Cryptocorypha cactifer, Enghoff, 2022

Enghoff, Henrik, 2022, A mountain of millipedes X: Species of Pyrgodesmidae and Cryptodesmidae in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), European Journal of Taxonomy 845, pp. 66-100 : 77-80

Cryptocorypha cactifer sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F640EE01-ADBC-46DD-BF9B-0688B8A554E9

Figs 8–9

Diagnosis

Identical with C. geminiramus sp. nov. in almost all characters, but differs from the smaller C. geminiramus and from all other species of Cryptocorypha by the presence of setae on podous body rings ( Fig. 8 ).

Further differs from C. geminiramus by the smooth part of head capsule extending well above antennal sockets ( Fig. 8D , compare with Fig. 2A ), by having the gonopod coxa (cx) more regularly hemispherical ( Fig. 9A, C ) and by having a jagged semicircular ridge (velum?, ve) on the basal part of the gonopod telopodite ( Fig. 9B, D ).

Etymology

The species epithet (noun in apposition) means ‘bearer of cacti’ and refers to the some cactus-shaped metazonital setae.

Material examined (3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 3 subadult ♀♀)

Holotype

TANZANIA • ♂; Morogoro Region, Udzungwa Mountains Natl Park, Kidatu ; 07°40′45.5″ S, 36°55′06.9″ E; 1448 m a.s.l.; 21 Oct. 2014; J. Malumbres-Olarte leg.; pitfall trap, Plot 5; NHMD 621833 .

Paratypes

TANZANIA • 2 subadult ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; summed catch from 2 pitfall traps; NHMD 621834 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 07°40′42.1″ S, 36°55′06.8″ E; 1482 m a.s.l.; pitfall trap, Plot 6; NHMD 621835 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; Mito Mitatu ; 07°49′39.8″ S, 36°50′26.0″ E; 1552 m a.s.l.; 27 Oct. 2014; pitfall trap, Plot 15; NHMD 621836 • 1 ♂; Morogoro Region, Udzungwa Mountains Natl Park , above Mito Mitatu; 07°49.012′ S, 36°50.401′ E; 1643 m a.s.l.; 27 Dec. 2017; R. Lowassary, T. Pape and N. Scharff leg.; pitfall trap nr. 5, Acc. No.2017- EN-002; NHMD 621837 • 1 subadult ♀; Morogoro Region, Uzungwa Mountains, Mwanihana Forest Reserve ; 1800–1850 m a.s.l.; 28–29 Sep., 1984; N. Scharff leg.; litter in montane rain forest; NHMD 621838 .

Referred specimen, not a type

TANZANIA • 1 ♀; Udzungwa Mountains, Iringa Region, Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, above Chita Village; 1600–1650 m a.s.l.; 8–13 Nov. 1984; N. Scharff leg.; montane forest, litter; NHMD 621839 .

Description

SIZE. Males: Length 5.3–5.5 mm; maximal body width (across metazona) 0.91–0.92 mm; 17 podous + 1 apodous ring + telson. Female: Length 7.7 mm; maximal body width (across metazona) 1.19 mm; 18 podous + 1 apodous ring + telson.

OTHER CHARACTERS. Virtually identical to the smaller C. geminiramus sp. nov. with the following exceptions: All level 1 tubercles and all lateral paratergal lobes on podous and apodous rings with a club-shaped, ornamented club-shaped, somewhat cactus-like seta ( Fig. 8C ); smooth part of head capsule extending well above antennal sockets ( Fig. 8D ); gonopod coxa (cx) more regularly hemisphaerical ( Fig. 9A, C ); basal part of gonopod telopodite with a jagged semicircular ridge (velum?, ve), on the basal part of the gonopod telopodite ( Fig. 9B, D ).

Remarks

Almost all specimens of C. cactifer sp. nov. were found in mixed samples with C. geminiramus sp. nov. The single female from Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve fully matches the females from Udzungwa Moutains National Park, but in the light of the considerable geographical distance, combined with the absence of a male, the specimen from Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve is not included in the type series.

If the Afrotropical alternative in the first couplet of the key provided by Golovatch (2019) is chosen, C. cactifer sp. nov. runs to C. diffusa (Brolemann, 1920) from which it differs by several characters, especially by strongly different gonopods and hairy tergites. If the Asian alternative in the first couplet is chosen, C. cactifer sp. nov. runs to couplet 17(18) where it fits neither alternative.

Figures

Fig. 8. Cryptocorypha cactifer sp. nov., paratype (NHMD 621836), ♂, from Mito Mitatu. A. Head and rings 1–6, lateral view. B. Rings 12–18 and telson, dorsal view. C. Tergal seta. D. Head and collum, frontal view. Scale bars: A–B, D = 0.1 mm; C = 0.005 mm.

Fig. 9. Cryptocorypha cactifer sp. nov., paratype (NHMD 621836), ♂, from Mito Mitatu, left gonopod. A. Lateral view. B. Basal part of telopodite, showing jagged?velum. C. (Sub)ventral view. D. Posterior view. E. Anterior view. Abbreviations: cx = coxa; ex = exomere; slm = solenomere; ve = velum? Scale bars: A, C–E = 0.01 mm; B = 0.005 mm.

Fig. 2. Cryptocorypha geminiramus sp. nov. A–E. Paratype (NHMD 621824), ♂, from Kidatu. F. Paratype (NHMD 621829), ♂, from Mitu Mitato. A. Head, frontal view. B. Head, (sub)posterior view. C. Head, sublateral view (left side). D. Bases of first and second pairs of legs. E. First and second pair of legs. F. Leg of second pair, tarsus. Abbreviations: fu = epibiotic fungus, possibly Basiodiobolus sp.; go = gonopore. Scale bars: A–B = 0.1 mm; C = 0.05 mm; D–F = 0.02 mm.