Stylopauropoides eximius, Scheller, 2009

Scheller, Ulf, 2009, New species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Tasmanian temperate rainforests, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 289-329 : 320-322

Stylopauropoides eximius sp.nov.

( Figs.169–179 )

Material Examined. Holotype. Ad. 9 (female), Savage River Pipeline Road , Loc. 1, (41°18.5'S, 145°16.3'E), in moss on log, 21.iv.1989 ( JD, HM).

Paratypes. Hibbs Lagoon Loc. 13, (42°34'S, 145°19.5'E), litter, 4 ad. 9 (1 male, 3 female), 1 subad. 8 (female), 27.ii.1989 ( SS) .

Other material. 1 specimen. Loc. 1, in moss on ground, 1 ad. 9 (female), 21.iv.1989 ( HM) .

Diagnosis. Stylopauropoides eximius is a close relative of S. vadoni Remy from Madagascar ( Remy 1956c; Remy & Bello 1960). They have great similarities in the antennae, the tergites and the pygidium, but can be distinguished by differences in the T 5 (dense minute pubescence in eximius , sparse thorny in vadoni ), the shape of the posteromedian lobe of the pygidial tergum (linguiform and longer than broad, not subrectangular and broader than long), the length of the pygidial setae a 1, a 2 and a 3 (a 1 and a 2 about half of the length of a 3, not all subequal) and by the shape of the anal plate (branches broad and blunt, not narrow, tapering, pointed; appendages clavate, not lanceolate-subcylindrical).

Description. Length.-(0.60-) 0.82 mm.

Head.-Tergal setae of medium length or fairly long with dense short oblique pubescence, submedian ones somewhat clavate, sublateral and lateral ones cylindrical.Relative lengths of setae, 1st row: a 1 =10, a 2 =(10-)13; 2nd row: a 1 =(12-)14, a 2 =(15-)18, a 3 =?(17); 3rd row: a 1 = (9-)11, a 2 =(9-)12; 4th row: a 1 =(12-)14, a 2 =(15-)16, a 3 =15(-19), a 4 =(10-)12; lateral group setae: l 1 =(20-)23, l 2 =(18-)20, l 3 =(17-)20. The ratio a 1 /a 1 -a 1 in 1st row 1.1(-1.3), 2nd row (0.6-)0.7, 3rd row (1.0-)1.5 and 4th row (1.1-)1.3. Temporal organs (0.9-) as long as their shortest distance apart. A small, exterior, clavate, straight, vesicle directed posteriorly and 0.2 of the length of temporal organ just inside the posterior margin on a level with l 1. Head cuticle with minute pubescence, temporal organs glabrous.

Antennae.-Segment 4 with five cylindrical striate-annulate setae; their relative lengths: p =100, p' =69(-71), p'' =37(-43), p''' =20(-23), r =22(-23). Tergal seta p 1.1 times as long as tergal branch t. The latter fusiform, (3.3-)4.0 times as long as its greatest diameter and (1.1-)1.2 times as long as sternal branch s, that branch being somewhat clavate, (2.1-)2.3 times as long as its greatest diameter; posterodistal and anterodistal corners equally truncate. Seta q cylindrical, annulate-striate, 1.1(-1.2) times as long as s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments (one paratype only): F 1 =100, bs 1 =11; F 2 =F 3 =73, bs 2 =bs 3 =12. The F 1 2.9 times as long as t, F 2 and F 3 2.4 times as long as s. Distal calyces subhemispherical; distal part of flagella axes widened only just below calyx. Globulus g 1.3(-1.4) times as long as wide; (11-)about 13 bracts, capsule subspherical; width of g (0.9-) as long as greatest diameter of t. Antennae glabrous.

Trunk.-Setae of collum segment furcate; primary branch folioform with almost erect pubescence, secondary branch rudimentary, cylindrical, glabrous. Sublateral setae 1.5 times as long as submedian ones; sternite process blunt with small anterior incision; appendages with flat caps with distinct collar; process and appendages with short pubescence.

Setae on anterior tergites as submedian setae on the tergal side of head, on posterior tergites subcylindrical, tapering, pointed and with very short pubescence; posterior setae 1.5-2 times longer than anterior ones; 4+4 setae on tergite I, 6+6 on II-IV, 6+? on V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI (holotype only) 0.9 of their distance apart and 1.2(-1.3) times as long as pygidial setae a

1

.

Relative lengths of bothriotricha (most of them broken or lost): T 1 =100, T 2 =96(-99), T 3 =(130), T 4 =(130), T 5 =(186); axes simple, thin, straight except in proximal 3/4 of T 3. Pubescent hairs simple oblique on T 4 and T 5, the main part of T 3 and on proximal halves of T 1 and T 2, very short on T 4 and T 5; hairs long, erect, branched distally and whorled on distal halves of T

1

and T

2

, short erect and whorled on most distal part of T

3

.

Legs.-Setae on coxa and trochanter of leg 9 furcate, densely butveryshortlypubescent,mainbranchleaf-shaped,secondary branch clavate, protruding from the middle of the primary one and reaching (0.6-)0.7 of the length of primary branch; these setae on more anterior legs with rudimentary, cylindrical, glabrous, secondary branch. Tarsus of leg 9 slender, (3.8-)4.1 times as long as its greatest diameter. Proximal seta tapering, pointed, with short oblique pubescence; distal seta subcylindrical striate blunt. Proximal seta 0.4(-0.5) of the length of tarsus and 2.3(-2.9) times as long as distal seta. Cuticle of tarsus almost glabrous.

Pygidium. Tergum.-Posterior margin evenly rounded.Very small but distinct semicircular posterior lobe above st. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 =100, a 2 =107-115, a 3 =(185-)207-223, st =(46-)54(-58); setae all curved inwards; a 1, a 2 and a 3 also tapering pointed and with short pubescence distally; a 2 and a 3 pointing outwards, st pointing inwards, cylindrical, blunt, striate. Distance a 1 -a 1 (1.0-)1.1 and 1.2 times as long as a 1; distance a 1 -a 2 (1.6-)1.9 times as long as distance a 2 -a 3; distance st-st (2.6-)2.7(-2.9) times as long as st and 1.3(-1.4) times as long as distance a

1

-a

1

.

Sternum.-Posterior margin between b 1 almost straight. Relative lengths of setae (a 1 =100): b 1 =(286-)321-346; setae thin, tapering, striate, (1.1-)1.2 times as long as their distance apart. Anal plate directed obliquely upwards, somewhat longer thanbroad,consistingoftwosubcylindricalsomewhatpointing outwards blunt branches separated by a deep U-shaped incision, length of branches 3/4 of the length of plate; from the sternal side of each branch, a clavate, posteriorly directed appendage 0.5 of the length of branch; plate and appendages with very short oblique pubescence.

Etymology.-From Latin eximius = exceptional (among the Tasmanian representatives of the genus).

Distribution in Tasmania. The small number of localities makes it impossible to determine the range accurately.

Figures

Figs. 169–179. Stylopauropoides eximiusr sp.nov., holotype: 169, head, median and right part, tergal view; 170, temporal organ, posterior part with pistil, lateral view; 171, left antenna, sternal view; 172, collum segment, median and left part, sternal view; 173, tergite VI, posterior part; 174, T; 175, T; 176, seta on trochanter of 9th pair of legs; 177, tarsus of 9th pair of legs; 178, pygidium, sternal view; 179, anal plate, lateral view. 1 3 Scale line a for figures 174–177; b for figures 169, 170, 172, 173, 178, 179; c for figure 171.