Stylopauropoides erectus, Scheller, 2009

Scheller, Ulf, 2009, New species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Tasmanian temperate rainforests, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 289-329 : 309-312

Stylopauropoides erectus sp.nov.

( Figs.105–116 )

Material Examined. Holotype. Ad. 9 (female), Savage River Pipeline Road , Loc.1, (41°18.5'S, 145°16.3'E), litter, 21.iv.1989 ( PG).

Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 5 ad. 9 (female), 2 juv. 5.

Other material. 160 specimens. Loc. 1, in moss on Nothofagus , 3 ad. 9 (female), 1 juv. 6, 1.iv.1989 ( JD), and in moss on ground , 4 ad. 9 (female), 2 subad 8 (male, female), 21.iv.1989 ( HM), and in litter 2 ad. 9 (female), 21.iv.1989 ( JD, HM), and in moss on log , 1 ad. 9 (female),

21.iv.1989 ( JD, HM), and in moss on ground, 1 ad. 9 (female), 21. iv.1989 ( JD). Loc. 2, in moss on ground, 1 ad. 9 (female), 1 juv. 6, and in leaf litter, 1 ad. 9 (female), 1 juv. 5, 21.iv.1989 ( JD). Loc. 4, in moss on ground, 3 ad. 9 (2 male, 1 sex?), 1 subad. 8 (female), 1 juv. 6, 17. xi.1989 ( RC, HM), and in moss on log, 23 ad. 9 (female), 16 subad. 8 (female), 8 juv. 6, 3 juv 5, 1 juv. 3, 18.xi.1989 ( RC, HM), and in moss on myrtle, 1 ad. 9 (female), 1 juv. 6, 18.xi.1989 ( HM), and in in moss on ground, 1 ad. 9 (female), 18.xi.1989 ( HM). Loc. 5, in moss on log, 1 subad. 8 (female), 29.xi.1989 ( RC), and PKD, 1 juv. 3, 25.xi.1989 ( HM). Loc. 6, soil core, 5 ad. 9 (4 male, 1 female), 1 subad. 8 (female), 1 juv. 6, 11.xi.1989 ( RC). Loc. 7, in moss on log, 2 subad. 8 (female), 2 juv. 6, 17.v.1989 ( HM), and in moss on ground, 1 ad. 9 (female), 12.v.1989 ( PG), and without site description and date, 2 ad. 9 (female), 1 subad. 8 (female), 4 juv. 6, 1 juv. 5. Loc. 11, in leaf litter, 1 ad. 9 (female), and in moss on base of myrtle trunk, 2 ad. 9 (female), 2 juv. 6, and in moss on fallen logs, 15 ad. 9 (female), 6 subad. 8 (female), 5 juv. 6, 1 juv. 3, 21.iii.1989 ( PG, JD). Loc. 17, in non-myrtle litter, 9 ad. 9 (female), 3 subad. 8 (female), 7 juv. 6, 5 juv. 5, 4 juv. 3, 8.iii.1989 ( PG). Loc. 18, leaf litter, 1 ad. 9 (female), xii.1987 ( MN) .

Diagnosis. Stylopauropoides erectus belongs to a group of species in the genus having V-shaped anal plates with short-stalked appendages distally, among them S. bornemisszai Remy from west Australia ( Remy 1957) but is well distinguished from it by the shape of the posterior setae of tergite VI and the distal appendages of the anal plate (cylindrical and similar to a drawing pin respectively in S. erectus , clavate and irregularly ovoid in S. bornemisszai ). There are also distinct similarites with S. ringueleti from south Argentina and Chile ( Remy 1962, Scheller 1968) diverging by the shape of the bothriotricha T 3 and the st (distal half of T 3 densely provided with branched pubescence hairs in S. erectus , sparsely provided with thin branches with short pubescence in S. ringueleti ; st cylindrical, not clavate). A third similar species is S. subantarcticus Scheller from the Crozet Islands ( Scheller 1974) but the shape of the antennal globulus is a good separating character (with short thick stalk, not long conical) as is also the shape of the T 3 (proximal half weakly thickened, not thick clavate). S. erectus has some characters not often met with in the genus. The F 2 are longer than the F 3, a character shared with S. subantarcticus , and the posterodistal corner of the sternal antennal branch is more truncate than the anterodistal one, also occurring in S-infidus Remy from New Zealand ( Remy 1956a). The new species is distinguished from S. infidus by the shape of the posterior part of the pygidial tergum (with broad rounded bulge in S. erectus , with median indentation in S. infidus ), by the proportion st-st/st (9–12, not about 4) and by the shape of the distal part of the pygidial setae b 1 (distal part undulated, not evenly curved). There are also similarities in direction S. tiegsi Remy from mainland Australia and New Zealand ( Remy 1949, 1956a) but in that species the antennal flagella F 3 are as long as or longer than the F 2, the st proportionately longer and the distal part of the pygidial setae b

1

is straight, not undulated.

Description. Length.-(0.70-)0.73(-0.98) mm.

Head.-Submedian setae on the tergal side of median length, subclavate, with somewhat uneven pubescence, lateral setae fairly long, cylindrical, with short pubescence. Relative lengths of setae, 1st row: a 1 =10, a 2 =(8-)11(-12); 2nd row: a 1 =(11-)12, a 2 =(14-)15, a 3 =(14-)16; 3rd row: a 1 =(11-)14, a

2

=(15-)18; 4th row: a

1

=(13-)18, a

2

=(19-)22, a

3

=(20-)27, a 4 =16(-22); lateral group setae: l 1 =(24-)31, l 2 =(26-)33, l 3 =(27-32). The ratio a 1 /a 1 -a 1 in 1st row 1.0, 2nd row 0.8, 3rd row (1.1-)1.2(-1.3) and 4th row (1.2-)1.5. Length of temporal organs 0.7(-0.8) of their shortest distance apart; in a depression of the cuticle in posterior half of the organ anterior of l 1 and l 2 a clavate curved vesicle almost 0.2 of the length of temporal organ. Head cuticle glabrous.

