Ommatoiulus chambiensis Akkari & Enghoff

Akkari, Nesrine, Cheung, David Koon-Bong, Enghoff, Henrik & Stoev, Pavel, 2013, Revolving SEM images visualising 3 D taxonomic characters: application to six species of the millipede genus Ommatoiulus Latzel, 1884, with description of seven new species and an interactive key to the Tunisian members of the genus (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae), ZooKeys 328, pp. 5-45 : 9-10

Ommatoiulus chambiensis Akkari & Enghoff sp. n. Figs 1-6

Material.

Holotype: ♂, W Tunisia, Kasserine Governorate, Châambi National Park, surroundings of the park´s guest house, 35°10.139'N, 8°40.486'E, alt. 950-1000m, scarce trees, Pinus halepensis , under stones, 7.3.2008, P. Stoev & N. Akkari leg. (ZMUC). Paratypes: 17 ♂♂, 31 ♀♀, 1 immature, same data as holotype (ZMUC); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same data as holotype (NMNHS); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, W Tunisia, Kasserine Governorate, Châambi National Park, 35°11. 901'N, 8°39.505'E, alt. 1291m, Quercus ilex , Pinus halepensis , slope, under stones and in leaf litter, 9.3.2008, P. Stoev & N. Akkari leg. (ZMUC).

Diagnosis.

Most similar to Ommatoiulus xerophilus sp. n., but easily distinguished by the shape of promerite and the presence of a distal notch and a small pointed process on solenomerite.

Etymology.

Named after the type locality. Châambi Mountain is the highest mountain range in Tunisia, reaching 1550 m at peak Châambi.

Description.

Males: L: 17-23 mm, H: 1.6-2 mm, 46-49 PR+1-2 AR+T; females: L: 18.5-32.2 mm, H: 2.4-3.6 mm, 44-50 PR+1-2 AR+T. General colour brownish with a black sputter, dorsally darker, with a black mid-dorsal line. Head dark brown to black with yellow spots in the occipital area, uniformly black frontally, with yellow spots at antennal level and labrum, the latter yellow and brighter; antennae dark brown. Prozonites covered with yellowish-brown spots on a blackish background, also laterally, interrupted by big black spots at ozopore level, dorsally black with a narrow transverse row of yellow spots anteriorly; metazonites glossy pale to whitish; legs light brown to yellowish. Telson: anal valves black, with a yellow sputter, preanal ring black, somewhat paler on the caudal projection; subanal scale light brown. Prozonites with fine oblique striae; metazonites with regular striation, laterally narrower; suture complete, strongly curving at ozopore level; ozopores small, rounded, situated on metazonites, at about their diameter from the suture. Anal valves with numerous submarginal and marginal setae, ca. 2 setae on the surface; subanal scale rounded and setose; preanal ring protruding in a caudal projection with ca. 3+3 setae on the tip and a small hyaline process.

Male sexual characters. Mandibular stipites expanded in well-rounded posterior-ventral lobes, first pair of legs hook-shaped, remaining legs with postfemoral and tibial pads.

Gonopods. Promerite (P) bent anteriad (Figs 1, 2), proximally subrectangular, gradually narrowing in its distal third (Figs 1, 2); lateral margin with a moderately deep rounded incision (i). In a posterior view showing a distal process expanded in a subtriangular shape, bearing an apical blunt process (ap) and a lateral broad process pointing basad (lp); mesal ridge (M) apically broadened and delimiting a serrated lateral lamellar process; distal process laterally bearing a strong serrated ridge (se) marking a thickness on the posterior surface; telopodite (T) remnant ovoid located in the middle of the proximal part.

Posterior gonopod (Figs 3-6): Mesomerite (Ms) longer than the other processes of the gonopods, distally curved mesad and narrowing into an apical process folded and tapering toward the apex. Solenomerite (S) broad, slightly narrowing at mid-length, proximally with several strong spikes (sp) on the posterior margin; anterior margin with a big, serrated process (pr) pointing distad, separated from the apical part by a rounded notch (n); apical part with an anterior marginally furrowed lamella (Figs 1, 4-6), and a setose wrinkled protruding lamella (wl) covering a protruding slender process (ds) (Figs 1, 3-6) housing the distal part and the opening of the seminal groove (g), the latter running from the fovea (F) at the base of the solenomerite up to process ds. Paracoxite (Px) broad and curved, emerging from a well-rounded coxite (Co), distal third broad then gradually narrowing in a rounded apex pointing mesad (Figs 3-6).

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality, Châambi Mountain, Arid Bioclimatic zone, central Tunisia.

Habitat.

Mixed forest with Quercus ilex and Pinus halepensis , under stones and in leaf litter.