Desertoniscus schmalfussi, Kashani, Ghasem M. & Allspach, Andreas, 2012

Kashani, Ghasem M. & Allspach, Andreas, 2012, Redescription of Desertoniscus taschkentensis (Verhoeff, 1930) and description of Desertoniscus schmalfussi n. sp. (Isopoda: Oniscidea), Zootaxa 3154, pp. 40-46 : 41

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.279604
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6175200
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C687B4-B667-FF8B-FF68-32590FAE4F87
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Desertoniscus schmalfussi
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Desertoniscus schmalfussi n. sp.

( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 and 2 View FIGURE 2 )

Material examined. Holotype. male, 5.5 mm, S Turkestan, Musdia Diar, 13 May 1913, leg: K. Küchler, with micropreparation of appendages ( SMF 10309).

Paratypes: one female, same data as for the holotype ( SMF 39652); one male and one female, S Turkestan, Chakini Padag, 13 May 1913, leg. K. Küchler, with micropreparation of male appendages ( SMF 11343).

Diagnosis. Head with well developed lateral and median lobes. Antenna short, not surpassing posterior margin of pereion tergite I, flagellar article ratio 1:3. Male pereiopods I–II with brushes of setae on merus and carpus. Male pereiopod VII carpus with a distinct ridge dorsally. Male pleopod exopodite I with long hind lobe and truncate apex. Pleopod endopodite I with several long setae on apex.

Description. Maximum length male and female 5.5 mm. Color pale brown. Body outline as in Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 A. Cephalon with well developed lateral and median lobes; frons with or without incision in the middle ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 C).

Antenna short, not surpassing the posterior margin of pereion tergite I; fifth article of peduncle as long as flagellum, with length: width ratio 3:1; flagellum with two articles, proximal article short and club-shaped, flagellar articles ratio 1:3 ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 E).

Pereion tergite I with rounded hind margin. Noduli laterales on pereionites I to IV distinctly more distant from the lateral margins than those on pereionites V to VII ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 B).

Telson triangular with slightly concave sides and rounded apex, surpassing uropod-protopodites but not reaching to the middle of uropod-exopodites ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 D).

Pleopod exopodites I–V with monospiracular covered lungs ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C–G).

Male: Pereiopods I–II merus and carpus with brushes of trifid setae ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 F). Pereiopod VII stout, ischium with concave ventral margin in proximal part and with a field of dense setae on rostral side; carpus with a low but conspicuous ridge on dorsal margin ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 G).

Pleopod exopodite I with long but truncate hind lobe ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B); pleopod endopodite I straight with apex equipped with a row of long spiny setae ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A). Pleopod exopodites II–V as in Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D–G.

Etymology. This species is named after Dr. H. Schmalfuss in appreciation of his outstanding work on terrestrial isopods, particularly the oriental isopod fauna.

Remarks. Desertoniscus schmalfussi differs from all the other species of Desertoniscus by the presence of a distinct ridge on dorsal margin of male pereiopod VII carpus and in having several long setae on the apex of the male pleopod endopodite I.

Distribution. Turkestan.