Megaphyllum hercules (Verhoeff, 1901)

Lazányi, Eszter & Vagalinski, Boyan, 2013, Redefinition of the millipede subgenus Megaphyllum sensu stricto Verhoeff, 1894 and neotype designation for Megaphyllum austriacum (Latzel, 1884) (Myriapoda: Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), Zootaxa 3741 (1), pp. 55-100 : 82-84

Megaphyllum hercules (Verhoeff, 1901)

Figs 15a–g

Brachyiulus (Chromatoiulus) unilineatus hercules Verhoeff, 1901 : Verhoeff 1901a: 97–98, Figs 18–20 . Brachyiulus unilineatus hercules: Lignau 1903: 127 , 55; Verhoeff 1932: 493; 1937: 107–108, 117, Fig. 16 . Chromatoiulus unilineatus hercules: Attems 1927: 225 –226, Figs 291–293. Chromatoiulus (Chromatoiulus) unilineatus hercules: Attems 1959: 305 .

Chromatoiulus hercules: Strasser 1967: 285 .

Chromatoiulus (Chromatoiulus) hercules: Strasser 1969: 159 .

Megaphyllum hercules: Enghoff & Kime 2009 ; Lazányi et al. 2012: 13–14, 28, 41. Megaphyllum tauricum: Enghoff & Kime 2009 .

Material examined. Bulgaria: 1♂, 1♀, Nr. 49, Sakar Mts, steppe-like and rocky grassland 0.5km SW of Balgarska Polyana, 500m, N42°01.351’ E26°11.450’, leg. Á. Ecsedi, T. Kovács, G. Puskás (HNHM); 1♂, nr. Harmanli, 30.03.1986, leg. P. Beron (NMNHS); Republic of Macedonia: 1♂, Kavadarci, 17.09.2009, (4), leg. Barina, Somay, Puskás, between villages Rožden and Maden, 750m, N41.17897 E21.95191, dry grassland with junipers (HNHM); 1♀ Kavadarci, 17.09.2009, (5), leg. Barina, Somay, Puskás, E of village Maden (Majden, Majdan, Alsar) N 41.15707 E21.94648, dry stony grassland on hillside, 850m (HNHM); 1♀, Kočani, 21.09.2009, (21), leg. Barina, Somay, Puskás, Osogovska Planina, above town Kočani, c. 5.5 km NW of the town, towards village Ponikva, N41.96677 E22.37568, disturbed grassland and stony slope, 1000m (HNHM).

Distribution. Albania (Mauriès et al. 1997); Bulgaria (Vagalinski & Stoev 2007); Georgia: Picunda (Issajew 1911; Kobakhidze 1965); Greece (Strasser 1974, 1976); Republic of Macedonia (Makarov et al. 2004); Russia: Novorossiysk (Lignau 1903).

Diagnosis. Differs from all consubgeners by the presence of a large basal hump (h) mesally on opisthomere ( Figs 15a–b, 15d ) and from other members of the species group by the very broad, rounded posterior opisthomere process (pp) ( Figs 15a–b, 15d ).

Opisthomere’s ( Figs 15a–b, 15d ) posterior process (pp) broad, rounded and shorter than the solenomere. Anterior process (ap) and anterior hump (ah) hardly detectable. Medially the opisthomeres reaching each other with a large basal hump (h). Vulva robust, bursa skull-shaped ( Fig. 15g ).

Both males and females dark grey with a bright or reddish dorsal longitudinal band. Body length and height: males: 35.7–47.2mm, 2.4–3.5mm; females: 36.5–54.6mm; 3–4.7mm.

Remarks. Apart from the Balkan Peninsula this species was reported from the western coasts of the Black Sea: Georgia (Issajew 1911) and Russia (Lignau 1903). Though Lignau referred to a single female, Issajew (1911) found numerous individuals. Thus, Lohmander (1936) was sure about the existence of the species in the westernmost border of the Caucasus and stated that as M. hercules differed considerably from M. spathulatum (Lohmander, 1936) , mistaking them would have been unlikely. Without revision of Lignau’s, Issajew’s and Kobakhidze’s material we can neither confirm nor deny the species’ presence outside the Balkan Peninsula.

M. hercules was originally described as subspecies of M. unilineatum (Verhoeff 1901a) , but was later elevated to species level by Strasser (1967). This was supported with new data by Lazányi et al. (2012).

Figures

FIGURES 15 a – g. Megaphyllum hercules. Male from Kechrokambos, Lekanis Mts, Greece: (15 a) gonopods, posterior view; (15 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (15 c) left promere, mesal view; (15 d) left opisthomere, mesal view. Male from Demir Kapija, Republic of Macedonia: penis, (15 e) posterior and (15 f) right lateral views. (15 g) Female from the Rodopi Mts, Greece: left vulva, antero-mesal view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; h: hump, op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 18 b – d. Megaphyllum spathulatum after Lohmander (1936): (18 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (18 c) left promere, meso-posterior view; (18 d) probably left opisthomere, lateral view. Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump; ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, sh: serrated hump, P: promere.

FIGURES 19 a – f. Megaphyllum tauricum. Syntype male from Krim, Alupka, Inv. No. 3134: (19 a) gonopods, posterior view; (19 b) left gonopods, mesal view; (19 c) left promere, meso-posterior view; (19 d) left opisthomere, postero-lateral view. Other male from Krim, ZMB 8652: penis, (19 e) posterior and (19 f) right lateral views. Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump; ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, i: indentation, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 20 a – g. Megaphyllum unilineatum. Male from Sminthi, Xanthi county, Greece: (20 a) gonopods, posterior view; (20 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (20 c) left promere, meso-posterior view. Male from the shore of Lake Vistonida, Lagos, Greece: (20 d) left opisthomere, lateral view. Male from near Sminthi, Kamertsi Mts, Greece: penis, (20 e) posterior and (20 f) right lateral views. Female from Nestos Delta, Kavala county, Greece: (20 g) left vulva, latero-posterior view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump; ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; h: hump, op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 16 a – g. Megaphyllum rhodopinum. Male from near Shabran Peak, Slavyanka Mt., Bulgaria: (16 a) gonopods, posterior view; (16 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (16 c) right opisthomere, meso-posterior view; (16 d) right opisthomere, lateral view. Males from near Proastio, Kavala county, Greece: penis form (16 e) posterior and (16 f) left lateral views, (16 f *) another penis, right lateral view. Female from the first locality: (16 g) left vulva, posterior view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump; ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; h: hump, op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.