Calyptodesmus sanctus Schubart, 1944

Shelley, R. M., 2004, The milliped family Pyrgodesmidae in the continental USA, with the first record of Poratia digitata (Porat) from the Bahamas (Diplopoda: Polydesmida), Journal of Natural History 38, pp. 1159-1181 : 1166-1168

Calyptodesmus sanctus Schubart

(figures 4, 9)

Calyptodesmus sanctus Schubart, 1944: 368–369 , figure 38; Hoffman, 1993: 191–192; 1999: 477–478; Shelley and Golovatch, 2001: 60; Shelley, 2001: 246.

Calyptodesmus schubarti Causey, 1960: 148–149 , figure 1.

Diagnosis. Twenty segments. Preserved specimens thin, fragile and lightly sclerotized, colour whitish. Scalloped margin of collum upturned to varying degrees, often strongly; scallops moderately separated with deep indentations, lobes segregated to subequivalent degrees. Paranota 2 with three lobes, remaining paranota, both poriferous and non-poriferous, with two lobes; porosteles present on segments 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15, positioned between lobes (figures 4, 9).

Variation. When viewed laterally, the strongly upturned collum of C. sanctus can lead to a misidentification as Poratia obliterata . The degree of upturn varies, but it is strong in most individuals and subequal to the condition in Poratia ; the confusion is increased by the fact that the scallops are more distinctly separated than in Psochodesmus crescentis and the species of Myrmecodesmus , though less than in Poratia . The key to distinguishing C. sanctus from P. obliterata is the degree of segregation of the lateralmost scallops (compare figures 3 and 4); that to distinguishing C. sanctus from P. crescentis is the different paranotal configurations, with two lobes on all paranota of C. sanctus from segments 3–19 and porosteles between the lobes. In P. crescentis the non-poriferous paranota have three lobes with sometimes a faint suggestion of four lobes on segments 16–18, and there are two lobes anterior to the porosteles on segments 7–15 (compare figures 9 and 10).

Ecology. The type of C. schubarti was found under a board (Causey, 1960), and the Alabama sample was in a ravine (Shelley and Golovatch, 2001). Habitat notations on vial labels include ‘in soil’, ‘in greenhouse’ and fire ant ‘nest 76-W-048A’ .

Overall distribution. The type locality is Pirassununga , São Paulo State, Brazil (Schubart, 1944), and C. sanctus also occurs in northwestern Argentina and Paraguay as well as the USA (Hoffman, 1993, 1999). However, the Argentina individuals have porosteles only on segment 5, a seemingly significant difference from the seven pairs on the introduced specimens in the USA, perhaps reflecting a different species .

Occurrence in the USA. Eastern Alabama and the southern half of Georgia to Hillsborough and St. Lucie Counties , Florida (figures 1, 2). Hoffman (1999) stated that C. sanctus occurred nearly statewide in Florida, but the species is unknown from south Florida or the panhandle west of Leon County .

Published records. Alabama: Tallapoosa Co. (Shelley and Golovatch, 2001). Florida: Alachua and Columbia Cos (Causey, 1960; Hoffman, 1993; Shelley and Golovatch, 2001); Clay, Duval, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Levy, Marion, Pasco, St. Lucie and Taylor Cos (Shelley and Golovatch, 2001). Georgia: Glynn, Grady and Turner Cos (Shelley and Golovatch, 2001).

New records. Florida: Alachua Co., Gainesville, Hogtown Cr. Area , in soil, X, 10 October 1959, W. J. Platt III ( FSCA) and Division of Plant Industry Bldg , 2 X, 1 July 1983, G. B. Edwards ( FSCA) ; nr Melrose , 4 X, 8 November 1960, R. E. Woodruff ( FSCA) ; and Paynes Prairie , on shoulder of US highway (hwy) 441, ‘nest 76-W-048A,’ XX, 24 March 1976, Atwood, Hicks, Jouvenaz ( VMNH) . Citrus Co., Crystal River State Historic Site , 4 X, 11 June 1983, R. M. Shelley, J. L. Staton ( NCSM) . Hillsborough Co., N. Tampa , X, 30 March 1967, P. C. Drummond ( FSCA) . Jefferson Co., Big Bend Horticultural Lab. nr Monticello, 2 X, date and collector unknown ( FSCA) . Lake Co., Astor , three juvs., 12 September 1959, W. Suter ( FSCA) . Leon Co., Tall Timbers Res. Sta., X, August 1973, N. A. Naves ( FSCA) .

Georgia: Chatham Co., Halycon Bluff, X, 1 November 1959, L. Hubricht ( FSCA) .

Alabama: Crenshaw Co., Brantley, 4 X, 17 July 1960, L. Hubricht ( FSCA). Dale Co. , Ozark, 2 X, 25 June 1960, L. Hubricht ( VMNH) .