Lophoturus speophilus, Duy-Jacquemin, 2014

Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, Monique, 2014, Two new species of Lophoturus (Diplopoda, Penicillata, Lophoproctidae) from caves in Christmas Island, Australia, including the second troglomorph in Penicillata, Zoosystema 36 (1), pp. 29-39 : 30-35

Lophoturus speophilus n. sp.

( Figs 1 , 2 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: adult male from Australia, Christmas Island, Jedda Cave located at – 10.488°, 105.645°: plateau cave, t° 25.2-26.1°C, humidity of 98-99%, BES-5849, 6.IV.1998, S. Eberhard coll., WAM. Paratype: adult female collected with the holotype, MNHN.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — One adult female, one subadult female (with 12 pairs of legs) and one larva with 6 pairs of legs, same locality as types, BES-5763, 29. III.1998, S. Eberhard coll., tree roots/wood, MNHN. One adult male and one adult female, Christmas Island Jane-up Cave, BES-5842, 6.IV.1988, S. Eberhard coll., WAM.

ETYMOLOGY. — This species is named speophilus (from the Greek speos, cave, and philos, loving) with reference to its being found in a cave.

DIAGNOSIS

Large size: 4.60 to 5.30 mm. Antennae elongate, particularly from articles VI onwards. Long and thin sensilla basiconica on article VI and VII. Labrum without ornamentation except for 2-3 linguiform processes on each side of its median opening. Trichomes of each tergite grouped into two, separate, oval clusters with an additional posterior row barely subdivided in its middle except on collum; distance between clusters much greater than length of each cluster. Legs elongate, tarsus II of 13th leg 350 µm long (holotype). Pubescent oval setae on leg articles except tibia and tarsus. Spine of tarsus II subequal to telotarsus.Telotarsus bearing 4 sternal spiniform and lamellate processes, in addition to the 2 laterodorsal denticles characteristic of Lophoproctidae .

DESCRIPTION OF ADULTS Measurements Body length (without caudal pencil): male holotype 5.30 mm ; female paratype 5.10mm; female BES-5763 4.60 mm. Tarsus II leg of 1st leg: 275 µm (holotype and female BES-5763), of13th leg: 350µm (holotype) (tarsus II of legs9 to 13 lacking in female BES-5763).

Head

Anophthalmic.Vertex with a pair of posterior tufts, each arranged in 2 rows: anterior row with 23 and 24 trichomes in holotype and paratype ( Fig. 1A ), 28 in female BES-5763; posterior row with 3 and 4 trichomes in the 2 type specimens, 5 in female BES-5763. Distance between each tuft about half their length ( Fig. 1A ).

Length ( Table 1) and diameter of antennal articles as shown in Fig. 1C ; length/diameter ratio of article VI about 3.20-3.40 ( Table 2). Article VI with 3 dorsal sensilla basiconica: the anterior (a) the shortest, the intermediate (i) slightly shorter than the posterior (p), one sensillum coeloconicum (c) near posterior sensillum (p), but slightly more distal ( Fig. 1I ). Antennal article VII with 2 dorsal sensilla basiconica, the anterior one thinner, shorter and more distal than the posterior; one sensillum coeloconicum (c) near the posterior sensillum, but more distal ( Fig. 1H ). Apex of third antennal article with well developed fan-shaped creasing of interarticular membrane ( Fig. 1D ).

Three trichobothria arranged triangularly ( Fig.1A ), apex of anterior one slightly dilated and ending in a short spine-hair (at, Fig. 1B ); the 2 other trichobothria very elongated (pet, Fig. 1B ).

Labrum without cuticular setae; antero-median margin of labrum with 3+3 (holotype and female BES-5763) ( Fig. 1G ) or 2+2 (female paratype) linguiform processes. Clypeo-labrum of holotype with 14 short setae along the posterior margin ( Fig. 1G ).

Left palpus of gnathochilarium with 54 ( Fig. 1E ) and right with 52 sensilla in male holotype; 19+ 19 in female paratype ( Fig.1J ); 25+ 25 in female BES-5763.

Trunk

Trichomes of each tergite grouped in two, separate, oval clusters with an additional posterior row barely subdivided in its middle ( Fig. 2B ) except on collum ( Fig. 2A ); distance between clusters much greater than length of each cluster.In holotype, collum with tufts of 95 trichomes each; lateral left protuberance of collum with 7 trichomes; right with 8 trichomes ( Fig. 2A ); right and left with 6 in female BES-5763. Each oval cluster of tergites II to X with 33 to 50 trichomes and posterior row with 34 (tergite II, Fig. 2B ) and 39 (tergite IX).

