Leucogeorgia prometheus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CD700B52-FE5E-4C36-967E-8A0125AEF240

Figs 1E, 2C, 32–35, 56, 58

Diagnosis

This species belongs to the group of Leucogeorgia spp. with neither modified mouthparts nor teeth on the mesomeral claw (vs teeth present in L. abchasica, L. borealis sp. nov., L. gioi sp. nov., L. oculata sp. nov. and L. satunini). Leucogeorgia prometheus sp. nov. differs from L. golovatchi sp. nov. by having a longer mesomeral claw and a short solenomere not exceeding the height of the mesomeral lamella (vs a shorter mesomeral claw and a longer solenomere clearly exceeding the height of the mesomeral lamella in L. golovatchi sp. nov.). Leucogeorgia prometheus sp. nov. differs from L. lobata sp. nov. by the absence of a strongly developed lobe on the mesomeral lamella, with a deep rift between the mesomeral claw and lobe (vs presence of a strongly developed lobe on the mesomeral lamella, with a deep rift between the mesomeral claw and lobe in L. lobata sp. nov.).

Etymology

This new species is named after its type locality, the Kumistavi Cave, popularly known as the Prometheus Cave. Noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype

CENTRAL-WEST GEORGIA – Tsqaltubo District • ♂; Sataplia-Tskaltubo karst Massif, Kumistavi village, Kumistavi (= Prometheus, = Orpiri I) Cave; 42.37° N, 42.60° E; 11 Jun. 2019; H. Reip leg.; SMNG.

Paratypes

CENTRAL-WEST GEORGIA – Tsqaltubo District • 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 10 juvs; same collection data as for holotype; SMNG • 7 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 2 juvs; same collection data as for holotype except 16 Mar. 2018; E. Magradze leg.; IZISU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; IZB • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype except 1 May 2018; J. Grego leg.; NHMW 9981 .

Other material

CENTRAL-WEST GEORGIA – Tsqaltubo District • 2 juvs; same collection data as for holotype; 10 Jan. 1981; V. Kiselev leg.; ZMUM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype but 7 Jan. 1987; N.T. Zalesskaja leg.; ZMUM • 7 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 1 juv.; same collection data as for holotype but 12 Dec. 2009; O. Hell leg.; IZB • 5 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype but 17 Apr. 2011; R. Fohlert leg.; ZMUM • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype but 10 Mar. 2012; S. Barjadze leg.; IZISU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype but 1 Aug. 2016; collector unknown; ZMUM • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype but 4–6 Feb. 2017; D.M. Palatov leg.; ZMUM • 1 ♀; Sataplia-Tskaltubo karst Massif, Kumistavi village, Solkota Cave; 42.38° N, 42.62° E; 10 Mar. 2014; S. Barjadze leg.; IZISU • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 23 Jul. 2017; G. Nebieridze leg.; IZISU • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 9 Mar. 2014; S. Barjadze leg.; IZISU • 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 5 juvs; Sataplia-Ktkaltubo karst Massif, Kumistavi village, Orpiri II Cave; 42.37° N, 42.60° E; Mar. 2014; L. Mumladze leg.; IZISU • 7 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; Sataplia-Tskaltubo karst Massif, near Tskaltubo, Tetra Cave; 42.33° N, 42.62° E; 29 Aug. 1985; S.I. Golovatch leg.; ZMUM • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 1 May 2018; J. Grego leg.; NHMW • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding but 11 Mar. 2014; S. Barjadze leg.; IZISU • 3 ♂♂; 1 ♀, 1 juv.; Sataplia-Tskaltubo karst Massif, Chuneshi village, Sakire Cave; 42.34° N, 42.60° E; 14 May 2018; G. Nebieridze leg.; IZISU. – Kutaisi District, Sataplia Nature Reserve • 14 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 6 juvs; Sataplia I Cave; 42.31° N, 42.67° E; 27 Jan. 1984; K. Makarov leg.; ZMUM • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 16 Apr. 1988; D.V. Logunov leg.; ZMUM • 10 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 7 juvs; same collection data as for preceding but 5 Jun. 1981; S.I. Golovatch and J. Martens leg.; ZMUM • 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 27 Jan. 1984; V. Dushenkov leg.; ZMUM • many broken specs; same collection data as for preceding but 8 Aug. 1984; S.I. Golovatch leg.; ZMUM • many specs; same collection data as for preceding but 25 Oct. 1981; S.I. Golovatch leg.; ZMUM • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but Mar. 2014; L. Mumladze; IZISU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 11 Mar. 2014; S. Barjadze leg.; IZISU • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 12 juvs; same collection data as for preceding but 11 Jun. 2019; H. Reip leg.; SMNG • 5 ♀♀, 1 juv.; same locality as for preceding; ZMUM • 7 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀, 3 juvs; Sataplia II Cave; 42.31° N, 42.67° E; 28 Jan. 1987; V. Bogdanov leg.; ZMUM • 3 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀, 5 juvs; same collection data as for preceding but 27 Jan. 1987; collector unknown; ZMUM. – Tkibuli District • 7 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀, 5 juvs; Okriba karst Massif, Tsutskhvati village, Tsutskhvati Cave; 42.27° N, 42.85° E; 24 Oct. 1981; S.I. Golovatch leg.; ZMUM • 1 ♂, Okriba karst Massif, Tsutskhvati village, Tsutskhvati VII Cave; 42.27° N, 42.85° E; 28 Feb. 2013; S. Barjadze leg.; IZISU .

