Cylindroiulus julesvernei, Reboleira, Ana Sofia P. S. & Enghoff, Henrik, 2014

Reboleira, Ana Sofia P. S. & Enghoff, Henrik, 2014, Insular species swarm goes underground: two new troglobiont Cylindroiulus millipedes from Madeira (Diplopoda: Julidae), Zootaxa 3785 (3), pp. 481-489 : 483-484

Cylindroiulus julesvernei n. sp.

Figs. 2–7

Type material. Holotype, ♂, Portugal, Madeira , São Vicente, Cardal lava tube, Erber and Pieper leg., 25 September 1990. Paratypes: same data as holotype, 1 ♂ (lacking head and first segments) and 1 juvenile ♂.

Diagnosis. A blind and unpigmented species of the Cylindroiulus madeirae -group. Differs from all other species in the group by the shape of the gonopod mesomerite: hook-shaped and higher than promerite. Pro- and mesomerite not rugose. (Female unknown).

Description.

♂: 48 podous + 1 apodous rings + telson

juvenile ♂: 46 podous + 2 apodous rings + telson

Vertical body diameter (H) 1.0 mm (body length not measured because the specimen is poorly preserved and artificially distended). Integument unpigmented; eyes absent. Length of antennae 1.5 × H. Limbus cells with a smooth margin (“the normal type ” of Enghoff 1982). Length of legs 0.88 × H. Tarsus length/height 3.9. Length of claw 10.1% of total leg length. Accessory claw exceptionally short: 30% shorter than the claw. Pilosity of preanal ring exclusively marginal. Pilosity of anal valves extensive.

Gonopods ( Figs. 2–7 ): Length of gonopods 0.76 × H ( Figs. 2, 5 ). Promerite in anterior view ( Fig. 4 ), slender, margins slightly converging; in lateral view ( Figs. 5–6 ) very slender, with parallel margins, apically truncate, even slightly concave; in mesal view ( Figs. 2–3 ) with margin of flagelliferous lobe strongly convex. Mesomerite ( Figs. 2–6 ) quite different from that of other species in the C. madeirae -group: higher than promerite, very slender, hookshaped, smooth, tip fitting into apical concavity of promerite. Pro- and mesomerite not rugose on opposing sides margin as otherwise typical in the C. madeirae -group. Paracoxal process prominent, in posterior view ( Fig. 7 ) stout, with an apical and a lateral blunt process, in lateral view ( Figs. 5–6 ) pointed-triangular. Solenomerite ( Figs. 2–3, 5–7 ) slender, apically expanded, without distinct lateral flanges, mesal swelling very prominent, projecting beyond tip of solenomerite as a separate process; distally with fine fringes; uncertain whether anterior flagellumconducting lamellae has denticles.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to French author Jules Vernes (1828–1905) on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the publication of his inspirational book “Voyage au centre de la Terre” (Journey to the Center of the Earth).

Distribution and habitat. Cylindroiulus julesverni n. sp. has been discovered in the lava tube Gruta do Cardal, on the north coast of Madeira , São Vicente (Strinati & Condé 1995).

Four troglobiont species are known in the Cardal Cave: the palpigrad Eukoenenia madeirae Strinati & Condé, 1995 , the spider Centromerus sexoculatus Wunderlich, 1992 (syn. C. anoculus Wunderlich, 1995 ), the ground beetle Thalassophilus pieperi Erber, 1990 , and the rove-beetle Medon vicentensis Serrano, 1993 ( Reboleira et al. 2011) .

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 7. Cylindroiulus julesverni n. sp. male gonopod. 2 – 3: mesal view, 4: pro- & mesomerite, anterior view, 5 – 6: lateral view, 7: opisthomerite, posterior view. afl: anterior flagellum-conducting lamella, f: flagellum, fl: flagelliferous lobe of promerite, fp: finger-shaped projection of promerite, m: mesomerite, p: promerite, pc: lateral rim of paracoxite, pfl: posterior flagellum-conducting lamella, pp: paracoxal process, s: solenomerite, sc: sperm channel. Scale bar: 100 µm.