Antichiropus cunicularis 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 : 24-26

Antichiropus cunicularis Car , n. sp.

( Figs 12 A–F, 16)

ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:681AB6BB-3BE0-4345-BAD1-DFB0D30233ED

Type material examined. Australia: Western Australia: holotype male, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine , 21°37’14”S, 120°06’11”E, 16 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, drainage line, A. Scarfone ( WAM T144588 ). Para- types : Australia: Western Australia: 1 male, 2 females, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°37’14”S, 120°06’11”E, 16 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, drainage line, A. Scarfone ( WAM T123225 ) ; 1 male, (damaged), McPhee Creek , ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’05”S, 120°05’52”E, 30 April 2011, pitfall trap, ridge top (sandstone) Outback Ecology ( WAM T146807 ) .

Other material examined. Australia: Western Australia: 1 male (badly damaged and bleached), 24 km NNE. of Nullagine, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW05, 21°40’38.2”S, 120°09’19.5”E, May 2004, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T76062, GenBank accession number 12S, MK 735741 ; 28S, MK 735805 ); 1 male, 5 females, 12.5km N. of Nullagine, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW03, 21°46’13.1”S, 120°05’30.7”E, May 2004, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T76068); 2 males, 5 females, 2 juveniles (badly damaged), 56.3 km N. of Nullagine, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW04, 21°40’42.7”S, 120°05’18.2”E, May 2004, CALM Pilbara Survey ( WAM T76069); 6 males, 1 female, 1 juvenile (badly damaged and bleached), 55 km N. of Nullagine, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW12, 21°23’32.2”S, 120°04’15.3”E, May 2004, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T76081); 1 male, Corruna Downs Station, E. of homestead, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW9, 21°27’43”S, 120°00’49”E, 17 November 2003 – 18 May 2004, wet pitfall trap, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T109964); 1 male, 55 km N. of Nullagine, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW12, 21°23’32.2”S, 120°04’15.3”E, May 2004, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T 112614); 1 male, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’57”S, 120°04’56”E, 17 February 2012, hand collected in gully, M. Walker ( WAM T123212); 1 male, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’39”S, 120°05’24”E, hand collected in gully, M. Walker ( WAM T123213, GenBank accession number 12S, MK 735763 ; 28S, MK 735823 ; COI, MK 735889 ; COIII, MK 735944 ; CytB, MK 735995 ) 1 juvenile, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’39”S, 120°05’24”E, hand collected in gully, M. Walker ( WAM T123214); 1 female, remains, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’57”S, 120°04’56”E, 30 April 2011, wet pitfall trap, gully, M. Walker ( WAM T123216); 1 male, 1 female (damaged), McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’05”S, 120°05’52”E, 30 April 2011, pitfall trap, ridge top (sandstone) Outback Ecology ( WAM T123217); 1 female (badly damaged), McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’05”S, 120°05’52”E, 30 April 2011, wet pitfall trap, sandstone ridge, A Scarfone ( WAM T123218); 2 juveniles, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°34’43”S, 120°07’10”E, 10 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, ridge top, M. Walker ( WAM T123219); 1 immature, McPhee Creek , ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine , 21°36’29”S, 120°05’49”E, 26 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, gully, M. Walker ( WAM T123220 ) ; 1 female, McPhee Creek , ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’05”S, 120°05’52”E, 26 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, sandstone ridgetop M. Walker ( WAM T123221 ) ; 1 male, 1 immature (damaged) McPhee Creek , ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’57”S, 120°04’56”E, 16 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, gully, A. Scarfone ( WAM T123222 ) ; 1 female, McPhee Creek , ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°37’26”S, 120°07’37”E, 16 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, stony plain, A. Scarfone ( WAM T123223 ) ; 1 male, McPhee Creek , ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°37’26”S, 120°07’37”E, 17 February -16 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, stony plain, A. Scarfone ( WAM T123224 ) ; 1 female (damaged), McPhee Creek , ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°34’48”S, 120°09’00”E, 16 April 2012, wet pitfall trap, drainage line, A. Scarfone ( WAM T123226 ) ; 3 males, 3 females, 1 juvenile, Corruna Downs Station, E. of homestead, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW9, 21°27’43”S, 120°00’49”E, 17 November 2003 – 18 May 2004, wet pitfall trap, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T146705 ) ; 1 female, McPhee Creek, ca. 33 km N. of Nullagine, 21°36’39”S, 120°05’24”E, hand collected in gully, M. Walker ( WAM T146706 ) ; 3 males, 3 females, 1 juvenile, 24 km NNE. of Nullagine, Pilbara Biological Survey site NW05, 21°40’38.2”S, 120°09’19.5”E, May 2004, CALM staff (Pilbara Biological Survey) ( WAM T146707 ) .

