Leptherpum tialaura Bouzan, Means, Ivanov & Brescovit, 2022

Bouzan, Rodrigo S., Means, Jackson C., Ivanov, Kaloyan, Almeida, Thaís Melo de, Brescovit, Antonio Domingos & Iniesta, Luiz Felipe M., 2022, Three new species of the Amazonian millipede genus Leptherpum (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae), Zoologia (e 22020) 39, pp. 1-18 : 4-11

Leptherpum tialaura Bouzan, Means, Ivanov & Brescovit , sp. nov.

Figs 1–2 , 10, 12, 14 , 17–18 , 19–22 , 29–34 , 53

https://zoobank.org/ 9C783E63-8FDD-4521-AC19-A7B3894E5E31

Diagnosis. Adult males differ from all other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: secondary process of the gonopod slender, only slightly spatulate at apex, arising medially from the prefemoral process of the gonopod ( Figs 32–34 ); presence of small tooth on the posterior border of the midbody paranota.

Description. Male (Holotype, IBSP 7972). Coloration (preserved in 70% ethanol): head and antennae reddish brown, 7 th antennomere and labrum yellowish; body and paranota tips reddish brown ( Figs 1–2 , 29–31 ); legs reddish brown ( Figs 2 , 29–31 ); telson dark reddish ( Fig. 31 ). Head: labrum and clypeus covered with sparse setae; two (1+1) small setae between the antennal sockets and two (1+1) above the antennae; vertex of the head with two (1+1) setae; incisura lateralis suboval. Antennae: almost reaching the 4 th body ring; 5 th, 6 th and 7 th antennomeres with a grouping of basiconic sensilla in small clusters on the distal and external margin. Body rings: absence of a sulcus on the metaterga; cuticle with several small tubercles scattered across the metazonites ( Fig. 14 ); metazonites with scattered large tubercles in addition to a well-defined and easily recognized horizontal row of large tubercles along the posterior margin region ( Figs 10, 12 , 29, 30 ). Sternite of fourth segment with a pair of acute projections; sternite of fifth segment with a triangular swelling; sternite of sixth segment with two pairs of small, acute projections, becoming more conspicuous along the post-gonopodal sternites. Paranota: anterior border rounded, posterior border sub-rectangular ( Figs 10, 12 ); metazonites 5−7 with a small “tooth” on the posterior border.Ozopore arrangement: 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–19 (following the typical polydesmidan pore formula); ozopores surrounded by peritremata and facing up at an angle of 45°; peritremata oval and positioned posteriorly on the paranota ( Fig. 12 ). Legs without modifications, except for a conspicuous dorsal lobe on the prefemur. Telson: triangular ( Fig. 31 ); epiproct with (3+3) macrosetae on the dorsal side supported by small projections; two pairs (2+2) of spinnerets, superior pair more closely positioned to each other as compared to the inferior one; paraprocts each with two macrosetae; hypoproct subtriangular with one pair (1+1) of macrosetae. Subtriangular gonopore on coxae of second leg-pair ( Fig. 6 , arrows). Gonopod aperture transversely oval, as typical for the genus, small, with a lateral pair of sclerotized triangular slit to accommodate the gonopods ( Fig. 8 ).

Total length: 74.00. Total width: 8.56. Antennomere lengths (1−7): 0.83; 1.92; 1.83; 1.65; 1.51; 1.75; 0.32. Podomere lengths (1−7): 0.68; 0.95; 2.57; 0.91; 1.00; 1.96; tarsal claw 0.43. Gonopod aperture: length 0.87, width 1.87. Telson length 1.80. Gonopod: length 1.61, width 1.62. Gonocoxae: length 0.72, width 1.52. Telopodite: length 1.61, width 0.72. Gonopods ( Figs 17−18 , 32−34 ): gonocoxae subequal to the length of the telopodite, globose, greatly expanded on the ectal side ( Fig. 34 ), with a small spiniform process; two macrosetae on dorsal side; prefemoral region ventrally positioned and setose, same length as the solenomere ( Fig. 17 ); prefemoral and acropodite regions separated by a cingulum basally (C; Figs 17−18 ); prefemoral process (PfP; Fig. 17 ) typical for the genus (e.g., large and concave; spoon-shaped), longer than the solenomere, containing a medially positioned elongate and slender secondary process ( Figs 17−18 ); solenomere falciform, carrying the seminal groove to apical point (S; Fig. 17 ).

Female (Paratype, IBSP 3751). Coloration as in male ( Figs 1−2 , 29−31 ). Sternites wider than in males; sternal projections less conspicuous, present only on the posterior portion of the last segments. Metazonites without a “tooth” on the posterior border. Ozopores of segments 5, 7, and 8 positioned medially on paranota.

Posterior margin of vulvae opening with a small rounded epigyne (Ep; Fig. 19 ). Vulvae oval in ventral view ( Fig. 20 ); subtriangular in lateral view ( Figs 21, 22 ). Total length: 66.70. Total width: 8.11. Width of posterior margin of vulvar aperture 1.74. Vulvae: length 0.76, width 0.50. External valve: length 0.56, width 0.25. Internal valve: length 0.55, width 0.24. Operculum: length 0.22, width 0.41. Both valves with scattered setae ( Figs 21, 22 ). Operculum broad and densely setose (OP; Figs 20, 21 ).

