Acanthophorella devi Antić, 2023

Antić, Dragan, Šević, Mirko, Barjadze, Shalva & Makarov, Slobodan, 2023, Review of the genus Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016 (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Anthroleucosomatidae), with descriptions of three new species from the Caucasus, European Journal of Taxonomy 908, pp. 39-76 : 49-56

Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DDAE0A65-7AB2-42AF-914C-1CE779454840

Figs 1E–F , 6–10 , 21D , 22

Diagnosis

Distinguished from congeners and members of the genus Pseudoflagellophorella by the presence of a poorly developed or the complete absence of a protrusions on coxae 10 in males ( Fig. 8E , vs presence of well-developed subtriangular or rounded protrusion or even a long process in congeners or members of Pseudoflagellophorella ) and, aside from A. barjadzei and A. valerii sp. nov., by a whitish and unpigmented body (vs pigmented body in others). From A. valerii , it differs by the presence of pale brownish ommatidia (vs black in A. valerii ), the absence of a mesal tooth on the coxal processes of leg-pair 7 (vs presence in A. valerii ) and in the general shape of the anterior and posterior gonopods. From the most similar A. barjadzei (in terms of anterior and posterior gonopods), A. devi sp. nov. differs in the absence of a mesal tooth on the coxal processes of leg-pair 7 (vs presence in A. barjadzei ), as well as in the general appearance: A. devi is smaller, 11–13 mm long (vs 16–26 mm in A. barjadzei ), by the shape of paranota, and by the shorter and rodlike, rather bacilliform macrochaetae (vs longer trichoid macrochaetae in A. barjadzei ).

Etymology

In Georgian mythology, Devi (‘ დევი ’) is a many-headed malevolent giant who lives in the underworld. The type locality Devis Khvreli (‘ დევის ხვრელი ’) means ‘Devi’s hole’. Noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype GEORGIA • ♂; Imereti Region, Chiatura Municipality, Zemo Imereti plateau karst massif , Rgani village , Devis Khvreli Cave ; 691 m a.s.l.; 26 Jul. 2022; D. Antić, E. Kiria and L. Shavadze leg.; NHMW MY10364 .

Paratypes GEORGIA • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (used for SEM); same collection data as for holotype; IZB • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; IZISU • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; NHMW MY10365 .

Additional material

GEORGIA • 1 ♂, 5 juvs; same cave as for holotype; 23 Nov. 2018; G. Nebieridze leg.; IZISU .

Description

SIZE AND NUMBER OF BODY RINGS. Body with 31 rings (including telson). Holotype male 11 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest ring 0.80 mm. Paratype males 12–13 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest ring 0.85–0.90 mm, respectively. Paratype females 12–13 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest ring 0.90–0.95 mm, respectively.

COLORATION ( Figs 1E–F , 6 ). Living animals white with pale brownish ommatidia.

HEAD ( Figs 6A–B , 7A–D ). Setose, roundly convex in females, in males with labral and frontal surfaces flat with a convexity between and with a pair of lateral lobes, each below antennal sockets. Labrum with three medial teeth and 5+5 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lamellae linguales with 7+6 setae. Stipites with ca 25 setae each. Antennae 2 mm long in holotype male. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.1), II (0.2), III (0.55), IV (0.27), V (0.5), VI (0.17), VII (0.17) and VIII (0.04). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (1.5), III (5.5), IV (2.7), V (3.5), VI (1.1) and VII (1.5). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one long sensillum trichoideum, respectively. Antennomere 7 with one rather bacilliform sensillum (sensillum basiconicum?) curved distad, located below sensillum trichodeum. Lateral to antennal sockets, a group of papilliform outgrowths present. Number of ommatidia: 5–7 in 2–3 irregular rows ( Figs 6A , 7C–D ).

