Angulifemur unidigitis Zhang, 1997

Akkari, Nesrine, Macek, Oliver & Stoev, Pavel, 2023, A revision of the millipede family Paracortinidae (Diplopoda, Callipodida), ZooKeys 1187, pp. 341-399 : 341

Angulifemur unidigitis Zhang, 1997

Figs 1 , 2 , 26A, B , 28

Angulifemur unidigitis Zhang, 1997: 2, figs 12-15.

Paracortina wangi Stoev, 2004: 2, figs 1-11; Stoev et al. 2008: 17 (synonymisation).

Material examined.

1 female, China, Yunnan, Menzi County, Wulichong Sinkhole Cave ( No 3), 04.01.1989, P. Beron leg. (BG- NMNHS-INV-000000006259 NMNHS) , Stoev det. 25.07.2003, 1 male, China, Yunnan, Menzi County, Long Bao Pao Dong (cave), 07.01.1989, P. Beron leg. (BG- NMNHS-INV-000000006260 NMNHS).

Diagnosis.

It can easily be distinguished from A. tridigitis by the much shorter and upright coxal process, a distally more sinuous telopodite, bearing a pointed process at its mid length (Tp); distal part of telopodite with one tooth-shaped process (k).

Descriptive notes.

Habitus matching the description of Paracortina wangi ( Stoev 2004). The species is characterised by long walking legs and antennae, absence of projection on head vertex in adult males, reduced number of ommatidia and a strongly enlarged organ of Tömösváry (Fig. 1 ).

Male sexual characters.

Leg-pairs 1 and 2 reduced and more setose than the rest, showing prefemoral and tarsal brushes (Fig. 1E ), leg-pair 2 with a small anterior process and posterior gonopore, leg-pair 3 with a smaller triangular process on coxa (Fig. 1E ), leg-pair 6 with one small hyaline triangular mesal process on coxa, prefemur showing proximally a constriction on the posterior margin (Fig. 26A ), leg-pair 7 with two coxal processes (Fig. 26B ), a long subfalcate mesal process and a shorter, larger, subtriangular one (corresponding to f and t, respectively in Stoev 2004: fig. 6), coxal sacs (Fig. 1E ) present on leg-pair 3-23.

Gonopods (Fig. 2 ). Each gonopod with two short, clavate, setose prefemoroidal processes (pf1 and pf2), with pf1 slightly larger and more setose than pf2 (Fig. 2A, C ). Coxa with two reduced processes on the median margin: (a) a rounded lobe directed mesad (Fig. 2A, C, D ), and (b) a reduced, cone-shaped one, pointing distad (Fig. 2 A, B, D ). Telopodital (T) stem proximally broad, with a pointed triangular projection (Tp) at the third to mid-length of its posterior margin, marking an abrupt twist and narrowing of the process (Fig. 2A-D ). Distal half of T sinusoidal, gently narrowing distad, and bent laterad. Distal part of T darkly pigmented, with a sharp triangular tooth (k) and a much smaller blunt one (tb) on the lateral margin (Fig. 2B-D ). T further narrowing distad, marking a complete loop, its apex projecting in a short curved downturned process, bifurcated into solenomere (s) and parasolenomere (ps).

Comments.

The specimens studied here are part of the type series of the species Paracortina (Altum) wangi Stoev, 2004. Stoev (2004) described this millipede as a new species of the genus Paracortina and subgenus Paracortina Altum based on the presence of five posterior setae on the sixth hemipleurite. While describing P. wangi Stoev (2004) was unaware of the publication of Zhang (1997). Being also described from the same type locality (Longbaopo-Wulichong cave system) in Mengzi County, Stoev et al. (2008) subsequently synonymised P. wangi with Angulifemur unidigitis .

Distribution.

Until now, the species is known only from Long Bao Pao - Wulichong cave system and Laoxiao Cave, Mengzi County, China (Fig. 28 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Angulifemur unidigitis Zhang, 1997, male (BG- NMNHS-INV- 000000006260 NMNHS) A middle and posterior part of body, dorsal view B head: organ of Toemoesvary and ommatidia C-E head and anterior pleurotergites C lateral view D frontal view E ventral view.

Figure 2. Angulifemur unidigitis Zhang, 1997, male (BG- NMNHS-INV- 000000006260 NMNHS), right gonopod A anterior view B posterior view C lateral view D mesal view. Abbreviations: a = mesal process of coxa; b = falcate mesal process of coxa; pf 1 = prefemoroidal process 1; pf 2 = prefemoroidal process 2; k = lateral process of the distal part of telopodite; ps = parasolenomere; s = solenomere; tb = blunt tooth of telopodite; Tp = telopodital projection.

Figure 26. Modifications on leg-pair 6 and leg-pair 7 in adult males of species of Paracortinidae A, B Angulifemur unidigitis Zhang, 1997, male A leg pair 6 B leg 7 C Paracortina multisegmentata Stoev & Geoffroy, 2004, male paratype leg pair 7 D, E Paracortina thallina (Wang & Zhang, 1993), male D leg pair 6 E leg pair 7. Abbreviations: c = coxa; pr = prefemur; tr = trochanter.

Figure 28. Distribution map of Paracortinidae in China and Vietnam.