Eucampesmella Schubart, 1955

Bouzan, Rodrigo S., Iniesta, Luiz Felipe M., Pena-Barbosa, João Paulo P. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2021, Six new species of the widespread Brazilian millipede genus Eucampesmella (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae), Zoologia (e 66300) 38, pp. 1-22 : 2-6

Eucampesmella Schubart, 1955

Eucampesmella Schubart, 1955: 509 ; Hoffman, 1967: 185; Golovatch and Hoffman, 2004: 51.

Type-species: Pseudoleptodesmus tricuspis Attems, 1931 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Males of Eucampesmella differ from all other genera of the Chelodesmidae by the massive and prominent gonocoxa ( Fig. 16); prefemoral region basally separated (= basal constriction Hoffman, 1967) from the acropodite region ( Figs 17, 18, arrows); by having a well-developed prefemoral process with a secondary process ( Fig. 15), varying in shape and position among the species of the genus; a well-developed shield-shaped process in the acropodite region covering the solenomere ( Figs 15, 16). Females of Eucampesmella differ from all other genera of Chelodesmidae by having vulvae elongated and slender ( Fig. 21); small operculum ( Figs 21−23); and the posterior margin of vulvae opening with large epigyne ( Fig. 20, arrow), except for Eucampesmella brascubas sp. nov. and E. lalla sp. nov. with an epigyne half as long.

Description. General characters: body length between 40 mm ( Eucampesmella tricuspis ) and 63 mm ( E. lalla sp. nov). Coloration: living specimens black with tip of paranota yellow ( Fig. 2); animals preserved in 70% ethanol range from black to reddish and brown, with paranota whitish ( Figs 25−27). Head: smooth, with three pairs of setae between the antennae (row 0, 1 and 2), more setose near the mouth parts ( Fig. 5). Gnathochilarium: without modifications as observed in other Chelodesmidae , but covered by short and thick setae ( Fig. 9). Incisura lateralis rounded ( Fig. 6). Antennae: seventh antennomere having two well-demarcated invaginations and two slight invaginations of the exoskeleton between the sensory cones; modified setae arranged into two small groups; very small setae on the ectal side of the antepenultimate antennomere ( Figs 7, 8). Some species with the last antennomere yellow. Body ring: cuticle slightly rough, without projections, tubercles or setae ( Fig. 11). Collum: anterior border arched and posterior border straight, without modifications; corners rounded. Stigma oval, almost flat ( Fig. 12). Sternites: 4 th body ring with a pair of projections, the 5 th body ring with two or one pair of projections, 6 th and 7 th body rings with a pair of processes in some species. Ozopore arrangement 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15-19 (following the normal polydesmidan pore formula); ozopores surrounded by a peritremata and with a slightly pronounced rounded rim ( Fig. 11). Paranota: prominent rounded, without projections ( Fig. 11). Legs: anterior legs with ventral setae more dense than the dorsal setae ( Fig. 10); anterior legs also more setose, when compared to posterior legs; presence of a pronounced dorsal lobe on the prefemur and in some species granules on the tibia. Telson: triangular, with five pairs of macrosetae on the dorsal sides and two pairs on the apical region.

Male characters. Gonopore: coxae of second pair of legs with a subrectangular shape, bearing a ventral pore (= genital papilla). Gonopod aperture on body ring 7: elliptical, with a sclerotized gonopod support base and with posterior margin excavated; folds at the lateral sides of posterior border ( Fig. 13). Posterior border prominent ventrally developed in some species ( Fig. 14). Gonopods: well-developed, with massive gonocoxae ( Figs 16, 17). The gonocoxae protrude laterally so much that the prefemur is largely obscured. Cannula robust and hook-shaped ( Figs 15, 18). Prefemoral region setose and ventrally positioned; prefemoral region and acropodite region clearly demarcated [basally separated] ( Figs 16−18). Prefemoral process well-developed, containing a secondary projection, varying in shape, position and length ( Fig. 15); solenomere protected by shield-shape process at the acropodite region ( Figs 15, 16).

