Cylindroiulus oromii, Reboleira, Ana Sofia P. S. & Enghoff, Henrik, 2014

Reboleira, Ana Sofia P. S. & Enghoff, Henrik, 2014, Insular species swarm goes underground: two new troglobiont Cylindroiulus millipedes from Madeira (Diplopoda: Julidae), Zootaxa 3785 (3), pp. 481-489 : 484-486

Cylindroiulus oromii n. sp.

Figs. 8–14

Type material. Holotype, ♂, Portugal, Madeira , Machico, Landeiros lava tube, É. Nunes leg., 18 September 2002, Paratypes: same data as holotype but 28 August 2002, 2 ♀.

Diagnosis. A subterranean julid of the Cylindroiulus madeirae -group. Unpigmented and blind. Differs from C. julesvernei n. sp., the only other blind species in the group by the shape of the male gonopod.

Description.

♂: 49 podous + 2 apodous rings + telson

♀: 52 podous + 2 apodous rings + telson

Vertical body diameter (H) 1.1 mm (male), 1.34 mm (female). Integument unpigmented; eyes absent ( Fig. 8 ). Length of antennae 1.6 × H in male, 1.1 × H in female. Limbus cells with a smooth margin (“the normal type ” of Enghoff 1982). Length of legs 0.98 × H in male, 0.59 × H in female. Tarsus length/height 3.7–4.6. Length of claw 7.0–9.2% of total leg length. Accessory claw exceptionally short: 30% shorter than claw. Pilosity of preanal ring exclusively marginal. Pilosity of anal valves extensive.

Gonopods ( Figs. 9–14 ): Length of gonopods 0.84 × maximum body height (H) ( Figs. 9, 12 ). Promerite in anterior view ( Fig. 11 ) slender, with mesal margin convex; in mesal view ( Figs. 9–10 ) with margin of flagelliferous lobe strongly convex; in lateral view ( Figs. 12–13 ) with subparallel margins, posterior margin with a low, rugose convexity at 2/3 height. Mesomerite ( Figs. 10, 13 ) as high as promerite, shaped like a pointed, twisted spoon. Anterior margin rugose in distal half. Paracoxal process conspicuous, in posterior view subrectangular, in mesal view pointed-triangular ( Fig. 14 ). Solenomerite ( Figs. 9–10, 12–14 ) in lateral view with subparallel margins, without distinct laterad flanges, mesal swelling large, keel-like, parallel to long axis of solenomerite; distally without fringes; anterior flagellum-conducting lamella with minute denticles.

Vulvae ( Fig. 15 ): Vulvae typical of the C. madeirae -group: operculum without setae and receptaculum seminis a stalked sphere with a small tubular appendix ( Fig. 15 ).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Professor Pedro Oromí, a truly inspiring biologist, as recognition of his magnificent contribution to the knowledge of the Macaronesian cave fauna.

Distribution and habitat. Cylindroiulus oromii n. sp. has been discovered in Landeiros lava tube, located in the volcanic complex of São Roque/Paúl (SRP) at 200 m. a.s.l., within the Santo da Serra lava flow which also harbors the Cavalum caves, about 500 m away ( Prada & Serralheiro 2000, Nunes 2005). Its mean temperature is 16–17º C ( Nunes 2005).

Nunes (2005) provided the first insight into the fauna of Landeiros lava tube. Two troglobiont species were recorded: the Cylindroiulus sp., here described as Cylindroiulus oromii , and the carabid beetle Thalassophilus pieperi Erber, 1990 , as well as several troglophile species: the snail Oxychilus (Oxychilus) draparnaudi (Beck, 1837) , the mites Veigaia uncata Farrier, 1957 and Uroseius acuminatus (Koch, 1847) , the spider Steatoda grossa (Koch, 1838) , a species of terrestrial isopod, genus Soteriscus Vandel, 1956 , a species of centipede, genus Lithobius Leach, 1814 , two species of springtails, genus Onychiurus Gervais, 1841 , the carabid beetle Trechus fulvus Dejean, 1831 , several dipterans of the families Phoridae and Psychodidae .

Other millipedes were recorded in this cave, the epigean blaniulid Blaniulus guttulatus (Fabricius, 1798) , and the epigean polydesmid Brachydesmus proximus Latzel, 1889 ; these species are probably introduced to Madeira .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Cylindroiulus oromii n. sp. habitus of adult female in situ and preserved. Scale bar: 2 mm. (Inset: photo of live specimen, courtesy of É. Nunes).

FIGURES 9 – 14. Cylindroiulus oromii n. sp. male gonopod. 9 – 10: mesal view, 11: pro- & mesomerite, anterior view, 12 – 13: lateral view, 14: opisthomerite, posterior view. afl: anterior flagellum-conducting lamella, f: flagellum, fl: flagelliferous lobe of promerite, fp: finger-shaped projection of promerite, m: mesomerite, p: promerite, pc: lateral rim of paracoxite, pfl: posterior flagellum-conducting lamella, pp: paracoxal process, s: solenomerite, sc: sperm channel, t: apical fringe. Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 15. Cylindroiulus oromii n. sp. vulva. bu: bursa, op: operculum, rs: receptaculum seminis,. Scale bar: 100 µm.