Decapauropus pyriformis, Scheller, Ulf, 2014

Scheller, Ulf, 2014, New records of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) with descriptions of new taxa, Zootaxa 3866 (3), pp. 301-332 : 317-318

Decapauropus pyriformis n. sp.

Figs 20–29

Type specimens. Holotype: ad. 9 (♀), Italy, Veneto, C.A. Deskalb-Chiarano, TU 1, April 1, 1980. M.G. Paoletti leg. Paratype: ad. 9 (♂), same data as holotype. Type specimens deposited in the Zoological Museum, University of Lund, Sweden.

Diagnosis. Many species in the genus have proportionately large antennal globulus g but none of them has a similar set of bothriotricha and anal plate. At present no plausible relationships can be traced

Derivation of name. From the Latin pirum = pear and – formis in the shape of, referring to the shape of the antennal globulus g.

Description. Length. (0.62) 0.65 mm.

Head (Fig. 20). Setae on tergal side of short-medium length, thin cylindrical striate. Relative lengths of setae (holotype only), 1st row: a 1 = a 2 = 12; 2nd row: a 1 = a 3 = 12, a2 = 15, 3rd row: a 1 = 12, a 2 = 16; 4th row: a 1 = 13, a 2 = a 3 = 20. a 4 =?, l- group setae not studied. The ratio a 1 /a 1- a 1 in 1st row 0.7, 2nd row 0.3, 3rd row 0.8, 4th row 1.3. Temporal organs in tergal view broadest in posterior half, their length 0.7 of shortest interdistance. Pore not ascertained. Head cuticle glabrous.

Antennae (Fig. 21). Segment 4 with four cylindrical, striate setae, r and p´´thinnest, their relative lengths: p = 100. p ´= 42, p´´= 20, r = 41. Tergal seta p 1.6 times as long as tergal branch t. The latter widest in distal half, 2.5 times as long as its greatest diameter and 1.1 times as long as sternal branch s, there anterodistal corner distinctly truncate. Seta q cylindrical, striate, blunt, almost as long as the length of s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments alone: F 1 = 100, bs 1 = 12, F 2 = 47, bs 2 = 6, F 3 = 91, bs 3 = 11. F 1 as long as t, F 2 and F 3 0.5 and 0.9 of the length of s respectively. Distal part of flagella not studied. Globulus g proportionally large, 1.7 times as long as its greatest diameter; ≈11 bracts; capsule longer than wide. Diameter of g 1.7 times as long as its greatest diameter and 1.1 times as long as the greatest diameter of t. Antennae glabrous.

Trunk (Fig. 22). Collum segment not available for study. Seta on tergites as setae of the head. Two transversal rows, 4+4 setae on tergite I,?4+6 on II and III, 6+6 on IV and V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI (Fig. 22) cylindrical, striate, blunt, curved inwards, 0.6 of interdistance and 1.6 times as long as pygidial setae a 1.

Bothriotricha (Figs 23–24). Relative lengths: T 1 = 100, T 2 = T 3 = 108, T 4 = 137, T 5 = 167. Axes simple, straight, in all but T 3 very thin, with erect pubescence in whirls on T 1 (Fig. 23), T2 and T 4. T 3 (Fig. 24) with thickened axes, particularly in distal halves and with very short pubescence of simple hairs, partly arranged in whirls. T 5 with shortest pubescence, on distal part oblique.

Legs (Figs 25–27). Seta on coxa (Fig. 25) and trochanter (Fig. 26) of leg 9 furcate, both branches cylindrical, blunt, striate, secondary branch distinctly shorter than primary one. Tarsus of leg 9 (Fig. 27) tapering, glabrous, 3.2 times as long as its greatest diameter, setae cylindrical, blunt, annulated, proximal seta 0.2 of the length of tarsus and 1.3 times as long as distal seta.

Pygidium (Figs 28–29). Tergum. Posterior margin between insertion areas of setae a 3 rounded with low semicircular posterior lobe between setae st. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 = 10, a 2 = 5, a 3 = 15, st = 4. Setae subsimilar, a2 an st cylindrical blunt, a 1 and a 3 tapering, a 3 pointed, all curved inwards and with short pubescence. Distance a 1- a 1 0.7 of the length of a 1, distance a 1-a2 3.0 times as long as distance a 2- a 3, distance st-st 2.3 times as long as st and 1.3 times as long as distance a 1- a 1.

Sternum. Posterior margin between insertion areas of setae b 1 indented shallowly. Relative lengths of setae (pygidial a 1 = 10): b 1 = 72, b 2 = 20. These setae tapering pointed, annulated distally, b 1 1.2 times as long as interdistance, b 2 0.9 of distance b 1- b 2.

Anal plate (Figs 28–29) nearly square with a posteromedian V-shaped incision reaching the middle of the plate. Two short appendages protruding upwards from the distal parts of the posterior branches. Plate glabrous.

FIGURES 20–29. Decapauropus pyriformis n. sp., holotype ad. 9 (♀). 20. Head, right half, tergal view. 21. Right antenna, sternal view. 22. Posteriomedian part and right posterior corner of tergite VI. 23. T 1. 24. T 3. 25. Seta on coxa of leg 9. 26. Seta on trochanter of leg 9. 27. Tarsus of leg 9. 28. Pygidium, posteriomedian and left part, sternal view. 29. Anal plate, lateral view. Scale: a: 21–24; b: 20, 25–29.