Pogonosternum montanum Decker, 2017

Decker, Peter, Mesibov, Robert, Voigtländer, Karin & Xylander, Willi E. R., 2017, Revision of the Australian millipede genus Pogonosternum Jeekel, 1965, with descriptions of two new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 259, pp. 1-34 : 26-28

Pogonosternum montanum Decker , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3DFA79E1-92A0-4155-B32A-16B88750E712

Figs 2A , 4 , 5H , 7 , 22–25 , 26E

Pogonosternum sp. 2 – Car 2010: 320 (record). — Decker 2016a: 16 (record).

Pogonosternum sp. B – Decker 2016a: 17–25 (record, mention).

Diagnosis

Differs from other Pogonosternum species in having one lighter longitudinal stripe and no median darker stripe; from P. adrianae and P. laetificum , primarily by the proximad bending femoral process 2 (fp2) and the lateral process (lp) directed mesally, but also by the presence of a subtriangular, not pointed, process on the female leg 2 coxa; male tarsal and tibial brushes present from legpair 1 to 7; anterior spiracles obliquely ovoid with large lobiform anterodorsally extended rim and spiracular filter distinctly protruding.

Etymology

The name means “mountaineer” or “mountainous” in Latin and refers to this species’ principal occurrences at higher elevations in the Australian Alps.

Material studied

Holotype

AUSTRALIA: 1 ♂, New South Wales, 14 km NNE of Tumbarumba, Batlow Road , SW of Back Creek Road junction, S28, 9 Aug. 2014, leg. P. Decker, R. Mesibov and K. Voigtländer ( NMV K-12184 ).

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA: 1 ♂, same data as holotype ( SMNG VNR 016993); 1 ♂, same data as holotype ( NMV K-13348); 1 ♂, Victoria, 7 km SE of Holbrook, Mt Lawson State Park, S26, 9 Aug. 2014, leg. P. Decker, R. Mesibov and K. Voigtländer ( NMV K-12182); 1 ♂, Victoria, Mt Beauty, 29 Mar. 2000, leg. M. Burns ( AMS KS106738).

Other material examined

See Supplement 1 (total: 17 localities, 80 ♂♂, 41 ♀♀, 17 juv.)

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Length ca 1.7–2.3 cm; midbody width ca 1.9–2.2 mm.

COLOURATION. Colour in fresh material ( Figs 22 , 26E ): margin of lateral edges of collum sometimes slightly lighter. Dorsum with broad median light yellowish brown stripe. On prozonites the trapezoidal

paramedian light band slightly broader anteriorly, and on metazonites slightly broader posteriorly, broadest at 1/3 of length ( Figs 22D , 26E ). Flanks and area around ozopores slightly lighter ( Fig. 22C ).

STERNITES. No conspicuous sternal cones.

LEGS. Male tarsal and tibial brushes present from legpair 1 to 7, abruptly absent after. Female coxa of legpair 2 with subtriangular process on caudal side directed distad (Fig. 34).

GONOPODS. Femorite (F) short and broad ( Figs 23–24 ). Prolongation of femorite (prof) long, S-shaped. Femoral process 1 (fp1) laminate, long, subtriangular, slightly curved anteriad, not projecting distad of lateral process (lp) and solenomere (S). Femoral process 2 (fp2) short, slender, bent proximad. Lateral process (lp) on mesal side of prof, short, laminate, directed mesally.

SPIRACLES. Anterior spiracles obliquely ovoid. Rim raised with anterodorsal side extended, distinctly lobiform and spiracular filter twisted and protruding. Posterior spiracle ovoid with low rim and spiracular filter mostly protruding ( Figs 4A , 25 ).

Ecology

Pogonosternum montanum Decker , sp. nov. Decker was mostly found in mountain forests from 600 to 1110 m a.s.l. It also occurs in pine plantations ( Car 2010 and new collections west of Tumbarumba, New South Wales) and was collected in coastal Central Gippsland near Bruthen (AMS KS.105106), where it is possibly introduced.

