Andrognathus grubbsi, Shorter, Patricia L., Hennen, Derek A. & Marek, Paul E., 2018

Shorter, Patricia L., Hennen, Derek A. & Marek, Paul E., 2018, Cryptic diversity in Andrognathuscorticarius Cope, 1869 and description of a new Andrognathus species from New Mexico (Diplopoda, Platydesmida, Andrognathidae), ZooKeys 786, pp. 19-41 : 26-32

Andrognathus grubbsi sp. n. Figs 2, 5, 9, 11

Material examined.

Male holotype (VTEC, AND0044), 1 female paratype (VTEC, AND0051), 1 female paratype (VMNH, AND0045) from New Mexico, Catron Co., Gila National Forest, "near Glenwood", 33.3254, -108.8847, uncertainty: 5000 m, August 1980 (collector: A. G. Grubbs).

Diagnosis.

Distinct from other members of the genus by the following: anterior lobe of pleurotergite V flared anteriorly (Figs 2C, 5C), but not distinctly bilobed, papilioform as in A. corticarius (Figure 2A). Apex of the P6 process bifurcate, each process flanged (Figure 9C), not a calyx as in A. corticarius (Figs 6-8, 9A). Distal process spatulate, bent at a 90° angle, covering the proximal process in a roof-like configuration (Figure 9C), contrasting with the upright, parallel processes of A. hoffmani (Figure 9B). Claw of the gonopod small, not large as in A. corticarius and A. hoffmani .

Description of male holotype.

Counts and measurements: number of podous tergites (p) = 45. Number of apodous tergites (a) = 2. Number of legs (l) = 170. (45 + 2 + T). Body length (BL) = 12.8 mm. Head width (HW) = 0.39 mm. Interantennal socket width (ISW) = 0.19 mm. Antennomere 6 width (AW) = 0.10 mm. Collum width (CW) = 0.45 mm. Metazonite width at 1/4 length of body (W1) = 0.69 mm. Metazonite length at 1/4 length of body (L1) = 0.23 mm. Metazonite height at 1/4 length of body (H1) = 0.45 mm. Body: With characters from the genus diagnosis. Body with 47 rings, faded yellow in color due to long-term storage in ethanol. Head: Pilose, pear shaped, anteriorly narrowed toward mouth. Eyeless. Antennae extending back to second body ring, relative antennomere lengths 6>2>5>3>4>7>1. Antennomeres short and globular, with obvious ~90° bend at fourth antennomere (Figure 11B). Head evident viewed dorsally, collum not covering head, anterior and posterior margins slightly sinuate medially. Exoskeleton : Prozonites and metazonites of rings 2-4 distinct in appearance; paranota arising from anterior portion of ring and lacking ozopores (Figure 5C). Fifth ring noticeably elongated, metazonite bearing a distinct lateral and posterior ridge, and transverse groove (Figure 5C). Paranota of the fifth ring lobed, lacking bifurcation and posterior placement (Figs 2C, 5C). Ozopores beginning on the fifth ring, oriented anterolaterally; on following rings oriented posterolaterally. Porosteles elongated, (in contrast to short porosteles of other members of the genus), with a doughnut-like rim (Figure 11C). Ring VI and other ozoporiferous rings subequal in length, paranota directed laterally, peritremata directed posterolaterally. Posterior-most paranota and peritremata gradually shifting in orientation; directed posteriorly, with sharp caudolateral corners. Prozonites lacking setae, covered with minute disc-like tubercles (Figs 5C, 11A). Metazonites setose, with fewer tubercles limited to median transverse groove and anterior portion of paranota. Metazonal limbus lined with uniform rectangular tabs (Figs 5C, 11A). Pleurites covered with disc-like tubercles and setae, pleurites of apodous rings overlapping (Figure 5D). Sternites with bulbous median knob with a few setae and raised tubercles (Figure 11A). Legs: Podomeres of walking legs bearing long setae. Coxa globular, with medial excavation, anterior face with raised tubercles. Coxae contiguous anteromedially (Figure 11A). Trochanters thin, other podomeres rectangular with slight widening at apex. Prefemur longest podomere, following podomeres subequal. Tarsal claw simple, slightly curved (Figure 11A). Single comb row of stout setae on anteromedian edge of leg pairs one through three. Gonopods : Ninth and tenth leg pairs modified into simple leg-like gonopods (Figure 9C). Anterior gonopod with stout coxae (A1) bearing medium triangular coxal apophyses that project anteriorly (Figure 9C). Subsequent podomeres (A3 - A6) wider than long. Sixth podomere (A6) spade-shaped, medially spatulate, with setae (Figure 9C). Posterior gonopod narrower than anterior (Figure 6C). Coxae and second podomeres (P1, P2) stout, slightly wider than long. Subsequent podomeres (P3 - P5) tapering to an elongated P6 that meets the apex of the anterior gonopods. Claw (ungulus) of P6 a stout isosceles triangle on medial side (Figure 9C). P6 bifurcate distally, with two processes (Figure 9C). Proximal process flange-like, projecting upward. Distal process spatulate, twisting over the proximal process at a 90° angle (Figure 9C). Color: Faded yellow after being stored in alcohol for 37 years.

Paratypes.

(female) AND051 and AND0045. Counts and measurements: p = 53 and 57, a = 2, l = 194 and 210, BL = 19.40 mm and 17.00 mm, CW = missing and 0.46 mm, W1 = 0.83 mm and 0.90 mm. Somatic characters similar to holotype.

Etymology.

This species is named for its collector, cave biologist Andy Grubbs. While not a myriapodologist, his collecting philosophy was that someday there would be someone interested in the specimens that he collected. Now, almost 40 years later, that philosophy has been vindicated. The specific name is a genitive noun derived from his surname.

Distribution and ecology.

Andrognathus grubbsi sp. n. is known only from the type locality in "Glenwood, New Mexico". The exact location is unknown; however, proximity of Glenwood to the U.S. Forest Service Bighorn Campground in Gila National Forest suggests that the specimens may have been collected there. The campground site is situated in the Arizona/New Mexico Mountains ecoregion (Level III), likely in the Madrean Lower Montane Woodlands (Level IV) ( Omernik 1987). The dominant vegetation in the area is composed of pinyon pines and juniper trees ( Gila National Forest 2018). This type locality is considerably separated from other known Andrognathus localities. Andrognathus hoffmani in Mexico is ca. 1270 km southeast of the specimens from New Mexico, and A. corticarius in Alabama, the westernmost record for the species, is ca. 1990 km southeast.