Type material. Holotype: male from Km 83, FLONA do Tapajós (3°31’01”S; 55°04’23”W), Belterra, Pará, Brazil, 28.x.2010, A.D. Brescovit leg. ( IBSP 7972 ) . Paratypes: 1 male, same data as for holotype ( IBSP 13365 ) ; 1 female from Mata do Butantan (2°38’9”S; 54°56’13”W), Belterra, v.2010, A.D. Brescovit et al. leg. ( IBSP 3751 ) ; 1 male from FLONA do Tapajós , Belterra, x.2011, A.D. Brescovit leg. ( IBSP 4544 ) ; 1 male from FLONA do Tapajós , Belterra, 16−20.x.2013, A.D. Brescovit leg. ( IBSP 8302 ) .

Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Pará : Belterra, FLONA do Tapajós (3°31’01”S; 55°04’23”W), 1 female, 10−13. xii.2012, C.S. Costa et al. leg. ( IBSP 4130 ) ; 1 female, x.2011, A.D. Brescovit et al. ( IBSP 4543 ) ; 1 male, 2018, H. Chalkidis leg. ( IBSP 7912 ) ; Belterra , APA Aramanaí (2°37’57.96”S; 54°57’44.16”W), 1 female, v.2010, A.D. Brescovit leg. ( IBSP 3945 ) ; 1 male, 01.viii.2018, A.D. Brescovit and G. Puorto leg. ( IBSP 8118 ) ; 2 females, 11.iv.2019, A.D. Brescovit and G. Puorto leg. ( IBSP 8552 ) ; Belterra , Mata do Butantan (2°38’9”S; 54°56’13”W), 3 males, 01−05.v.2011, Equipe IBSP leg. ( IBSP 7952 ) ; 2 males, v.2010, A.D. Brescovit et al. leg. ( IBSP 13366 ) ; Belterra , Comunidade São Pedro, Km 50, BR 163 (2°45’11.3”S; 54°54’01.6”W), 1 male, 18.viii.2019, A.D. Brescovit leg. ( IBSP 7963 ) ; 2 juveniles, 07.iv.2019, A.D. Brescovit leg. ( IBSP 8558 ) ; Santarém , Comunidade do Cedro, Km 933, BR 163 (2°27’30.9”S; 54°42’39.5”W), 1 male, A.D. Brescovit and G. Puorto leg. ( IBSP 8303 ) ; Km 933, 1 female, 17.viii.2019, A.D. Brescovit and G. Puorto leg.( IBSP 8017 ) ; Medicilândia , Cave Limoeiro (52°47’25.49”W; 03°30’43.8”S), 1 juvenile, 24−26.vii.2012, R. Pinto da Rocha leg. ( IBSP 4198 ) .

Distribution. Known only from the Brazilian state of Pará ( Fig. 53 ).

Etymology. The species epithet is a reference to the nickname of Laura Cristina de Souza , a distinguished Biology professor in the city of Belterra, Pará, and a great friend.

Figures

Figure 53. Distribution map of Leptherpum Attems, 1931 species. Taxa without precise geographic coordinates, i.e., L. californicum, L. huebneri, and L. schomburgkii, are not shown.

Figures 1−2. Habitus of living Leptherpum tialaura sp. nov. Photo: G. Puorto.

Figures 9−14. General somatic features of Leptherpum Attems, 1931. (9), (11), (13) L. carinovatum (IBSP 8300), male, metazonites, dorsal view. (9) body ring 8; (11) body ring 9; (13) detail of tubercles of body ring 9; (10), (12), (14) Leptherpum tialaura sp. nov. (male holotype, IBSP 7972), metazonites, dorsal view; (10) body ring 8; (12) body ring 9; (14) detail of tubercles of body ring 9. Scale bars: 9−11 = 1 mm; 12 = 2 mm; 13 = 100 µm; 14 = 200 µm.

Figures 15−18. Gonopodal features of Leptherpum Attems, 1931. (15) L. carinovatum (IBSP 8300), male, right gonopod, mesal view; (16) L. carinovatum (IBSP 8300), male, left gonopod, ectal view; (17) L. tialaura sp. nov. (IBSP 7952), male, left gonopod, mesal view; (18) L. tialaura sp. nov. (IBSP 7952), male, right gonopod, ectal view. The arrow refers to the spiniform process. Scale bars: 15−18 = 500 µm.

Figures 19−22. Leptherpum tialaura sp. nov. (IBSP 4130), female. (19) epigyne, ventral view; (20) left vulva, ventral view; (21), (22) right vulva, ventrolateral view. Scale bars: 19 = 500 µm; 20 = 300 µm; 21−22 = 400 µm.

Figures 29−34. Leptherpum tialaura sp. nov., male holotype (IBSP 7972). (29) anterior body rings, dorsal view; (30) midbody rings, dorsal view; (31) posterior body rings, dorsal view; (32) right gonopod, mesal view; (33) right gonopod, ventral view; (34) right gonopod, ectal view. Scale bars: 29−34 = 1 mm.

Figures 3−8. General somatic features of L. carinovatum (Attems, 1898). (3) male (IBSP 8300), head, oral view; (4) male (IBSP 8300), gnathochilarium, ventral view; (5) male (IBSP 8300), antenna, lateral view; (6) male (IBSP 8300), coxae of 2nd pair of legs, showing the gonopores, ventral view; (7) male syntype (ZMH), detail of body rings 6–7, ventral view; (8) male (IBSP 8300), body ring 7, detail of gonopod aperture, ventral view. The arrows point to the gonopores. Scale bars: 3−5, 8 = 1 mm; 6 = 500 µm; 7 = 2.5 mm.