Legs

Each leg article, except for tibia and tarsus, bearing pubescent oval setae and extended by an acute process ( Fig. 2E ); coxae with 3 to 12 in holotype, 3 to 8 setae in females; trochanters with 2 to 4 setae in holotype, 1 to 3 setae in females; prefemora with 1 to 4 setae in holotype (1 to 3 in females); femora with 2 setae in holotype, except leg I (1 seta in female); one small seta on tibia of leg I ( Fig. 2D ). Spine of tarsus II ( Fig. 2F ) subequal to telotarsus, sometimes slightly longer (ratio 1.05 to 1.11). Telotarsus ( Fig. 2G, H ) with 2 sternal lamellate processes (slp), about 2/3 length of claw, and 2 shorter denticles (sd); 2 latero-dorsal, subequal scales (lds) characteristic of Lophoproctidae , but broader.

Telson

Five or 6 trichomes a, of which 3 or 4 placed on internal side and 2 on external side of the group of trichomes b-c1-c3.

All trichomes of caudal penicil lost.

*, Data after Condé (1982: 315).

FEMALE WITH 12 PAIRS OF LEGS

Measurements

Body length(without caudal penicil) 3.90 mm.Tarsus II length of 1st leg 225 µm, of 12th leg 260 µm.

Head

Antennal article VI with 3 basiconic sensilla and one posterior sensillum coeloconicum, article VII with 2 basiconic sensilla and one posterior sensillum coeloconicum. Surface of labrum without cuticular setae; 2+2 linguiform processes on anterior margin; 10 short setae along the posterior margin. Palpus of gnathochilarium with 18 sensilla.Trichobothria as in adults.

Trunk

Collum with left tuft of 70 trichomes and right of 67. Lateral protuberances of tergite I with 6 barbate trichomes. Oval clusters of tergites II with 35 and 36 trichomes, posterior row with 35.

Legs

Coxae with 2 to 5 setae; trochanters with 2 setae (except 5 with only 1); prefemur with one seta, rarely two; femora with 1 seta.Tibia of leg I with one small seta tapered apically. Telotarsus as the adults: with 2 sternal lamellate processes and 2 shorter denticles; 2 latero-dorsal subequal scales.

Telson

Seven trichomes a, of which 4 placed on internal side and 3 on external side of the group of trichomes b-c1-c3.

LARVA WITH 6 PAIRS OF LEGS Measurements Body length (without caudal penicil) 2.20 mm. Tarsus II length of 1st leg 135 µm, of 6th leg 165 µm.

Head

Vertex with a pair of posterior tufts: anterior row of 9 trichomes and only 1 posterior trichome. Antennal article VI with 3 basiconic sensilla and one posterior coeloconicum sensillum. Antennal article VII with 2 basiconic sensilla and one posterior coeloconicum sensillum. Trichobothria as in adults. Surface of labrum as in adult females, 2 + 2 linguiform processes on anterior margin; clypeo–labrum with 9 setae along the posterior margin. Outer palp of gnathochilarium with 18 sensilla.

Trunk

Collum with left tuft of 26 trichomes and right of 27. Lateral protuberance of tergite I with 3 barbate trichomes. Telotarsus as adults.

Telson

Left side with 7 trichomes a, of which 4 placed on external side of group of trichomes b-c1-c3; right with six, of which 3 external.

REMARKS

Lophoturus speophilus n. sp. was collected in two different caves that are nearby located in the center of Chrismas Island ( Grimes 2001: 43, fig. 2).

Figures

FIG. 1. — Lophoturus speophilus n. sp.: A-G, male holotype: A, insertions of trichomes of posterior tufts and right trichobothria on vertex;B, detail of anterior (at) and postero-external (pet) trichobothria;C, right antenna;D, distal end of left antennal article III, posterior face;E, left palpus of gnathochilarium; F, detail of sensillum indicated by asterisk in Fig. 1E; G, labrum; H-J, female paratype: H, detail of sensilla on article VII of right antenna; I, detail of sensilla on article VI of right antenna; J, right palpus. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Symbol: *, detailed to Fig. 1F. Scale bars: A, 50 µm; B, D-J, 25 µm; C, 100 µm.

FIG. 2. — A-H, Lophoturus speophilus n. sp., male holotype: A, B, insertions of trichomes on right part of collum and tergite II; C, left leg II and penis; D, small tibial setae of leg I; E, prefemoral seta of left leg XI; F, spine of tarsus of left leg X; G, telotarsus of left leg X; H, telotarsus of right leg XIII; I, Lophoproctus pagesi Condé, 1982, adult male, telotarsus of right leg IV; J, Lophoproctus cf pagesi Cardodo et al., 2008, Gruta do Fumo, male, telotarsus of left leg V.Abbreviations:see Material and methods. Scale bars: A, B, 50 µm; C, 100 µm; D-H, 25 µm; I, J, 10 µm.