Ginglymodesmus penelopae, Mesibov, Robert, 2005

Mesibov, Robert, 2005, dae) from Tasmania with a pseudo­articulated gonopod telopodite, Zootaxa 1064, pp. 39-49 : 47-48

Ginglymodesmus penelopae n. sp.

Figs. 2 B, 3B; map Fig. 5

Holotype: Male, Savage River Pipeline Road, Tasmania, approx. CQ560255 (41°18’S 145°17’E), 500 m, 21.iv.1989, NRCP personnel, QVM 23:46133.

Paratypes: male, details as for holotype but 19.iv.1989, QVM 23:46114; 2 males, details as for holotype but 20.iv.1989, QVM 23:46115; 4 males, details as for holotype, QVM 23:46116; male, Wombat Hill, CQ703065 (41°28’52”S 145°26’52”E), 670 m, 26.ix.1990, R. Mesibov, plot NW2, QVM 23:46117; male, Black River, CQ561743 (40°52’05”S 145°17’37”E), 10 m, 12.xi.1991, R. Mesibov, QVM 23:46118; male, Meunna, CQ728519 (41°04’21”S 145°29’14”E), 240 m, 11.v.1999, K. Bonham, QVM 23: 46119.

Diagnosis: Differing from G. tasmanianus in lacking a rounded process on the anteromesal surface midway along the distal section of the telopodite; from G. s u m a c and G. t a s m a n i a n u s in the proximal section not extending laterally at its apex; and from G. sumac in bearing a pointed process midway along the distal telopodite section on the posterior rather than anterior side.

Description: As for G. tasmanianus , but differing in gonopod details. Telopodite ( Figs. 2 B, 3B) with proximal section not expanded apically, the end bearing a small posterolateral tooth and with a thickened loop of cuticle on the posterior surface ( Fig. 2 B) surrounding the base of the distal section. Distal section of telopodite more or less coaxial with proximal section, divided at slightly more than three­quarters of its length into a slender posteromesal branch (solenomere) bearing the prostatic groove and a slightly longer, flattened, anterolateral branch with a rhomboid tip. Spine­like process arising at about two­thirds the length of the distal telopodite section on the posterior surface, terminating at about the level of the solenomere base.

Distribution and habitat: In wet eucalypt forest and cool temperate rainforest over ca. 1500 km 2 in northwest Tasmania ( Fig. 5 ), from sea level to at least 670 m.

Etymology: For Penelope Greenslade, who organised the National Rainforest Conservation Program invertebrate survey in Tasmania in the late 1980s. G. penelopae and many other forest invertebrates were first collected by NRCP personnel.

Figures

FIGURE 2. SEM views showing hinge­like structure (h) on gonopod telopodite, and laminar extension (e) on anterior side of proximal telopodite section. (A) Ginglymodesmus tasmanianus n. gen., n. sp., paratype ex QVM 23: 46127. Ventrolateral and slightly posterior view of right gonopod telopodite (centre of image) and left gonopod telopodite (lower right of image). In this preparation the two telopodites are touching; in life and in most preserved specimens, the telopodites are slightly separated. (B) G. penelopae n. sp., paratype ex QVM 23: 46116. Left lateral view of left gonopod telopodite; head is to left and right gonopod telopodite can just be seen to rear. Scale bars = 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 5. Localities for Ginglymodesmus penelopae n. sp. (filled squares), G. s u m a c n. sp. (cross) and G. tasmanianus n. gen., n. sp. (filled circles).