Theratta eravikulam, Anilkumar & Wesener & Moritz, 2022

Anilkumar, Pooja Avinipully, Wesener, Thomas & Moritz, Leif, 2022, First record of the order Polyzoniida from the Indian subcontinent with an integrative description of a new genus (Diplopoda, Colobognatha, Siphonotidae), Zootaxa 5182 (5), pp. 401-428 : 413

Theratta eravikulam n. sp. Anilkumar, Wesener & Moritz

Figs 7–9

Diagnosis. Dark purple in color ( Figs 7A, B ), while T. mannavan n. sp. ( Fig. 2A ) and T. shola n. sp. are light purple. More than 50 segments ( Fig. 7A ). T. eravikulam n. sp. differs from T. mannavan n. sp. by a stouter head ( Fig. 8A ). Ozopore on 5th body-ring with posterior spine-like projection and not elevated ( Fig. 8F ), while the spine-like projection is absent, elevated and thicker around in the other two species of Theratta ( Figs 3G , 10F ). Wave-like curve in the center of the posterior margin of the prozonites is absent in T. eravikulam n. sp. ( Fig. 8E ), while it is present in the other two species of Theratta ( Figs 4A , 10E ). Tergites are fully covered with deeper striae in T. eravikulam n. sp. ( Fig. 8E ), while the striae are less pronounced in T. mannavan n. sp. ( Fig. 4A ) and T. shola n. sp. ( Fig. 10E ), a unique character for the genus. Differs from T. mannavan n. sp. ( Fig. 3B ) and T. shola n. sp. ( Fig. 10B ) by the absence of striae at the anterior margin of antennomeres ( Fig. 8A ). Distal part of mesal process and lamellar process of podomere II of anterior gonopod rather roundish and broader than in T. mannavan n. sp.. Distal process of mesal process smaller and less lobular than in T. mannavan n. sp.. Podomere II of anterior gonopod with a remnant of a division posteriolaterally ( Figs 9D–F ). Posterior gonopod with six podomeres ( Fig. 9C ). T. eravikulam n. sp. shows a genetic p-distance in the COI gene of 25.3% to T. shola n. sp..

Note. The anterior body-rings, including the head and posterior gonopod of the holotype were damaged. Therefore, some features are described using an immature male paratype. It is a common phenomenon that the number of antennomeres increase in Colobognathan and other millipedes (see David & Couret 1983; Wong et al. 2020).

Etymology. Species epithet, eravikulam , noun in apposition, after the name of the type locality, the Eravikulam National Park.

Materials examined. 1 M holotype ( ZFMK-MYR 9752 A), 1 F paratype ( ZFMK-MYR 9752 C), 1 immature M paratype ( ZFMK-MYR 9752 B), 1 immature F paratype ( ZFMK-MYR 9752 ), India, Province Kerala, Idukki District, Munnar , Eravikulam National Park , Kadalar Shola , 10º08’24.3”N, 77º02’39.3”E, 1703 m, high altitude montane forest, Winkler extraction, leg. A. A. Pooja, J. Jithin, 12 Dec 2019 .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Theratta mannavan n. sp.. A, B: M paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9482A1). A: Habitus. B: Head, lateral view. C, D: Habitats, Mannavan Shola, Annamudi Shola National Park, Kerala, India. Abbreviations: an = antenna; co = collum; gp = gonopod; ms = macroseta; om = ommatidia.

FIGURE 3. Theratta mannavan n. sp., SEM. A, D, E: M paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9483A). B, C, F, G: M holotype (ZFMKMYR9482B1). H: M paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9482B2). A: Head, frontal view. B: Antenna. C: Sensilla basiconica on antennomeres 5 and 6. D: Apical disc with four sensory cones. E: Mouth parts, dorsal view. F: Mouth parts, ventral view. G: Anterior body, lateral view. H: Tergites, lateral view. Abbreviations: ac = apical cone; ag = anterior gonopod; an = antenna; br = body ring; co = collum; gn = gnathochilarium; le = leg; lb = labrum; ms = macrosetae; mz = metazonite; om = ommatidia; oz = ozopore; pg = posterior gonopod; pl = pleurite; pz = prozonite; sb = sensilla basiconica; sp = spiracle; st = sternite. I–VII indicates the number of antennomeres. The white arrow on (B) indicates the row of striae at the anterior margin of the antennomeres and on (H) indicates the lateral, ridge-like extension of the prozonite. Scale bars: A, G, H = 100 µm; B, D–F = 20 µm; C = 10 µm.