Antennae.-Segment 3 with three setae and rudiment of globular organ. Segment 4 with five cylindrical annulate blunt setae; their relative lengths: p =100, p' =(53-)64(-75), p'' =(48-)52(-57), p''' =32(-40), u =(8-)9. Tergal seta p (0.8-)1.0(-1.1) times as long as tergal branch t. The latter fusiform, (2.4-)2.9(-3.1) times as long as its greatest diameter and (almost) as long as sternal branch s, that branch (1.9-)2.2(-2.3) times as long as its greatest diameter; posterodistal corner of s much more truncate than anterodistal one. Seta q cylindrical, annulate, blunt, (0.8-)0.9 of the length of s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments: F 1 =100, bs 1 =(8-)9(-10); F 2 =(76-)87(-89), bs 2 =8(-10); F 3 =(47-)52(-53), bs 3 =(7-)8(-9). The F 1 (2.9-)3.3(-3.6) times as long as t, F 2 and F 3 (2.4-)2.8 and (1.5-)1.7(-1.9) times as long as s respectively. Distal calyces hemispherical, largest on F 1; distal part of flagella axes not widened. Globulus g (1.4-)1.6 times as long as wide; at least 10 bracts, capsule bottom flattened; width of g 0.6(-0.7) of the greatest diameter of t. Antennae with faint pubescence.

Trunk.-Setae of collum segment furcate; primary branch folioform with distinct oblique pubescence, secondary branch rudimentary, cylindrical, glabrous. Sublateral setae as long as (-somewhat longer than) submedian ones; sternite process triangular, anterior part narrow and with distinct incision; appendages subconical, caps flat with collar; process with faint lateral pubescence, appendages almost glabrous. Setae on anterior tergites thin, cylindrical, annulate, blunt, more posteriorly increasing in length and with short pubescence; 4+4 setae on tergite I, 6+6 on II-V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI 0.4 of their distance apart and (as long as-)1.2 times as long as pygidial setae a

1

.

Relative lengths of bothriotricha: T 1 =100, T 2 =(101-)107 and 114(-120), T 3 =106-114, T 4 =(117-)122(-142), T 5 =(132-)150(-187); axes thin, simple, straight, those in T 3 moderately thickened.Pubescence hairs on T 5 and on proximal 1/4 of the others short, oblique, on distal 2/3 of T 1 -T 4 much longer, branched distally and arranged in whorls.

Legs.-Setae on coxa and trochanter of leg 9 furcate, clavate, with oblique short pubescence, secondary branch protruding from the middle of the primary one and reaching 0.5-0.7 of the length of primary branch, these setae more anteriorly with rudimentary glabrous secondary branches. Tarsus of leg 9 (2.6-) 2.9 times as long as its greatest diameter. Proximal seta tapering, in distal part annulate, pointed; distal seta cylindrical annnulate blunt. Proximal seta (0.4-)0.5 of the length of tarsus and (1.5-)1.9 times as long as distal seta. Cuticle of tarsus with minute pubescence.

Pygidium. Tergum.-Posterior margin between st with low rounded bulge. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 =100, a 2 =(200-)215(-242), a 3 =(195-)235(-246), st =(12-)15(-18), setae curved inwards, thin, tapering; a 1, a 2 and a 3 pointed, st blunt and also pointing inwards; all setae with short, oblique pubescence. Distance a 1 -a 1 (2.1-)2.3 times as long as a 1; distance a 1 -a 2 2.0(-2.5) times as long as distance a 2 -a 3; distance st-st (9.1-)11.3(-12.8) times as long as st and 0.7(-0.8) of distance a

1

-a

1

. Cuticle with distinct pubescence between st.

Sternum.-Posterior margin above and behind b 1 with a large and broad triangular lobe. Relative lengths of setae (a 1 =100): b 1 =(225-)245(-275); setae thin, shortly pubescent, tapering, undulated distally, (1.1-)1.2(-1.4) times as long as their distance apart. Anal plate almost upright, V-shaped, branches somewhat S-shaped, slender, somewhat increasing in width distally, each branch with a distal appendage in the shape of the head of a thread-nail; plate and appendages with very distinct almost erect pubescence, longest on distal part of the branches.

Stage juv. 5. Pygidial setae d 2 thin, their length somewhat more than 0.1 of their distance apart; d 1 absent.

Etymology.-From Latin erectus = steep, upright (anal plate).

Distribution in Tasmania. Like the preceding species the known range is restricted to northern Tasmania but its frequency in moss and litter samples may indicate a wider distribution.

Figures

Figs. 105–116. Stylopauropoides erectus sp.nov., holotype 105–115, paratype 116: 105, head, median and right part, tergal view; 106, temporal organ, posterior part with pistil, lateral view; 107, left antenna, tergal view; 108, 3rd antennal segment, tergal view; 109, collum segment, median and left part, sternal view; 110, tergite VI, posterior part; 111, T; 112, seta on coxa of 9th pair of legs; 113, tarsus of 9th pair of legs; 114, 3 pygidium, tergal view; 115, anal plate, lateral view; 116, anal plate, sternal view. Scale line a for figures 105, 106, 110–113; b for figures 107–109, 114–116.