Lissodesmus orarius, Mesibov, 2005

Mesibov, Robert, 2005, The millipede genus Lissodesmus Chamberlin, 1920 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae) from Tasmania and Victoria, with descriptions of a new genus and 24 new species, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 62 (2), pp. 103-146 : 120-121

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.24199/j.mmv.2005.62.4
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8066875
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BDAA31-F551-FFB6-8470-F29F4A38899D
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Lissodesmus orarius
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Lissodesmus orarius View in CoL sp. nov.

Figures 8B View Figure 8 , 56 View Figure 56 , 57 View Figure 57 , 69 View Figure 69 ora, 70ora, 71ora, 76 (map)

Material examined. Holotype. Male, Australia, Tasmania. Foam Creek , CP View Materials 255877 (41°38'35''S 144°54'16''E), <10 m, 1.vi.1993, R. Mesibov, QVM 23 View Materials :45822 (ex QVM 23 View Materials :17693). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. 10 males, Pedder River , CQ150149 (41°23’45”S 144°47'13''E), <10 m, 23.i.1991, R. Mesibov, QVM 23 View Materials GoogleMaps :17683, 2 dissected; 2 males, details as for holotype, AM KS91181 (ex QVM 23 View Materials :17693) ; 9 males, details as for holotype, QVM 23 View Materials :1769, 2 dissected 3; 18 females, 2 stadium VI juvenile females, details as for holotype, QVM 23 View Materials :17704.

Other material. 28 males, 53 females and 20 juveniles from Chimney Creek, Foam Creek, Hunters Creek, Interview River, Lanes Tor, Monster Creek, Pedder River, Pieman Head, Rocky Creek, Rupert Point, Sandy Cape and Sea Devil Rivulet (see “ Lissodesmus supplement” for details).

Description. Male c. 17 mm long, H = 1.5 mm. In alcohol, well-coloured specimens under low magnification with almost uniform light brown body colour, somewhat darker posteriorly on prozonites and lighter on paranotal edges. Antenna short, fairly stout ( Fig. 69 View Figure 69 ora). Paranota reduced, R = 1.4 ( Fig. 70 View Figure 70 ora), posterior corners not turned up. Legs moderately robust, tarsus much longer than femur, tibia with slight ventral distal swelling ( Fig. 71 View Figure 71 ora), sphaerotrichomes lacking on leg 6 prefemur ( Fig. 8B View Figure 8 ). Telopodite ( Figs 56 View Figure 56 , 57 View Figure 57 ) reaching just past leg 6 when retracted. Solenomere arising at about one-third the telopodite height, directed posterodistally at c. 45° to telopodite axis, sharply curving distally and laterally at midpoint, terminating with small subapical projection at about one-third the prefemoral process height. Tibiotarsus about as large as solenomere and paralleling its course, the tip turned distally and bluntly pointed, terminating just proximal to solenomere tip. Femoral process arising distal to solenomere origin, blade-like and slightly expanded in middle, directed distally and pressed close to prefemoral process, bluntly pointed and terminating at about two-thirds the prefemoral process height (distal to solenomere tip). Prefemoral process as wide as telopodite base, slightly curved laterally, the tip wide, greatly flattened and concave posteriorly, few small teeth on posterior edge of lateral rim, the mesal rim bearing (a) at the process tip a long, more or less cylindrical branch curving posterolaterally, (b) a smaller, finger-like branch directed posterodistally more proximally, and (c) a sharp triangular point at about the level of the femoral process tip. Uncus small, arising near mesal edge of prefemoral process at level of solenomere tip.

Distribution and habitat. Known from a c. 30 km strip along the west coast of Tasmania ( Fig. 76 View Figure 76 ), from the Pedder River (just north of Sandy Cape) to the mouth of the Pieman River. Along this strip, L. orarius has been found just above sea level in dune scrubs, tea-tree forest and tea-tree scrub. Remarkably, the L. orarius distribution extends down to the high tide line, and at the type locality this species was found together with intertidal crabs under driftwood surrounded by sedge and grass. At most of its known localities L. orarius is abundant.

Etymology. Latin orarius (“of the coast”), adjective.

Remarks. The number and size of teeth on the lateral branch of the prefemoral process vary a little across the L. orarius range.