Amastigogonus danpicola, Mesibov, Robert, 2017

Mesibov, Robert, 2017, Iulomorphid millipedes (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Iulomorphidae) of Tasmania, Australia, ZooKeys 652, pp. 1-36 : 7

Amastigogonus danpicola sp. n. Figs 2C, 4A, 4C, 6A

Holotype.

Male, Apsley River, Tas, -41.7992 148.1508 ± 250 m [label "EP 955 717" (= 55G 595500 5371700, AGD66)], 300 m a.s.l., 5 July 1988, R. Mesibov, QVM 23:54377 (specimen in 3 pieces).

Paratypes.

1 male, locality and collector as for holotype but -41.7972 148.1544 ± 250 m [label "EP 958 719" (= 55G 595800 5371900, AGD66)], 320 m a.s.l., 6 July 1988, R. Mesibov, QVM 23:54371; 1 male, same locality and collector but -41.7964 48.1592 ± 250 m [label "EP 962 720" (= 55G 596200 5372000, AGD66)], 350 m a.s.l., 18 July 1988, R. Mesibov, QVM 23:54373.

Other material.

22 males, 4 probable females from 16 unique localities; details in Suppl. material 1.

Diagnosis.

Coxite process of the anterior gonopod divided by narrow fossae apically and anterobasally; legs 6, 7, 10 and 11 with elongated coxae.

Description.

Mature males observed with (48+4) rings, 2.6 mm midbody diameter to (71+1) rings, 3.2 mm. Cardo deeper posteriorly than anteriorly (Fig. 4A; ce). Legs 6, 7, 10 and 11 with elongated coxae, swollen distomedially (Fig. 2C); leg 7 coxa longest and most swollen. Prefemoral pad ca 3/4 femur length. Striae on posterior metazonites reaching ca 1/2 ozopore height.

Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig. 6A; cxp) with basal portion divided anteriorly by fossa (Fig. 6A; fo) into lateral and medial longitudinal flanges, the medial flange with deep, V-shaped notch at ca 1/2 coxite height on anterior margin; process divided apically by shallow fossa (Fig. 6A; fo) separating distolateral and distomedial margins; process not reaching level of telopodite apex. Telopodite (Fig. 6A; te) with row of minute setae on posterior side of medial thickening, behind pseudoflagellum (Fig. 6A; ps). Pseudoflagellum ca 1/2 telopodite width at base, truncate at ca 1/2 pseudoflagellum height, extending anterodistally from anterior corner of truncate basal portion as thin, flexible ribbon, the latter usually curving laterally over telopodite apex in preserved specimens.

Distribution.

Eucalypt forest over ca 1000 km2 on the East Coast of Tasmania, mainly in the Apsley, Douglas, St Pauls and Swan River catchments (Fig. 7C), from near sea level to at least 600 m. Possibly parapatric with Amastigogonus elephas sp. n. in the upper St Pauls River catchment and with Amastigogonus michaelsae sp. n. near Swansea. Sympatric with Amastigogonus fossuliger and with Amastigogonus orientalis sp. n.

Name.

Abbreviation in lower case “danp” for Douglas-Apsley National Park plus Latin cola, inhabitant; noun in apposition. This species is abundant in the Park, which also contains the type locality.

Remarks.

Amastigogonus danpicola sp. n. is the most apomorphic species within the group included here in Amastigogonus . I place it in this genus because the structure and position of the pseudoflagellum and its supporting setae conform to the general pattern seen in the other Amastigogonus species.