Theratta shola, 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 : 417-420

Theratta shola n. sp. Anilkumar, Wesener & Moritz

Figs 10 , 11

Diagnosis. In T. shola n. sp. the head is smaller, broader and stouter ( Fig. 10A ) than in T. mannavan n. sp., where it is long and pointed. Ozopore of the 5th body-ring is thicker, elevated and located slightly under the preceding metazonite ( Fig. 10F ), while the ozopores are not elevated in T. eravikulam n. sp., and not under the preceding metazonite in any other species of Theratta . All antennomeres with a row of striae on their anterior margin ( Figs 10A, B ), while they are present only on antennomeres 6 and 7 in T. mannavan n. sp. and completely absent in T. eravikulam n. sp.. T. shola n. sp. differs from T. mannavan n. sp. and T. eravikulam n. sp. by the presence of a thick line fold at the anterior region of the head, separating the labrum from the rest of the head ( Fig. 10C ). Prozonites devoid of striations in T. shola n. sp. ( Fig. 10E ) while they are present in T. mannavan n. sp. and T. eravikulam n. sp.. T. shola n. sp. legs slender ( Fig. 10G ) than in T. mannavan n. sp. and T. eravikulam n. sp. ( Fig. 8H ). Sternite of anterior gonopod folded centrally on anterior side. Posterior gonopods with six podomeres. Podomere VI with three spine-like processes ( Fig. 11E ).

Etymology. Species epithet, shola , noun in apposition, after the name of the vegetation type at the type locality, the Shola forest.

Material examined. 1 immature M holotype ( ZFMK-MYR 9767 A), 1 F paratype ( ZFMK-MYR 9767 ), India, Province Kerala, Idukki District, Munnar , Eravikulam National Park , Erechipetta shola, Waterfalls, 10º10’28.0”N, 77º05’20.1”E, 1929 m, high altitude montane forest, hand collection, leg. A. A. Pooja, J. Jithin, 13 Dec 2019.

Note. The holotype is an immature male.

Figures

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.

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.

FIGURE 11. Theratta shola n. sp., SEM. A, B: Immature F paratype (ZFMK-MYR 9767). C–F: Immature M holotype (ZFMK- MYR 9767A). A: Telson, posterio-ventral view. B: Female gonopore, ventral view. C: Gonopods, lateral view. D: Anterior gonopod, posterior view. E: Posterior gonopod, posterior view. F: Gonopods, posterior view. Abbreviations: av = anal valve; cx = coxa; fe = femur; go = gonopore; le = leg; pf = prefemur; pbr = penultimate body ring; po = postfemur; st = sternite; ta = tarsus; te = telson; ti = tibia; ve = external valve of vulva; vi = internal valve of vulva. I –VI indicates the number of podomeres of the gonopods. Scale bars: A = 100 µm; B, C, F = 20 µm; D, E = 10 µm.