Atrophotergum silvaticum, Mesibov, Robert, 2004

Mesibov, Robert, 2004, A new genus of millipedes (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae) from Tasmania, Australia with a mosaic distribution, Zootaxa 480, pp. 1-23 : 8-9

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.157291
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6269248
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F92787AB-875D-FFB0-8626-FEA3FE44ADCD
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Atrophotergum silvaticum
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Atrophotergum silvaticum View in CoL n. sp.

Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3 View FIGURE 3 , 4, 6 View FIGURE 6 ; map Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12

Holotype: Male, Winter Brook, Tasmania, DQ154107 (41°27’02”S, 145°59’13”E), 660m, 28.v.1995, R. Mesibov, QVM 23:25493.

Paratypes: 3 males, details as for holotype, AM KS87137; 4 males, 1 female, details as for holotype, QVM 23:25280; 4 males, Flowerdale River, CQ838645 View Materials (40°57’44”S, 145°37’08”E), 90m, 17.v.1995, R. Mesibov, QVM 23:25279, 1 dissected; 6 females, same details, QVM 23:25310.

Other material examined: 44 males and 17 females. See Appendix for details.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from other Atrophotergum spp. by the unique form of the gonopod.

Description: As for genus. Males 8–9 mm long, 0.7–0.8 mm in maximum vertical diameter. In alcohol, most specimens are light tan with reddish antennae; occasional more deeply coloured specimens are darker tan with lighter paranota. Dark patches are often visible near ozopores; in some cases these appear to arise from tissue staining (possibly by the defensive secretion), in other cases tissue has retracted from transparent cuticle revealing darkcoloured gut contents.

Gonopod telopodite ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ) flexed posteriorly at about onethird its length. Solenomerite a straplike process extending posterodistally and curving laterally from the anterodistal corner of the SF; the process divided near its tip into a flattened anterior portion containing the terminus of the prostatic groove and a shorter, blunter, posterior branch. PDC produced as a fingerlike process, slightly curved and parallel to the solenomerite, but not extending distally as far as the solenomerite tip; PBC bent laterally in a smooth curve. TT bent slightly laterally, not extending distally as far as the tip of the process arising from the PDC. MES in two parts: a short, rodlike, pointed process resembling the TT but shorter and narrower, more or less parallel to the long axis of the telopodite; and a much stouter, bladelike process curving posteriorly and laterally. LES flexed slightly mesally, with its distal edge angled so that the blunt, thickened anterior corner is considerably more distal than the posterior corner. The curvature of the LES and the longer process of the MES are such that they cross, with the MES process terminating anterior and slightly basal to the LES.

Anterior sternal process on somite 17 ( Fig. 4 D) a low eminence; the anterior portion of the posterior process a low ridge, somewhat excavated mesally, the posterior portion a short, fingerlike structure directed ventrally.

Distribution and habitat: Locally abundant in leaf and woody litter in coastal scrub, wet eucalypt forest and Nothofagus rainforest over ca. 9000 km 2 in northwest Tasmania, from sea level to at least 870 m ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 ). Also found in forest plantations ( Bonham et al. 2002 [as ‘genus A, sp. 1’]; Mesibov, unpublished results).

Etymology: Latin silvaticus, of forests, adjective.

Remarks: A. silvaticum is somewhat variable in size and colouration. It has probably been collected as females and juveniles from more localities than are shown in Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 , but it has so far not been possible to distinguish these specimens from similar, cooccurring dalodesmids.