Female characters. posterior margin of vulvae opening presenting an epigyne, in most of the species this structure is well-developed ( Fig. 20, arrow). Vulvae: easily observable, protruding out of the body ( Fig. 19); situated directly behind second pair of legs of third body ring; long and well developed ( Figs 21, 22), composed of three valves, all densely setose ( Fig. 24); internal (IV) and external (EV) valves joined by an intermediate membrane ( Figs 21, 22), with a proximal and small operculum adpressed against both larger valves (Op, Figs 21−23).

Distribution. Known from the Brazilian states of Amapá to Bahia, occurring in the Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Amazonian Rainforest ( Figs 66, 67).

Composition. Twelve valid species (and three Incertae sedis, see discussion on section “Incertae sedis Species” on page 19). Six species previously described: Eucampesmella tricuspis ( Attems, 1931) , E. sulcata ( Attems, 1898) stat. rev., E. lartiguei ( Silvestri, 1897) , stat. nov., E. expansa ( Brölemann, 1903) , E. serrana ( Attems, 1944) , E. janetae Golovatch and Hoffman, 2004 , and six new species: Eucampesmella macunaima sp. nov., E. capitu sp. nov., E. brascubas sp. nov., E. iracema sp. nov., E. pedrobala sp. nov., and E. lalla sp. nov.

Remarks. The tribe Macrocoxodesmini currently includes two genera: Macrocoxodesmus (monotypic) and Eucampesmella . According to Hoffman (1990a) the tribe is diagnosed by trichosteles (= granules) on postfemur and tibiae of males, enournously enlarged valves of the vulvae and unusual curvature of the tracheal apodemes of the 2 nd legpair in females.

Key to males of Eucampesmella

1. Secondary process of the prefemoral process in basal position ( Fig. 30)..................................................................... 2

1’. Secondary process of the prefemoral process in medial position ( Fig. 32) .................................................................. 6

2. Presence of indentations in the distal margin of the acropodital process ( Fig. 29) ......... Eucampesmella tricuspis

2’. Absence of indentations in the distal margin of the acropodital process.................................................................... 3

3. Secondary process medium-sized, equal or shorter than half of the prefemoral process ( Fig. 40) ........................... 4

3’. Secondary process as long as prefemoral process ( Fig. 37) .......................................................................................... 5

4. Presence of a median projection on the prefemoral process ( Figs 40, 41).............................. Eucampesmella serrana

4’. Absence of a median projection on the prefemoral process ( Fig 42) ................ Eucampesmella macunaima sp. nov.

5. Presence of one acropodital process ( Fig. 37) .................... ....................................................... Eucampesmella expansa

5’. Presence of two acropodital processes ( Figs 30, 31)........... .......................................... Eucampesmella sulcata stat. rev.

6. Solenomere and acropodital process separating in the midlength on the acropodite region ( Fig. 62) ................. 7

6’. Solenomere and acropodital process separating apically on the acropodite region ( Fig. 55) ................................... 8

7. Secondary process of the prefemoral process short ( Fig. 61).......................................... Eucampesmella lalla sp. nov.

7’. Secondary process of the prefemoral process long............ ......................................................... Eucampesmella janetae

8. Acropodital process spoon-shaped (= rounded), in ventral view ( Fig. 54) .................................................................... 9

8’. Acropodital process subtriangular, in ventral view ( Fig. 49)................................................................................... 10

9. Secondary process of the prefemoral process short and thin ( Figs 32, 33) ........................... Eucampesmella lartiguei

9’. Secondary process of the prefemoral process bigger and thicker ( Figs 53, 54).......... Eucampesmella iracema sp. nov.

10. Solenomere less wide than the acropodital process ( Fig. 58)................................................................................... 11

10’. Solenomere wider than the acropodital process ( Figs 48, 50).................................. Eucampesmella brascubas sp. nov.

11. Secondary process of the prefemoral process short (not reaching the apex of the prefemoral process; Fig 46)........ ............................................. Eucampesmella capitu sp. nov.

11’. Secondary process of the prefemoral process long (about reaching the apex of the prefemoral process; Fig 57)........ ....................................... Eucampesmella pedrobala sp. nov.