Vegrandosoma tabacarui

Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016, The Caucasus as a major hotspot of biodiversity: Evidence from the millipede family Anthroleucosomatidae (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida), Zootaxa 4211 (1), pp. 1-205 : 193-200

Vegrandosoma tabacarui gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 161–165

Diagnosis. Same as for the genus.

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Ionel Tabacaru, a prominent diplopodologist with significant contributions to the taxonomy of Anthroleucosomatidae , and certainly one of the greatest artists among myriapodologists.

Material studied (total: 7 males, 21 females). Holotype. RUSSIA: male, Stavropol Province, Mamaysky forest , near Stavropol, Pinus plantation, 16 Mar. 2014, R. Zuev leg. ( ZMUM ρ3232).

Paratypes (total: 6 males, 21 females). All from RUSSIA, Stavropol Province, near Stavropol : 5 females, same data as holotype ( ZMUM ρ3233) ; 2 males, 3 females, same data, except: broadleaved forest, soil ( ZMUM ρ3234) ; 2 males, 4 females, Tamansky forest , broadleaved forest, 29 Nov. 2014, R. Zuev leg. ( ZMUM ρ3235) ; 6 females (ZMUM ρ3236), 2 males, 3 females ( IZB), same data, except: 1 Mar. 2015.

Type locality. RUSSIA: Stavropol Province, Mamaysky forest , near Stavropol .

Description. Body with 28 segments (including telson) in adults.

MEASUREMENTS. Males 4.5–5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.4 mm. Females 5–6 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.45–0.5 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 161 ). Anterior and posterior part of the body somewhat brownish, rest pale yellowish white.

HEAD. Without frontal depression in males. Labrum with three medial teeth and 4+4 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates with 4+4 setae, on each plate arranged in one row. Stipites with ca 15+15 setae. Antennae 0.7 mm long in paratype male from Tamansky forest, Stavropol, Russia. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.05), II (0.09), III (0.15), IV (0.09), V (0.16), VI (0.08), VII (0.07) and VIII (0.01). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (1.5), III (2.5), IV (1.8), V (1.8), VI (1) and VII (1.2). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 3– 4, arranged in 3–4 rows in males; 3–5 in 3–4 rows in female.

COLLUM. Narrower than head, with six macrochaetae Anterior edge semi-circular, posterior margin gently concave.

BODY SEGMENTS ( Figs 161 , 162 ). Lateral keels like poorly developed lateral swellings. Macrochaetae relatively long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 1.2; MIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 2.5; PIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.45; MA (pleurotergite 15) ~ 90˚.

TELSON. Epiproct with a pair of spinnerets and 3+3 setae (1+1 paramedian, 2+2 marginal). Hypoproct with 1+1 apical setae. Paraprocts with 3+3 marginal setae.

WALKING LEGS. In both sexes, leg-pairs 1 and 2 with tarsal combs; prefemora with several long and robust setae; femora and postfemora with a group of several long and robust setae.

MALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS ( Fig. 163 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged. Leg-pairs 3 and 4 each with a basal exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pairs 5 and 6 without peculiarities. Leg-pair 7 with a posterior coxal horn. Leg-pairs 10 and 11 with coxal glands, no other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 164 , 165 A–F). Sternal plate (sp) with a small, medial, hairy, sternal sac (ss). The most characteristic structures of the anterior gonopods are a pair of long and robust sternal processes (asp) on anterior side, fused to each other in distal ¾. Remaining parts of gonopods consisting of two coxal parts (cp) connected to each other, only with a medial longitudinal groove (lg). Both parts anteriorly with a small process (sap) orientated anteriorly and with an opening (o); apically, with numerous long setae on lateral sides and with short setae mesally. Posteriorly, gonopods with a medial subtriangular structure (mt), laterally with numerous long setae. Lateral parts of gonopods with a row of setae posteriorly. Between medial and lateral parts, a cavity (ca) present.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Fig. 165 G, H). Coxites (c) divided. Telopodites (t) present on lateral sides. Coxites with two coxal processes: an anterior (ap) and a posterior (pp) one. Anterior process longer, arrow-like and curved posteriorly. Posterior one much shorter, horn-like. Coxal vesicles (cv) present on anteromesal side.

Notes. One female representing this genus was collected at Novoprokhladnoye, Adygea, Russia, some 160 airkm from the type locality of Vegrandosoma tabacarui gen. et sp. nov., but in the absence of an adult male, we omit this specimen from treatment [Novoprokhladnoye, Adygea, Russia, 20 May 2004, K. Voigtländer leg. (SMNG) ( Fig. 170 , white square with a question mark)].

Figures

FIGURE 161. Vegrandosoma tabacarui gen. et sp. nov., paratype male habitus. Scale line = 1 mm.

FIGURE 162. Vegrandosoma tabacarui gen. et sp. nov., paratype male from Tamansky forest, Stavropol, Russia, pleurotergite 15. A. Posterior view. B. Lateral view. C. Dorsal view.

FIGURE 163. Vegrandosoma tabacarui gen. et sp. nov., paratype male from Tamansky forest, Stavropol, Russia. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 4. C. Leg 7. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 164. Vegrandosoma tabacarui gen. et sp. nov., holotype male anterior gonopods. A. Anterior view. B. Posterior view. ca = cavity; cp = coxal process; mt = medial subtriangular structure; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; asp = anterior sternal process; sap = small anterior process. Scale line = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 165. Vegrandosoma tabacarui gen. et sp. nov., paratype male from Tamansky forest, Stavropol, Russia, gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, anterolateral view. C. and D. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. E. Anterior gonopods, posterolateral view. F. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. G. Posterior gonopods, anterior view. H. Posterior gonopods, lateral view. c = coxite; o = opening; t = telopodite; ap = anterior coxsl process; ca = cavity; cp = coxal process; cv = coxsal vesicle; lg = longitudinal groove; mt = medial subtringular part; pp = posterior coxal process; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; asp = anterior sternal process; sap = small anterior process.

FIGURE 170. Distribution of the Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Dentatosoma, the Herculina, the Ratcheuma and the Vegrandosoma complexes.