Pseudotremia roebuckorum, Lewis, Julian J., 2005

Lewis, Julian J., 2005, Cumberland Plateau (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Cleidogonidae), Zootaxa 1080, pp. 17-31 : 26

Pseudotremia roebuckorum new species

Figs. 16–19

Material examined: Tennessee: Fentress Co., Fallen Entrance Cave, Buffalo Cove, dissected 29mm holotype male, 1 juvenile, J. Lewis, S. Lewis, H. Garland, 26 September 2003; Shane Cave, Buffalo Cove, 2 paratype males, 1 paratype female, 5 juveniles, J. Lewis, S. Lewis, H. Garland, 26 September 2003.

Diagnosis: The massive lateral angiocoxite separates this species from all other known Pseudotremia .

Description of male: Longest approximately 29mm (coiled), width increasing from about 1.3mm (collum) to 2.4mm (segment 7); body light to moderate brown, metaterga with scattered tubercles, dorsal midline stripe pale, faint purple infusion in pregonopodal segments, darkest on head and antennae; sterna and legs pale brown. Eyes with about 17–19 ocelli of relatively regular shapes and sizes within subtriangular, purple ocellaria. Antennae about 4.6mm long, slender, 3rd segment about 1.4mm long. Segmental paranota moderately produced, largest anteriorly to about mid­body, becoming indistinct from lateral striae about segment 22. Lateral striae about 11–12.

Gonopods with syncolpocoxites mitten­shaped, proximally fused, distally separated by shallow U­shaped cleft, process class I ( Shear 1972, p. 167), arises from the notch between the syncolpocoxites and curves dorsad between the angiocoxites, in anterior view broadened distally, tapering to a single point best seen in lateral aspect. Median angiocoxite with single small mesial spine about 2/3 from base. Lateral angiocoxite massive, curving to extend behind median angiocoxite from anterior aspect, slightly dentate distally, with large decurved spine along lateral margin, extending almost to origin of cleft between angiocoxites. Leg 9 with distal segments fused and questionably individually functional, single claw present.

Female: Approximately 26 mm (coiled), non­sexual characters similar to male. Cyphopods valves widely separated, mesal valve about 1.5X length lateral valve.

Etymology: This species is named after Brian and Lynn Roebuck in recognition of their assistance in the field work in the Rumbling Falls Cave project ( Lewis 2001).

Vernacular name: Roebucks’ cave milliped.

Habitat and Range: In Fallen Entrance and Shane caves P. roebuckorum was found on riparian mud banks among pieces of rotting wood and detritus. These two caves occur in close proximity to one another, in Buffalo Cove, about 4 miles SSW of Jamestown. Juvenile Pseudotremia were collected from Double Entrance Sink and Skillman Mark caves in Buffalo Cove and are probably P. roebuckorum , but adult males will be needed to confirm this.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 23. Pseudotremia roebuckorum, n. sp., Fallen Entrance Cave, Fentress Co., Tennessee: (16) anterior gonopods, anterior aspect, (17) anterior gonopods, lateral aspect, (18) leg 9, (19) cyphopod. Pseudotremia wallaceae, n. sp., Frog Cave, Pickett Co., Tennessee: (20) anterior gonopods, anterior aspect, (21) anterior gonopods, lateral aspect, (22) leg 9, (23) cyphopod.