Aquattuor longipala Enghoff, 2015

Enghoff, Henrik, 2020, A mountain of millipedes VIII. The genus Aquattuor Frederiksen, 2013 revisited - a new species from the Udzungwa Mts, Tanzania, another from the Nguru Mts, and introduction of the first pair of male legs as a source of taxonomic characters (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Odontopygidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 626, pp. 1-32 : 14-16

Aquattuor longipala Enghoff, 2015

Figs 1 , 5 D–F, 8B, 9, 11

Aquattuor longipala Enghoff, in Enghoff & Frederiksen, 2015: 12 .

Diagnosis

Diameter 1.78–2.02 mm, 50–52 podous rings ( Fig. 9 ). Differs from congeners, except A. longipala and A. major , by having the gonopodal palette considerably longer than broad, and by having a distal prefemoral lobe on the first pair of male legs, in addition to the normal prefemoral process. Differs from A. mollilobus sp. nov. by having distinct lateral and mesal incisions on the gonopod coxa and by having the tarsal setae of the first pair of male legs of normal length; differs from A. major in lacking a triangular tooth on the anterior margin of the gonopod telomere.

Material studied (total: 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 3 juvs)

TANZANIA • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 3 juvs; Morogoro Region, Udzungwa Mts National Park, Mito Mitatu, Plot 15; 07°49′39.8″ S, 36°50′26.0″ E; 1552 m a.s.l.; 27 Oct. 2014; J. Malumbres-Olarte leg.; pitfall trapping (summed catch from two traps); NHMD 621642 • 1 ♂; Morogoro Region, Udzungwa Mts National Park, Mito Mitatu ; 07°50′14.3″ S, 36°50′46.8″ E; 1207 m a.s.l.; 25 Nov. 2013; T. Pape and N. Scharff leg.; pitfall trapping; NHMD 621643 .

Descriptive notes

The new specimens perfectly fit the original description of A. longipala , except that they are marginally larger (51–52 podous rings, diameter 1.84–2.02 mm, vs 50–52 podous rings, diameter 1.78–1.90 mm for type specimens) ( Fig. 9 ).

First pair of male legs ( Fig. 5 D–F) each with a single slender, finger-shaped prefemoral process (pfp); in addition, each prefemur has a smaller, irregular lobe (dpl) on the oral side of the distal margin; setae of femur much shorter than corresponding setae on normal walking legs ( Fig. 8B ).

Fig. 11 shows a gonopod of one of the newly collected specimens.

Aquattuor longipala is very similar to A. major (see Discussion).

Distribution

Known from two sites in the Udzungwa Mts, viz., West Kilombero FR and Mito Mitatu in Udzungwa Mts National Park ( Fig. 1 ). Altitudinal range: 1207–1552 m a.s.l.

Figures

Fig. 1. Collecting sites for Aquattuor spp. in the Udzungwa Mts. Based on Marshall et al. (2010: fig. 1); inset by permission of the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund.

Fig. 5. Aquattuor spp., first pair of male legs. A–C. A. major Enghoff, 2015, paratype, ♂ (NHMD 621644), first pair of legs in situ. D–F. A. longipala Enghoff, 2015, male from Udzungwa Mts National Park, Mito Mitatu (NHMD 621642). A, D. Anterior view. B, E. Sublateral view. C, F. Sub-ventral view. Abbreviations: dpl = distal prefemoral lobe; pfp = prefemoral process. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 9. Aquattuor spp. Body size (number of podous rings and midbody vertical diameter) in males of Aquattuor species from the Udzungwa Mts, and of A. claudiahempae Enghoff & Frederiksen, 2015 from Mt Kilimanjaro. In case of (almost) coinciding values, symbols have been slightly displaced horizontally.

Fig. 8. Aquattuor spp., males, left leg of first pair. A. A. stereosathe Enghoff, 2015, paratype, ♂ (NHMD 621650): setae same length as in normal walking legs. B. A. longipala Enghoff, 2015, specimen from Udzungwa Mts National Park, Mito Mitatu (NHMD 621642): setae of femur shortened. C. A. mollilobus sp. nov., paratype, ♂ (NHMD 621646): all setae shortened. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 11. Aquattuor longipala Enghoff, 2015, male, specimen from Udzungwa Mts National Park, Mito Mitatu (NHMD 621642), left gonopod. A–C. Coxa. A. Anterior view. B. Mesal view. C. Posterior view. D–H. Telopodite. D. Tip of telomere. E. Posterior view. F. Anterior view. G. Posterior-ventral view. H. Distal (ventral) view. Abbreviations: li = lateral incision; mi = mesal incision; mpl = mesal-posterior telomeral lamella; pa = palette; slm = solenomere; tm = telomere. Scale bars: A–C, E–H = 0.1 mm; D = 0.05 mm.