Paralamyctes (Haasiella) subicolus, Edgecombe, 2004

Edgecombe, Gregory D., 2004, The henicopid centipede Haasiella (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): new species from Australia, with a morphology-based phylogeny of Henicopidae, Journal of Natural History 38 (1), pp. 37-76 : 52-61

Paralamyctes (Haasiella) subicolus n. sp.

(figures 6E–H, 17–27, 38C, D)

Wailamyctes sp. Mesibov, 1986: 26–27.

Paralamyctes (Haasiella) sp. TAS Edgecombe et al., 2002: 60, 62.

Etymology. Subex-, substratum, - icola, dwelling, Latin, for the typical occurrence of this species deeper in the litter than the more common, often co-occurring species, Henicops maculatus Newport, 1844 .

Diagnosis. P. ( Haasiella ) with 19–24 (usually 22) antennal articles; ocellus flattened; 7+7 to 9+10 teeth on dental margin of maxillipede coxosternite, usually seven to nine teeth per margin; T9 and, especially, TT11 and 13, with strong projections; distal spinose projection on tibia of legs 1–14.

Holotype. QVMAG 23 :5277, female (figure 17), Stephens Rivulet, Tasmania, CQ 275 408, 41°09∞56S, 144°56∞37E, 140 m, R. Mesibov , 20 November 1991. Length of head 1.6 mm; length of body 14.1 mm.

Paratypes. TASMANIA. QVMAG: all collected by R. Mesibov unless indicated otherwise . QVMAG 23 :22962, male, Mt Arthur , EQ 237 322, 41°15∞40S, 147°16∞58E, 600 m , 17 May 1988; 23:22963, male, Mt Arthur , EQ 252 311, 41°16∞15S, 147°18∞03E, 620 m , 17 May 1988; 23:22964, female, Balfour , CQ 250 302, 41°15∞37S, 144°54∞39E, 200 m , 2 August 1990; 23:22965, female, 23:22966, female, Wombat Hill , CQ 702 064, 41°29∞00S, 145°26∞42E, 680 m , 20 and 22 September 1990; 23:22967, male, juvenile, 23:22968, female, Wombat Hill , CQ 703 065, 41°28∞56S, 145°26∞47E, 670 m , 24 and 27 September 1990; 23:22969, female, male, Wombat Hill , CQ 704 066, 41°28∞53S, 145°26∞51E, 690 m , 29 September 1990; 23:22970, female, Wombat Hill , CQ 700 062, 41°29∞06S, 145°26∞34E, 690 m , 2 December 1990; 23:22971, juvenile, Wombat Hill , CQ 704 066, 41°28∞53S, 145°26∞51E, 690 m , 2 December 1990; 23:22972, female, Roger River West, CQ 330 483, 41°05∞57S, 145°00∞40E, 210 m , 17 December 1990; 23:22973, female, male, Wombat Hill , CQ 698 060, 41°29∞12S, 145°26∞25E, 690 m , 26 January 1991; 23:5282, two females, Christmas Hills , CQ 321 672, 40°55∞44S, 145°00∞20E, 70 m , 22 June 1991; 23:5278, female, Crayfish Creek , CQ 622 674, 40°55∞57S, 145°21∞47E, 130 m , 12 November 1991; 23:5280, male, Arthur River , CQ 307 465, 41°06∞54S, 144°59∞00E, 80 m , 13 November 1991; 23:5274, two females, male, Alarm River , CQ 699 617, 40°59∞07S, 145°27∞12E, 140 m , 18 November 1991; 23:5276, male, Lagunta Creek , CQ 349 348, 41°13∞16S, 145°01∞49E, 210 m , 19 November 1991; 23:5281, male, Dodds River , CQ 435 385, 41°11∞22S, 145°08∞01E, 210 m , 19 November 1991; 23:5275, female, Milkshakes , CQ 462 487, 41°05∞53S, 145°10∞06E, 170 m , 21 November 1991; 23:5279, male, Bond Tier , CQ 194 626, 40°58∞03S, 144°51∞13E, 90 m , 22 November 1991; 23:5283, female, Roger River West, CQ 332 523, 41°03∞47S, 145°00∞53E, 50 m , 25 November 1991; 23:5620, male, Kenzies Hill , DQ 462 082, 41°28∞33S, 146°21∞20E, 260 m , R. Mesibov and T. Scarborough, 18 December 1991; 23:10123, female, male, Animal Creek, CP 890 910, 41°37∞29S, 145°40∞03E, 740 m , 24 January 1992; 23:10124, female, Frankland River , CQ 212 377, 41°11∞31S, 144°52∞04E, 150 m , 6 February 1992; 23:10125, female, Laurel Creek , DQ 090 230, 41°20∞21S, 145°54∞44E, 440 m , 12 February 1992; 23:16296, female, Dodds Creek , CQ 433 384, 41°11∞25S, 145°07∞53E, 210 m , 12 November 1993; 23:16098, female, Darwin , CP 857 239, 42°13∞42S, 145°36∞53E, 230 m , 27 December 1993; 23:22974, female, Mt Gnomon , DQ 185 409, 41°10∞44S, 146°01∞41E, 290 m , R. Mesibov and C. Brockman, 30 September 1996; 23:40730, female, Newdegate Creek, CP 406 819, 41°41∞54S, 145°05∞03E, 200 m , 6 March 1999; 23:41378 (DNA voucher specimen), Southern Creek , CQ 708 405, 41°10∞35S, 145°27∞34E, 300 m , 18 April 2000.

