Emphysemastix dracarys Olsen & Enghoff, 2020

Olsen, Sissel Anna, Rosenmejer, Trine & Enghoff, Henrik, 2020, A mountain of millipedes IX: Species of the family Gomphodesmidae from the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), European Journal of Taxonomy 675, pp. 1-35 : 20-22

Emphysemastix dracarys Olsen & Enghoff sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3EE9B143-AA28-408B-9840-166A11AA7936

Figs 2 , 14 , 15A

Diagnosis

Differs from the other species of the genus by the combination of having a small, not very distinct subtriangular ventral lobe on the gonopod prefemur, missing nodal process M, possessing a welldeveloped process L, and having indentures on the postnodal telepodite on the outer side of the curvature.

Etymology

The name is to be treated as a noun in apposition. The tip of the gonopod looks like the gaping mouth of a dragon when seen from the dorsal side. The word “dracarys” is a command used in the TV series “Game of Thrones” to make dragons breathe fire.

Material examined

Holotype

TANZANIA • ♂; Iringa Region, Iringa City ; 7°46′ S, 35°42′ E; Mar.–Apr. 1996; L. Sørensen leg.; NHMD 621675 .

Other material

TANZANIA • 1 ♀; same collecting data as for holotype; NHMD 621676 .

Description

Male

SIZE AND SHAPE. A rather slender species. Body length ca 46.5 mm. Maximum width 7 mm. W/L ratio 15 %.

COLOUR. Dorsum of metazona darker brown than sides, sternum and prozona; paranota light brown. Antennae very dark, legs dark brown.

BODY RINGS. Paranotum of rings 2–4 extended anteriad, on rings 4–19 extended gradually more posteriad. Two transverse carinae on the posterior end of rings 8 and 9, and 4 transverse carinae on rings 10–19. Torus present as clear cones. Stricture relatively deep on dorsal side, with sharp edge in front of anterior spiracles and pleurosternal carinae. Pleurosternal carinae present on rings 2–17, but very small on ring 2. Paxillus triangular, pointed.

LEGS. Coxae and prefemora with fewer setae, and basal tubercles smaller than in E. frampt sp. nov. and E. flavosignatus .

HYPOPROCT. Paramedian tubercles large, extended beyond edge of sclerite, but not beyond end of median projection.

GONOPOD ( Figs 14–15 ). Gonocoxae with lateral row of setae across distal edge of anterior side of gonocoxae, no paracannular setae. Prefemoral part with a small rounded ventral lobe. Telopodite endonodal, process L present, process M absent. Postnodal telepodite long, curved ventrad almost perpendicular to setose prefemoral region and slightly mesad, then sharply dorsad and expanding into subglobose, hollow enlargement, then curving almost 270° mesad and posteriad, extending laterad beyond gonocoxa and prefemoral region. Anterior and mesal side of this curvature with indentures. Subterminal process narrow, triangular, curved ventromesad.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Iringa city, some 50 km NW of the Udzungwa Mts ( Fig. 2 ). The altitude of the type locality is ca 1600 m a.s.l.

Figures

Fig. 2. Map of the Udzungwa Mts showing collection sites for gomphodesmids. Based on Marshall et al. (2010: fig. 1).

Fig. 14. Emphysemastic dracarys Olsen & Enghoff sp. nov., holotype, ♂, left gonopod (NHMD 621675). A–B. Mesal view. C–D. Lateral view. E–F. Dorsal view. Abbreviations: L = Process L; rl = rounded lobe; sg = subglobose enlargement; sp = subterminal process. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 15. Emphysemastix spp., gonopod tip. A. E. dracarys Olsen & Enghoff sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (NHMD 621675). B. E. frampt Olsen & Enghoff sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (NHMD 621677). Abbreviations: so = solenomere; sp = subterminal process. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.