Retrorsia leonardi Shelley, 2003

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2021, Three new genera and eighteen new species of miniature polydesmid millipedes from the northwestern United States (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Polydesmidae), Zootaxa 4975 (1), pp. 81-126 : 94-95

Retrorsia leonardi Shelley, 2003

Figs 21–28 , 121 , 138

Retrorsia leonardi Shelley, 2003:5 .

Type locality. Ainsworth State Park, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area , 30 mi (48 km) east of Portland , Multnomah County, Oregon .

Diagnosis. The retrorse process (rp, Fig. 28 ) terminating the terminal zone is strongly curved and the subterminal process (st, Fig. 28 ) is broadly spatulate. The notch above the pulvillus seems almost entirely suppressed in this species. The anterior marginal row of setae on the collum may consist of as many as 20 setae ( Fig. 21 ).

Notes. Males have sphaerotrichomes on the tarsi ( Fig. 25 ) of the anterior legs, the bases of which are proximodistally flattened and have fingerprint-like wrinkles ( Fig. 26 ). The cuticular fimbriae around the seminal pore of the pulvillus extend distally along the posterior surface of the gonopod in a diminishing line ( Figs 27 , 120 ). Posterior metazonites may have up to six rows of setae, but the rows tend to become less distinct on rings 16–18. The epiproct is short, not decurved or swollen ( Fig. 22 ).

The female genitalia may be unusual and deserve further study. In their retracted position ( Fig. 24 ) paired projecting structures can be seen which have the same cuticular sculpture as the sternite. It is not clear if these are the cyphopod valves or not.

Distribution. The new records for this species expand the range into Washington well north of the Columbia River.

New records. OREGON: Columbia Co. : Keystone Creek, Clatskanie Valley, 132 ft asl, 40.0822°, -123.1569°, 8 February 2002, W. Leonard, C. Richart, mm ff. Yamhill Co.: near Amity, 45.4594°, -122.4600°, 30 December 1915, P. Nosler, mm ff. WASHINGTON: Cowlitz Co.: 11.4 mi east of I- 5, 410 ft asl, 7 March 2004, W. Leonard, mm ff; Pin Creek, Kool Road 0.4 mi west of Fishpond Road, 180 ft asl, 47.0742°, -122.8470°, 29 January 2004, W. Leonard, C. Richart, mm ff; SR503, 3.9 mi east of I-5, hillside north of Lewis River, 45.9412°, -122.6874°, 7 March 2004, W. Leonard, mm ff; SR504, 3.9 mi east of Toutle, 500 ft asl, 46.3483°, -122.7067°. 1 March 2005, W. Leonard, C. Richart. Lewis Co.: 8.5 mi south of Rendell on FS25, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 46.4415°, -121.9982°, 21 December 2003, W. Leonard, m ff; same locality, 6 December 2003, W. Leonard, C. Richart, mm ff; Iron Creek Campground, 9.6 mi south of Rendell on FS25, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 45.4297°, -121.9869°, 21 December 2003, W. Leonard, m; Shafer Park, 244 ft asl, 46.7530°, -122.9380°, 29 February 2004, C. Richart, m; SR508 at Bremer, 750 ft asl, 45.5917°, -122.4319°, 6 December 2006, W. Leonard, C. Richart, mm ff. Wahakiaium Co.: County Line Par, north of SR14, 46.1743°, -121.2183°, 22 February 2004, W. Leonard, mm ff; Rock Creek at Elochoman River, 46.2763°, -123.2796°, 10 January 2004, W. Leonard, C. Richart, mm ff.

Figures

FIGURE 138. Retrorsia leonardi Shelley, living specimen in habitat. Photograph by William Leonard.

FIGURES 21–26. Retrorsia leonardi Shelley. 21. Head and anterior rings, dorsal view. 22. Pygidium, lateral view. 23. Midbody ring, dorsal view. 24. Retracted female genitalia, ventral view. 25. Tarsus of left leg 7, posterior view. 26. Sphaerotrichomes on tarsus of leg 7. SEM stub WS32-15

FIGURES 27, 28. Retrorsia leonardi Shelley gonopods. 27. Gonopods in situ, posterior view. 28. Gonopod tips. SEM stub WS32-15. Abbreviations: ac, acropodite; rp, retrorse process; sm, solenomere; tz, terminal zone.

FIGURES 121–126. Drawings of gonopods of polydesmid species. 121. Left gonopod of Retrorisia leonardi, mesal view. 122. Left gonopod of Retrorsia benedictae, mesal view. 123. Left gonopod of Retrorsia richarti,n. sp., mesal view. 124. Right gonopod of Retrorsia gracilis, n. sp., lateral view. 125, Gonopod tip of Retrorsia gracilis, mesal view. 126. Right gonopod of Retrorsia simplicissima, n. sp., lateral view.

FIGURES 117–120. Species of Benedictesmus, n. gen. 117. Gonopod tips of Benedictesmus yaquina, n. sp., posterior view. SEM stub WS33-14. Figs 118–120. Benedictesmus timber, n. sp. 118. Head and anterior rings, dorsal view. 119. Midbody ring, dorsal view. 120. Pygidium, lateral view. SEM stub WS33-12/ Abbreviations: p, pulvillus; pp, pulvillar process; tz, terminal zone.