Heterocaucaseuma feminaepectorum

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 : 71-77

Heterocaucaseuma feminaepectorum gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 56–60

Diagnosis. Differs from the other Heterocaucaseuma gen. nov. species by the presence of almost equally high lateral horns and medial syncoxal part of the anterior gonopods. The medial part is with a pair of anterior lobes and two pairs of lateral shoulders. The coxal process on male leg-pair 7 is long, knife-like. Male leg-pair 10 with an apical, posteroventral, nippled process.

Etymology. To empasize the presence of a pair of lobes in the medial part of the anterior gonopods which resemble the human female breast.

Material studied (total: 12 males, 8 females, 37 juvenile). Holotype. RUSSIA: male, Krasnodar Province, Sochi, karst massif of Mt Dzykhra , 835 m asl, Cave Krasnoyarskaya , depth 60 m, 5 Feb. 2009, K. N. Gorbunova leg. ( ZMUM ρ3292).

Paratypes (total: 5 males, 4 females, 35 juveniles). All from RUSSIA, Krasnodar Province, Sochi, karst massif of Mt Dzykhra , 835 m asl, Cave Krasnoyarskaya , depth 60 m, traps : 2 males, 1 females, 1 juveniles (ZMUM ρ3293), 1 male ( IZB), same data as holotype ; 4 juveniles, same data, except: 2 Jan. 2006 – 5 Jan. 2007 (ZMUM ρ3294); 1 female, 1 juvenile, same data, except: 2 Jan.–10 Feb. 2007 ( ZMUM ρ3295) ; 1 juvenile, same data, except: 10 Feb. 2007 – 30 Aug. 2008 (ZMUM ρ3296); 2 males, 2 females, 28 juveniles, same data, except: 30 Aug. 2008 – 5 Feb. 2009 (ZMUM ρ3297).

Other material (total: 6 males, 4 females, 2 juvenile). All from RUSSIA, Krasnodar Province, near Sochi/ Khosta : 1 male, 3 females (ZMUM ρ3298), 1 male ( IZB), Alek Mt. Range, Cave Osennyaya , Apr. 1981 ; 1 male, same data, except: Aug. 1985, V. Kiselev leg. ( ZMUM ρ3299) ; 2 males, 1 female, 2 juveniles, Alek Mt. Range , 450 m asl, Nov. 1980, V. Dolzhanskiy leg. ( ZMUM ρ3300) . 1 male, karst massif of Mt Dzykhra, Cave Pechalnaya , 0– 200 m deep, no date, N. Myugue leg. ( ZMUM ρ3301).

Type locality. RUSSIA: Krasnodar Province, Sochi, karst massif of Mt Dzykhra , 835 m asl, Cave Krasnoyarskaya.

Description. Body with 30 segments (including telson) in adults.

Measurements. Males 19–27 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 1.6–2 mm. Females 21.5– 27.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 1.8–1.9 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 56 ). Yellowish white.

HEAD. Convex. Labrum (paratype male) with three medial teeth and 4+5 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates (paratype male) with 19+19 setae. Stipites with ca 50+50 setae, numerous microsetae. Antennae long and slender, 4.07 mm long in paratype male. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.17), II (0.41), III (1.12), IV (0.6), V (1.1), VI (0.4), VII (0.25) and VIII (0.03). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (2), III (7.5), IV (4), V (7.5), VI (2.5) and VII (2). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 10–16, arranged in 3–4 rows in males; 12–18 in 4 rows in females.

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

BODY SEGMENTS ( Figs 56 , 57 ). Lateral keels well-developed. Macrochaetae relatively long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.65; MIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 1.2; PIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.65; MA (pleurotergite 15) ~ 110˚.

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 ( Fig. 56 ). 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. 58 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged. Leg-pairs 3 and 4 each with a basal exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 5 with a well-developed, oral, basal protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pair 6 without peculiarities. Leg-pair 7 with a posterior, knife-like, coxal process, this being well-developed, orientated mesad. Leg-pair 10 with coxal glands and an apical, posteroventral, nippled process. Leg-pair 11 with coxal glands, no other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 59 A–C, 60A–G). Sternal plate (sp) anteriorly with a well-developed, medial, hairy, subtriangular, sternal sac (ss). Gonopods consisting of two lateral (lp) [= s sensu Golovatch and Makarov (2011): 19, fig 44] and a medial syncoxal part (s), these being equally high. Syncoxite wide, with a pair of lateral lobes (lo) anteriorly; with two pairs of shoulders (sh1 and sh2) and a quadrangular apex (a) distally. Lateral parts with a small lamellar structure (ls) laterally; postero-apically, with two small subtriangular denticles (d1 and d2) and a group of setae (gs) around opening (o). Posteriorly, with coxal vesicles (cv) and two longitudinal rows of setae (rs).

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 59 D, 60H). Coxites (c) [= cx sensu Golovatch and Makarov (2011): 19, fig 43] divided. Laterally and posteriorly, telopodital remnants (t) [= te sensu Golovatch and Makarov (2011): 19, fig 43] and a pigmented mass present. Coxal vesicles (cv) [= k sensu Golovatch and Makarov (2011): 19, fig 43] present anteriorly. Each coxite bearing a pair of flagelliform coxal processes (cp) [= pr sensu Golovatch and Makarov (2011): 19, fig 43].

Distribution. Russia (known only from a few caves near Sochi) ( Fig. 167 , blue circle).

Note. With some troglomorphic features, such as reduced body pigmentation, somewhat elongated walking legs and antennae and a larger number of setae on the gnathochilarium.

Figures

FIGURE 56. Heterocaucaseuma feminaepectorum gen. et sp. nov., male from Cave Osennyaya, Alek Mt. Range, near Sochi, Krasnodar Province, Russia, habitus. Scale line = 1 mm.

FIGURE 57. Heterocaucaseuma feminaepectorum gen. et sp. nov., paratype male. A. Pleurotergites 14 and 15, posterior view. B. Pleurotergites 14 and 15, lateral view. C. Prozonite of pleurotergite 14, dorsal view. D. Lateral keel of prozonite 14, dorsal view. E. Pleurotergite 14, dorsal view.

FIGURE 58. Heterocaucaseuma feminaepectorum gen. et sp. nov., paratype male. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 4. C. Leg 7. D. Leg 10. Scale lines = 0.4 mm.

FIGURE 59. Heterocaucaseuma feminaepectorum 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. a = apex; c = coxite; s = medial part; t = telopodite; cp = coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; d 1 and d 2 = subtriangular denticles; gs = group of setae; lo = lobe; lp = lateral part; ls = lamellar structure; rs = row of setae; sh 1 and sh 2 = shoulders of medial part; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac. Scale line = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 60. Heterocaucaseuma feminaepectorum gen. et sp. nov., paratype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. and C. Anterior gonopods, anterolateral view. D. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. E. Anterior gonopods, posterodistal view. F. Anterior gonopods detail, posterior view. G. Anterior gonopods, anterodistal view. H. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. a = apex; c = coxite; o = opening; s = medial part; t = telopodite; cp = coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; d 1 and d 2 = subtriangular denticles; gs = group of setae; lo = lobe; lp = lateral part; ls = lamellar structure; rs = row of setae; sh 1 and sh 2 = shoulders of medial part; ss = sternal sac.

FIGURE 167. Distribution of the Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Caucaseuma complex.