Decapauropus saltuarius, Scheller, 2009

Scheller, Ulf, 2009, New species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Tasmanian temperate rainforests, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 289-329 : 303-305

Decapauropus saltuarius sp. nov.

( Figs. 72–81 )

Material Examined. Holotype. Ad.9 (male), Bruny Island , Mount Mangana, Loc. 12, (147°17.0'S, 43°22.1'E), in moss, 9.iv.1989 ( JD).

Paratypes. 3 specimens. Cradle Mountain , Loc. 4, (41°35.4'S, 145°55.9'E), in moss on log , 1 ad. 9 (female), 1 juv. 6, 18.xi.1989 ( HM) .

Diagnosis. This species is well defined by the shape of the anal plate and the combination of good characters in the antennae (t and s of the same length, anterior truncation of s inconsiderable) and the last pair of legs (tarsus somewhat bow-shaped, pubescent and with very thin setae). Since many of these characters are widespread and shared with several other species, the relationships are difficult to discern.

Description. Length.- 0.64 mm.

Head.-Tergal setae annulate blunt, of medium length, a 2 of 4th row long; lateral and sublateral ones subcylindrical, submedian ones clavate. Relative lengths of setae, 1st row: a 1 =10, a 2 =11; 2nd row: a 1 =12, a 2 =a 3 =15; 3rd row: a 1 =11, a 2 =12; 4th row: a 1 =14, a 2 =20, a 3 =14, a 4 =10; lateral group setae: l 1 =32, l 2 =15, l 3 =20. The ratio a 1 /a 1 -a 1 in 1st row 1.4, 2nd row 1.0, 3rd row 1.4 and 4th row 1.5. Temporal organs oval in tergal view, as long as their distance apart; small aperture in an anterior position of l 1. Head cuticle almost glabrous.

Antennae.-Segment 4 with five cylindrical setae, all but p''' annulate-striate blunt; p''' very thin with delicate pubescence. Relative lengths of setae: p =100, p' =84, p'' =34, p''' =10, r =32; u absent. Tergal seta p 1.2 times as long as tergal branch t. The latter fusiform, 2.7 times as long as its greatest diameter and as long as sternal branch s; that branch 1.8 times as long as its greatest diameter; anterodistal corner of s truncate. Seta q cylindrical, annulate, somewhat tapering, as long as s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments: F 1 =100, bs 1 =8; F 2 =61, bs 2 =8; F 3 =86, bs 3 =9. The F 2 thinnest; F 1 3.3 times as long as t, F 2 and F 3 2.0 and 2.8 times as long as s respectively. Distal calyces subhemispherical; distal part of flagella axes fusiform. Globulus g 1.4 times as long as wide; about nine bracts, capsule subspherical; width of g 0.7 of the greatest diameter of t. Antennae almost glabrous.

Trunk.-Setae of collum segment subcylindrical, annulate, blunt, furcate, but with rudimentary glabrous blunt secondary branches; sublateral ones twice as long as submedian ones; sternite process thin pointed; appendages subconical with rounded caps with collar; process and basal segment of appendages with distinct but short, erect pubescence.

Setae on tergites thin, cylindrical, annulate-striate insignificantly decreasing in length posteriorly; 4+4 setae on tergite I, 6+6 on II-IV, 6+4 on V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI 0.7 of their distance apart and 1.3 times as long as pygidial setae a 1. Tergites glabrous. Relative lengths of bothriotricha: T 1 =100, T 2 =104, T 3 =108, T 4 =129, T 5 =166, axes thin, simple, straight, thickest in T 3. Pubescence hairs short oblique on proximal parts and on almost the whole T 5, more outwards longer erect, strongest on T

3

.

Genital papillae oviform, glabrous, 1.7 times as long as their greatest diameter; seta about 0.5 of the length of organ.

Legs.-Setae on coxa and trochanter of leg 9 similar, furcate, branches subequal in length; main branch thick, blunt, with short pubescence in whorls; secondary branch similar but thinner, somewhat clavate, more anteriorly, with glabrous blunt rudiments of the secondary branches. Coxal seta on leg 2 in male not deviating. Tarsus of leg 9 somewhat curved, 3.6 times as long as its greatest diameter. Setae thin, proximal one tapering and pointed with short depressed pubescence, distal one cylindrical striate; proximal seta 0.4 of the length of tarsus and 2.5 times as long as distal seta. Cuticle of tarsus with short pubescence.

Pygidium. Tergum.-Posterior margin between st evenly rounded. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 =a 2 =100, a 3 =222, st =67. These setae cylindrical, blunt, indistinctly striate; a 1 straight and somewhat pointing outwards, a 2 and a 3 curved inwards, the former also pointing inwards, st straight and pointing inwards. Distance a 1 -a 1 1.2 times as long as a 1; distance a 1 -a 2 1.2 times as long as distance a 2 -a 3; distance st-st 3.5 times as long as st and 1.9 times as long as distance a 1 -a 1. Cuticle glabrous.

Sternum.-Posterior margin between b 1 almost straight. Relative lengths of setae (a 1 =100): b 1 =455, b 2 about 130; setae cylindrical blunt striate. The b 1 1.4 times as long as their distance apart; b 2 about 0.5 of distance b 1 -b 2. Anal plate 1.5 times as long as broad, with convex lateral margins and a V-shapedposteriorincisionseparatingtwoshort,subcylindrical posterolateral lobes; from distal part of lobes, two straight, cylindrical, blunt, outwardly pointing appendages, 0.6 of the length of the plate; anterior part of plate glabrous, posterior part shortly pubescent, appendages distinctly striate, anterior of each base of appendage a small sternal knob.

Etymology.-From Latin saltuarius = of the forest.

Distribution in Tasmania. Found on two widely separated sites.

Figures

Figs. 72–81. Decapauropus saltuariusr sp.nov., holotype: 72, head, median and right part, tergal view; 73, temporal organ, posterior part, lateral view; 74, left antenna, sternal view; 75, collum segment, median and left part, sternal view; 76, tergite VI, posterior part; 77, T; 78, genital 3 papillae and seta on coxa of 2nd pair of legs; 79, seta on trochanter of 9th pair of legs; 80, tarsus of 9th pair of legs; 81, pygidium, posterior and left part, sternal view: Scale line a for figures 77, 80; b for figures 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 79; c for figures 74, 81.