Gangugia mula, Bouzan & Iniesta & Brescovit, 2021

Bouzan, Rodrigo Salvador, Iniesta, Luiz Felipe M. & Brescovit, Antonio Domingos, 2021, Cladistic analysis and taxonomic review of the millipede tribe Arthrosolaenomeridini Hoffman, 1976 (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae), Zootaxa 4970 (2), pp. 201-256 : 231-234

Gangugia mula n. sp.

Figures 17–18, 24C–D

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C71B69A8-40C3-4E39-8050-6ECA65AB930D

Type material. Male holotype from UHE Tucuruí, Tucuruí (03°42’01”S, 49°42’00”W), Pará, Brazil, 1984, Instituto Butantan Expedition coll., deposited in IBSP 277 . Paratype: three females with the same data of the holotype, deposited in IBSP 274 , IBSP 276 , and IBSP 278 .

Diagnosis. Adult males differ from all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: legs from the fifth to the eighth segment with ventral projections in the coxae ( Fig. 31B); presence of triangular lateral expansion near the apex of the solenomere ( Fig. 17F) and presence of a short secondary process in the prefemoral process ( Fig. 17D).

Description. Male (Holotype, IBSP 277). Coloration (long-preserved in 70% ethanol): Head light brown. Antennae ocher yellowish. Body brown, with the edge of the paranota lighter ( Fig. 17A–C). Legs ocher yellowish. Legs from the fifth to the eighth segment with ventral projections in the coxae being the posterior pair of the sixth segment extremely elongated. Telson ocher. Total length: 65.51. Total width: 11.50. Collum, length 3.44, width 10.82. Antennomere lengths (1>7): 0.95; 2.38; 2.14; 1.88; 1.79; 1.70; 0.35. Podomeres lengths (1>7): 1.19; 1.69; 2.99; 1.42; 1.86; 1.90; 0.45. Gonopod aperture, length 2.46, width 4.87. Telson, length 1.41. Gonopod: length 3.42, width 3.07. Gonocoxae: length 1.51, width 1.36. Gonocoxae globose, about 1/2 the size of the telopodite. Telopodite: length 3.33, width 1.62. Prefemoral region short ( Fig. 17D). Prefemoral process ( Fig. 17D–F) long and curve, presenting a dorso-basal lobe, starting from an angle of 225°, involving the solenomere in its initial portion and subsequently ascending parallel to the solenomere and partially covering it in ectal view ( Fig. 17F); in its anterior portion presents an elongated, thin and acuminate secondary process ( Fig. 17D). Solenomere long, curved and with a lateral expansion ( Fig. 17F), but not reaching the apex of the prefemoral process. Cingulum in basal position, covered by the prefemoral process. Apex of the solenomere abruptly descending ( Figs 17D–E).

Female (IBSP 276). Body as in male, except for the legs; without modifications. Total length: 75.74. Total width: 11.46. Antennomere lengths (1>7): 0.74; 2.07; 1.98; 1.70; 1.66; 1.75; 0.35. Podomeres lengths (1>7): 1.10; 1.29; 3.048; 1.040; 1.28; 1.62; 0.32. Telson, length 1.35. Epigyne rounded with irregular edges. Vulvae ( Figs 24C–D): length 2.20, width 0.88. External valve: length 1.17, width 0.39. Internal valve: length 1.17, width 0.43. Operculum: length 0.32, width 0.62.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 18).

Etymology. The species epithet is a reference of the Brazilian folkloric character “Mula-sem-cabeça”.According to the legend, of uncertain origin, it’s a mule of brown color with a torch of fire in the place of the head. Noun in apposition.