Asphalidesmus dorrigensis, Mesibov, Robert, 2011

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

Asphalidesmus dorrigensis sp. n. Figs 1B2B3B6A, 6Bmap fig. 12

Holotype.

Male, Dorrigo National Park, NSW, west bank of Rosewood River, end of Little North Arm Road, 30°24'03"S, 152°46'18"E ± 50 m, 110 m, 10-24 November 1999, M. Gray, G. Milledge and H. Smith, pitfall traps, Hotspots NE NSW site 7, AM KS114458, ex KS61085.

Paratypes.

7 males, 14 females, 29 adults tightly coiled and not checked for gender, details as for holotype, AM KS61085.

Other material.

(All from NSW) 11 males, 3 females, Dorrigo National Park, 30°22'S, 152°43'E ± 1 km, <1000 m, 7 November 1967, R.J. Bartell and L.B. Barton-Browne, ANIC berlesate 40, palm/rainforest, leaf mould, ANIC 64-000200; 6 males, 5 females, Cobcroft camp, Werrikimbe National Park, 31°15'S, 152°11'E ± 1 km, 12 November 1982, J. Doyen, ANIC berlesate 858, closed rainforest litter, ANIC 64-000201; 8 males, 7 females, Cobcroft Creek, Werrikimbe National Park, 31°16'S, 152°11'E ± 1 km, 13 June 1982, L. Hill, ANIC berlesate 832, closed forest litter, ANIC 64-000202; 2 males, Horseshoe Road, Scotchman State Forest, 3.5 km SE of Thora, 30°26'25"S, 152°47'30"E ± 50 m, 100 m, 10-24 November 1999, M. Gray, G. Milledge and H. Smith, pitfall traps, Hotspots NE NSW site 18, AM KS61697.

Diagnosis.

Gonopod telopodite with anterior branch undivided, posterior branch divided into 2 bifid processes; 3-4 transverse rows of tubercles on midbody metatergites.

Description.

Males slightly smaller than females, length ca 5 mm, ring 6 vertical diameter ca 0.5 mm and maximum width ca 0.9 mm. Midbody metatergites with 3-4 transverse rows of tubercles dorsally. Paranota wide (Figs 1B, 3B); anterior and lateral margins in single convex curve, posterior margin straight; 3-4 weakly defined marginal lobes.

Gonopod telopodite (Figs 2B, 6A, 6B) more or less cylindrical, tapering distally, divided at between two-thirds and three-quarters telopodite height into anterior and posterior branches, a few scattered setae basally on posterior and posteromedial surfaces. Anterior branch directed anterodistally, curving slightly medially, flattening apically, tip with thin, ovoid fringe (folded over in Fig. 5B). Posterior branch divided into Y-shaped anterior and posterior processes. Posterior process directed distally, with ‘Y’ in anteroposterior plane, both arms of ‘Y’ rounded at tip. Anterior process bent slightly laterally, with ‘Y’ in mediolateral plane, medial arm directed distally (curled over in Fig. 5B), lateral arm directed laterally with small tab near tip on anterior surface. Prostatic groove on anteromedial surface of telopodite, running to medial arm of anterior process of posterior branch and terminating at tip.

Distribution.

Rainforest and wet eucalypt forest in northeastern, near-coastal New South Wales (Fig. 12).

Etymology.

For Dorrigo National Park, type locality of this species.

Remarks.

Asphalidesmus dorrigensis can coil tightly in a spiral (Fig. 1B).

The branches of the gonopod seem to be fairly fragile, and are broken near the base of the branch on several of the males examined. In the specimen illustrated in Figs 6A and 6B, the contralateral branches are interlaced as a result of breakage.

Latitude/longitude data in italics are from the ANIC collection database.