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

BODY RINGS ( Figs 6A, C–E , 7E–H ). With well-developed lateral keels, rounded in dorsal view. Macrochaetae rather short and rodlike, with longitudinal ribs, ending with spikes ( Fig. 7H ). CIX (ring 15) = 0.6; MIX (ring 15) ~ 1.5; PIX (ring 15) = 0.6; MA (ring 15) ~ 100°.

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

LEG-PAIRS 1 AND 2. In both sexes with tarsal combs; femora, postfemora and tibiae with long and robust setae.

MALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS ( Figs 1E–F , 8B–E ). Gonopores mesally on coxae 2 ( Fig. 8B ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged, especially leg-pairs 3, 4 and 7 ( Fig. 1E–F ). Leg-pairs 3 and 4 very thick, each with a proximal lateral protrusion on prefemora; prefemora and femora strong, rectangular; tarsi shorter and thicker compared to other legs; femora, postfemora and tibiae each with a distoventral pad ( Fig. 8C , arrows indicate distoventral pads). Leg-pair 5 with a proximal, somewhat elongated, anterior, triangular, coxal protrusion ( Fig. 1E ). Leg-pair 6 without peculiarities. Leg-pair 7 robust; coxae with wide, well-developed, flattened posterior processes, covered with long setae anteriorly and with a lateral lobe giving the impression of a subtriangular appereance ( Fig. 8D ). Leg-pair 10 with coxal glands and a poorly developed or completely absent protrusion ( Fig. 8E ). Leg-pair 11 with coxal glands, no other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 8F , 9A–F , 10A–C , 21D ). Gonopodal sternum (s) wide, medially with a poorlydeveloped, low, fimbriate lamella (sl) on anterior side. Angiocoxites (a) consisting of a medial part (mp), lateral lamellae (ll) and a synangiocoxal base with anterior processes (ap). Medial parts well-developed, together forming a heartlike structure, divided, but appressed to each other, shieldlike, distomesal and lateral margins folded posteriad; each medial part with subdistal posterior lobe (pl), triangular in posterior view; angiocoxites posteroproximally with a pair of tufts (tf) with hairlike outgrowths and a rounded lobe, covered by spiculiform outgrowths, from which a ridge, also covered with spiculiform outgrowths, continues and fuses with the posterior side of the medial part. Lateral lamellae low, rather wide in lateral view, with slightly denticulate margins. Anterior processes (ap) tapering distad, acuminate, twice as high as lateral lamellae. Coxal vesicles not observed.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 8G , 10D–E ). Gonopodal sternum (s) wide, well-developed. Angiocoxites (a) positioned posteriorly, well-developed, slender, curved anterolaterad, longer than colpocoxites (c). Colpocoxites in anterior and posterior views wide in proximal half, then abruptly narrow to half their width in the distal half; fused with basal half of angiocoxites. Telopodites (t) small, rounded, placed posteriorly at base of angiocoxites.

LEG PAIR 2 IN FEMALES ( Fig. 8A ). Coxae with distomesal protrusions covered with small tubercles and setae.

VULVAE ( Figs 9G–I , 10F–G ). Slightly longer than wide. Operculum (o) well-developed, bilobed, with 5+5 setae (4+4 lateral shorter setae and 1+1 mesal longer setae). Bursa (b) with strongly thickened anteroproximal lips on which the operculum rests. Lateral valve with six setae only in anterior part, mesal valve with 11 or 12 setae.

Locality and ecology

Devis Khvreli is a small horizontal cave 50–60 m long, but as the entrance is relatively small, the whole cave being dark. The cave consists of two parts, a first dry part connected to a second wet part by a narrow passage. This cave is poor in speleothems.

The specimens were found crawling on the substrate or on dead wood in the second, dark and wet part of the cave. Besides the new species, this cave is inhabited by two other millipedes, the troglobiotic Leucogeorgia gioi Antić & Reip, 2020 ( Antić & Reip 2020) and the troglophilous Trachysphaera orientalis Golovatch, 1976 (unpubl. data).