FIGURE 4. Theratta mannavan n. sp., SEM. A–D: M paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9483A). E, F: M holotype (ZFMK-MYR 9482B1). A: Tergites, dorsal view. B: First three leg pairs with gonopore, ventral view. C: Gonopore, posterior view. D: Detail of gonopore, ventral view. E: Leg. F: Paronychium. Abbreviations: cl = claw; cx = coxa; cxp = coxal pouch; fe = femur; le = leg; mz = metazonite; oz = ozopore; pe = penes; pf = prefemur; pn = paronychium; po = postfemur; pz = prozonite; sp = spiracle; st = sternite; ta = tarsus; ti = tibia; to = trochanter; vdo = vasa deferentia opening. The white arrow on (A) indicates the row of striae at the anterior margin of the metazonite. Scale bars: A = 200 µm; B, C, E = 20 µm; D, F = 10 µm.

FIGURE 7. Theratta eravikulam n. sp.. A, B: M holotype (ZFMK-MYR 9752A). A: Habitus. B: Detail of head. C: Habitat, Shola forests, Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India. Photo (C) K.S. Nafin. Abbreviations: co = collum; gp = gonopod; ms = macroseta; om = ommatidia. I–VII indicates the number of antennomeres.

FIGURE 8. Theratta eravikulam n. sp., SEM. A–D, F: Immature M paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9752B). E, G–I: M holotype (ZFMK-MYR 9752A). A: Head, frontal view. B: Apical disc with four sensory cones. C: Mouth parts, dorsal view. D: Mouth parts, ventral view. E: Tergites, dorsal view. F: Anterior body, lateral view. G: Tergites, lateral view. H: Leg, posterior view. I: Paronychium, posterior view. Abbreviations: ac = apical cone; br = body ring; cl = claw; co = collum; cx = coxa; cxp = coxal pouch; fe = femur; gn = gnathochilarium; lb = labrum; ms = macrosetae; mz = metazonite; om = ommatidia; oz = ozopore; pf = prefemur; pl = pleurite; pn = paronychium; po = postfemur; pz = prozonite; sb = sensilla basiconica; sp = spiracle; st = sternite; ta = tarsus; to = trochanter; ti = tibia. I–VI indicates the number of antennomeres. The white arrow on (E) indicates the row of striae at the anterior margin of the metazonite, on (F) indicates the spine-like projection on the ozopore and on (G) indicates the lateral, ridge-like extension of the prozonite. Scale bars: G = 200 µm; A, E, F = 100 µm; B = 30 µm; C, D, H = 20 µm; I = 10 µm.

FIGURE9. Therattaeravikulam n. sp., SEM.A–C: Immature Mparatype (ZFMK-MYR 9752B).D–F: Mholotype(ZFMKMYR 9752A). G: F paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9752C). A: Male gonopore, ventral view. B: Telson, ventral view. C: Gonopods, anterior view. Anterior gonopod. D: Anterior gonopod, dorsal view. E: Anterior gonopod, anterior view. F: Anterior gonopod, posterior view. G: Female gonopore, ventral view. I–VI indicates the number of podomeres of the gonopods. The white arrow on (E, F) indicates the remnant of podomere division on the anterior and the black arrow on (D, F) indicates the distal process present on the mesal process of the anterior gonopod. Scale bars: B = 100 µm; A, C–G = 20 µm.

FIGURE 10. Theratta shola n. sp., SEM. A, B, E, F: Immature F paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9767). C, D, G, H: Immature M holotype (ZFMK-MYR 9767A). A: Head, frontal view.B: Apical disc with four sensory cones. C: Mouth parts, dorsal view. D: Mouth parts, ventral view. E: Tergites, dorsal view. F: Anterior body, lateral view. G: Legs, posterio-lateral view. H: Paronychium, anterior view. Abbreviations: ac = apical cone; br = body ring; cl = claw; co = collum; cx = coxa; cxp = coxal pouch; fe = femur; gn = gnathochilarium; lb = labrum; ms = macrosetae; mz = metazonite; om = ommatidia; oz = ozopore; pf = prefemur; pl = pleurite; pn = paronychium; po = postfemur; pz = prozonite; sb = sensilla basiconica; sp = spiracle; st = sternite; ta = tarsus; to = trochanter; ti = tibia. I –VII indicates the number of antennomeres. The white arrow on (A, B) indicates the row of striae at the anterior margin of the antennomeres and on (F) indicate the lateral, ridge-like extension of the prozonite. The black arrow on (F) indicates the row of striae at the anterior margin of the metazonite. Scale bars: A, E, F = 100 µm; B, G = 20 µm; C, D, H = 10 µm.