Pauropus vandiemeni, Scheller, 2009

Scheller, Ulf, 2009, New species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Tasmanian temperate rainforests, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 289-329 : 322-325

Pauropus vandiemeni sp.nov.

( Figs.180–191 )

Material Examined. Holotype. Ad. 9 (male), Bradshaw’s Road , Mount Murchison, Loc 2, (41°49.9'S, 145°37.0'E), leaf litter, 21.iv.1989 ( JD).

Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 1 ad. 9 (male). Bruny Island, Mount Mangana, Loc. 12, (43°22.1'S, 147°17.0'E), leaf litter, 5 ad. 9 (female), 1 subad. 8 (female), 2 juv. 6, 1 juv. 3, 4.iv.1989 ( JD, PG) .

Other material. 53 specimens. Loc. 1, in moss on ground, 1 ad. 9 (female), 1 juv. 3, 21.iv.1989 ( HM), and in leaf litter , 2 ad. 9 (female), 21.iv.1989 ( JD, HM), and suction sample from moss on ground, site 1 , 1 ad. 9 (female) and site 2, 1 ad. 9 (female), 21.iv.1989 ( PG). Loc. 6, hand collection , 2 ad. 9 (female), 28.xi.1989 ( RC). Loc. 8, leaf litter , 1 ad. 9 (male), 2 juv. 3, 22.v.1989 ( PG), and bridge site, soil core , 1 subad. 8 (male), 22.v.1989 ( JD), and PKD from Sassafras , 1 ad. 9 (sex?), 2. vi.1989 ( JD, PG). Loc. 9, leaf litter , 2 ad. 9 (male, female), 1 subad. 8 (female), 2 juv. 6, 3 juv. 5, 18.xi.1988 ( PG). Loc. 10, in moss on ground/ rock , 6 ad. 9 (1 male, 5 female), 2 subad. 8 (female), 25.viii.1989 ( RC). Loc. 12, in moss on dead log on ground , 4 ad. 9 (female), 4.iv.1989 ( JD), and in litter , 4 ad. 9 (female), 1 subad. 8 (male), 4.iv.1989 ( PG) and , 2 ad. 9 (male), 4.iv.1989 ( PG), and suction , 4 ad. 9 (female), 9.iv.1989 ( PG), and in moss , 2 ad. 9 (female), 9.iv.1989 ( JD). Loc. 13, litter , 2 ad. 9 (male, female), 27.ii.1989 ( SS). Loc. 17, non-myrtle litter , 1 ad. 9 (female), 2 subad. 8 (male, female), 1 juv. 6, 1 juv. 5, 8.iii.1989 ( PG) .

Diagnosis. Pauropus vandiemeni forms a group with P. montanus Scheller from New Caledonia ( Scheller 1993), P. wieheorum Remy from Mauritius ( Remy 1959b) and P. difficilis Remy from Pondichéry ( Remy 1961) on the basis of the similar anal plates but they differ considerably in other features. The new species is distinguished from P. montanus by anteriorlyincised collum process (blunt in montanus ), 6+4 setae on tergite V (not 6+6), lanceolate pubescent setae in the posterior row on tergite VI (not cylindrical glabrous), the tarsus of leg 9 with strong pubescence on the tergal side (not delicate), the pygidial tergum with large triangular posterior lobe (not a small one with posteromedian incision) and distinctly pubescent pygidial setae a 1 and a 2 (not glabrous). From P. wieheorum it is distinguished by the shape of the posterior lobe of the pygidial tergum (large and subtriangular in vandiemeni , low with posteromedian incision in wieheorum ), the pygidial setae a 1 (thin and pointed, not thick and blunt) and the st (inner margin evenly curved and outer with bulge, not inner margin with bulge and outer evenly curved). There are reliable characters to distinguish this species from P. difficilis : the length of the posterior setae on tergite VI in relation to their distance apart (0.6-0.7 in vandiemeni , 1.1 in difficilis ), the pubescence on setae a 1, a 2 and a 3 of the pygidial tergum (distinct from base to apex, compared to somewhat indistinct and present only distally) and the shape of the st (similar to a knife-blade compared to not clavate).

