Pseudoflagellophorella papilioformis

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 : 176-180

Pseudoflagellophorella papilioformis gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 147–151

Diagnosis. Differs from the other two species of the genus by the shape of the anterior gonopods which resemble butterfly wings.

Etymology. To emphasize, in anterior view, the butterfly wing-shaped anterior gonopods.

Material studied (total: 12 males, 22 females, 12 juveniles). Holotype. AZERBAIJAN: male, Zakataly Nature Reserve, Agkemal, forest and upper timber-line, 1800–2100 m asl, 24–27 May 1981, S. Golovatch and J. Martens leg. ( ZMUM ρ3429).

Paratypes (total: 1 male, 5 females, 9 juveniles). All from AZERBAIJAN: 1 male, 5 females, 9 juveniles, same data as holotype ( ZMUM ρ3430).

Other material (total: 9 males, 16 females, 2 juveniles). AZERBAIJAN: 1 male, 1 female, 1 juvenile, Shemakha District , Pirkuli, near Observatorium, 1200–1250 m asl, Quercus , Acer , Taxus ect, forest, litter, 30 Apr. 1987, S. Golovatch & K. Eskov leg. ( ZMUM ρ3431) ; 3 males, 9 females, 2 juveniles ( ZMUM ρ3432), 2 males, 2 females ( IZB), ca 12 km E of Ismaily, Girdyman-Chay Valley , 850–880 m asl, Fagus , Quercus , Carpinus , Acer forest, litter and under bark, 1 May 1987, S. Golovatch & K. Eskov leg. ; 1 male, 2 females, N of Vartashen , 900 m asl, Fagus & Quercus forest, litter, 2 May 1987, S. Golovatch & K. Eskov leg. ( ZMUM ρ3433).

GEORGIA: 3 males, 3 females, Lagodekhi Nature Reserve , Fagus , Fraxinus , Acer , etc. forest, 600–700 m asl, 5–6 May 1983, S. Golovatch leg. ( ZMUM ρ3434).

Type locality. AZERBAIJAN: Zakataly Nature Reserve , Agkemal, forest and upper timber-line, 1800–2100 m asl.

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

MEASUREMENTS. Males 8.5–9.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.7–0.75 mm. Females 9–11 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.8–0.85 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 147 ). Dorsal and lateral sides of prozonites greyish, dorsolateral and ventrolateral sides with yellowish spots. Metazonites brownish with yellowish spots on lateral keels.

HEAD. Flattened in males. Labrum with three medial teeth and 6+6 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates with 5+5 setae, on each plate arranged in one irregular row. Stipites with 20+20 setae. Antennae 1.4 mm long in male from Girdyman-Chay Valley. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.08), II (0.15), III (0.35), IV (0.16), V (0.35), VI (0.15), VII (0.13) and VIII (0.03). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (1.7), III (5), IV (2.3), V (3.9), VI (1.5) and VII (1.8). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 15–20, arranged in 5–6 rows in males; 14–20 in 5–6 rows in females.

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

BODY SEGMENTS ( Figs 147 , 148 ). Lateral keels like lateral swellings. Macrochaetae relatively long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.7; MIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 1.7; PIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.75; 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. 149 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged. Leg-pairs 3 and 4 each with a basal exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 5 with an acuminate, basal, oral protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 6 with a small, basal, exterior protrusion. Leg-pair 7 with a caudally directed, subtriangular, lamellar process, mesally clothed with abundant long setae. Leg-pair 10 with coxal glands and with a posteriorly curved coxal horn, apex of horn being curved mesally. Leg-pair 11 with coxal glands, without other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 150 A–C, 151A–E). Sternal plate (sp) with an anterior, medial, sternal lamella (sl) protecting a nippled sternal sac (ss). Coxal processes divided in distal halves, basal halves being fused. Anteriorly, coxal processes partly divided transversely (td) into a medial part (mp) and lateral parts (lp), giving the impression of butterfly wings. Medially, mesal edges clothed with posteriorly curved denticles (pd). Coxal processes anteriorly with a pair of long and slender processes (pf), in situ sunk apically in a transverse rift. Posteriorly, gonopods with a lamella (dl) denticulate starting from apex; hairy levers (hl), a row of setae (rs) and a spoon-shaped lamella (ssl) also present.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 150 D, 151F–H). Very simple. Coxites (c) divided. Telopodites (t) present on posterolateral side. Anterior side with coxal vesicles (cv). Apices of coxal processes (cp) hairy. Distribution. Azerbaijan, Georgia ( Fig. 169 , orange triangle).

Figures

FIGURE 147. Pseudoflagellophorella papilioformis gen. et sp. nov., male from Lagodekhi Nature Reserve, Georgia, habitus. Scale line = 1 mm.

FIGURE 148. Pseudoflagellophorella papilioformis gen. et sp. nov., male from Girdyman-Chay Valley, near Ismaily, Azerbaijan, pleurotergites 15 and 16. A. Posterior view. B. Lateral view. C. Dorsal view.

FIGURE 149. Pseudoflagellophorella papilioformis gen. et sp. nov., male from Girdyman-Chay Valley, near Ismaily, Azerbaijan. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 7. C. Leg 4. D. Leg 10. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 150. Pseudoflagellophorella papilioformis gen. et sp. nov., holotype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. C. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. D. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. c = coxite; t = telopodite; dl = denticulate lamella; hl = hairy lever; lp = lateral part; mp = medial part; pd = denticles; pf = anterior long and slender procees (pseudoflagella); rs = row of setae; sl = sternal lamella; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; td = transverse division; ssl = spoon-shaped lamella. Scale line = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 151. Pseudoflagellophorella papilioformis gen. et sp. nov., male from Girdyman-Chay Valley, near Ismaily, Azerbaijan, gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, anterolateral view. C. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. D. Anterior gonopods, posterolateral view. E. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. F. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. G. Posterior gonopods, lateral view. H. Posterior gonopods, anterior view. c = coxite; t = telopodite; cp = coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; dl = denticulate lamella; hl = hairy lever; lp = lateral part; mp = medial part; pd = denticles; pf = anterior long and slender procees (pseudoflagella); rs = row of setae; sl = sternal lamella; sp = sternal plate; ssl = spoon-shaped lamella.

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