Anaulaciulus shibaensis, Mikhaljova, 2024

Mikhaljova, Elena V., 2024, New species and new records of millipedes of the genera Nepalmatoiulus Mauriès, 1983 and Anaulaciulus Pocock, 1895 (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae) from mainland China, Zootaxa 5447 (4), pp. 496-512 : 509-511

Anaulaciulus shibaensis sp. nov.

Figs 40–49

Material examined. Holotype: 1 male ( ZMUM), China, Yunnan Province, Mekong / Yangtze div. E Achidaga, 3.5 km ENE Shiba , 27°46'05" N, 99°08'10" E, H = 3965 m, 03.06. 2017, leg. I. Belousov, I. Kabak.

Nontypes: Anaulaciulus inaequipes Enghoff, 1986 : Mikhaljova 2020a: 65 (pro parte), 1 male, 1 female ( FSCB), China, NW Sichuan Province, 18.6 km SSW Ganzi, 31°27'40" N, 99°54'53" E, H = 4775 m asl., 13 July 2016, leg. I. Belousov, I. Kabak.

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners mainly by the opisthomere with a “beaklike” process similar to a leaf.

Description. Male. Length in alcohol about 15.0 mm in holotype and about 26.0 mm in nontype, midbody vertical diameter about 1.0 mm in holotype and about 1.9 mm in nontype, with 40(-2) (in holotype) and 48(-2) (in nontype) rings, excluding telson. The color in alcohol from brown (in holotype) to dark brown (in nontype). Legs from brown to dark brown (in holotype and nontype, respectively). Antennae dark brown, eyes black.

Head smooth, 2 epicranial setae, 4 supralabral setae; at least 20 labral setae in holotype and nontype. Eye patches almost oval, composed of at least 50 in nontype and almost rounded, composed of at least 30 ommatidia in holotype. Antennae short, rather slender and clavate. Antennomeres 5 and 6 with incomplete distodorsal corolla of sensilla basiconica.

Body slightly fusiform, rings circular. Ozopore location variable. In fore part of body, they lying almost on suture between pro- and metazona, moving gradually off the suture in rear body part. Metazona striate; 11–12 striae in an approximate square with sides equal to metazonital length of a dorsal side of a midbody ring. Limbus with straight margin. Preanal ring smooth; dorsal projection relatively short, blunted, somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; its margins covered with sparse setae. Anal valves and subanal plate covered with setae closer to the edges.

Midbody legs slightly longer than the front and hind legs. Starting from legs 2 postfemur with very small ventral pad or without pad, but tibia with very large pad ( Fig. 40 ). Pads decreasing in size towards telson. Claw of all legs at base with an enough long setiform accessory claw ventrally (in Fig. 40 setiform accessory claw on the left are broken off). Leg pair 1 with strong setae lateroventrally, coxa with one seta, distal podomere with low seta tarsal remnant in holotype and nontype ( Fig. 42 ). Penis deeply bifid, with strongly diverging branches ( Fig. 40 ).

Gonopods. Apex of promere from rounded (in Fig. 44 on the right) to emarginate to varying degrees (in Fig. 44 on the left; Fig. 46 ). Flagellum relatively long, caudally covered with cuticular conical spikes ( Figs 43, 45 , 48, 49 ). Opisthomere ( Figs 41 , 47 ) with a long anterior lamella equal to or a little longer than opisthomere. Opisthomere “beaklike” process (b) broad and flat, like a leaf ( Figs 41 , 47 ).

Female-nontype. Length in alcohol about 17.0 mm, midbody vertical diameter 1.0 mm, with 45(-1) rings, excluding telson. Coloration in alcohol brown, legs brown. The increase in the length of the midbody legs is imperceptible.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Shiba. Adjective.

Remarks. Taking into account the great morphological similarity of the gonopods and other diagnostic structures of above-mentioned male of Anaulaciulus inaequipes from China, stored in the FSCB, with the ones of Anaulaciulus shibaensis sp. nov. as well as the ratio of the body size of the female of the first species and of the male of second species, above-mentioned specimens of Anaulaciulus inaequipes should be reclassified as A. shibaensis sp. nov. (see Discussion below).

Figures

FIGURES 40–42. Anaulaciulus shibaensis sp. nov., male holotype (ZMUM). 40. Leg pair 2 and penis, posterior view. 41. Opisthomeres, anterior view. 42. Leg 1, anterior view. Abbreviation: b, “beaklike” process. Scales: 20 μm (Fig. 42), 100 μm (Figs 40, 41).

FIGURES 43–45. Anaulaciulus shibaensis sp. nov., male holotype (ZMUM).43. Basal parts of flagella.44. Promeres, posterior view. 45. Distal part of flagellum. Scales: 2 μm (Fig. 45), 10 μm (Fig. 43), 100 μm (Fig. 44).

FIGURES 46–49. Anaulaciulus shibaensis sp. nov., male nontype (FSCB). 46. Promeres, posterior view. 47. Opisthomeres, anterior view. 48. Basal parts of flagella. 49. Apex of flagellum. Abbreviation: b, “beaklike” process. Scales: 2 μm (Fig. 49), 10 μm (Fig. 48), 100 μm (Figs 46, 47).