Description

SIZE AND NUMBER OF BODY RINGS. Holotype male 29 mm long, vertical diameter of largest body ring 1.9 mm, body with 43 podous rings + 0 apodous rings + telson. Paratype males 16.5–27 mm long, vertical diameter of largest body ring 1.3–1.9 mm, body with 35–44 podous rings + 0–3 apodous rings + telson. Paratype females 23–29 mm long, vertical diameter of largest body rings 1.5–1.9 mm, body with 40–44 podous rings + 0–1 apodous rings + telson.

COLOUR (Figs 1E, 32). Living animals yellowish white. Specimens from alcohol brownish.

HEAD (Figs 32B, 33 D–E). Without ommatidia. Frontal setae absent. Labrum with three teeth, four supralabral setae and 14 to 16 (7+7, 7+8 or 8+8) labral setae. Gnathochilarium with rhomboid promentum; lamellae linguales with 3–5 setae each in one row; stipites with 3+3 long distolateral and 5–7 short medial setae each. Antennae 2.9 mm long in holotype male, their length ca 150% of vertical diameter of largest body ring. Lengths of antennomeres I–VIII (in mm): 0.2 (I), 0.67 (II), 0.59 (III), 0.45 (IV), 0.55 (V), 0.25 (VI), 0.14 (VII) and 0.05 (VIII). Length/width ratio of antennomeres I–VII: 1 (I), 3.7 (II), 3.3 (III), 2.5 (IV), 2.4 (V), 1.1 (VI) and 1 (VII). Antennomeres V and VI each with a terminal corolla of large sensilla basiconica bacilliformia; antennomere VII with a terminal corolla of small sensilla basiconica bacilliformia.

BODY RINGS (Fig. 32D). Entire metazonal area with longitudinal striations. Length of midbody setae ca 7% of vertical diameter of rings.

TELSON (Fig. 32C). Epiproct with a short and blunt preanal process, sloping slightly downwards and covered with dorsal and lateral setae. Paraprocts rounded, with numerous setae. Hypoproct without any modifications.

LEGS IN MALES. First pair of legs modified, hook-shaped (Figs 33 A–C, 35E–F), with three podomeres; coxa with one seta; prefemur with 6–9 setae; femora, postfemora and tibiotarsi coalesced, with 5–6 setae (3–5 on remnants of femora and 1+1 on remnants of postfemora). Podomeres tuberculate. Postfemoral and tibial ventral pads well-developed on anterior legs, then gradually disappearing towards posterior legs.

VENTRAL MARGIN OF BODY RING 7 (Fig. 32E). Strongly developed, rounded in lateral view.

PENES (Fig. 35D). In form of a short trapezoid, apically with two small subtriangular lobes.

GONOPODS (Figs 33F, 34, 35 A–C). Promere (p) long and slender, with a flagellum (f); apical part spatulate, with denticulated margins; basal half with two developed ridges. Mesomere (m) with a slender mesomeral claw (mc) devoid of teeth, slightly curved anteriad; mesomeral lamella (ml) with or without a poorly developed lobe (l), distal margin smooth, posterior part finely fimbriate. Opisthomere (o) bipartite. Anterior branch of o with a solenomere (s) with a medium-sized tip, and a well-developed and fimbriate velum (v). Posterior branch of o in form of a shield-like protective lamella (pl). Mesomere and opisthomere connected basally with an accessory membrane (am).

Distribution

Known from several caves in the Tsqaltubo, Kutaisi and Tkibuli districts of Georgia (Fig. 58, light blue triangles).

Remarks

The occurrence of this remarkable species has been noted several times by tourists visiting the famous touristic caves Prometheus or Sataplia. Although a fairly large and easy-to-spot julid, Leucogeorgia prometheus sp. nov. has never been studied scientifically. This species is very abundant and does not seem to be endangered by the operation of these show caves, because it was collected several times in extremely large numbers. Nor have the extensive collections undermined the local populations. The animals were found especially abundant on rotting timber poles that support the electric lamps inside the caves (Golovatch pers. comm.), living there together with the glomerid millipede, Trachysphaera fragilis (Golovatch, 1976), likewise cavernicolous, common and abundant in the same region (Golovatch & Turbanov 2017). In contrast, only very few specimens of Leucogeorgia prometheus sp. nov. were spotted grazing on the lamp flora, being more abundant also in muddy areas without any sign of introduced organic material. As a guess, the true habitats of this species might not be cave chambers proper, but the subterranean small crevices and cracks.