Description. Length.-(0.84-)0.93(-1.27) mm.

Head.-Tergal setae long, with dense short oblique pubescence, anterior and submedian ones somewhat clavate, sublateral and lateral ones cylindrical. Relative lengths of setae, 1st row: a 1 =10, a 2 =(10-)13; 2nd row: a 1 =(10-)13, a 2 =(12-)15, a 3 =(9)11; 3rd row: a 1 =(12-)14(-15), a 2 =(15-)18; 4th row: a 1 =(12-)13(-14), a 2 =(19-)22(-23), a 3 =(17-)20(-24), a 4 =(15-)16(-18); lateral group setae: l 1 =(16-)19(-20), l 2 =(12-)14, l 3 = about 13(-18). The ratio a 1 /a 1 -a 1 in 1st row (0.8-)0.9, 2nd row (0.8-)1.0, 3rd row 2.0(-2.2) and 4th row (2.2-)3.8. Temporal organs (0.7-)0.8 of their shortest distance apart. Just inside the posterior margin on a level with l 1 a small exterior pore. Head cuticle with minute pubescence, temporal organs almost glabrous.

Antennae.–Segment 4 with 5 cylindrical striate-annulate setae; their relative lengths: p =100, p' =(83-)89(-95), p'' =30(-44), r =(30-)42(-44), u =(6-)7; p''' as a rudimentary knob. Tergal seta p (0.7-)0.9 of the length of tergal branch t. The latter subcylindrical, 3.9(-7.2) times as long as its greatest diameter and 1.2(-1.4) times as long as sternal branch s, that branch slightly clavate, (3.2-)3.8 times as long as its greatest diameter; anterodistal corner somewhat more truncate than posterodistal one. Seta q cylindrical, striate-annulate, (as long as-)1.1 times as long as s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments (paratypes only): F 1 =100, bs 1 =(6-7); F 2 =(63-82), bs 2 =(6); F 3 =(68-86), bs 3 =(6-7). The F 1 2.1-3.0 times as long as t, F 2 1.8-1.9 and F 3 1.8-2.7 times as long as s respectively. Globulus g (1.3-)1.4(-1.5) times as long as wide, stalk thin; (11-)13 bracts, capsule with flattened bottom, subhemispherical; width of g (0.7-)0.8 of greatest diameter of t. Antennae very faintly pubescent.

Trunk.-Setae of collum segment furcate; primary branch folioform with oblique pubescence, secondary branch rudimentary, cylindrical, glabrous. Sublateral setae (1.8-)1.9(-2.0) times as long as submedian ones; sternite process blunt with small anterior incision; appendages low with flat caps; process and appendages with distinct pubescence.

Setae on tergite I as submedian setae on the tergal side of head, on II subcylindrical blunt, on III-V subcylindrical tapering, on VI even somewhat lanceolate, but blunt. Posterior setae about 1.5 times as long as anterior ones; 4+4 setae on tergite I, 6+6 on II-IV, 6+4 on V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI 0.6(-0.7) of their distance apart and 2.0-(2.3) times as long as pygidial setae a

1

.

Relative lengths of bothriotricha (most broken or lost): T 1 =100, T 2 =96(-99), the following paratypes only, T 3 =(121-136), T 4 =(113-172), T 5 =(184-261), setae with simple, straight axes increasing in thickness posteriorly, T 1 very thin, T 5 thickest. Pubescence delicate, distally mostly erect.

Genital papillae subcylindrical with somewhat granular cuticle, 2.5 times as long as their greatest width; distal seta straight thin and 0.5 of the length of papilla.

