Julus kubanus Verhoeff, 1921

Evsyukov, Aleksandr, Golovatch, Sergei & Reip, Hans S., 2018, The millipede genus Julus Linnaeus, 1758 in the Caucasus (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), Zootaxa 4461 (1), pp. 89-117 : 100-104

Julus kubanus Verhoeff, 1921

Figs 1D , 2D , 3G–I , 4G–I , 10 , 14D , 15D , 16D , 17D , Map 2

Julus kubanus Verhoeff, 1921: 46 (D)

Julus kubanus — Lohmander, 1936: 73 (D, R); Lang, 1959: 1791 (M); Kobakhidze, 1965: 393 (R); Lokšina and Golovatch, 1979: 386 (M); Talikadze, 1984: 143 (M); Kokhia and Golovatch, 2018: 40 (M).

Material examined. 6 males, 11 females ( ZMUM), Russia, Krasnodar Prov., Caucasian Nature Reserve, Pasture

Abago near Guzeripl, Abies , Fagus , Acer etc. forest, up to timber line and in subalpine meadow, 1700–1850 m a.s.l., litter, under bark and stones, 24–26.V.1985; 6 males, 7 females, 10 juveniles (ZMUM), Caucasian Nature Reserve, Pslukh ca 20 km E of Krasnaya Polyana, Mt Kogot, Fagus and Abies forest up to timber line, 1650–1850 m a.s.l., litter, under bark and stones, 18–20.V.1985; 1 male (ZMUM), same locality, Fagus , Quercus , Abies , Picea etc. forest, 1000 m a.s.l., litter, 11–12.VIII.1986; 1 male, 9 females (ZMUM), same locality, S slope of Mt Aishkho-2, 1900–2000 m a.s.l., subalpine meadow and sparse Acer , Betula and Rhododendron stand, litter, stones, 12.VIII.1986, all leg. S. Golovatch; 3 males (SMNG), Plateau Lagonaki (= Lago-Naki), source area of Kurdjips River, 44.0792°N, 40.0000°E, 16.VIII.2012; 1 female, 1 juvenile (SMNG), Kordon Chernorechye (camp of Caucasian Nature Reserve), left side of Malaya Laba River near bridge across Urushten River, 43.9331°N, 40.6833°E, 840 m a.s.l., 19.VIII.2012; 4 females (SMNG), Urushten valley, right side of 1 km upstream of bridge at Kordon Chernorechye, 43.9319°N, 40.6778°E, 850 m a.s.l., Acer and Fagus forest with Sambucus, Corylus , Alnus, Ulmus in understorey, 18.VIII.2012, all leg. F. Walther.

1 male (ZMUM), Russia, Adygea Republic, near Maikop, Quercus , Carpinus, Corylus forest, 300 m a.s.l., litter, V.2005, leg. Yu. Chumachenko; 1 female (SMNG), SE of Novoprokhladnoe, 25.VIII.2005, leg. K. Voigtländer.

