Ommatoiulus stellaris, Nesrine Akkari & Henrik Enghoff, 2017

Nesrine Akkari & Henrik Enghoff, 2017, Revision of the genus Ommatoiulus Latzel, 1884 (Julida, Diplopoda) in Portugal, with description of six new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 295, pp. 1-42 : 31-34

Ommatoiulus stellaris sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1A81DFA5-8EE7-494E-8759-A037087F6E6D

Figs 22–23

Diagnosis

One of the smallest species of the genus Ommatoiulus , different from all congeners by the combination of two distinct meso-apical teeth on the promerite, a complex solenomerite with subapical ramifications and a distally expanding mesomerite.

Etymology

The name is a Latin noun in the genitive, meaning “of the star” and refers to the type locality ('estrela' is Portuguese for 'star').

Material examined

Holotype

PORTUGAL: 1 ♂, Serra da Estrela, Torre, alt. 1900 m, 25 Oct. 1996, O. Martin leg. (ZMUC).

Paratypes

PORTUGAL: 4 ♂♂, 29 ♀♀, same data as the holotype (ZMUC); 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Serra da Estrela, Fonte do Perús, pitfall trap, 40.349321 N, 7.626777 W, alt. 1867 m. 5–19 Oct. 2013, Serra da Estrela Project Group leg. (NHMW 8739); 4 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀ and juveniles, Serra da Estrela, alt. 1856 m, 17 May 2012, K. Voigtländer & H. Reip leg. (SMNG).

Other material studied

PORTUGAL: 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Serra da Estrela, Lagoa do Covão do Quelhas, pitfall trap, 40.327867 N, 7.626767 W, alt. 1817 m. 35 May–13 Jun. 2013, Serra da Estrela Project Group leg. (Animal Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon); 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Serra da Estrela, Lagoa Serrano, small dam, pitfall trap, 40.328283 N, 7.631417 W, alt. 1798 m, 30 May–13 Jun. 2013, Serra da Estrela Project Group leg. (Animal Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Serra da Estrela, Lagoa Srrano, small dam, pitfall trap, 40.349321 N, 7.626777 W, alt. 1798 m. 6–23 Oct. 2013, Serra da Estrela Project Group leg. (Animal Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon).

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Males: L = 16–34.9 mm, H = 1.4–1.7 mm, 42–48 PR+1–3 AR+Telson. Females: L = 18.4–37.8, H = 1.7–3.1, 42–51 PR+1–3 AR+Telson.

COLOUR. Brown, lighter on the lateral sides below the ozopore line and with two pale bands on the dorsum. Prozonites ( Fig. 22 ) with scattered black sputter, becoming dense and discontinued with a round-oval pale spots sub-laterally, dorsum paler with median black spots; metazonites pale and translucent; dorsum with a thin black mid-dorsal line; legs light brown to yellowish; head brown with dense black sputter on the frontal part between the ocelli fields, lighter towards the labral zone, mouthparts yellow, antennae purple-brown, telson light brown to yellowish. Prozonites with oblique striae; metazonites with regular striation; suture complete, rectilinear but sometimes with a sinus at ozopore level. Anal valves with a marginal row of short setae, a submarginal row of ca 10 longer ones and ca 2 setae on the disc. Subanal scale triangular, blunt and setose. Preanal ring with a short triangular caudal projection, bearing a small hyaline process and 2+2 setae on the lateral sides.

GONOPODS ( Figs 22 B–C, 23). Promerite (P) in posterior view subrectangular with parallel margins until ¾rd length where the lateral margin abruptly expands, bends anteriad, then gently curves towards the apex, the latter with two apical triangular teeth pointing posteriad; mesal ridge (Mr) fairly broad, ending in a blunt process at mid-length of the promerite; rudimentary telopodite (T) conspicuous, located proximally on the posterior surface ( Fig. 23 A), broad and rounded. Posterior gonopod ( Figs 22–23 ): Mesomerite (Ms) shorter than promerite, with a broad base, gradually narrowing and bent laterad at mid-length ( Fig. 23 B), distally expanding meso-laterad ( Fig. 23 D) showing a smooth rounded apex, a serrated subapical margin, with a strong mesal tooth and a lateral downturned triangular process ( Fig. 23 D); solenomerite (S) large, with one main lamella marked with deep serrated notches and divided in dissimilar processes separating at different level and with a posterior serrated margin ( Fig. 23 B) and an anterior reduced process (Sa) short and pointing distad; the lamella distally shows a thin process curved antero-laterad and gently tapering into an acuminate tip pointing distad; a thin process with an acuminate tip and pointing posteriad and a slightly broader posterior process (Sp) lodging the opening of the seminal groove 'og', the groove (g) running posteriorly from the fovea (F) located at the base of the solenomerite up to og ( Fig. 23 B). Paracoxite (Px) stout, uniformly broad, mesal margin with a rounded projection at mid-length, apically rounded with a downturned serrated margin.

Distribution

Only know from high altitudes, 1798–1867 m in the Serra da Estrela Mountain massive, Portugal.

Figures

Fig. 22. Ommatoiulus stellaris sp. nov. Paratype ♂, head and anteriormost rings.

Fig. 23. Ommatoiulus stellaris sp. nov. Paratype ♂. A. Left promerite, posterior view. B. Left posterior gonopod, mesal view. C. Left posterior gonopod, postero-mesal view. D. Left posterior gonopod, anterolateral view.