TMAG (rainforest unless indicated otherwise): J2145, larva IV, near confluence of Sprent and Gordon Rivers , CN 980 796, 42°37∞44S, 145°45∞21E, 50 m , P. Suter and C. Howard, 10 February 1976; J2213, female, Arthur River SF, Julius River, CQ 344 420, 41°09∞22S, 145°01∞34E, 90–110 m , R. Mesibov, 4 June 1976; J2138, female, Olga Camp , Gordon River Valley near Smith River confluence, DN 018 731, 42°41∞17S, 145°48∞04E, 130 m , B. Morley, 14 January 1977; J2142, larva IV, Olga Valley , DN 003 698, 42°43∞03S, 145°46∞56E, 40 m , C. Howard et al., 28 January 1977; J2139, female, J2140, larva III, Gordon River Valley near Denison River confluence, DN 036 697, 42°43∞08S, 145°49∞21E, 30 m (J2139) , DN 028 695, 42°43∞14S, 145°48∞46E, 140 m (J2140), C. Howard et al., 29 January 1977; J2141, female, Gordon River Valley near Denison River confluence, DN 044 702, 42°42∞52S, 145°49∞57E, 90 m , C. Howard et al., 1 February 1977; J2144, larva IV, near confluence of Maxwell and Denison Rivers, DN 080 729, 42°41∞26S, 145°52∞36E, 120 m , C. Howard et al., 9 February 1977; J2214, male, Roger River State Reserve , CQ 333 524, 41°03∞44S, 145°00∞57E, 60 m , R. Mesibov, 15 September 1977, eucalypt over rainforest; J2143, two males, Franklin River Valley at Blackmans Bend meander , CN 981 920, 42°31∞03S, 145°45∞34E, 30 m , L. Hill et al., 6 January 1978; J2215, male, Zeehan-Renison Bell State Reserve , CP 682 696, 41°48∞51S, 145°24∞47E, 280 m , R. Mesibov, 26 April 1987 [ Larval stadia LIII and IV identified by comparison to leg development in Lamyctes fulvicornis ( Andersson, 1984) ] .

AM: KS 74959 , female, north side of Piemans Rd, 18 km from Murchison Hwy, G. Hunt, 31 January 1981, myrtle beech– Dicksonia stand .

Description

Length (head to telson) up to 15 mm; length of head up to 1.9 mm. Antenna and maxillipede pale orange, antenna lighter distally; head shield light orange-brown to pale purple, often with darker mottling; area surrounding ocellus usually black or dark purple; tergites pale brown, reddish brown to lavender; darker pigment irregular along lateral border; legs pale yellow-brown, tarsi darker, with orange tinge; sternites and coxae pale brown anteriorly, gradually darkening posteriorly; genital sternite and gonopods orange.

