Velebitodesmus cavernicolus Antić and Reip, 2014

Antić, Dragan Ž., Reip, Hans S., Dražina, Tvrtko, Rađa, Tonći & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2014, Three new monotypic genera of Trichopolydesmidae from Croatia, Balkan Peninsula (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), Zootaxa 3884 (2), pp. 101-121 : 114-116

Velebitodesmus cavernicolus Antić and Reip sp. n.

Figs. 33–42

Material examined: Holotype male: Munižaba Pit, Crnopac, Gračac, Mt. Velebit, Croatia, 44.276°N, 15.713°E, 19.II.2011, leg. A. Kirin (IZB, VHD VC 100-9). Allotype female: Jamski sistem Kita Gaćešina-Draženova Puhaljka Pit System, Crnopac, Gračac, Mt. Velebit, Croatia, 15.X.2011, leg. B. Jalžić (IZB, VHD VC 100-10). Paratype male I: same data as allotype ( SMNG, VNR 016547-1). Paratype male II: same data as allotype ( SMNG, VNR 016547-2). Paratype male III: Burinka Pit, Crnopac, Duman, Dragićevića stan, Obrovac, Mt. Velebit, Croatia, 28.IX.2010, leg. M. Malenica (IZB, VHD VC 100-11).

Etymology: To emphasize the habitat.

Description: Body with 19 segments (including telson) in adults.

Measurements: holotype male 9.2 mm long, width of midbody pro- and metazonites (segment nine) 0.6 mm and 0.7 mm; allotype female 10.4 mm long, width of midbody pro- and metazonites (segment nine) 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm; paratype male I 9.2 mm long, width of midbody pro- and metazonites (segment nine) 0.6 mm and 0.7 mm; paratype male II 10.3 mm long, width of midbody pro- and metazonites (segment nine) 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm; paratype male III 9.2 mm long, width of midbody pro- and metazonites (segment nine) 0.6 mm and 0.7 mm, respectively.

Coloration: Body whitish, translucent, with a visible gut. Labrum, gnathochilarium, cardo and stipe yellowish to pale brownish.

Head: Broader than collum, covered with fine short and some longer setae. Occipital suture distinct. Labrum well-expressed, with one medial tooth and six labral setae. Gnathochilarium (in paratype male I) densely setose. Setae robust. Promentum subtriangular. Stipites with more than 25 setae each. Lingual plates with 9+8 setae and one long blunt apical seta each. External palps with 12+14, medial palps with 16+16, internal palps with 3+3 papillae. Hypopharynx with long and thin fringes, but significantly less strongly developed than in Balkanodesmus gen. n. Antennae in males 1.4–1.6 mm long, in holotype male 1.4 mm long; in allotype female 1.5 mm long. Antennomeres II–VI club-like, elongated; antennomere VII cylindrical and shorter. Antennomere VI with a distodorsal pit with numerous bacilliform sensilla. Antennomere VII with a distodorsal pad with few setiform setae. Apex of antennae with four large cones. Length/width ratios of antennomeres in males (median value): I (1.1), II (2.7), III (3.1), IV (2.4), V (1.7), VI (1.9), VII (1.2); in allotype female: I (1.2), II (2.9), III (2.7), IV (2.2), V (2.6), VI (2.2), VII (1.3), respectively.

Collum: Transversely subovoid; one caudal incision on lateral sides, with three rows of setae on small tubercles, setal formula: 8+8+8.