Based on the ecology, the completely unpigmented body and the reduced number of pale brownish ommatidia, A. devi sp. nov. can be considered as a neotroglobiont.

Distribution

A Georgian endemic known only from its type locality, Devis Khvreli Cave, near Rgani village (Chiatura Municipality) ( Fig. 22 , violet circle).

Figures

Fig. 1. Troglobiotic members of the genus Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016 in situ. A–B. Acanthophorella barjadzei Antić & Makarov, 2016, ♂ from Nikortsminda Sakinule Cave. C–D. Acanthophorella barjadzei Antić & Makarov, 2016, ♂ from Muradi Cave. E–F. Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov., types, ♂♂. G–H. Acanthophorella valerii Antić sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (NHMW MY10366). Photos by Dragan Antić.

Fig. 6. Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov. A–B. Paratype, ♀ (IZB). C–E. Holotype, ♂ (NHMW MY10364). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head and collum, lateral view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D. Midbody rings, dorsal view. E. Midbody rings, lateral view. Scale bars: A, C–E = 1 mm; B = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 7. Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov., paratype, ♂ (IZB). A. Head, anterior view. B. Labrum, anterior view. C. Right side of head showing field with ommatidia, organ of Tömösvary and group of papilliform outgrowths, lateral view. D. Right field with ommatidia, anterior view. E. Ring 16, dorsal view.F. Ring 16, dorsolateral view. G. Rings 14–16, posterior view. H. Left interior macrochaeta of ring 15, lateral view. Scale bars: A–B, E–G = 0.1 mm; C, H = 0.05 mm; D = 0.01 mm.

Fig. 8. Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov. A. Paratype, ♀ (IZB), B–G. Paratype, ♂ (IZB). A. Legpair 2, anterior view. B. Leg-pair 2, anterior view. C. Right leg 4, anterior view, white arrows indicate distoventral pads. D. Leg-pair 7, posterior view. E. Leg-pair 10, anterior view. F. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. G. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 9. Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov. A–F. Paratype, ♂ (IZB). G–I. Paratype, ♀ (IZB). A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, anterodistal view. C. Anterior gonopods, distal view. D. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. E. Anterior gonopods, lateral lamella and tuft, posterodistal view. F. Anterior gonopods, posterodistal view. G. Left vulva, lateral view. H. Vulvae, distal view. I. Left vulva, anterior view.Abbreviations: a = angiocoxite; ap = anterior process; b = bursa; ll = lateral lamella; mp = medial part; o = operculum; pl = posterior lobe; s = sternum; sa = synangiocoxal base; sl = sternal lamella; tf = angiocoxal tuft. Scale bars: A–D, F–I = 0.1 mm; E = 0.02 mm.

Fig. 10. Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov. A–E. Paratype, ♂ (IZB). F–G. Paratype, ♀ (IZB). A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. C. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. D. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. E. Left posterior gonopod, lateral view. F. Right vulva, distal view. G. Right vulva, lateral view. Abbreviations: a = angiocoxite; ap = anterior process; b = bursa; c = colpocoxite; ll = lateral lamella; mp = medial part; o = operculum; pl = posterior lobe; s = sternum; sa = synangiocoxal base; sl = sternal lamella; t = telopodite; tf = angiocoxal tuft. Drawings by DA (A–E) and MŠ (F–G). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 21. Anterior gonopods in the genera Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016 and PseudoflagellophorellaAntić & Makarov, 2016, anterior views. A. A. auritaAntić sp. nov. B. A. barjadzei Antić & Makarov, 2016. C. A. chegemi Antić & Makarov, 2016. D. A. devi Antić sp. nov. E. A. irystoni Antić & Makarov, 2016. F. A. valerii Antić sp. nov. G. P. eskovi Antić & Makarov, 2016. H. P. mirabilis Antić & Makarov, 2016. I. P. papilioformis Antić & Makarov, 2016. B–C, E, G–I after Antić & Makarov (2016). Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 22. Distribution of the genus Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016.