Eutrichodesmus multilobatus Golovatch, Geoffroy, Mauriès & VandenSpiegel, 2009

Golovatch, Sergei, Geoffroy, Jean-Jacques, Mauriès, Jean-Paul & VandenSpiegel, Didier, 2009, Review of the millipede genus Eutrichodesmus Silvestri, 1910 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae), with descriptions of new species, ZooKeys 12 (12), pp. 1-46 : 33-37

Eutrichodesmus multilobatus Golovatch, Geoffroy, Mauriès & VandenSpiegel , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9236AEA3-5110-48E6-BD00-2ABB1CBAADC2

Figs 27-30

Type material: Laos, Luang Prabang Prov., Nong Kiaw: Tham Pha Kouang , Cave B, hand collected, 22.XII.1999, leg. L. Deharveng and A. Bedos (LAO-099), holotype ♁ (MNHN JC 324), paratypes: 1 ♁ (MNHN JC 324), 1 # M (ZMUM), 1 ♀ (SEM) .

Name: To emphasize the mostly 5-lobulated paraterga.

Diagnosis: Differs from congeners by the peculiar, evidently and only laterally 5-lobulated paraterga, coupled with very distinct but only slightly differentiated metatergal tuberculation and a few minor details of gonopod structure (in particular, the shape of the telopodite and distofemoral process).

Description: Length of adults of both sexes ca 6.0- 6.5 mm, width 1.1-1.2 mm, body broadest at segment 3 or 4. Holotype ca 6.0 mm long and 1.1 mm wide. Coloration uniformly pallid, shown pinkish because of a photographic artifact ( Fig. 27 ).

Adults with 20 segments ( Figs 27 , 28A ), volvation complete, although paraterga relatively short. Head ( Fig. 28G ) with a poorly separated pair of paramedian tubercles above antennal sockets; antennae relatively short and clavate ( Fig. 29D ); tegument ( Figs 29E, F ) and many other characters ( Figs 28F, G , 29A, B ) much as in E. distinc- tus sp. n.; collum and following metaterga heavily tuberculate ( Figs 28A, C, D, G ). Metaterga behind collum with three transverse, irregular, mixostictic rows of rounded, mostly very clear, differentiated tubercles slightly but steadily growing higher in anterior and, especially, middle rows both toward axial line and telson ( Figs 27 , 28 A-F), and becoming particularly evident on segments 18 and 19 ( Fig. 28F ). Metatergal setae mostly broken off, otherwise short, filiform, helically striate as in Fig. 29F . Paraterga directed ventrolaterad, yet markedly interrupting contour of convex dorsum, rather short but broad, reaching level of venter ( Figs 28F , 29C ); paraterga 2 evidently lobulate only anteriorly and laterally ( Figs 28A, C, G ). Following paraterga narrowly rounded caudally, always subtruncated and quite evidently 5-lobate laterally, non-lobate caudolaterally ( Figs 28A, B, D , 29A ). Limbus distinctly crenulate, almost hidden by nearby abundant microvilli ( Fig. 29E ). Pore formula normal, ozopores located on top of porosteles (always penultimate lateral lobulation) ( Figs 28A, B, D, E ).

Legs relatively short and stout, barely reaching edge of paraterga ( Figs 29A, C ).

Gonopods ( Fig. 30 ) relatively simple. Coxae abundantly micropapillate, but only with a few macrosetae. Telopodite elongate, slightly arcuate, with a large, papillate, distofemoral process (dp) at about midway and a very simple solenomere bearing a small group of minute hairs (but no pad!) subapically at base of a tiny, rounded, terminal hook.

Remarks: This small-bodied, pallid species shows peculiar patterns of metatergal tuberculation and paratergal lobulation. It is a typical “doratodesmid”, possibly still one more troglobite.

Figures

Figure 27. Eutrichodesmus multilobatus sp. n., ♀ paratype; habitus, lateral view. (Photographed not to scale by L. Deharveng).

Figure 28. Eutrichodesmus multilobatus sp. n., ♀ paratype; A, habitus, lateral view; B, D, midbody segments, lateral and dorsal views, respectively; C, G, anterior part of body, dorsal and ventral views, respectively; E, lateral edge of paratergum with ozopore, dorsal view; F, posterior part of body, caudal view. – Scale bars: A, 0.5 mm; B, F, 0.1 mm; C, D, G, 0.2 mm; E, 0.02 mm.

Figure 29. Eutrichodesmus multilobatus sp. n., ♀ paratype; A, midbody segments, ventral view; B, posterior part of body, ventral view; C, cross-section of a midbody segment, caudal view; D, part of head with left antenna, subdorsal view; E, texture of tegument, dorsal view; F, metatergal seta. – Scale bars: A, B, E, 0.1 mm; C, 0.2 mm; D, 0.05 mm; F, 0.02 mm.

Figure 30. Eutrichodesmus multilobatus sp. n., ♁ paratype; A, B, right gonopod, mesal and lateral views, respectively. – Scale bar: 0.3 mm.