Krateraspis sselivanovi Titova, 1975

Dyachkov, Yurii V. & Bonato, Lucio, 2022, Morphology and distribution of the Middle Asian centipede genus Krateraspis Lignau, 1929 (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Mecistocephalidae), ZooKeys 1095, pp. 143-164 : 143

Krateraspis sselivanovi Titova, 1975

Figures 33-35 , 36-39 , 40-43

Krateraspis sselivanovi : Titova 1975: 41 (original description), 45, 46 (in key); fig. 2: 1-5A. Bonato et al. 2003: 543, 545, 546, 550, 551, 552, 577. Dyachkov 2019: 368, 373 (in key). Dyachkov 2020: 84.

Type locality.

"Tajikistan, Sharak" ( Titova 1975) [Tajikistan, Khatlon region, Sharak village, ca. 38°16'N, 70°04'E].

Examined specimens.

Paratypes: 1 ♂, from [Tajikistan, Khatlon region, Mu’minobod district], Sharak, 10-20 [cm deep], 31.V.[19]65 (ZMMU Rc 8154); 2 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀, from Sharak, 0-10 [cm deep], 29.V.[19]65 (ZMMU Rc 8167); 1 ♂, from Sharak, 10-20 [cm deep], 4.VI.[19]64 (ZMMU Rc 8175). Other material: 3 ♀♀, from Sharak, 10-20, 20-30, 40-50 [cm deep], 15.X.[19]64 (ZMMU Rc 8153); 1 ♂ and 2 ♀♀, from Sharak, 0-10 [cm deep], 4.VI.[19]69 (ZMMU Rc 8163); 1 ♂, from Sharak, 20-40 [cm deep], 8.X.[19]65 (ZMMU Rc 8165); 1 ♂, from [unknown region] F-bad [Fayzobod village], Hordeum , 70-80 [cm deep], 30.VII.[19]66 (ZMMU Rc 8173); 1 ♂, from [Districts of Republican Subordination], Garm [village, ca. 39°1'N, 70°22'E], 21.VI.[19]69 (ZMMU Rc 8187).

Remarks on nomenclatural issues.

The type series of K. sselivanovi comprises 21 specimens: the holotype and 19 paratypes from Sharak, and another paratype from Faizobod ( Titova 1975). These specimens are expected to be at the ZMMU, but we did not find the holotype, and the paratypes are not marked as such. Nevertheless, we detected six specimens that can be recognized as paratypes according to the locality and date reported on labels (ZMMU Rc 8154, ZMMU Rc 8167, ZMMU Rc 8175), while one specimen (ZMMU Rc 8187) can be recognized as not belonging to the type series, because it is from a locality not mentioned by Titova (1975). Instead, the date on the labels of the other eight specimens (ZMMU Rc 8153, ZMMU Rc 8163, ZMMU Rc 8165, ZMMU Rc 8173) do not fully correspond to the dates reported by Titova (1975), so it is uncertain whether they are paratypes or not.

Diagnosis.

A species of Krateraspis with: clypeus showing the transition between marked and weak areolation at ca. 0.3-0.4 of the clypeal medial length, so that some clypeal setae are surrounded by marked areolation while other setae are surrounded by weak areolation; no spine-like sensilla on the lateral parts of the clypeus; second maxillary telopodites not distinctly surpassing the tips of the telopodites of the first maxillae; first article of the second maxillary telopodites with a distinct distal bulge on the external side; all forcipular articles with a distinct denticle with the exception of the femur; invariably 53 pairs of legs. See also Table 2 .

Intraspecific variation.

Maximum body length: 62 mm in ♀♀ (n = 7) and 67 mm in ♂♂ (n = 8) but the largest specimens of both sexes are slightly macerated and stretched. Color (in ethanol 70%) usually yellow, with head, forcipular segment (except forcipular tergite), and antennae light brown (Figs 33 , 34 ).

Head. Anterior markedly areolate part of the clypeus extending medially for 30-40% of the total length of the clypeus (Fig. 38 ). Invariably eight clypeal setae: 2-4 setae on the markedly areolate part, 2-4 setae located on the border between the markedly areolate part and the weakly areolate part, and two setae on the weakly areolate one; spine-like sensilla on the clypeal lateral parts always absent. Each mandible (Fig. 39 ) usually with six lamellae, with 5-7 teeth in each lamella. Second maxillae (Fig. 37 ): 1st article invariably with a distinct distal bulge on the external side; distal part of 2nd article usually with two or three setae, distal part of 3rd article with numerous setae.

