Gasterogramma tarkinense, Mesibov, 2003

Mesibov, Robert, 2003, The millipede genus Gasterogramma (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae) in Tasmania, Australia, with descriptions of seven new species, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 60 (2), pp. 207-219 : 217

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.24199/j.mmv.2003.60.21
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F6470A-FFF1-D754-FF68-305C0570F899
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Gasterogramma tarkinense
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Gasterogramma tarkinense View in CoL sp. nov.

Figures 9 View Figure 9 , 12 View Figure 12 (map)

Material examined. Holotype. Male. Australia, Tasmania. The Clump, CQ 213361 [41º12´23´´ 144º52´06´´], 190 m, 6 Feb 1992, R. Mesibov, wet eucalypt forest, QVM 23 View Materials :8058.

Paratypes. 3 males (1 dissected for SEM), details as for holotype but 17 Sep 1989, QVM 23 View Materials :8056; 1 male, Little Donaldson R. area, CQ552256 [41º18´28´´ 145º16´12´´], 500 m, 7 Jan 1997, ANZSES personnel, rainforest, AM KS85101 (formerly QVM 23 View Materials :40584) .

Other material. One male each from Newdegate Creek and Waratah in north-west Tasmania .

Diagnosis. Gonopod with branched femoral process; tibiotarsus prominent, directed mesally and posteriorly from prefemoral process fringed with tooth-like projections; solenomerite arising near base of prefemoral process.

Description. Males c. 17–20 mm long and c. 1.8–2.0 mm wide at midbody. Body in both sexes ivory-coloured with traces of pink-purple pigmentation middorsally and anteriorly on each segment. Gonopod telopodites slender, narrowing somewhat near base, lightly joined mesally for about two-thirds their length, at which point they bend slightly anteriorly (fig. 9). A projection like a shark’s dorsal fin, pointed distally, on anterior surface of telopodite at about one-third its length. A few short, coarse setae at telopodite bases, setate area extending just outside aperture. Aperture more or less ovoid, long axis transverse, posterior margin not noticeably raised. Telopodite flattened anterioposteriorly past bend and tapering laterally, with a lateral and terminal fringe of c. 20 short teeth, simple and bifid, directed posteriorly on tapered portion. Tibiotarsus about as long as tapered portion of prefemoral process, a straight, point- ed rod arising on mesal side of prefemoral process at about halfway along tapered portion and directed mesally and posteriorly. Femoral process beginning as a bulge on posterior surface of telopodite just proximal to bend, extending laterally in two diverging, rod-like branches. Distal branch straight, direct- ed distally and laterally and terminating abruptly in a finely pointed, posteriorly directed hook. Proximal branch about one-third length of distal branch, directed proximally and laterally and curving posteriorly at its blunt tip. Solenomerite a short, helical, tapering process arising near base of prefemoral process on its posterior face. Prostatic groove running distally and posteriorly on mesal side of telopodite, then curving laterally, then distally, then mesally around femoral process before running distally to enter solenomerite on its mesal side.

Distribution. Rainforest and wet eucalypt forest at four sites in north-west Tasmania (fig. 12), at altitudes c. 200–900 m, with an estimated minimum range of c. 2300 km 2. Syntopic with G. psi on Wombat Hill, near Waratah.

Etymology. Adjectival form of Tarkine, a popular name for the area between the Arthur and Pieman Rivers where the range of this species is centred.