Head wider than TT1–5, about as wide as TT7 and 8. Head shield smooth. Frontal margin biconvex, with strong median notch (figure 20A); posterior margin of head gently concave. Median furrow extends back to transverse furrow, deepest in anterior half. Antenna extending back to T5, composed of 19–24 articles, usually 22. Basal two articles enlarged, relatively sparsely setose, with long trichoid sensilla; dense setation consistently developed from about fourth article; articles 4–9 of subequal length and width, with less prominent articulations than on remainder of antenna, distal to this, articles usually considerably longer than wide, barely widening distally along their length; distal article fusiform, variably longer than preceding one, typically about 1.5 times length of penultimate article. Ridged trichoid sensilla developed as about five imprecisely defined whorls, longest sensilla in whorls at posterior and anterior edges of article, all whorls directed anteriorly (figure 20C); short, curved trichoid sensilla on ventral surface of articles (figure 20D); semicircular stop (Kragen) on posterior side at bases of long, straight trichoid sensilla same as those of short, curved sensilla (figure 20E); pores interspersed between sensilla, with crescentic rim around posterior edge of each pore opening (figure 20E). Ocellus with weak independent convexity, moderately large, with diffuse margins, usually pale blue-white depigmented region, dark pigment surrounding ocellus sometimes extends on to ocellus. Tömösváry organ moderately large, ovate, outer edge at lateral margin of cephalic pleurite near anterior edge of pleurite (figure 6F).

Clypeus with usual row of four setae just in front of labrum, cluster of long setae at anteromedial apex (figure 20B). Transverse seta projects medially from labral sidepiece; labral margin with gentle break in curvature where fringe of branching bristles overhangs (figure 21C); fringe dense, bristles branching along their entire length.

Maxillipede. Coxosternite trapezoidal (figure 20G). Dental margin broad, about 50% maximum width of coxosternite, each half weakly convex, transverse or slightly sloping backwards medially (figure 20H); 7–10 (usually seven to nine) small, conical teeth per margin; inner teeth smaller than those more laterally (figure 21B); dental margin set off by transverse furrow; median notch lacking or shallow, rounded. Numerous setae of varied length scattered on coxosternite, lacking near median suture, concentrated anteriorly; no porodont or pseudoporodont. Tarsungulum long, slender, pretarsal part about twice length of tarsal part; setal density on outer and inner edges of tarsal part even (figure 21A).

Mandible. Four paired teeth (figure 22A). Nine aciculae; small barbs variably developed along length of aciculae (figure 22E), more pronounced on dorsal edge of each acicula (figure 22F); barbs distinct on all aciculae but more angular on those in ventral part of series (figure 22B) or represented by numerous blunt nodes along ventral aciculae and nearly nearly smooth margin in dorsal aciculae (figure 21D). Fringe of branching bristles skirts aciculae (figure 22B), evenly shortening dorsally to narrow fringe beneath furry pad; bristles narrow-based, regularly branching along entire length, with even gradation in structure along fringe (figure 22C). Three dorsal teeth bearing triangular accessory denticles; field of accessory denticles discontinuous between teeth; outer row of denticles on each tooth delineated by prominent groove / grooved ridge (figure 22C); accessory denticles nearest to fringe of branching bristles slender, pointed. Bristles of furry pad long, bifurcated, well differentiated from accessory denticles (figure 22D).

First maxilla. Bell-shaped sternite of typical size for genus (figure 21E); anterolateral margins set in arthrodial membrane, posterolateral edge meets coxa at a suture. Coxal process subquadrate, slightly narrowing anteriorly, bearing cluster of about eight simple setae on tip, separated from two setae on inner basal edge of process (figure 21F). Cluster of about four minute, barb-like basiconic sensilla between coxal process and telopod. Distal article of telopod with two rows of plumose setae along inner margin, branches developed along distal half of these setae (figure 21G); about 10 simple setae scattered over distal article of telopod, not concentrated in inner membranous strip.

Second maxilla. Sternite trapezoidal, fused to coxa. Band of about 12 short setae in single row across anterior part of coxa (figure 6E). Simple setae on outer part of tarsus, numerous plumose setae on inner part; branches on plumose setae confined to distal 50–60% (figure 21H). Claw small, composed of up to five slender, elongate digits.