3 males, 7 females, 2 juveniles (ZMUM), Russia, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Teberda Nature Reserve, Canyon Alibek near Dombai, 2000–2100 m a.s.l., sparse Betula stand, litter and under stones, 25.VII.1986; 1 male, 3 females, 3 juveniles (ZMUM), Teberda Nature Reserve, Canyon Gonachkhir between Teberda and Dombai, road to Klukhor Pass, 1700–1900 m a.s.l., Abies , Fagus , Acer etc. forest, 1.VI.1985; 7 males, 21 females, 4 juveniles (ZMUM), Teberda Nature Reserve, Canyon Baduk between Teberda and Dombai, dwarf Fagus , Acer , Abies , Pinus and Betula stands, litter, under bark and stones at timber line, 2000 m a.s.l., 3.VI.1985; 6 males, 19 females, 8 juveniles (ZMUM), Teberda Nature Reserve, Mt Malaya Khatipara, above town of Teberda, Fagus , Abies and Betula forest, Rhododendron thicket, 2150 m a.s.l., litter, 29–30.V.1985; 1 male, 3 females, 1 juvenile (ZMUM), same locality, Mt Malaya Khatipara, 29–30.V.1985; 4 males, 1 juvenile male, 8 females, 1 juvenile (ZMUM), Teberda Nature Reserve, Dombai, Abies , Fagus , Picea , Betula , Acer etc. forest, 1700–1800 m a.s.l., litter, under bark and stones, 31.V.1985; 1 male, 10 females (ZMUM), Teberda Nature Reserve, Dombai, Mt Mussa-Achitara, 3000 m a.s.l., alpine meadow, 29.VII.1986, all leg. S. Golovatch; 6 males, 21 females, 4 juveniles (ZMUM), Gumbashi Pass ca 32 km NE of Karachaevsk, 2000 m a.s.l., subalpine meadow, under stones, 11.VII.1986; 1 male, 2 females (ZMUM), ca 30 km N of Kurjinovo, 4 km N of Damkhurts, 1050–1100 m a.s.l., Laba River valley, Fagus , Acer , Picea etc. forest, litter, bark, 4.VIII.1986, leg. S. Golovatch; 2 females, 2 juveniles (SMNG), 9.5 km S of Rozhkao, valley of Bolshaya Laba River, 43.7528°N, 40.8442°E, 1100 m a.s.l., Alnus forest, 23.VIII.2012, leg. F. Walther.

2 males, 1 juvenile ( ZMUM), Russia, North Ossetia, North Ossetian Nature Reserve, S slope of Tseissky Mt. Ridge, meadow, 2000 m a.s.l., 13.VIII.1982, leg. S. Alekseev.

2 males, 6 females, 4 juveniles (ZMUM), Russia, Chechnya, Kharachoy SE of Vedeno, 950 m a.s.l., Fagus , Carpinus etc. forest, litter, under bark and stones, 17.VII.1986, leg. S. Golovatch.

3 males, 8 females ( ZMUM), Abkhazia, near Lake Ritsa, Avadkhara , 1600–1700 m a.s.l., under stones and bark, 18.IX.1985, leg. I. Ushakov ; 3 males, 9 females ( ZMUM), SE of Lake Ritsa , between Pass Anchkho and Pskhu, 1300–1450 m a.s.l., 14 and 16.VIII.1986, leg. S. Golovatch.

1 male, 1 male juvenile, 14 females, 4 juvenile (ZMUM), Georgia, Kakheti, Batsaro Nature Reserve, ca 20 km N of Akhmeta, Fagus , Castanea forest, 800–850 m a.s.l., litter, 5-6.V.1987, leg. S. Golovatch and K. Eskov.

Diagnosis. Differs from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters. Main process (mp) of male leg-pair 2 long, with two outgrowths. The distofrontal one more or less large and thick. The caudal outgrowth small and short ( Figs 4G–I ). Gonopodal promere (pr) very narrow, broadly rounded at apex, with a wide lamella (la) ( Figs 10B, 10D, 10F ). End of pr more or less clearly narrowed. Flagella (fl) well-developed, each with a spike-like outgrowth in middle part ( Fig. 10B ). Opisthomere (op) with an elongated lateral outgrowth (lo) sharpened at apex ( Fig. 14D ). Striations on metazonae superficial and irregular ( Fig. 16D ). Bursa (bu) of female vulva (vu) with well-developed apical outgrowths; ampullae (am1 and am2) different in size; female leg-pair 2 (l2) with a large coxal process ( Fig. 17D ).

Descriptive notes. Length of adults 28–38 mm, width 1.6–2.4 mm. Number of segments in adults from 52+1+T to 57+2+T. Body grey-brown with a thin, black, dorsal, axial line, lighter on ventral side; legs light brown, antennae and anal valves grey. Eye patches composed of 40–45 black ocelli. Striae on metazonae shallow and irregular ( Fig. 16D ).

