Decapauropus tibeticus Qian & Bu

Qian, Chang-Yuan, Bu, Yun, Dong, Yan & Luan, Yun-Xia, 2018, Study on the Pauropoda from Tibet, China. Part I. The genera Decapauropus and Hemipauropus (Myriapoda), ZooKeys 754, pp. 33-46 : 35-38

Decapauropus tibeticus Qian & Bu sp. n. Figs 3, 4

Material examined.

Holotype, adult with nine pairs of legs, female (slide no. XZ-PA2015007) (SNHM), China, Tibet, Linzhi City, Bomi county, Songzong town, extracted from soil samples in a broad-leaved forest, Alt. 3000 m, 29°76'N, 95°96'E, 7-XI-2015, coll. Y. Bu & G. Yang. Paratype, adult with 9 pairs of legs, female (slide no. XZ-PA2015009) (SNHM), same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The species is named after Tibet.

Diagnosis.

Decapauropus tibeticus sp. n. is distinguished from the other species in the genus by the shape of the anal plate bearing comma shaped appendages with pubescence. This in combination with st expanded and annulate distally is a very peculiar character for members of this genus.

Description.

Holotype length 0.72 mm (Fig. 4A), paratype length 0.77 mm.

Head (Figs 3B, 4E). Dorsal head setae short, blunt, densely annulate. Relative lengths of setae: 1st row: a1 = 10, a2 = 12 (8.6); 2nd row: a1 = 12 (10), a2 = 22 (14.3), a3 = 18 (14.3); 3rd row: a1 = 16 (10), a2 = 18 (12.9); 4th row: a1 = 18 (8.6), a2 = 24 (17.1), a3 = 26 (12.9), a4 = 22.9 (?); lateral group setae l1 = (20) 22.5, l2 = (17) 20, l3 = 14 (?). Ratio a1/a1‒a1 in 1st row 0.6, in 2nd row 0.4, in 3rd row 0.3, in 4th row 0.75. Length of temporal organs 1.2 times as long as shortest interdistance. Head cuticle glabrous.

Antennae (Figs 3A, 4B). Antennal segment 4 with four cylindrical, annulate setae. Relative lengths of setae: p = 100, p’ = 46.2 (77.8), p" = 53.8 (66.7), r = 61.5 (88.9). Tergal seta p 1.3 (0.9 of) times as long as tergal branch t. The latter slender, cylindrical, 1.7 times as long as greatest diameter and 0.8 of sternal branch s which is 2.2 (1.5) times as long as greatest diameter; seta q 0.9 of sternal branch s. Relative lengths of flagella (base segment included) and base segments: F1 = 100, bs1 = 7.9 (8), F2 = 36.5 (33.3), bs2 = 13 (12), F3 = 85.7 (73.3), bs3 = 9.3 (9.1). F1 6.3 (7.5) times as long as t. F2 and F3 1.8 (2.1) and 4.2 (4.6) times as long as s, respectively. Globulus g 1.8 (1.6) times as long as greatest diameter; width of g 0.7 (0.8) of greatest diameter of t.

Trunk. Setae on collum segment subcylindrical, simple, annulate (Figs 3C, 4D). Sublateral setae length 21 μm, 2.1 times as long as submedian setae (10 μm); sternite process thin, pointed anteriorly, with a little incision; appendages with low caps (Fig. 3C). Process and appendages with particles. Seta on tergites annulate, 4+4 on tergite I (Fig. 4F), 6+6 on II‒IV (Fig. 4G), 6+4 on V, 4+2 on VI (Fig. 4H).

Bothriotricha . Relative lengths: T1 = 100, T2 = 107.7 (107.1), T3 = 92.3 (92.9), T4 = 107.7 (107.1), T5 = 123.1 (121.4). All but T3 with very thin, simple straight axes and with short oblique pubescence. Axes of T3 thickened in distal half. Pubescent hairs simple, short, thin, strongest on distal half of T3 (Figs 3F, 4C).

Legs. Coxa and trochanter of leg IX with furcate setae, lengths 10 and 11 μm respectively, branches subcylindrical, blunt (Fig. 3G). Tarsus of leg IX short, 23 μm (Fig. 3D), somewhat tapering, 2.7 (2.9) times as long as greatest diameter; setae on similar appearance, thin, cylindrical, annulate, length 6‒7 μm, approx. 0.2 of length of tarsus.

Pygidum. Tergum (Fig. 3G). Posterior margin of pygidial tergum evenly rounded. Relative lengths of setae: a1=100, a2 = 86.7, a3 = 113.3, st = 66.7. All setae but st blunt, annulate; st subcylindrical, straight, annulate, with a little expanding distally; Distance a1‒a1 0.73 of a1; distance a1‒a2 2.7 times as long as a2-a3; distance st–st 1.7 times as long as st and st–st 1.3 times as long as distance a1‒a1. Sternum (Fig. 3H). Posterior margin of sternum evenly rounded. Relative lengths of setae (a1=100): b1 = 233.3 (187.5), b2 = 80 (68.8). All setae cylindrical, annulate. Distance b1‒b1 1.8 times as long as length of b1; distance b1‒b2 0.16 of length of b2.

Anal plate subsquare, glabrous, width 0.9 of length, posterior margin with two short, comma shaped, pubescent appendages, appendages with a pair of little stubs that are almost half length of plate.

Remarks.

The species differs significantly from the other congeners. The comma shaped appendages of the anal plate with a pair of little stubs are characters unknown in other members of the genus.