Ceratosphys cryodeserti Gilgado, Mauriès and Enghoff, 2015

Gilgado, José D., Enghoff, Henrik, Tinaut, Alberto, Mauriès, Jean-Paul & Ortuño, Vicente M., 2015, Sierra Nevada (Granada, Spain): a high-altitude biogeographical crossroads for millipedes (Diplopoda), with first data on its MSS fauna and description of a new species of the genus Ceratosphys Ribaut, 1920 (Chordeumatida: Opisthocheiridae), Zootaxa 4044 (3), pp. 391-410 : 398-403

Ceratosphys cryodeserti Gilgado, Mauriès and Enghoff n. sp.

Figs. 3–6

Material studied. Holotype: 1 male ( ZMUC 00040339), Circo Glaciar del Guarnón (Corral del Veleta), Güejar Sierra, Granada, Spain. 37° 03' 49" N 3° 22' 03" W, 3000 masl. 9-IX-2013

Paratypes: 16 males 30 Females, 1 subad. M ( ZMUC 00040340-344), Circo Glaciar del Guarnón (Corral del Veleta), Güejar Sierra, Granada, Spain. 37° 03' 49" N 3° 22' 03" W, 3000 masl. 9-IX-2013.— 2 males, 2 females UAH (DZAF-UA/VMO), same data but 14-VIII-2014.— 2 males, 2 females ( MNCN 20.07/ 2005-2008), same data but 14-VIII-2014.— 2 males, 2 females ( MNHN, Collection Myriapodes-Onychophores, DA 280) Same data but 14-VIII-2014.— 2 males, 2 females ( MNHN, Collection Myriapodes-Onychophores, DA 280) Same data but 9-IX- 2013.

Referred non-type material: 124F, 43 M, 15 Juv. UAH (DZAF-UA/VMO). Same data but 14-VIII-2014.

Etymology: the species name means “of the cold desert” and refers to the habitat.

Description: colour brownish/yellowish. Prozonites paler than metazonites, with the exception of the equally pale paraterga. Adult males and females with 30 ‘segments’ (including collum and telson) and 50 pairs of legs including gonopods in males. Males reaching 13 mm in length; females slightly bigger, reaching 15mm.

Male: vertical maximum diameter 0.90 mm. Horizontal maximum diameter (width) 1.24 mm.

Head: no special characters. Width, including strongly convex mandibular stipites reaching 1.08 mm ( Fig. 3 A). 22–26 ocelli per eye, arranged 8 vertical rows in a triangular field ( Fig. 3 B). Numerous relatively long setae scattered over the head (but not as a dense pilosity). Labrum with 3 teeth, 7 + 8 supralabral setae ( Fig. 3 A). Frons slightly concave in males. Area behind antennal insertion with cobblestone paving-like microsculpture like that of Sireuma nobile Reboleira & Enghoff, 2014 ( Reboleira & Enghoff 2014) . Antennae with 7 visible antennomeres measuring 0.10, 0.30, 0.54, 0.36, 0.51, 0.28 and 0.14 mm, respectively; ‘antennal club’ (antennomeres 4–8) ca. 5 times longer than broad ( Fig. 1 A,C).

Collum ( Fig. 3 B): anterior margin almost semi-circular, although when observed with optic microscopy apparently trapezoidal, reaching a maximum posterior width of 0.76 mm. 3 + 3 macrosetae: lateral seta in the posterior corner; intermediate seta close to the lateral one nearly half-way between anterior and posterior margins of collum; mesal seta approximately mid-way between anterior and posterior margins, a little closer to median suture than to intermediate seta.

Trunk pleurotergites progressively wider, except for 6 and 7 (1.26 mm), that are abruptly wider than 5 (1.08 mm) and 8 (1.15 mm) ( Fig. 3 D) due to the presence of gonopods. All ‘segments’ with 3+3 medium-sized macrosetae, approximately as long as the distance to the next one. Mesal seta slightly closer to median suture than to intermediate seta, and slightly anterior to it. Intermediate seta located anteriorly and dorsally to the paranotum; lateral seta located ventrally and posteriorly to it. This pattern is repeated along the body.

Legs 1 and 2 with a single row of densely set setae on ventral face of tarsus, resembling a brush ( Fig. 4 A).

Ventral face of tarsus from legs 3 ( Fig. 4 B) to 40 with a region with multiple tongue-shaped, almost fanlike modified setae, wider at their extreme than in their basis, absent from the last eight pairs of legs. Length of leg 7 and 10: 1.35 and 1.3 mm, respectively. Coxa of leg 7 ( Fig. 4 C,D,E) with a small distal expansion. Prefemur of legs 10 and 11 ( Fig. 4 C,D,F,G) with both a dorsal distal blunt protuberance and another ventral one, bigger in size, lending the prefemur the aspect of a battle axe. All coxae along the body, as well as the median sternal knob, with regions covered by scaly-knobby microsculpture ( Fig. 4 C,D). Claws similar along the body (that of leg 11 0.08 mm in length) with two setae dorsally and one ventrally, similar in length, or almost inappreciably larger than the claw.

Telson ( Fig. 5 C): Epiproct dorsally with 3+3 setae dorsally; posterior margin truncate, with two divergent spinnerets. Paraprocts with three setae each: uppermost seta almost at dorsal edge, second seta slightly above the half of the height of paraproct, and third seta approximately half-way from second to ventral edge of paraproct. Each paraproct with a semicircular crease, starting close to the hypoproct and almost reaching the third seta. Hypoproct semielliptical, with two setae and a narrow flange along its external margin.

Anterior gonopods ( Fig. 6 ) consisting of the three main parts typical of Ceratosphys :

a) Paired telopodites (T): Each telopodite is curved and sinuous, anteriorly convex and posteriorly concave, with the distal tips slightly curved. There is a basal bifurcation into two branches: one external (Te) and one internal (Ti). The distal part of the external branch (Te) is hidden below the expanded distal portion of (Ti). Close to the tip (Ti) there is a very prominent pointed lateral process (ts). On the lateral margin of (Ti), basal to (ts), there is a small, barely visible pointed denticle; further basal there is a posteriorly concave, ladle-like process (tw) projecting towards the gonopod basis. It is between the base of (tw) and the main part of (Ti) that (Te) reaches the anterior side of (Ti). The basal posterior part of the telopodite has a protuse stout process (Tx).

The tracheal apodeme has two processes, one wider posterior process (U) reaching along the posterior face of the basal part of the telopodite; and one anterior process whose internal preapical apophysis (v) is articulated to the edge of the synangiocoxite (A), while the apex (w) is free. Also, there is a short basal central process (z) projecting distad between the two proximad lobes (a) of the synangiocoxite.

b) Synangiocoxite (A): Neither lateral horns (g), nor the “cloison endosqueletique” (h) as found in C. soutadei ( Mauriès 1969) are present. There is a rounded basal lobe (a) projecting proximad at each side, with a medial ridge (c) between them just above process (z) of the tracheal apodeme.

c) Syncolpocoxite (K) with a distal extension (ky) resembling a “Y” and forming a continuation of a median keel and projecting from the concavity between the denticles (ka). K furthermore with a lateral, curved, pointed process (kc) on each side, ca. midway between the basis of K to the ky extension, at the widest part of K; kc curving distad, their tips pointing mesad. Basis of K with two lobes (k).

Posterior gonopods (paragonopods, Fig. 5 A,B): Telopodite with three articles, but only distal article clearly delimited: basal article with a conical small sclerotized cuticular appendage with a prickly microsculpture; second article basally wide, then anteriorly concavely narrowing towards tip, with some scattered setae anteriorly, and with a distal rounded protuberance with multiple anterior setae; third article pyriform, darker, with a distal terminal seta.

Female: s imilar to male but with some differences, in addition to bigger size. Width across mandibular stipites 11.6 mm. Trunk pleurotergites 6–7 not wider than neighbouring ones. Legs 1 and 2 as in male with a row of densely set setae on the ventral face of metatarsus, but the fanlike setae found on males from leg 3 to 40 are absent. Vulvae ( Fig. 5 C,D): Operculum (op) with an anterior fingerlike expansion (supra-opercular prolongation sop) projecting distad, almost as long as the vulva. Both mesal (vi) and lateral (ve) valves flanked by a group or more than 10 long setae, their mesal margins along the apodematic groove liplike. At the distal tip of the vulva, between sop and the apodematic groove, the valves come together in a structure (z) with an almost circular emargination with only a narrow opening where z embraces the distal end of the apodematic groove. Each vulva further with a posterior foliose postvulvar organ (pv) covering the apodematic groove; length of pv varying slightly among specimens, its margin serrated.

Notes. Study of the new species of Ceratosphys revealed several gonopod differences vis-a-vis the nearsyntopic C. soutadei (characters from C. soutadei in parentheses, holotype re-examined by JPM): Telopodite is deeply divided into two branches Te and Ti (undivided); lateral process (ts) of Ti prominent (tiny); basal telopodital process (Tx) more prominent (smaller, J in Mauriès 1969, Fig. 2 ); synangiocoxite with neither lateral horns (quite prominent, g in Mauriès’s Fig. 1 ), nor the cloison endosqueletique (present, h in Mauriès’ fig. 1), nor the denticles (present, d in Mauriès’ fig. 1); syncolpocoxite (K) with a distal appendage (ky) (absent).

Certain other characters of the new species are also worth comment. A ventral row of knifelike modified setae on the ventral side of tarsus 1 and 2 ( Fig. 4 A) is known also from certain other chordeumatidans ( Shear 2011; Shear & Krejca 2007) including females ( Marti & Wüest 1998; Reboleira & Enghoff 2014). Their function is not clear, although they may possibly be used to clean the antennae and/or mouthparts. The fanlike setae on the ventral side of male tarsus 3 onward ( Fig. 4 B) are known from some other chordeumatidan species ( Marti & Wüest 1998; Makarov et al. 2011). Makarov et al. (2011) call them tarsal papillae, stating that they are common in the family Heterolatzeliidae , but do not assign them a function. Their shape and the fact that they are present only in in males suggest that they are instrumental in grasping the female during mating, as stated by Marti & Wüest (1998) due to their similarity with analogous structures in males of numerous insects, as for example in the protarsi of males of many Coleoptera Carabidae species ( Jeannel 1941).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pictures taken at the Veleta Glaciar Cirque: A, B) Aspect of the scree where the MSS was sampled. C) Subterranean Sampling Device (SSD) where the trap was placed, inside a hole dug in the scree where the interstices among the rocks are visible D) The place where the SSD is left, once buried and covered with stones to mark its position. E) Ommatoiulus ilicis photographed alive.

FIGURE 2 Temperature and humidity in the MSS from September 2013 to August 2014. The pale line represents the temperature and the dark line the relative humidity.

FIGURE 3 Anatomy details of the male of Ceratosphys cryodeserti n. sp. A) Head in anterior view. Scale bar 0.5 mm. B) Head, collum and second ‘ segment’ in lateral view. Scale bar 0.2 mm. C) Tip of the antenna. Scale bar 0.2 mm. D) First seven ‘ segments’ in dorsal view. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 4 Legs of the male of Ceratosphys cryodeserti n. sp. A) Tarsus of legs 1 and 2 with their ventral row of setae. Scale bar 0.1 mm. B) Tarsus of leg 3 with the ventral fanners. Scale bar 0.1 mm. C) Body in ventral view, legs from 7 to 13 visible. Scale bar 0.2 mm. D) Body in ventral view, legs from 10 to 13 visible. Scale bar 0.2 mm. E) Leg 7. Scale bar 0.3 mm. F) Leg 10. Scale bar 0.4 mm. G) Leg 11. Scale bar 0.4 mm.

FIGURE 5 Anatomical details of Ceratosphys Cryodeserti n. sp. A) Paragonopods (leg 9 of male) in anterior view. Scale bar 0.2 mm. B) Paragonopods (leg 9 of male) in ventral view. Scale bar 0.2 mm. C) Pygidium of the male in ventral view. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. D) Right vulva in posterior view. Scale bar: 0.1 mm. E) Right and left vulvae in ventral view. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 6 Gonopods of Ceratosphys cryodeserti n. sp. A) Ventral view. B) Lateral anterior view. C) Anterior view. D) Posterior view. Scale bars: all 0.2 mm.