Distribution

Australian Alps in far eastern Victoria and far southeastern New South Wales and adjacent regions ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

Fig. 2. A. Head, left lateral view Pogonosternum montanum Decker, sp. nov. (AMS KS106884). B–E. Midbody ring structure of P. nigrovirgatum (Carl, 1902) (NMV K-12158). B. Suture between prozonite (right) and metazonite (left). C. Metatergite surface with micro-scales and pores. D. Ventral metazonite surface. E. Limbus, dorsal view. Abbreviations: A = beanshaped area; B = lateral circular area; C = micro-pores. Scale bars: A = 0.2 mm, B = 50 µm, C–E = 10 µm.

Fig. 4. Pogonosternum montanum Decker, sp. nov. A–B. Spiracles on left midbody ring, lateral view (AMS KS 106884). A. Overview of anterior (left) and posterior (right) spiracles. B. Spiracular filter of anterior spiracle. C–E. Telson, posterior view (NMV KS106884). C. Telson overview. D. Spinnerets. E. Anal valves and hypoproct. Abbreviations: A = ventrolateral hook-like process. Scale bars: A = 50 µm, B = 5 µm, C, D, E = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 5. Legs of Pogonosternum. A, D–E. P. nigrovirgatum (Carl, 1902) (NMV K-12158). A. Male left leg 1, posterior view. B. P. nigrovirgatum (Carl, 1902) (QVMAG 23:46359), male right leg 2, anteroventral view. C. P. jeekeli Decker, sp. nov. (AMS KS106742), male midbody leg, anterior view. D. Male right leg 7, anterior view. E. Male tarsus of right legpair 7, anterior view. F. P. laetificum Jeeker, 1982 (NMV K-9957), female left leg 2, ventral view. G. P. adrianae Jeeker, 1982 (NMV K-12203), female left leg 2, anterior view. H. P. montanum Decker, sp. nov. (AMS KS106907), female left leg 2, anterior view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 7. Map of southeastern Australia and Tasmania, showing the known distribution of Pogonosternum spp.: red circles = P. nigrovirgatum (Carl, 1902); green stars = P. laetificum Jeeker, 1982; yellow squares = P. adrianae Jeeker, 1982; blue triangles = P. montanum Decker, sp. nov.; orange diamonds = P. jeekeli Decker, sp. nov. Abbreviation: ACT = Australian Capital Territory.

Fig. 22. Pogonosternum montanum Decker, sp. nov., ♂, from Batlow Road (NMV K-12184). A–B. Anterior rings A. Left lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C–D. Rings 10 and 11. C. Left lateral view. D. Dorsal view. E–F. Posterior rings. E. Left lateral view, F. Dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 23. Pogonosternum montanum Decker, sp. nov., ♂, paratype from Mt Beauty, right gonopod (AMS KS106738). A. Posterior view. B. Lateral view. C. Anterior view. D. Mesal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 24. Pogonosternum montanum Decker, sp. nov., ♂, paratype from Mt Beauty, right gonopod (AMS KS106738). A. Posterior view. B. Mesal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 25. Pogonosternum montanum Decker, sp. nov., ♂, paratype, spiracles, midbody ring, left lateral side (NMV K-12184). Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Fig. 26. Habitus and live colouration. A. Pogonosternum nigrovirgatum (Carl, 1902), ♂ from Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve (SMNG VNR016989). B. P. adrianae Jeeker, 1982, ♂ from Grand Ridge Road (NMV K-13349). C. P. laetificum Jeeker, 1982, ♂ from Toolangi State Forest, Two Hills Road. D. P. jeekeli Decker, sp. nov., ♂ from Warby-Ovens National Park, Taminick Gap Road. E. P. montanum Decker, sp. nov., ♂ (left, NMV K-12183) and ♀ (right, NMV K-13351) from Linden Roth Drive. Scale bars = 5 mm.