Decapauropus heis, Scheller, 2009

Scheller, Ulf, 2009, New species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Tasmanian temperate rainforests, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 289-329 : 294-296

Decapauropus heis sp.nov.

( Figs. 25–38 )

Material Examined. Holotype. Ad. 9 (female), Bruny Island , Mount Mangana, Loc. 12, (43°22.1 ' S, 147°17.0 ' E), litter, 9.iv.1989 ( PG).

Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 1 ad. 9 (female). Sandspit River, Loc. 8, (147°51.5'S, 42°42.1'E), leaf litter, 3 ad. 9 (1 male, 2 female), 22.v.1989 ( PG) .

Other material. 50 specimens. Loc. 2, soil core, 1 ad. 9 (female), 21.iv.1989 ( JD, HM). Loc. 7, leaf litter , 1 ad. 9 (female), 12.v.1989 ( PG). Loc. 8, soil core , 2 ad. 9 (female), 22.v.1989 ( PG). Loc. 11, south track, leaf litter , 1 ad. 9 (female), 21.iii.1989 ( PG, JD). Loc. 12, litter , 16 ad. 9 (7 male, 9 female), 3 subad. 8 (1 male, 2 female), 9.iv.1989, and leaf litter, 6 ad. 9 (female), 1 subad. 8 (female), 9.iv.1989 ( PG), and leaf litter , 1 ad. 9 (female), 4.iv.1989 ( JD, PG), and in moss , 3 ad. 9 (1 male, 2 female), 9.iv.1989 ( JD). Loc. 13, litter , 3 ad. 9 (1 male, 2 female), 27. ii.1989 ( SS). Loc. 16, litter , 4 ad. 9 (2 male, 2 female), 1 subad. 8 (female), 1 juv. 6, 20.xii.1988 ( PG). Loc. 18, leaf litter , 2 subad. 8 (female), 1 juv. 6, xii.1987 ( MN). Loc. 19, leaf litter , 3 ad. 9 (female), 20.vi.1989 ( PG) .

Diagnosis. The species may be closest to D. acer Scheller from Central Amazon (Scheller 1994). They are similar in the antennal morphology, the process of the collum segment, the bothriotricha, the pygidial chaetotaxy and the singular shape of the anal plate. Reliable distinguishing characters are the thick annulate setae on the collum segment and the proportionately longer collum appendages in D. heis , also the posterosternal lobe of the anal plate, which is absent in D. acer and the shape of the anal plate appendage.

Description. Length.-(0.51-)0.61(-0.65) mm.

Head.-Tergal setae annulate and of different lengths, in 1st and 2nd rows of medium lengths, in 3rd and 4th rows rather long; anterior and submedian ones somewhat clavate, sublateral and lateral ones cylindrical. Relative lengths of setae, 1st row: a 1 =10, a 2 =10(-11); 2nd row: a 1 =11(-12), a 2 =10(-12), a 3 =7; 3rd row: a 1 =17(-20), a 2 =20(-23); 4th row: a 1 =15(-16), a 2 =(23-)24, a 3 =25(-26), a 4 =(13-)16; lateral group setae: l 1 =(17-)25, l 2 =(12-)14, l 3 =(16-)19. The ratio a 1 /a 1 -a 1 in 1st row (1.1-)1.2, 2nd row 0.6(-0.8), 3rd row 1.7(-2.1) and 4th row (3.4-)3.7(-3.8). Temporal organs oval in tergal view, their length 0.8(-0.9) of their shortest distance apart; small aperture near surface in median part at level of l 2 aperture with thin interior canal backwards. Head cuticle almost glabrous; temporal organs with delicate pubescence.

Antennae.-Segment 4 with four subcylindrical, annulate, blunt setae; their relative lengths: p =100, p' =(69-)73(-81), p' '=(40-)41(-52), r =(24-)25(-26). Neither p''', nor u. Tergal seta p (as long as-) 1.2 times as long as the length of tergal branch t. The latter fusiform, (2.4-)2.6(-2.9) times as long as its greatest diameter and about as long as sternal branch s, that branch 1.8(-2.3) times as long as its greatest diameter; anterodistal corner of s truncate. Seta q subcylindrical, annulate, blunt, 0.8 (-as long as) s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments: F 1 =100, bs 1 =(6-)7(-8); F 2 =(70-)82(-85), bs 2 =(7-)8; F 3 =(76-)86, bs 3 =8. The F 1 (3.2-)3.6 times as long as t, F 2 and F 3 2.2(-2.5) and (2.6-)2.8(-2.9) times as long as s respectively. Distal calyces somewhat flattened; distal part of flagella axes fusiform. Globulus g 1.5(-1.6) times as long as wide; 12(-13) bracts; capsule spherical; width of g 0.9(-as wide as) the greatest diameter of t. Antennae almost glabrous.