Legs.-Posterior legs very long, anterior ones proportionationally shorter. Setae on coxa and trochanter of leg 9 with dense oblique pubescence, furcate, main branch leaf-shaped, secondary branch clavate and protruding from a point 1/4 from the base of the seta; secondary branch 0.8 of the length of the primary branch in coxal seta, 0.9 in the seta on trochanter; these setae more anteriorly with rudimentary, cylindrical, glabrous secondary branch. Coxal setae in leg 2 in males spatulate and very shortly pubescent and with a long thin cylindrical secondary branch (as long as-)1.3 times as long as primary branch. Tarsus of leg 9 strongly tapering, slender, 4.3(-5.3) times as long as its greatest diameter. Proximal seta tapering, pointed, with distinct oblique pubescence; distal seta cylindrical striate blunt. Proximal seta 0.3(-0.4) of the length of tarsus and 2.5(-3.0) times as long as distal seta. Cuticle of tarsus with oblique pubescence, strong and sparse on tergal side, short and denser on ventral side.

Pygidium. Tergum.-Posterior margin with low bulge between a 1 and a large subtriangular densely pubescent lobe projecting backwards above st. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 =100, a 2 =(111-)122(-165), a 3 =(144-)150(-197), st =100(-111); setae all pointed, a 1, a 2 and a 3 curved inwards, subcylindrical, tapering, with distinct oblique pubescence; a 2 and a 3 divergent, st knife-like, somewhat curved inwards, convergent, glabrous. Distance a 1 -a 1 (1.7-)1.9 times as long as a 1; distance a 1 -a 2 (1.5-)1.6(-2.0) times as long as distance a 2 -a 3; distance st-st (1.1-)1.4 times as long as st and 0.7(-0.8) of distance a

1

-a

1

.

Sternum.-Posterior margin between b 1 with low, very broad, rounded bulge. Relative lengths of setae (a 1 =100): b

1

=(410-)417(-511), b

2

=(162-)178(-183), b

3

=(250-)277(-289). The b 1 subcylindrical, blunt, very shortly pubescent; b 2 subcylindrical, somewhat curved inwards, tapering, pointed, with distinct oblique pubescence; b 3 somewhat clavate, straight, with short oblique pubescence. The b 1 1.3(-1.5) times as long as their distance apart; b 2 (1.4-)1.5(-1.7) times as long as distance b

1

-b

2

; b

3

0.7 (- 0.8) of distance b

3

-b

3

.

Anal plate broadest anteriorly, directed steeply upwards, 1.7(-2.2) times as long as broad; with two lateral and two submedian branches; the former thin, cylindrical, blunt, pointing outwards, curved inwards; the latter thicker, straight, tapering, distally cut obliquely, separated by a V-shaped incision dividing the plate into two almost unconnected halves; submedian branches with distal, straight, thin pointed appendages the length being 0.5 of the length of plate. Plate and appendages with short oblique pubescence, strongest on distal halves of appendages.

Stage subad. 8. Genital papillae conical with blunt tip; seta absent; seta on coxa of leg 2 leaf-shaped, secondary branch rudimentary, cylindrical, blunt and glabrous.

Etymology.–Named after the original name for Tasmania, Van Diemen´s land.

Distribution in Tasmania. Pauropus vandiemeni belongs to the group of widely distributed species. It occurs in all main regions of the State except Central Tasmania.

Figures

Figs. 180–191. Pauropus vandiemeni sp.nov., holotype 180–185, 187–191, paratype 186: 180, head, median and right part, tergal view; 181, temporal organ, posterior part, lateral view; 182, right antenna, sternal view; 183, collum segment, median and left part, sternal view; 184, tergite VI, posteromedian part; 185, genital papillae and seta on coxa of 2nd pair of legs, anterior view; 186, genital papillae and seta of coxa of 2nd pair of legs in subad. 8; 187, seta on coxa of 9th pair of legs; 188, seta on trochanter of 9th pair of legs; 189, tarsus of 9th pair of legs; 190, pygidium, sternal view; 191, anal plate, lateral view. Scale line a for figures 180, 181, 183–191; b for figure 182.