Forcipular segment. Tergite usually partially covered by the tergite 1. Forcipules, when closed, usually reaching the anterior margin of the cephalic plate (Figs 33 , 34 ). Trochanteroprefemur, tibia and tarsungulum with denticles, while femur without denticle (Figs 33 , 36 ), with the single exception of a specimen with a denticle on the right femur (however collected together with specimens with usual morphology in the sample ZMMU Rc 8163). Worth noting is that an analogous case of asymmetry has been detected in a specimen of K. meinerti , where a denticle has been recognized on one femur but not in the other femur (see above). The distal denticle of trochanteroprefemur usually larger than both denticles on the tibia and tarsungulum (Fig. 36 ). Calyx of poison gland usually reaching the trochanterophefemur in both sexes.

Leg-bearing segments. Invariably 53 pairs of legs in all examined specimens. Worth noting is that K. meinerti has invariably 45 pairs of legs and the difference of eight pairs between the two species corresponds to a putative evolutionary change that have repeatedly occurred in the Mecistocephalidae ( Bonato et al. 2003).

Ultimate leg-bearing segment. Almost similar in both sexes (Figs 40-43 ): metasternite subtriangular, its length to width ratio varying between 0.9 and 1.0, and the anterior margin 4-5 × wider than the posterior one; up to 20 pores on each coxopleuron in ♂♂, and up to 50 pores in ♀♀; legs slender and densely setose, without pretarsus.

Postpedal segments. Densely setose in both sexes (Figs 40-43 ). Male gonopods bi-articulate, narrow, and separated by a conic projection in between (Fig. 41 ). Female gonopods bi-articulate, subtriangular, and touching each other at their bases (Fig. 43 ).

Distribution.

Recorded from three localities in the western offshoots of Pamir Mts (Fig. 1 ), all in Tajikistan (Khatlon region and Districts of Republican Subordination) ( Titova 1975; present records).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution of Krateraspis Lignau, 1929: square, K. meinerti (Sseliwanoff, 1881); star, K. sselivanovi Titova, 1975. Green symbols indicate type localities. Some very close localities are marked by a single symbol. The question marks indicate alternative positions of the uncertain locality " Fayzabad " (see Materials and methods).

Figures 33 - 35. Krateraspis sselivanovi Titova, 1975: 33, 34 head, forcipular and LBS 1 (ventr., dors.) 35 LBS 1 and 2 (ventr.). Specimen: ♂ from Sharak (ZMMU Rc 8154). Abbreviations: ms - median longitudinal sulcus. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (33, 34); 0.1 mm (35).

Figures 36 - 39. Krateraspis sselivanovi Titova, 1975: 36 left forcipule (ventr.) 37 maxillary complex (ventr.) 38 clypeus and labrum (ventr.) 39 left mandible (lateral view). Specimens: 36, 39 ♂ from Fayzobod (ZMMU Rc 8173) 37, 38 ♂ from Sharak (ZMMU Rc 8165). Abbreviations: aa - anterior ala, ap - markedly areolate anterior part of clypeus, b - bulge, c - calyx of poison gland, cp - central part of clypeus with distinct but fainter areolation, f - femur, p - plagula, pa - posterior ala, ta - tarsungulum, ti - tibia, tl - transverse thickened line, tr - trochanteroprefemur. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (36 - 38); 0.05 mm (39).

Figures 40 - 43. Krateraspis sselivanovi Titova, 1975: 40, 41 ultimate LBS and postpedal segments of ♂ (dors., ventr.) 42, 43 ultimate LBS and postpedal segments of ♀ (dors., ventr.). Specimens from Sharak: 40, 41 ♂ (ZMMU Rc 8154) 42, 43 ♀ (ZMMU Rc 8153). Abbreviations: cp - coxopleural pores, ups - presternite of ultimate LBS, upt - pretergite of ultimate LBS, us - metasternite of ultimate LBS, ut - tergite of ultimate LBS. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.