Polydesmus biscayensis, Djursvoll, Per, 2019

Djursvoll, Per, 2019, Two new species of Polydesmus Latreille, 1802 / 1803 from northern Spain with reinstatements of two species, and a key to the Iberian Polydesmus species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Polydesmidae), ZooKeys 888, pp. 51-65 : 51

Polydesmus biscayensis sp. nov. Figs 2-3 , 4-7 , 8

Type specimens.

Spain, Asturias province; holotype ♂; Llanes, Cueva de la Colluvina; 1 Nov. 1969; E. Ortiz leg.; MNCN 20.07/1440 • paratype ♂; same data as holotype; MNCN 20.07/2020 • paratypes 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (fragments); Llanes, Bricia, La Cueva de Tebellin; C. Cardin leg.; date unknown; MNCN 20.07/1446 • paratype ♂ (fragments in three parts); Llanes, Piedra Llanes; 26 Jan. 1929; C. Cardin leg.; MNCN 20.07/1297. Cantabria province • paratypes ♂, ♀, 2 juveniles (fragments); Cueva de la Busta; 7 Aug. 1968; E. Ortiz leg.; MNCN 20.07/1320.

Etymology.

Named after the Bay of Biscay.

Diagnostic characters.

Differs from other Polydesmus species in having a well-developed twisted endomere together with the acropodites - a1 close to the solenophore and a hooked acropodite a2 at the distalmost end, a long, slender and curly exomere, together with the presence of a ventrolateral tooth t1 directed proximal just after main curvature point, and the placement of the distal t2 tooth distally.

Description.

With 20 body rings, total length 10-12 mm. Coloration whitish to pale yellow (longtime ethanol-preserved specimens only). Collum ovoid, narrower than head and the subsequent rectangular metatergum 2 which is approximately as wide as head, head> collum> metatergum 2 ( Fig. 2 ). Antennae comparatively long, not surpassing body ring 3, antennomere 6 almost clavate and slightly longer than 4 and 5, 4 = 5 <6 >> 7, with dorsoparabasal sensory knob on antennomere 7, sensillar area on antennomere 5-7 ( Fig. 3 ). Metaterga rectangular, paraterga projected laterad, tergal sculpture (tuberculation) in three transverse rows, third row barely visible in metaterga 2-4. Setae clavi- to bacilliform, caudolateral part of paraterga with distinct keels especially from metarterga 4 and back. Ozopore located slightly inside caudolateral margin. Three distinct lateromarginal incisions in paratergum 2-4, four incisions on 5, incisions less distinct more posteriorly. Epiproct pointed apically. Male legs distinctly swollen, sphaerotrichomes present. Legs 1.5-2.0 times as long as midbody height, with single dorsal macrosetae on tibia.

Gonopod strongly bifurcate, including endomere and exomere, both parts twisted (curved). Endomere turns mesally crossing beneath oppositely directed exomere ( Figs 4-7 ). Endomere stouter, bringing descending seminal groove to a mesad-directed solenophore-pulvillus surrounded with two small acropodites, a1 beside pulvillus, a2 hooked, and an excavation in between them ( Fig. 4 ). Exomere originates from endomere with marked sulcus, very elongated and curly, descending to acute apex, with ventrolateral tooth t1 just after main curvature point directed backwards, t2 distally ( Fig. 6 ). Prefemoral part densely setose. Lateral edge of coxite with two large macrosetae. Cannula tube-like and curved.

Female with marked apophysis (tubercle) supporting the orifice of the gonopore on second coxae. Epigynal ridge poorly modified but with pin-shaped median process, with crevice inside ( Fig. 8 ). Vulva relatively short, e.g., in lateral view less than 2 × as long as high.

Figures

Figures 2 - 3. P. biscayensis sp. nov., male paratype 2 dorsal view of head and anterior body rings (MNCN 20.07 / 2020) 3 antenna (MNCN 20.07 / 1297).

Figures 4 - 7. P. biscayensis sp. nov. 4 male paratype, right gonopod, dorsolateral view (MNCN 20.07 / 1297) 5 male holotype, right gonopod, dorsomesal view (MNCN 20.07 / 1440) 6 male paratype, right gonopod with ventrolateral tooth t 1 on exomere (MNCN 20.07 / 1297) 7 male holotype, right gonopod, distal view (MNCN 20.07 / 1440).

Figures 8 - 11. 8 P. biscayensis sp. nov., paratype, female epigyne (MNCN 20.07 / 1320) 9 P. asturiensis sp. nov., paratype, antenna (MNCN 20.07 / 1450) 10 P. asturiensis sp. nov., paratype, head and anterior body rings, dorsal view (MNCN 20.07 / 1481) 11 P. asturiensis sp. nov., male paratype right gonopod, mesal view (MNCN 20.07 / 1450).