Asphalidesmus bellendenkerensis, Mesibov, Robert, 2011

Mesibov, Robert, 2011, New species of Asphalidesmus Silvestri, 1910 from Australia (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Dalodesmidea), ZooKeys 93, pp. 43-66 : 47-48

Asphalidesmus bellendenkerensis sp. n. Figs 3D4A, 4Bmap fig. 12

Holotype.

Male, Bellenden Ker Range, Qld, cable tower 3, 17°16'04"S, 145°53'00"E (see Remarks) ± 0.25 km, 1000 m, 17-24 October 1981, Queensland Museum staff and ‘Earthwatch’ personnel, QM S90017.

Paratypes.

2 males, 2 females, details as for holotype but 25-31 October 1981, QM berlesate 324, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S90020; 5 males, 6 females, same details but QM berlesate 330, QM S90018; 4 males, 3 females, same details but QM berlesate 333, stick brushings, QM S90021; 1 male, 2 females, same details but summit TV station, 17°15'52"S, 145°51'14"E (see Remarks) ± 0.25 km, 1560 m, 1-7 November 1981, QM berlesate 337, QM S90019.

Other material.

2 males, North Bell Peak via Gordonvale, Qld, 17°05'19"S, 145°52'44"E ± 0.5 km, 900 m, 16 September 1981, G. Monteith and D. Cook, QM berlesate 300, rainforest, sieved litter and moss, QM S90022.

Diagnosis.

Gonopod telopodite branches curling around and nested in plane at right angles to long axis of telopodite, 4 transverse rows of tubercles on midbody metatergites.

Description.

Males and females approximately the same size, length ca 4 mm, ring 6 vertical diameter ca 0.4 mm and maximum width ca 0.7 mm. Midbody metatergites with 4 transverse rows of tubercles dorsally. Paranota wide (Fig. 3D); anterior and lateral margins in single convex curve, posterior margin straight; 3-4 weakly defined marginal lobes.

Gonopod telopodite (Figs 4A, 4B) upright, rounded-triangular in cross-section, tapering slightly and flattening distally, with small, scattered setae on posterior surface to ca two-thirds telopodite height; divided at ca seven-eighths telopodite height into complex, flattened anterolateral and posteromedial branches. Anterolateral branch with distal margin curving in plane at approximate right angle to telopodite long axis, extending in tight arc posteriorly as blade-like process terminating in fold of posteromedial process close to inner (medial) side of telopodite. Posteromedial branch folded laterally on posterior margin of process, extending distally as flat process with truncate tip, the tip bluntly dentate with taller, triangular extension at posterior end. Posteromedial branch with two additional processes: (1) anterior process nested by, and curving to follow, anterolateral branch, terminating in fold of posteromedial branch just distal to tip of anterolateral branch process; (2) small lateral process arising ca halfway across diameter of ‘circle’ formed by anterolateral branch, directed posterolaterally, curling distally at tip where it reaches anterolateral branch. Prostatic groove on anteromedial surface, abruptly entering anterior process of posteromedial branch and following arc of process, opening at process tip.

Distribution.

Known from tropical rainforest in far north Queensland on the Bellenden Ker Range and on the Malbon Thompson Range near Gordonvale; the two localities are ca 20 km apart (Fig. 12).

Etymology.

For the type locality of this species. At the summit of the range is the wettest meteorological station in Australia (Australian Bureau of Meteorology site 31141), averaging more than 8 m of rain per year. Three of the Asphalidesmus bellendenkerensis specimens are from this site.

Remarks.

Asphalidesmus bellendenkerensis is a striking exception to the dalodesmidean 'rule of thumb’ that smaller species have simpler gonopods. The complex topology of the telopodite tip can only be clearly seen at high magnification using a scanning electron microscope (Fig. 4B).

This species can coil tightly in a spiral, but most of the specimens examined are only partly coiled.

Latitude/longitude data for the Bellenden Ker Range sites were obtained using Google Earth with advice from the Bellenden Ker cableway operator. The latitude/longitude figures for North Bell Peak are from the QM collection database.