Antichiropus confragus Car, 2019

Car, Catherine A., Harvey, Mark S., Hillyer, Mia J. & Huey, Joel A., 2019, The millipede genus Antichiropus (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), part 3: species of the Pilbara bioregion of Western Australia, Zootaxa 4617 (1), pp. 1-71 : 19-21

Antichiropus confragus Car , n. sp.

( Figs 8 A–F, 11)

ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:73A4C0C1-70C6-4245-B8FD-E31B9F1A8566

Type material examined. Australia: Western Australia: holotype male (damaged, missing end segments), 20 km ESE. of Warrawagine Homestead , site PHYE07 , 20°56’08”S, 120°52’35.1”E, 19 May–21 August 2006, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T144609). Paratypes: 1 male, 20 km E. of Warrawagine Homestead, Pilbara Biological Survey site PHYE 07, 20°56’08”S, 120°52’35”E, 3 July 2005 – 19 May 2006, ethylene glycol pitfall traps, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T124632 , GenBank accession number 12S, MK 735765 ); 3 males, 5 females 20 km E. of Warrawagine Homestead , Pilbara Biological Survey site PHYE07 , 20°56’08”S, 120°52’35”E, 3 July 2005 – 19 May 2006 , ethylene glycol pitfall traps, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T146703 ) .

Other material examined. Australia: Western Australia: 2 males, 2 females, 13.5 km E. of Warrawagine Homestead , site PHYE06 , 20°51’38”S, 120°49’14”E, 2 July 2005 – 19 May 2006 , ethylene glycol pitfall traps, CALM staff ( Pilbara Biological Survey ) ( WAM T124627 ) ; 1 male, 20 km ESE of Warrawagine Homestead , site PHYE07 , 20°56’08”S, 120°52’35”E, 19 May–21 August 2006, CALM staff ( Pilbara Biological Survey ) ( WAM T124593 ) ; 1 immature (damaged), 20 km ESE of Warrawagine Homestead , site PHYE07 , 20°56’08”S, 120°52’35”E, 19 May–21 August 2006, CALM staff ( Pilbara Biological Survey ) ( WAM T146702 ) .

Diagnosis. Gonopod: Antichiropus confragus Car , n. sp. may be recognised by the asymmetrical, pointed tip of the gonopodal solenomere and the distinctive multi-pointed second solenomere process (sp2) not seen in any other Pilbara species.

Description. Male holotype: Body ca. 20 mm long (last few segments missing); midbody ring ca. 2 mm wide, with distinct, smooth waist, metazonite slightly wider than prozonite.

Colour (in alcohol) dark brown, paler ventrally ( Fig 8A .): leg colour, chestnut. No paranota ( Fig 8B ).

Sternites without obvious processes/tubercles, sternal lamella broad, mushroom shaped, filling entire space between coxae.

Leg coxal processes absent. Anterior spiracles at midbody, small, ovoid, slightly folded. Head smooth without noticeable sculpturing; frons smooth, setose; face narrow, cardines visible when viewed face-on, maximum width ca. 4x the distance between antennal sockets; sockets separated by ca. 2x width of socket.

Antennae of moderate length, reaching to ring 2, antennal segments of similar length and width.

Collum 1x head (in lateral view) ( Fig 8A ).

Gonopod short, reaching ring 6; coxa (C) much more robust, shorter than femorite, with slight ridge on anterior surface; prefemur (PF) much shorter than femorite, with few setae, prefemoral lip pronounced; femorite (F) 2/3 acropodite length, upright, broadening to apex; main femoral process (MFP) at least 1/3 of femorite length, pointed; second femoral process (fp1) absent; prolongation of femorite (prof) broad, triangular, coming to a point; solenomere (S) moderately long, forming an open loop/circle, narrower than femorite, of similar width along its length but broadest mid-length; solenomere tip flattened, arrow-shaped; solenomere process (sp1) at solenomere tip, very small, upright, pointed; second solenomere process (sp2) multi-pointed, broad near solenomere tip ( Figs 8 C–F).

Female: Similar to the male, but slightly broader with shorter, more slender legs (WAM T124632).

Distribution. All specimens were found in the vicinity of the Warrawagine Homestead in the Pilbara ( Fig 11 ).

Etymology. The species’ name refers to the solenomere tip on the gonopod that comprises several pointed processes (Latin, adjective, confragus , broken, rough).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Antichiropus confragus Car, n. sp., holotype male (WAM T144609): A–B, habitus: A, lateral view; B, dorsal view; C–F, left gonopod: C, posterior view; D, anterior view; E, medial view; F, lateral view. Abbreviations: C, coxa; F, femorite; MFP, main femoral process; PF, prefemur; prof, prolongation of femorite; S, solenomere; sp1 and sp2 solenomere processes 1 and 2. Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B = 1 mm; C–F = 0.5 mm

FIGURE 11. Map showing the known distributions of A. anguinus Car, n. sp., A. antius Car, n. sp., A. apricus Car, n. sp., A. cirratus Car, n. sp., A. confragus Car, n. sp., A. cristatus Car, n. sp. and A. cucumeraceous Car, n. sp.