Golovatchosoma, Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016

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 : 7-8

Genus Golovatchosoma gen. nov.

Diagnosis. Like Alloiopus , this new genus is characterized by the presence of well-developed telopodites of the posterior gonopods, but differs clearly in the less numerous branches of the anterior gonopods, by the presence of one coxal process of the posterior gonopods, vs. two in Alloiopus , by the absence of a highly characteristic coxal process with short and thick setae on male leg-pair 7 which can be seen in Alloiopus , by the absence of a coxal horn on male leg-pair 10 vs. its presence in Alloiopus , or by the absence of enlarged coxae of midbody legs vs. their presence in Alloiopus .

Etymology. The new genus is named after Dr. Sergei Golovatch, one of the world's leading experts in diplopod systematics. The name is a neuter noun.

Description. This genus inludes two species which differ from each other in several somatic features, but are characterized by the presence of very similar anterior and, especially, posterior gonopods. Body length 7–8 mm in males of G. bacillichaetum gen. et sp. nov., vs. 12–14 mm in G. trichochaetum gen. et sp. nov., 7–8.5 mm in females of G. bacillichaetum gen. et sp. nov., vs. 12–14 mm in G. trichochaetum gen. et sp. nov.; number of body segments 30 in adults (including telson). Body pigmented. Head without frontal depression in males. Antennae and walking legs normal. Lateral keels like lateral swellings. Macrochaetae short and bacilliform in G. bacillichaetum gen. et sp. nov., vs. medium-sized and trichoid in G. trichochaetum gen. et sp. nov. Leg-pairs 3–7 in males enlarged. Male leg-pair 7 with or without coxal horn, but with a prefemoral, posterobasal protrusion. Male legpairs 10 and 11 with coxal glands. Male leg-pair 11 with a well-developed, posterior horn on each coxa.

Anterior gonopods with a medial sternal sac (ss) on anterior side of sternal plate (sp). Sternal sac bilobed or unipartite. Gonopods consisting of a medial syncoxal part (s) and two lateral parts (lp). Syncoxite posteriorly with a very strongly developed projection (ppr).

Posterior gonopods with divided coxites (c). Telopodites (t) well-developed, two-segmented, orientated laterad, setose. Coxal processes (cp) situated mesally. Coxal vesicles (cv) present at base on posteromesal side.

Distribution. Armenia ( Fig. 166 ).

Type species. Golovatchosoma bacillichaetum gen. et sp. nov., by present designation.

Included species

Golovatchosoma bacillichaetum gen. et sp. nov.

Golovatchosoma trichochaetum gen. et sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 166. Distribution of the Cucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Alloiopus and the Enghoffiella complexes.