Megaphyllum montivagum (Verhoeff, 1901)

Lazányi, Eszter & Vagalinski, Boyan, 2013, Redefinition of the millipede subgenus Megaphyllum sensu stricto Verhoeff, 1894 and neotype designation for Megaphyllum austriacum (Latzel, 1884) (Myriapoda: Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), Zootaxa 3741 (1), pp. 55-100 : 75-76

Megaphyllum montivagum (Verhoeff, 1901)

Figs 11a–g

Brachyiulus (Chromatoiulus) montivagus Verhoeff, 1901 : Verhoeff 1901c: 267–268, Fig. 9 . Brachyiulus latesquamosus Attems, 1903: 135 –136, Figs 62–65.

Chromatoiulus montivagus: Attems 1927: 223 ; 1932: 9–10.

Chromatoiulus latesquamosus: Attems 1927: 232 –233.

Chromatoiulus (Chromatoiulus) montivagus: Attems 1940: 306 .

Chromatoiulus (Phauloiulus) latesquamosus: Attems 1940: 307 .

Chromatoiulus macedonicus Strasser, 1976: 616 –617, Figs 57–59. Chromatoiulus macedonicus: Ceuca 1992: 425 .

Megaphyllum latesquamosum: Enghoff & Kime 2009 .

Megaphyllum macedonicum: Makarov et al. 2004: 261 .

Megaphyllum montivagum: Enghoff & Kime 2009 ; Lazányi et al. 2012: 12, 18, 20, 41, Figs 15–17 .

Material examined. Greece: 1♂, Hellas, Peloponnese, Tripolis, Phrygana, 11.12.1988, leg. M. Karamaouna (ZMUC).

Distribution. Greece (Verhoeff 1901c; Attems 1903; Strasser 1974, 1976); Republic of Macedonia (Lazányi et al. 2012); Serbia (Makarov et al. 2004).

Diagnosis. Differs from the most similar M. dentatum and M. glossulifer by the thicker posterior solenomere process (psp) ( Figs 11b, 11d ) and by the apically flattened—best seen in mesal view—and bulging promere (P) ( Figs 11a–c ).

Opisthomere’s (11a–b, 11d) posterior process (pp) more or less as long as the solenomere; opisthomere usually with an anterior ridge (ap). Posterior solenomere process (psp) highly variable, always wavy, but occasionally globular or elongated and bent. Anterior solenomere process (asp) quite short. Individuals mostly with a not too large posterior apical hump (ph).

Uniformly dark brown animals, ozopore line and prozona are darker. Body length and height: males: 19.6– 27.2mm, 1.5–1.9mm; females: 24.1–36.7mm, 2.3–3mm.

Remarks. M. macedonicum (Strasser, 1976) and M. latesquamosum (Attems, 1903) have recently been synonymised with M. montivagum (Lazányi et al. 2012) . This is a widespread species in the Balkan Peninsula, with significantly larger individuals in the Peloponnese (male 37.9mm long, 2.8mm high; female 48.3mm long and 4.4mm high). The variability of the solenomere shows no distinct distribution pattern (Lazányi et al. 2012). Setiform filaments occur sometimes on the opisthomere’s flagellum-conducting lamella (e.g. individuals from Ostrovo and Zakas, see Lazányi et al. (2012)).

3. The Megaphyllum transsylvanicum — species group Fig. 1d

Posterior opisthomere process (pp) always well-developed; anterior process or ridge not developed. Posterior apical hump (ph) significantly large, anterior hump (ah) less characteristic and detectable only in M. transsylvanicum . Posterior solenomere process (psp) neither cockscomb-like, nor finger-formed or wavy-like in the other groups; always smaller than the elongated and sometimes even rod-like anterior solenomere process (asp).

Figures

FIGURES 11 a – g. Megaphyllum monticola. Males from Korakas Mts, Greece, ZMB 1300: (11 a) gonopods, posterior view and (11 b) right gonopods, mesal view and (11 c) left promere, meso-posterior view. Males from Ostrovo, Greece, Inv. No. 8019: (11 d) Right opisthomere, lateral view, penis, (11 e) posterior and (11 f) right lateral views, (11 f *) another, bent penis, left lateral view. (11 g) Left vulva, posterior view, female from Korakas Mts, Greece (setae omitted). Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 9 a – g. Megaphyllum dentatum males and a female from Ljuboten, Serbia, Inv. No. 8018: (9 a) gonopods, posterior view; (9 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (9 c) right promere, meso-posterior view; (9 d) right opisthomere, lateral view; penis, (9 e) posterior and (9 f) left lateral views; (9 g) right vulva, anterior view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; pa: posterior ampulla, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, pr: protrusion, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, sl: serrated lobe, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 15 a – g. Megaphyllum hercules. Male from Kechrokambos, Lekanis Mts, Greece: (15 a) gonopods, posterior view; (15 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (15 c) left promere, mesal view; (15 d) left opisthomere, mesal view. Male from Demir Kapija, Republic of Macedonia: penis, (15 e) posterior and (15 f) right lateral views. (15 g) Female from the Rodopi Mts, Greece: left vulva, antero-mesal view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; h: hump, op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 16 a – g. Megaphyllum rhodopinum. Male from near Shabran Peak, Slavyanka Mt., Bulgaria: (16 a) gonopods, posterior view; (16 b) right gonopods, mesal view; (16 c) right opisthomere, meso-posterior view; (16 d) right opisthomere, lateral view. Males from near Proastio, Kavala county, Greece: penis form (16 e) posterior and (16 f) left lateral views, (16 f *) another penis, right lateral view. Female from the first locality: (16 g) left vulva, posterior view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump; ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; h: hump, op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 17 a – g. Megaphyllum sjaelandicum male and female from Dorpat, Estonia, ZMB 8734: (17 a) gonopods, posterior view; (17 b) left gonopods, mesal view; (17 c) right promere, meso-posterior view; (17 d) right opisthomere, mesal view; penis, (17 e) posterior and right lateral views; (17 g) right vulva, antero-mesal view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump; ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; h: hump, l: lobe, op: operculum, pa: posterior ampulla, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 1 a – e. Schematic opisthomere drawings (right opisthomeres, lateral view). (1 a) Generalized scheme for all Megaphyllum sensu stricto. (1 b) Scheme for the M. projectum species group. (1 c) Scheme for the M. austriacum species group. (1 d) Scheme for the M. transsylvanicum species group. (1 e) Scheme for the M. unilineatum species group. Abbreviations: ah: anterior hump, ap: anterior process, asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere.