Biokoviella mauriesi Mršić, 1992

Dragan Ž. Antić, Tvrtko Dražina, Tonći Rađa, Luka R. Lučić & Slobodan E. Makarov, 2016, Taxonomic status of the family Biokoviellidae Mršić, 1992 (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida): reconsideration, with a description of one new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 205, pp. 1-23 : 4-8

Biokoviella mauriesi Mršić, 1992

Figs 1–3 , 9 A, 10A

Diagnosis

Differs from B. mosorensis sp. nov. in larger body size, anterior gonopods that are more robust and several other details of their structure. Lateral valve of vulva with tooth-like subtriangular structures posteriorly.

Etymology

The species was named in honor of the well-known world expert in diplopodology Dr. Jean-Paul Mauriès.

Material examined (total: 13 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 9 juveniles) Topotype

CROATIA: ♂, Stara Ledenica Cave, 43.318° N, 17.050° E, 1350 m a.s.l., Biokovo Mountain , Dalmatia , 16 Jun. 2002, leg. R. Ozimec ( IZB).

Other material (total: 12 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 9 juveniles)

CROATIA, Dalmatia, Mt. Biokovo: 4 ♂♂, Jama kraj Stare Škole Pit, Lokva, 12. Jul. 1989, leg. B. Jalžić ( CBSS); 2 ♂♂, Jama Čavlenovača Pit, 18 Jun. 2002, leg. R. Ozimec ( CBSS); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 2 juveniles, Jama pod Sv. Jurom Pit, below Sv. Jure Peak, 20 Jun. 2002, leg. R. Ozimec ( CBSS); 1 ♀, Kašogijeva Jama Pit, below Sv. Jure Peak, 21 Jul. 2002, leg. M. Lukić ( CBSS); 1 ♀, 1 juvenile, Lovricia Jama 2 Pit, 26 Jul. 2002, leg. J. Bedek ( CBSS); 1 ♂, 1 juvenile, Jezero Ledenica Cave, Stražbenica, Kaoci, 20 Jul. 2003, leg. R. Ozimec ( CBSS); 1 juvenile, Led 1 Pit, below Sv. Jure Peak, 21 Jul. 2003, leg. J. Bedek ( CBSS); 1 ♂, Crna Ledenica Cave, below Sv. Jure Peak, 24 Oct. 2006, leg. M. Lukić ( CBSS); 1 ♀, same data except 18. Jun. 2011, leg. A. Kirin ( CBSS); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 3 juveniles, Velika Mačka Pit, Velika Mačka, 22 Jun. 2008, leg. M. Lukić ( CBSS); 1 juvenile, same data except leg. S. Nižetić ( CBSS); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Lovricia 3 Pit, Lipi Doćić, 30 May 2015, leg. T. Delić (IZB).

Type locality

Stara Ledenica Cave, Mt. Biokovo, Dalmatia, Croatia.

Redescription

Body indices

PLEUROTERGITE 15 ( Fig. 1 ). CIX ~ 0.8; MIX ~ 0.8; PIX = 0.25; MA ~ 160°.

Redescription of male sexual characters

MALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS. Leg pairs 3–7 are somewhat larger than the rest of the legs, leg pairs 3 and 4 the most robust; without any peculiarities (see Discussion).

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Fig. 2 ). Anterior coxal processes (a) [= angiocoxites sensu Mršić (1992)] completely separated from each other, rising from the wide subquadrangular sternal plate (s); first ⅓ (base) very broad, remaining ⅔ very slender and long, curved caudad, apically with two branches (a1 and a2) opposite to each other. Posteriorly, anterior coxal processes equipped with bristle apparatuses (b) [= oval coxal intermediate process with bristles sensu Mršić (1992)]. Posterior coxal processes (p) [= syncoxal processes sensu Mršić (1992)] well-developed, broad at the base, “C”-curved in posterior view, apically divided into two parts, very wide in lateral view. The most posterior parts of the anterior gonopods are a pair of pseudoflagella (f) covered by bristles over almost their whole length, with tassels at the top (see Discussion). These pseudoflagella starting from the well-developed, rounded lobes (l). The only unpaired part of the anterior gonopods, apart from the sternum, is the rounded syncoxal vesicle (v) [= a small intermediate (medial) bridge sensu Mršić (1992)] situated between the coxal processes (deflated on the SEM photos). There are no traces of telopodites.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 2 C–D, 9A). Very reduced in both size and structure. Consist of coxal vesicles fused in the form of a medial process (m) apically divided. Laterally with telopodal remnants (t). Lateral sternal processes (sp) high and subtriangular.

Descriptions of vulvae

VULVAE ( Fig. 3 ). Somewhat elongated from lateral view. Mesal (mv) and lateral (lv) valves of bursae (bu) distally with long setae. Several setae are present on the lateral side of the lateral valvae. Lateral valvae posteriorly with tooth-like subtriangular structures (ts), which only partly cover the mesal valvae, so the bursa apertures can be seen from posterior view. Operculum (op) with long setae.

Distribution

Croatia: known only from several caves on Mt. Biokovo ( Fig. 11 , red triangles).

Habitat

Biokoviella mauriesi is limited to deep and cold caves on Mt. Biokovo with temperatures ranging from 0 to 7°C. The entrances of these caves are situated on an elevated plateau stretching from above 1300 m a.s.l. to the highest parts of Biokovo.

Figures

Fig. 1. Biokoviella mauriesi Mršić, 1992, ♂, topotype, pleurotergite 15. A. Posterior view. B. Prozonite, dorsal view. C. Metazonite, dorsal view. D. Lateral view. E. Dorsal view.

Fig. 2. Biokoviella mauriesi Mršić, 1992, ♂, topotype, gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. C – D. Anterior and posterior gonopods, postero-distal view. E. Anterior gonopods, postero-distal view of the medial part. F. Anterior gonopods, lateral view of the posterior process and bristle apparatus. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 3. Biokoviella mauriesi Mršić, 1992, ♀ from the Lovricia 3 Pit, vulvae. A. Posterior view. B. Lateral view. C. Latero-distal view. D. Anterior view. E. Antero-distal view. F. Distal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 9. Posterior gonopods. A. Biokoviella mauriesi Mršić, 1992, ♂ from the Lovricia 3 Pit. B. Biokoviella mosorensis Antić & Dražina sp. nov., ♂, holotype. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale line = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 11. Distribution of the subfamily Biokoviellinae stat. nov.