Caucadesmus, Alvear & Romero-Rincon, 2024

Alvear, Santiago & Romero-Rincon, Juan, 2024, Contribution to the knowledge of the Colombian Batodesmini (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae) with the description of a new genus and species, and taxonomic insights on the genus Cormodesmus Chamberlin, 1923, Zootaxa 5523 (5), pp. 553-563 : 554

Genus Caucadesmus gen. nov.

Type species. Caucadesmus lucreciae sp. nov., by present designation.

Etymology. The generic name is formed by a combination of the word ‘Cauca’ in reference to the Cauca River in Colombia, and the suffix ‘- desmus ’, which is commonly used in generic names in the order Polydesmida . The name is a masculine noun.

Diagnosis. A batodesminine genus belonging to the Alocodesmus group, characterized by the absence of significant body modifications. No evident epicranial processes nor modified collum. Metazonites smooth, without ornamentation or tubercles; ozopores opening laterally on the paranota without developed peritremata. The sternite of segment 5 features a large protruding tubercle densely surrounded by tufts of long setae.

The gonopod of Caucadesmus gen. nov. differs from other batodesminine genera, except Cordilleronomus Attems, 1931 , by the absence of numerous long setae on the dorsal surface of Cx (vs the presence of such setae in Alocodesmus Silvestri, 1896 , Carlopeltis Verhoeff, 1938 , Heteropeltis Carl, 1914 , Dyoparyphe Hoffman, 1969 , and Cheirogonus Hoffman, 1982 ). The PfP is bifid, contrasting with the three-branched PfP in Alocodesmus and the unbranched PfP in Cordilleronomus and Cheirogonus .

Caucadesmus differs from Attemsiella Strand, 1928 by lacking small tubercles and transverse grooves on the dorsal surface of most body rings, and from Colombodesmus Chamberlin, 1923 , by the absence of sternal spines and transverse rows of granules on the dorsal surface of body rings.