Diagnosis. Gonopod: Antichiropus cunicularis Car , n. sp. is distinguishable from other similar species, namely A. spathion Car , n. sp. ( Fig 37 ) A. sloanae Car , n. sp. ( Fig 36 ) and A. simmonsi Car , n. sp. ( Fig 35 ) by the size of the main femoral process and the prolongation of the femorite: in A. cunicularis both structures ca. 1/3 length of the solenomere, but are much smaller in the other species. In addition, A. cunicularis has a banana-shaped main femoral process, different from those of the other species.

Description. Male holotype: Body ca. 25–30 mm long, smooth; midbody ring ca. 2 mm wide, with moderately deep, smooth waist, metazonite slightly wider than prozonite width.

Colour (in alcohol) very dark brown ( Fig 12A ): leg colour, dark brown, lighter near body. Slight protuberances representing paranota ( Fig 12B ).

Sternites without obvious processes/tubercles, sternal lamella mushroom-shaped. Leg coxal processes absent. Anterior spiracles at midbody, tiny, circular, flat.

Head smooth without noticeable sculpturing; frons sparsely setose; face narrow, maximum width ca. 4x the distance between antennal sockets; sockets separated by ca. 1.5x width of socket.

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

Collum 1x head length (in lateral view) ( Fig 13A ).

Gonopod of medium length, reaching ring 5; coxa (C) robust, broader than femorite and 2/3 femorite length, with pronounced ridge on anterior surface; prefemur (PF) ½ length of femorite, setose, slight prefemoral lip; femo- rite (F) 1/2 acropodite length, upright, with slight widening then narrowing at femoral process; (MFP) main femoral process 1/2 length of solenomere, broad, long, upright with asymmetrical point; second femoral process (fp1) absent; prolongation of femorite (prof) curved, pointed; solenomere (S) moderately long, forming an open loop, widest at mid-length, tapering before widening again to a leaf-like tip with asymmetrical point; solenomere process (sp1) tiny on solenomere tip; second solenomere process 2 (sp2) slender, pointed, at narrowest point on solenomere behind tip ( Fig 12 C–F).

Female: Very similar to male but with shorter, more slender legs (WAM T123217).

Distribution. This species is known from a single site, situated north-east of the town of Newman ( Fig 17 ).

Etymology. This species is named for the shape of the main femoral process and prolongation of the femorite on the gonopod, which, when seen together in anterior view, resemble rabbit ears (Latin, adjective, cunicularis , of rabbits).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Antichiropus cunicularis Car, n. sp., holotype male (WAM T144588): 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 2, solenomere processes1 and 2;.Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B = 2 mm; C–F = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 13. Antichiropus echinus Car, n. sp., holotype male (WAM T144610): 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: F, femorite; MFP, main femoral process; PF, prefemur; prof, prolongation of femorite; S, solenomere; sp1, solenomere process 1; St, solenomere teeth. Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B = 1 mm; C–F = 0.5 mm

FIGURE 17. Antichiropus georginae Car, n. sp.: A–B, holotype male (WAM T145175): 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; lp, lateral process; MFP, main femoral process; PF, prefemur; prof, prolongation of femorite; S, solenomere; sp1 and sp2, solenomere processes1 and 2. Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B = 2 mm; C–F = 0. 5 mm.

FIGURE 35. A. simmonsi n.sp. holotype male (WAM T144611): 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, solenomere processes 1. Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B = 1 mm; C–F = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 36. Antichiropus sloanae Car, n. sp., holotype male (WAM T144612): A–B, habitus: A, lateral view; B, dorsal view; C–G, left gonopod: C, posterior view; D, anterior view; E, medial view; F, lateral view; G, enlarged lateral view of solenomere tip showing processes. Abbreviations: C, coxa; F, femorite; MFP, main femoral process; PF, prefemur; prof, prolongation of femorite; S, solenomere; sp1 and sp2, solenomere processes1 and 2; Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B = 1 mm; C–F = 0.5 mm; G = 0.2 mm..

FIGURE 37. Antichiropus spathion Car, n. sp., holotype male (WAM T144579): 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.