Acanthophorella chegemi

Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016, The Caucasus as a major hotspot of biodiversity: Evidence from the millipede family Anthroleucosomatidae (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida), Zootaxa 4211 (1), pp. 1-205 : 147-152

Acanthophorella chegemi gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 121–125

Diagnosis. The new species differs from the other two species of the genus by the presence of lateral lamellae which are almost the same height as anterior thorn-like processes and by the general shape of the gonopod.

Etymology. The new species is named after its type locality, Chegem District, a noun in apposition.

Material studied (total: 3 males, 5 females, 10 juvenile). Holotype. RUSSIA: male, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chegem District , 5 km S of Upper Chegem, 2100–2200 m asl, timber-line of Betula , Rhododendron & Juniperus , litter, under stones, 13 Jul. 1986, S. Golovatch leg. ( ZMUM ρ3400).

Paratypes (total: 2 males, 5 females, 10 juveniles). All from RUSSIA: 4 females, 6 juveniles, same data as holotype ( ZMUM ρ3401) ; 1 male, 1 female, 4 juveniles ( ZMUM ρ3402), 1 male ( IZB), same data, except: 1700 m asl, Betula , Pinus & Juniperus , litter, under stones, 12 Jul. 1986.

Type locality. RUSSIA: Kabardino-Balkaria, Chegem District , 5 km S of Upper Chegem, 2100–2200 m asl, timber-line of Betula , Rhododendron & Juniperus .

Description. Body with 31 segments (including telson) in adults.

MEASUREMENTS. Males 8–9.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.7–0.8 mm. Females 8– 10.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.8–0.9 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 121 ). Prozonites greyish with yellowish spots ventrolaterally. Metazonites brownish with yellowish spots dorsolaterally.

HEAD. Flattened in males. Labrum with three medial teeth and 5+5 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates with 4+4 setae. Stipites with ca 20+20 setae. Antennae 1.4 mm long in paratype male. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.07), II (0.16), III (0.38), IV (0.18), V (0.32), VI (0.17), VII (0.1) and VIII (0.02). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (2), III (5.5), IV (2.3), V (3.2), VI (1.5) and VII (1.1). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 13–16, arranged in 4–5 rows in both sexes.

COLLUM. Narrower than head, with six macrochaetae. Anterior edge semi-circular, posterior margin gently concave.

BODY SEGMENTS ( Figs 121 , 122 ). Lateral keels like lateral swellings. Macrochaetae long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.7; MIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 1.8; PIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.5; MA (pleurotergite 15) ~ 105˚.

TELSON. Epiproct with a pair of spinnerets and 3+3 setae (1+1 paramedian, 2+2 marginal). Hypoproct with 1+1 apical setae. Paraprocts with 3+3 marginal setae.

WALKING LEGS. In both sexes, leg-pairs 1 and 2 with tarsal combs; prefemora with several long and robust setae; femora and postfemora with a group of several long and robust setae.

MALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS ( Fig. 123 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged. Leg-pair 3 and 4 each with a basal exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 5 with a basal oral protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 6 with a small, basal, exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 7 with a posterior, wide, subtriangular, thin, lamellar process on coxae. Leg-pair 10 with coxal glands and with a coxal horn orientated posteriorly. Leg-pair 11 with coxal glands, no other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 124 A–C, 125). Sternal plate (sp) with a small, medial, barely visible, hairless, sternal sac (ss). Gonopods consisting of two medial shields (mp), almost completely divided, with wide apical halves; mesal edges folded inside and forming posterior projections (ppr); lateral sides partly covering welldeveloped thorn-like processes (tp) which arise from the fused base of the gonopods. The lateralmost parts of anterior gonopods are lateral lamellae (ll), these consisting of a smaller anterior part (al) and a posterior (pl), high part in the form of a process with small setae on mesal side. This posterior part of lateral lamella almost as high as anterior thorn-like process. Posteriorly, a pair of hairy and mesally orientated levers (hl) can be seen, as well as a pair of lobes (us).

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 124 D, 125B–D). Coxites (c) divided. Telopodites (t) present on posterolateral side, hairless, simple, but relatively massive. Coxal processes (cp) hook-shaped, curved anteriorly. Coxal vesicles (cv) present on anterior side.

Distribution. Russia (known only from type locality) ( Fig. 169 , yellow circle).

Figures

FIGURE 121. Acanthophorella chegemi gen. et sp. nov., paratype male habitus. Scale line = 1 mm.

FIGURE 122. Acanthophorella chegemi gen. et sp. nov., paratype male. A. Halves of pleurotergites 14 and 15, posterior view. B. Halves of pleurotergites 14 and 15, lateral view. C. Prozonites 14, dorsal view. D. and F. Halves of pleurotergites 14 and 15, dorsal view.

FIGURE 123. Acanthophorella chegemi gen. et sp. nov., paratype male. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 4. C. Leg 6. D. Leg 7. E. Leg 10. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 124. Acanthophorella chegemi gen. et sp. nov., holotype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. C. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. D. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. c = coxite; t = telopodite; al = anterior part of lateral lamella; cp = coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; hl = hairy lever; ll = lateral lamella; mp = medial shield; pl = posterior part of lateral lamella; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; tp = thorn-like process; us = undefined structure; ppr = posterior projection. Scale line = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 125. Acanthophorella chegemi gen. et sp. nov., paratype male gonopodal block. A. Anterior view. B. Lateral view. C. Posterodistal view. D. Distal view. c = coxite; t = telopodite; al = anterior part of lateral lamella; cp = coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; mp = medial shield; pl = posterior part of lateral lamella; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; tp = thorn-like process; us = undefined structure; ppr = posterior projection.

FIGURE 169. Distribution of the Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Flagellophorella complex.