All other characters as in J. alexandrae , except as follows. Antennae in situ reaching back to body segment 5. Antennomeres 5 and 6 each with a sparse corolla of bacilliform sensilla ( Fig. 1D ). Each stipes of gnathochilarium with a rather compact group of ca 17 setae placed parabasally below mentum ( Figs 2D ).

Male leg-pair 1 ( Figs 3G–I ) with a well-developed suture between coxa (cx) and a roundish 1-segmented telopodite remnant (te); cx with a distolateral outgrowth, rounded at apex; te with a group of thick setae. Male legpair 2 with three coxal processes ( Figs 4G–I ): anterolateral process (alp) short; main process (mp) long and with two outgrowths, including a more or less thick and large distofrontal branch and a small and short caudal outgrowth; posterior process (pp) short and with two basal setae. Penes (p) short, not deeply bifurcate, with two small claws crossing at apex ( Fig. 4G ).

Gonopodal promere (pr) very narrow, widely rounded at apex, with a wide lateral lamella (la) ( Figs 10B, 10D, 10F ). End of pr more or less narrowed. Flagella (fl) long and thick, with an anchor-shaped outgrowth near midpoint ( Fig. 10B ). Apex of a particularly short mesomere (ms) narrow ( Figs 10C, 10G , 14D ). Opisthomere (op) with an elongated, sharpened ( Fig. 14D ) or rounded ( Fig 10C ), lateral outgrowth (lo) at apex.

Ventral edges of male segment 7 on each side with a small curved lamella bordering a small, inconspicuous gonopodal aperture ( Fig. 15D ).

Bursa (bu) of female vulva (vu) with well-developed apical outgrowths. Ampullae (am1 and am2) rounded, slightly different in size; leg-pair 2 (l2) with a large coxal process ( Fig. 17D ).

Remarks. In the Caucasus, this is the second most common species following J. colchicus . It has been recorded from the Krasnodar Province, the Adygea, Karachaevo-Cherkessia and North Ossetia republics, and Abkhazia ( Verhoeff 1921; Lohmander 1936; Lang 1959; Kobakhidze 1965; Lokšina and Golovatch 1979; Talikadze 1984), being widely distributed from lowlands to elevations about 2000 m a.s.l.

Intraspecific variation: The species shows only minor variations in the structure of male legs-pairs 1 and 2, and of the gonopods.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Antennae in Caucasian species of Julus, lateral views. A: J. alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016. B: J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936. C: J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981. D: J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921. E: J. lignaui Verhoeff, 1910. F: J. lindholmi Lohmander, 1936. G: J. dagestanus sp. n. H: J. khostensis sp. n. Scale bar: 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 2. Gnathochilaria in Caucasian species of Julus, ventral views. A: J. alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016. B: J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936. C: J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981. D: J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921. E: J. lignaui Verhoeff, 1910. F: J. lindholmi Lohmander, 1936. G: J. subalpinus Lohmander, 1936. H: J. dagestanus sp. n. I: J. khostensis sp. n. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 3. Male legs 1 in Julus alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016 (A), J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936 (B–D), J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981 (E–F), J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921 (G–I), J. lignaui Verhoeff, 1910 (J–M), J. lindholmi Lohmander, 1936 (N– P), J. subalpinus Lohmander, 1936 (Q–R), J. dagestanus sp. n. (S) and J. khostensis sp. n. (T). A: from the Rostov-on-Don Region. B: from Krasnaya Polyana, Krasnodar Province. C: from Sakhrai, Adygea Republic. D: syntype from Gagry, Abkhazia, after Lohmander (1936). E: from North Ossetia. F: paratype from North Ossetia, after Golovatch (1981). G: from Maikop, Adygea Republic. H: from Pskhu, Abkhazia. I: from Aksaut, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, after Lohmander (1936). J: from Krasnaya Polyana, Krasnodar Province. K: from Teberda, Karachaevo-Cherkessia. L: from Mestia, Svanetia, Georgia. M: from Teberda, Karachaevo-Cherkessia. N: from Svanetia, Georgia. O: from near Teberda, Karachaevo-Cherkessia. P: holotype from Olginskoe, Abkhazia, after Lohmander (1936). Q: from North Ossetia. R: syntype from Mount Djuga, Krasnodar Province, after Lohmander (1936). S: holotype from Dagestan. T: holotype from Khosta, Krasnodar Province. Oral views B–O; caudal views A, P. Abbreviations: cx, coxa; te, telopodite remnant. Scale bars: 0.3 mm (A–C, E, G, H, J–O, Q, S, T), 0.2 mm (F), not to scale (D, I, P, R).

