Caucaseuma minellii, Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016

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 : 47-50

Caucaseuma minellii sp. nov.

Figs 35–37

Diagnosis. Differs from the other Caucaseuma species by the general shape of the anterior shields of the anterior gonopods which are characterized by the presence of a fused medial and robust two lateral, thorn-like processes.

Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Alessandro Minelli, a well-known myriapodologist and one of the world’s famous evo-devo biologists.

Material studied (total: 2 males, 1 female, 5 juveniles). Holotype. RUSSIA: male, Krasnodar Province, near Apsheronsk, Cave Sukhaya , 21 Jul. 1970, S. Ljovuschkin leg. ( ZMUM ρ3281).

Paratypes (total: 1 male, 1 female). All from RUSSIA, Krasnodar Province, near Apsheronsk : 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype ( ZMUM ρ3282).

Other material (total: 5 juveniles) . All from RUSSIA, Krasnodar Province, near Apsheronsk: 5 juveniles, Cave Bolshaya Azishskaya , 29 Sep. 1978, S. Ljovuschkin leg. ( ZMUM ρ3283).

Type locality. RUSSIA: Krasnodar Province, near Apsheronsk , Cave Sukhaya.

Description. Body with 30 segments (including telson) in adults.

MEASUREMENTS. Holotype male 16.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 1.1 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 35 ). Yellowish white.

HEAD. Without frontal depression in male. Labrum with three medial teeth and 5+5 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates with 8+8 setae. Stipites with ca 30+30 setae. Antennae elongated, 2.8 mm long in holotype. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.12), II (0.3), III (0.78), IV (0.36), V (0.75), VI (0.28), VII (0.19) and VIII (0.02). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (2), III (6.5), IV (3), V (5), VI (1.8) and VII (1.7). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 22–24, arranged in 6 rows in males; 23 in 6 rows in female.

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

BODY SEGMENTS ( Fig. 35 ). Lateral keels well-developed. Macrochaetae long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) = 0.5; MIX (pleurotergite 15) = 1.4; PIX (pleurotergite 15) = 0.5; MA (pleurotergite 15) ~ 106˚.

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. 36 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged. Leg-pairs 3 and 4 with coxae, prefemora and femora showing a posterior exavation, slightly punctulate; coxae and trochanters with posterior denticles; each coxa with a denticulated thickening; each prefemur with a basal external protrusion. Leg-pair 5 with coxae, prefemora and femora each with a posterior exavation, slightly punctulated; each coxa with a denticulated thickening; coxae and trochanters with posterior denticles; each prefemur with a basal anterior protrusion and basal posterior denticles. Leg-pair 6 unknown. Leg-pair 7 with ventral side of coxae densely setose; ventral side of prefemora densely denticulated; each coxa with a shallow excavation; prefemora flattened. Leg-pairs 10 and 11 with coxal glands; no other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Fig. 37 A–C). Sternal plate (sp) [= v sensu Strasser (1970): 201, figs 1 and 2] with a medial, anterior, triangular, acuminate, hairy, sternal sac (ss) [= s sensu Strasser (1970): 201, figs 1 and 2]. Anterior coxal processes (cp) [= sc sensu Strasser (1970): 201, figs 1 and 2] shield-like, coalesced all along, only an anterior longitudinal groove (lg) present. Laterally, both shields carrying thorn-like processes (lap), while medially, shields developed into the most robust structure (map), in which mesal edges folded inside and forming a wide, lamellar, posterior projection (ppr). In lateral view, lateral thorn-like processes also wide and consisting of an outer (l1) and an inner lamella (l2). Anterior and posterior (pp) [= te sensu Strasser (1970): 201, 202, figs 2 and 3] coxal processes fused at base, connected laterally by a lamella (l3). This lamella connected to a lever (lv). The latter divided into an anterior (alv) [= z sensu Strasser (1970): 201, 202, figs 1–4] and a posterior part (plv) [= f sensu Strasser (1970): 201, 202, figs 1–4]. These two posterior parts lying on both sides of a lamellar projection (ppr) of mesal edges of anterior shields. Posterior part (plv) lanceolate, wide in posterior view, curved anteriorly. A shorter, anterior part (alv) of lever orientated anteriorly, covered by setae apically and directly connected to lamella (l3). Possibly this part has a function in sperm transfer. Mesal edges of levers posteriorly clothed with minute setae, while more mesally a pair of hairy structures (hs) can be seen.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Fig. 37 D). Similar to other Caucaseuma .

Distribution. Russia (known only from two caves near Sochi) ( Fig. 168 , white circle).

Notes. This species is known only from caves and shows some troglomorphic features such as reduced body pigmentation and elongated antennae.

All three adults from the type series were completely fragmented.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Caucaseuma minellii sp. nov., juvenile male from Cave Bolshaya Azishskaya, Krasnodar Province, near Apsheronsk, Russia. Scale line = 1 mm.

FIGURE 36. Caucaseuma minellii sp. nov., holotype male. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 4. C. Leg 5. D. Leg 7. Scale lines = 0.4 mm.

FIGURE 37. Caucaseuma minellii sp. nov., holotype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. C. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. D. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. c = coxite; t = telopodite; cp = anterior coxal process / coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; hs = hairy structure; l 1 = outer lamella; l 2 = inner lamella; l 3 = connecting lamella; lg = longitudinal groove; lv = lever of the posterior coxal process; pp = posterior coxal process; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; alv = anterior part of lever; lap = thorn-like lateral process; map = medial structure; plv = posterior part of lever; ppr = posterior projections. Scale line = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 168. Distribution of the Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Caucaseuma complex.