Taiwaneuma, Mikhaljova, Elena V., Golovatch, Sergei I. & Chang, Hsueh-Wen, 2011

Mikhaljova, Elena V., Golovatch, Sergei I. & Chang, Hsueh-Wen, 2011, The millipede family Niponiosomatidae new to the fauna of Taiwan, with descriptions of a new genus and two new species (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida), Zootaxa 2980, pp. 49-60 : 50

Taiwaneuma gen. nov.

Diagnosis. Differs from the other genera of Niponiosomatidae by the anterior gonopods showing far better developed and more complex angiocoxites which are supplied with various outgrowths and branches, coupled with simpler, slender, oblong-coniform, apically flagelliform, soft colpocoxites.

Description. Body with 28 segments, weakly sclerotized. Paraterga small, rounded. Antennae long, slightly clavate. Antennomere 3 longest. Head with genae wider than collum. Mentum poorly sclerotized, not divided. Genae strongly convex. Fore margin of labrum with three median teeth. Prominent spines on labral angles absent. Ocellaria present, subtriangular. Collum not covering head from above. Each metatergite with 3+3 macrochaetae. Tegument of metatergites densely alveolate, short and low ridges running longitudinally and scattered over metatergal surface. Telson without process, posterior margin of telson entire, without excavations, two spinnerets produced behind a declivous caudal margin of epiproct.

Secondary sexual characters of males: Pregonopodal legs normal, neither enlarged nor otherwise modified. Leg pairs 1 and 2 as usual, with tarsal combs. Vas deferens opening through male coxa 2 on a short tube. Male leg pair 7 normal, yet each coxa either slightly excavate or flat. Tarsal papillae absent. Legs 10 and 11 with coxal glands. Coxae 10 with a small outgrowth ventrally.

Gonopods: Anterior gonopods placed on rudimentary sternites. Mesal angiocoxites of anterior gonopods fused into a single structure, with long setae basally, two lateral lobes and several processes distally. Each lateral angiocoxite with long setae proximally, posterolateral process bearing three apical setae at about midway, as well as lobes and outgrowths distally. Colpocoxites with three pairs of flagella and a soft, poorly-sclerotized, slender, elongate, coniform, apically flagelliform structure. Male legs 9 (often termed as posterior gonopods, which seems to be incorrect because they hardly take part in sperm transfer) with both telopodite and coxite parts well-developed, the latter bearing long setae at a lobiform ventral margin.

Type species: Taiwaneuma crinitum , new species.

Name. The generic name refers to Taiwan as the locality where the genus is found; gender neuter.

Species included. In addition to the type species T. crinitum sp. nov., this genus also contains T. ramuligerum sp. nov.