Paracortina multisegmentata Stoev & Geoffroy, 2004

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

Paracortina multisegmentata Stoev & Geoffroy, 2004

Figs 11 , 12 , 13 , 26C , 28

Paracortina multisegmentata Stoev & Geoffroy, 2004: 97, figs 9-17; Liu and Tian 2015: 139, key.

Material examined.

1 male paratype, Vietnam, Thanh Hoa Province, Ng ọc Lặc, Moc-Trach Cave , alt. 15 m, 8- 10.12.1929, Colani leg. (BG- NMNHS-INV-000000006261 NMNHS) . Stoev det. April 2004.

Diagnosis.

Unique in having the highest number (81-85) of pleurotergites and gonopods with proximally crossing telopodites, distally bent at 90 degrees.

Descriptive notes.

Species with 81-85 PTs + telson, general colour of conserved specimens pale brownish (Fig. 11A, B ), head convex, unmodified (Figs 11A , 12A ), ~ 40 ommatidia in five or six rows (Fig. 11A ).

Male sexual characters.

PTs 6 and 7 strongly enlarged, leg-pairs 1 and 2 reduced and more setose than the rest, showing prefemoral and tarsal brushes, leg-pair 2 with the posterior gonopore (Fig. 12A, B ), leg-pair 7 with a small mesal spine on coxa and a tuft of setae on trochanter (Fig. 26C ), coxal sacs present on leg-pairs 3-23.

Gonopods (Figs 12B , 13 ). Converging, proximally crossing (Fig. 12B ). Each gonopod with one slender and distally uniformly setose prefemoroidal process (pf1), reaching to overpassing the mid-length of telopodite (Fig. 13 ); coxa with a mesal rounded lobe (a) connected to a slender falcate mesal process (b), latter reaching mid-length of the telopodite. Telopodite (T) with uniformly slender stem, distally 90 degrees bent laterad (Fig. 12A, B ), distal part expanding and terminating in two asymmetrical branches (Fig. 13 ): a shorter horizontally leaf-like subapical process, surmounted by a triangular tooth (k) pointing distolaterad, second branch longer, extending laterad before curving distad, with the apical part terminating in two asymmetrical bulges, the largest accommodating the bifurcated branch with the opening of the solenomere (s) and parasolenomere (ps).

Distribution.

Ngoc-Lac and Loc Thinh, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam (Fig. 28 ).

Comments.

This species possesses unique characters within the family, not only by having the highest number of pleurotergites but also in being the only species of Paracortinidae with telopodites proximally crossing and their distal part being bent to 90 degrees. This combination of characters could justify the description of a new genus to accommodate the species. However, similar to P. kyrang , until more material becomes available, we refrain from erecting new genera for these two species and leave them in the genus Paracortina until further analyses are available.

Figures

Figure 11. Paracortina multisegmentata Stoev & Geoffroy, 2004, male paratype (BG- NMNHS-INV- 000000006261 NMNHS) A head and anterior pleurotergites, lateral view B, C midbody pleurotergites B lateral view C dorsal view.

Figure 12. Paracortina multisegmentata Stoev & Geoffroy, 2004, male paratype (BG- NMNHS-INV- 000000006261 NMNHS) A head, anterior pleurotergites and legs, frontal view B gonopods in situ, posterior view.

Figure 13. Paracortina multisegmentata Stoev & Geoffroy, 2004, male paratype (BG- NMNHS-INV- 000000006261 NMNHS), right gonopod A anterior view B posterior view C lateral view D mesal view. Abbreviations: a = mesal coxal lobe; b = coxal falcate process; pf 1 = prefemoroidal process 1; k = lateral process of the distal part of telopodite; ps = parasolenomere; s = solenomere; T = telopodite.

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.