Body segments: Segments II–IV with three rows of short trichoid setae on small tubercles while segments V–XVIII with four irregular transverse rows of short setae. Pleurosternal carinae with well-developed triangular teeth present on each side of segments II–XVII. Apodous (XVIII) segment without pleurosternal carinae. Number of teeth in paratype male I: segments II–V (4–7), VI (8/8), VII–XVII (5–10), respectively. Prozonite slightly punctate. Stricture distinct. Paraterga with three dorsolaterally positioned, laterally directed cones. Each cone bearing one seta, except last one on poriferous metazonites, enlarged and bearing an ozopore and four short setae. These enlarged cones also contain reactivation chambers of the defence mechanism. Pore formula normal: V, VII, IX, X, XII, XIII, XV–XVIII. Epiproct subtriangular in dorsal view, truncate at tip, protruding beyond paraprocts, dorsally with several setae; tip of epiproct with four spinnerets. Paraprocts semi-circular, granulated, each with two setae. Hypoproct more strongly rounded, with two long apical setae. Sterna unmodified. Epigynal ridge low.

Walking legs: Long and slender, without modified setae. Femora and tarsi elongated, claws medium-sized.

Gonopods: Gonopod aperture transverse-oval, taking up circa 2/3 of ventral part of metazonite VII. Gonocoxae with one mesal process (mp) and one medial, lamellar, spoon-shaped, protruding part (sp), possibly with a role in cannula protection. A U-shaped excavation between mp and sp. Anterior part of gonocoxae with two short setae. Prefemoral part (pf) subcylindrical, held transversely to body axis; with few setae posteriorly, last 1/3 with several setae anteriorly. Acropodite (a) erect, rising from prefemoral part and abruptly curved caudolaterad. A long lanceolate process (lp) branching off a well-developed lamella (l) with U-shaped excavation lying at base of acropodite. Solenomere absent; seminal canal opening at base of l. Apical part of acropodite with a strongly chitinized lobe (cl) and a triangular pointed process (tp) with two additional claw-like apophyses (cp).

Habitat: All five specimens of Velebitodesmus cavernicolus sp. n. were collected in three deep and large underground systems of the Crnopac Massif (Mt. Velebit): the Kita Gaćešina-Draženova Puhaljka Pit system (depth 737 m, total length 27,383 m), Munižaba (depth 510 m, total length 9,715 m) and Burinka (depth 290 m, length about 400 m). All these caves are still being investigated speleologically (www.speleologija.hr). Casale et al. (2012) described two new, highly specialized, subterranean beetles, Velebitaphaenops giganteus Casale & Jalžić, 2012 and Velebitodromus ozrenlukici Lohaj, Mlejnek & Jalžić, 2012 from the Crnopac Massif. In addition to these species, the following notable, mostly endemic troglobitic fauna are recorded from this area: Zospeum sp. (Gastropoda), Brachydesmus likanus Strasser, 1962 and Haasia stenopodium ( Strasser, 1966) (both Diplopoda), Neobisium (Pennobisium) stribogi Ćurčić, 1988 (Pseudoscorpiones) , Troglohyphantes roberti roberti Deeleman- Reinhold, 1978 ( Araneae ), Astagobius angustatus (Schmidt, 1852) , Parapropus sericeus augustae Müller, 1941 , Redensekia likana Karaman, 1953 and Spelaeodromus pluto (Reitter, 1881) (all Coleoptera , Cholevidae ). The discovery of this new troglobitic diplopod genus and species supports a suggested connection between these caves into one, large underground system ( Casale et al. 2012).

Figures

FIGURES 33 – 38. Velebitodesmus cavernicolus gen. n., sp. n., paratype male. 33: habitus, dorsal view, 34: habitus, lateral view, 35: head and first six segments, lateral view, 36: body end, lateral view, 37: body segments VI – IX, lateral view, 38: gonopods, lateral view. Scale line: 1 mm (33 – 34), 0.5 mm (35 – 37) and 0.1 mm (38).

FIGURES 39 – 42. Velebitodesmus cavernicolus gen. n., sp. n., paratype male gonopod. 39: in situ, 40: mesal view, 41: dorsal view, 42: lateral view. Designations: a: acropodite, l: lamella, cl: chitinized lobe, cp: claw-like processes, lp: lanceolate process, mp: mesal process, pf: prefemoral part, sp: spoon shaped protruding part, tp: triangular pointed process. Scale line: 0.3 mm.