Tergites. Tergites nearly smooth. T1 trapeziform, anterior width subequal to T3, about 85% width of widest tergite (T10), posterior angles rounded, posterior margin feebly concave (figure 17); lateral borders subparallel in TT3 and 5, posterior angles rounded, posterior borders transverse or faintly concave; TT1, 3 and 5 bordered posteriorly; lateral borders of TT8–14 gently convex; border of T7 incomplete posteriorly, posterior margin moderately concave, posterior angle rounded; TT8–14 bordered laterally only; posterior margin of T8 nearly transverse, those of TT10 and 12 gently and moderately concave, respectively; posterior angles of TT8, 10 and 12 blunt; TT9, 11 and 13 embayed posteriorly, with largely transverse median extent, TT11 and 13 with strong, triangular projections, T9 with shorter projection; posterior margin of T14 concave in both sexes, with abruptly rounded posterior angle. Tergite of intermediate segment elongate subhexagonal in both sexes, posterior margin concave, relatively wider in female. Anterior tergites with a few setae along lateral border, band of about four shorter setae across anterior part of tergites, a few setae anterolaterally; setation of posterior part of tergites becoming more prominent on posterior tergites such that TT10 and 12 have sparse setae scattered over tergite; row of setae along posterior margin from T9, variably as far forward as T6.

Premur and femur scattered with relatively strong, red-brown setae of varied length, including ring of setae around distal end of femur; a few short, strong setae on trochanter; tibial setae more slender; tarsal setae all slender, those on inner edge sloping distally along distal half to two-thirds of tarsus in anterior 12 legs (figure 23) and on distitarsus of legs 13 and 14 (figure 25); all tibial and tarsal setae slender, radiating on leg 15 (figure 26). Slender, sharp distal projections on tibiae of legs 1–14, absent on leg 15. Tarsal articulation entirely undefined in legs 1–12. Distitarsus 70–80% length of basitarsus on anal leg; anal leg basitarsus 11–12 times longer than broad (figure 26). Pretarsal claw slender, curved in distal third; pair of accessory claws symmetrical, 25–35% length of main claw on all legs (figures 27, 38C, D); minute, distally directed ventral sensory spur beneath main claw on all legs (figure 38C, D).

Sternites sparsely setose; a few setae along lateral margin; band of a few shorter setae across anterior part of sternites; several setae along posterior margin of posterior sternites.

Coxal pores. On legs 12–15, round, separated by less than their diameter, innermost pore typically smaller than others. Maximum 2,4,5,4 / 2,4, 4,4 in females, 2,4,4,4 / 2,4, 4,4 in males; usually two or three pores on leg 12 in females, one or two in male; usually three, not uncommonly four, pores on leg 13 in females, two to four in males; three or four pores on leg 14 in both sexes (occasionally five in female); usually four pores on leg 15 in female (figure 18), sometimes three, rarely five; three or four pores equally common on leg 15 in males (figure 19).

Female (figure 18). Tergite of first genital segment and telson well sclerotized except for longitudinal median band, bearing a few setae. Posterior margin of first genital sternite embayed between condylic articulations of gonopod; setae fairly evenly scattered on posterior two-thirds of genital sternite. Fifteen to 21 setae of varied length on basal article of gonopod; two small, flask-shaped spurs (figure 22G), the inner one slightly to considerably smaller with narrow, pointed tip, its base well in advance of that of the outer spur; second article of gonopod densely setose, setae short to long; third article bearing a few setae, suture separating it from claw well-defined ventrally. Claw simple (figure 22G).

Male (figure 19). Sternite of segment 15 with transverse or gently convex posteromedian margin. First genital sternite undivided, bearing about 20–25 short setae concentrated posteriorly; posterior margin of sternite approximately transverse. Gonopod bearing single band of short setae on each of three articles (five, four and three setae from proximal to distal articles, all setae of subequal size) (figure 6G); terminal process with gently tapering proximal part bearing numerous long, slender spines, flagelliform distal part that comprises more than half length of process (figure 6H). Penis prominent, conical.

Discussion

Paralamyctes (Haasiella) subicolus is most readily distinguished from other species of the subgenus by the larger number of teeth on the dental margin of the maxillipede. The pronounced projections on tergites 9, 11 and 13 allow for distinction from the other two Australian species of P. ( Haasiella ), but are shared with New Zealand species, e.g. P. (H.) trailli . The Tömösváry organ is smaller and more anteriorly situtaed on the cephalic pleurite (figure 6F) than in the P. (H.) cammooensis Group (figure 6A). Comparison with the best supported candidate for sister group, P. (Thingathinga), indicates that smaller size and more anterior placement are plesiomorphic states.