Trunk.-Setae of collum segment somewhat clavate, distinctly annulate, blunt, furcate but with rudimentary glabrous blunt secondary branches; sublateral ones (1.8-)2.1(-2.5) times as long as submedian ones; sternite process narrow, with anterior lengthening with apical incision; appendages conical strongly narrowing distally and with proportionately very small caps; process and basal segment of appendages very delicately granular.

Setae of about the same length on all tergites, on anterior ones subcylindrical, annulate, blunt, on posterior tergites cylindrical, tapering, pointed, with short oblique pubescence. There are 4+4 setae on tergite I, 6+6 on II–IV, 6+4 on V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI 0.6(-0.7) of their distance apart and 0.8(-0.9) of the length of pygidial setae a 1. Tergites glabrous. Relative lengths of bothriotricha: T 1 =100, T 2 =(103-)109(-121), T 3 =(97-)100(-119), T 4 =(115-)119(-130), T 5 =(169-)180(-182)¸ axes simple, straight, in all but T 3 being very thin, with proximal 2/3 somewhat fusiform and distal 1/3 thin. Pubescence hairs very short and thin on all but T 3, on the latter stronger.

Genital papillae (paratypes) glabrous, fusiform, (1.9-)2.1 times as long as their greatest diameter; seta 0.5(-0.6) the length of organ.

Legs.-Setae on coxa and trochanter of leg 9 similar, furcate, branches subequal in length, striate, blunt; they are cylindrical except the main branch of coxal seta somewhat clavate, more anteriorly, these setae with rudimentary secondary branches, setae on trochanter longest, those on coxae somewhat clavate. Coxal seta on leg 2 in male not divergent. Tarsus of leg 9 slender, (3.7-)4.4 times as long as its greatest diameter. Proximal seta tapering, pointed, with very short oblique pubescence; distal seta cylindrical striate blunt. The former 0.4 of the length of tarsus and 2.0(-2.2) times as long as the latter. Cuticle of tarsus with delicate pubescence.

Pygidium. Tergum.-Posterior margin between st somewhat indented, straight. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 =100, a 2 =(86-)93(-98), a 3 =(136-)137(-157), st =53(-71). These setae thin, tapering, almost glabrous, a 1 and a 2 almost straight, a 3 and st curved inwards, the latter one also pointing inwards. Distance a 1 -a 1 0.7(-0.8) of the length of a 1; distance a 1 -a 2 (1.4-)1.8 times as long as distance a 2 -a 3; distance st-st (2.3-)2.5(-2.6) times as long as st and (1.7-)1.8(-2.0) times as long as distance a

1

-a

1

. Cuticle somewhat granular.

Sternum.-Posterior margin between b 1 with broad shallow indentation. Relative lengths of setae (a 1 =100): b 1 =(335-)338(-381), b 2 =(87-)90(-108). The b 1 thin, subcylindrical, striate; b 2 as a 1 and a 2 of pygidial tergum. The b 1 (1.6-)1.8 times as long as their distance apart; b 2 0.8(-0.9) times as long as distance b 1 -b 2. Anal plate broadest anteriorly, glabrous, linguiform with parallel lateral margins and rounded posteriorly; about three times longer than broad; from the thickened median part protrudes posteriorly from sternal side a narrow, and in the vertical plane undulated appendage about as long as plate; lateral margins of appendage thickened or curved, so it looks like two thread-like parallel structures.

Etymology.-From Greek heis = one (the appendage of the anal plate).

Distribution in Tasmania. The range is wide but it has not been collected from the central and north-eastern parts.

Figures

Figs. 25–38. Decapauropus heis sp.nov., holotype 25–31, 33–38; paratype 32: 25, head, median and right part, tergal view; 26, posterior part of temporal organ; 27, right antenna, sternal view; 28, collum segment, median and left part, sternal view; 29, tergite VI, posterior part; 30, T; 31, 1 T; 32, genital papillae and seta on coxa of 2nd pair of legs, anterior view; 33, seta on coxa of 9th pair of legs, 34, seta on trochanter of 9th pair 3 of legs; 35, tarsus of 9th pair of legs; 36, pygidium, posterior part, sternal view; 37, anal plate, lateral view; 38, anal plate, tergal view. Scale line a for figures 30–35; b for figures 25, 28; c for figures 26, 27, 29, 36–38.