FIGURE 4. Male legs 2 in Julus alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016 (A), J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936 (B–D), J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981 (E–F) and J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921 (G–I). A: from the Rostov-on-Don Region. B: from Krasnaya Polyana, Krasnodar Province. C: from Sakhrai, Adygea Republic. D: syntype from Gagry, Abkhazia, after Lohmander (1936). E: from North Ossetia. F: paratype from North Ossetia, after Golovatch (1981). G: from Maikop, Adygea Republic. H: from Pskhu, Abkhazia. I: from Aksaut, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, after Lohmander (1936). Oral views C, E, H; caudal views A, B, D, F, G; mesal view I. Abbreviations: alp, anterolateral process of coxa 2; mp, main process of coxa 2; p, penes; pp, posterior process of coxa 2. Scale bars: 0.3 mm (A–C, E, G, H), 0.2 mm (F), not to scale (D, I).

FIGURE 10. Male gonopods in Julus kubanus Verhoeff, 1921 (A–B from Maikop, Adygea Republic; C–E from Pskhu, Abkhazia; F–G from Aksaut, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, after Lohmander (1936)). A: right gonopods, mesal view. B, D: promere with flagellum, caudal view. C, G: left gonopods, mesal view. E: right gonopods, sublateral view. F: promere, caudal view. Scale bar: 0.3 mm (A–E), not to scale (F–G). Abbreviations: fl, flagellum; la, lamella on promere; lo, lateral outgrowth of opisthomere; ms, mesomere; op, opisthomere; pr, promere.

FIGURE 14. Mesomere and opisthomere in Caucasian species of Julus, oral views. A: J. alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016. B: J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936. C: J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981. D: J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921. E: J. lignaui Verhoeff, 1910. F: J. lindholmi Lohmander, 1936 G: J. subalpinus Lohmander, 1936. H: J. dagestanus sp. n. Scale bars: 0.3 mm. Abbreviations: fl, flagellum; lo, lateral outgrowth of opisthomere; ms, mesomere; op, opisthomere.

FIGURE 15. Ventral edge of male segments 7 in Caucasian species of Julus. A: J. alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016. B: J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936 C: J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981. D: J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921. E: J. lignaui Verhoeff, 1910. F: J. lindholmi Lohmander, 1936. G: J. subalpinus Lohmander, 1936. H: J. khostensis sp. n. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 16. Striation on metazonites in Caucasian species of Julus. A: J. alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016. B: J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936. C: J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981. D: J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921. E: J. lignaui Verhoeff, 1910. F: J. lindholmi Lohmander, 1936. G: J. subalpinus Lohmander, 1936. H: J. dagestanus sp. n. I: J. khostensis sp. n. Pictures taken not to scale.

FIGURE 17. Female vulvae and legs 2 in Caucasian species of Julus. A: J. alexandrae Evsyukov, 2016. B: J. colchicus Lohmander, 1936. C: J. jedryczkowskii Golovatch, 1981. D: J. kubanus Verhoeff, 1921. Abbreviations: vu, vulva; op, operculum; bu, bursa; am1 and am2, ampulla 1 and ampulla 2; l2, coxa and prefemur of leg 2. Scale bar: 0.3 mm.