-4 weakly defined marginal lobes.

Gonopod telopodite (Figs 5A, 5B) cylindrical, tapering distally, extended laterally at base as flange; basal one-quarter of telopodite with numerous minute, round bumps on posterior and posterolateral surfaces; sparse, strong setae to ca two-thirds telopodite height on posterior and posterolateral surfaces. Telopodite not evidently divided into branches, instead with cluster of 4 small, pointed processes at apex. From anterior to posterior: (1) short, spine-like process directed distally and very slightly medially; (2) short, spine-like process, slightly smaller than process (1), directed distally and slightly posteriorly; (3) longest process, directed distolaterally, tapering to sharp point curled medially to form ‘fish-hook’, with short, blunt, medial extension at ca two-thirds process height; (4) blade-like process, intermediate in length between (1) and (3), directed distally but bent posterolaterally at ca one-third process height. Prostatic groove on anteromedial surface of telopodite, entering process (3) and terminating on the short, blunt extension.

Distribution.

So far known only from tropical rainforest on the Carbine Range in far north Queensland (Fig. 12).

Etymology.

For the Carbine Range, type locality of this species.

Remarks.

Latitude/longitude data are from the QM collection database.