Eupeyerimhoffia archimedis (Strasser, 1965)

Oeyen, Jan Philip & Wesener, Thomas, 2015, Steps towards a phylogeny of the pill millipedes: non-monophyly of the family Protoglomeridae, with an integrative redescription of Eupeyerimhoffiaarchimedis (Diplopoda, Glomerida), ZooKeys 510, pp. 49-64 : 54-59

Taxon classification Animalia Glomerida Protoglomeridae

Eupeyerimhoffia archimedis (Strasser, 1965)

Trinacriomeris archimedis Strasser 1965: 10-14 (first description);

Trinacriomeris archimedis Strasser 1970: 153 (list);

Trinacriomeris archimedis Strasser 1976: 581-583 (synonymization Trinacriomeris );

Eupeyerimhoffia archimedis Foddai et al. 1995: 11 (list);

Trinacriomeris archimedis Shelley et al. 2000: 11 (list).

Material examined.

1 F, MHNG, lectotype (designated herewith), labeled paratype, in 70% ethanol, Italie (Sicile): Siracuse: Avola pr. Siracuse. 1 F, MHNG 3460, dried and mounted, Italie (Sicile): Siracuse: Avola pr. Siracuse; 1 F, ZFMK MYR01879, 1 M, ZFMK MYR01875, Italy, Sicily at type locality, south of Ferla, 37.1151333°N, 014.9403667°E, coll. J.P. Oeyen & P. Erkeling, 10.vii.2013; 1 F, ZFMK MYR 1965, Italy, Sicily, Province Syracuse, East of Palazzolo Acreide, Ravine, deciduous forest, 37.0997667°N, 015.0232000°E, coll. J.P. Oeyen & P. Erkeling, 13.vii.2013.

Comment.

A second female type specimen from Ferla, Sicily was, according to the first description, stored at the University of Catania, Institute of Zoology, Italy.

Re-diagnosis.

Can easily be distinguished from the other Sicilian Glomerida species by size and color. It is the largest and only light brown species on the island. It can be distinguished from its congener Eupeyerimhoffia algerina in having: (1) Single continuous anterior stria on collum, posterior stria divided in lateral parts; (2) thoracic shield with single continuous stria reaching the lateral lobes on both sides.

Description.

General coloration (living specimen) light brown, almost copper. Collum, head, antennae, posterior margin and lateral speckled fields of tergites lighter, almost golden cream color (Fig. 1A, B).

Head sparsely covered with minute setae,>10 supralabral setae (Fig. 3A, C). Incisura lateralis (IL) directed slightly laterally, not reaching height of organ of Tömösváry (TO) or antennal basis (Fig. 3 A–C). Lateral marginal bulge thickest at IL, decreasing gradually dorsally until terminating at height of dorsal-most ocellus (Fig. 3C). A furrow running laterally between ventral-most ocellus and TO, circumventing antennal fossa and terminating at height of IL (Fig. 3C).

Labrum wide, with 19 marginal setae (Fig. 3A, B). Central labral tooth projecting beyond lateral margin.

Epipharynx with pronounced central tooth and two lateral membranous lobes, covered densely in cuticular scales (Fig. 3B). Incisura lateralis clearly visible, reaching margin of head capsule. Two paramedian fringed seams stretching from central tooth posteriorly towards hypopharynx.

Ocellaria black, 3+1 convex lenses (Fig. 3C).

Antennae with four apical cones (Fig. 3E). Antennomere 3 approximately as long as 1 and 2 combined (Fig. 3D). Antennomere 6 approximately 1.9 times longer than wide. Antennomeres 1-5 only sparely setose, 6th more densely setose. Multiple sensilla basiconica on proximal apical edge of antennomere 3 (Fig. 3F) as well as at apical edge of antennomere 7 (Fig. 3E).

Organ of Tömösváry recessed, elongate, curved ventrally (Fig. 3C). 1.9 times longer than wide. Bulging cone and slit margins smooth. Cone narrower at midpoint. No internal structures visible in SEM.

Gnathochilarium ventrally with 8 large setae on lamella linguales, 12 large setae on each stipites (Fig. 3H). Remaining ventral surface glabrous. Cardines large. Inner palpi slightly larger than lateral palpi (Fig. 3 H–J). Inner palpi with>40 sensory cones standing in single field (Fig. 3J). Lateral palpi also with field of>20 sensory cones (Fig. 3J).

Endochilarium with large anterior membranous paramedian lobes (pmL), densely covered with cuticular scales (Fig. 3I). Fields of long setae posterior to membranous lobes. Central pads with single cluster of sensilla directed towards median furrow (Fig. 3I, K).

Mandible with single large outer tooth and four-combed inner tooth (Fig. 3G). Proximal comb of inner tooth slightly ovoid. Six rows of pectinate lamellae. Lateral areas of intermediate area covered with small cuticular scales, central part smooth with possible pore. Molar plate almost triangular, marginal bulge at anterior edge, no anterior depression and posterior tip slightly curved towards mandibular basis. Condylus pronounced (Fig. 3G).

Collum with one continuous anterior and two posterior lateral striae (Fig. 4I). Uniformly covered with minute setae, recessed into small pits.

Thoracic shield with very small schism (Fig. 4A). 3 median striae. Marginal furrow widest laterally, narrowing medially. Uniformly covered with minute recessed setae. Ventral area of lobe with seven anterior marginal depressions on lobe and a single depression at the posterior margin (Fig. 3B, C; see below for function of depressions).

Tergites 3-10 covered with minute recessed setae, with single complete transverse anterior stria and short lateral striae anteriorly circumventing a depression (Fig. 4E, G). Lateral edges not projecting posteriorly. Stout pegs on ventral areas projecting posteroventrally from lateral most part of anterior edge (Fig. 4D, F).

Ozopore simple, neither with special sutures nor other structures (Fig. 4H).

Tergite 11 and anal shield completely fused but both dorsally and ventrally distinguishable by a pronounced furrow (Fig. 4 J–L). Tergite 11 with 3 short lateral striae and a single stria circumventing a lateral depression and stretching across whole tergite (Fig. 4L). Tergite 11 and anal shield dorsally evenly covered with minute setae, with neither any special notches nor structures.

Pleurites evenly covered with small setae, bulge at anterior edge widest medially narrowing towards proximal edge. Pleurite 1.2 times wider than long.

Stigmatic plates reaching around coxa on both anterior and posterior sides. 1.5 times wider than long, almost pentagonal in shape. Plate with regular margin, lacking any projections. Spiracle inconspicuous, protected by small knob.

Midbody legs sparsely covered with minute setae (Fig. 5F). Coxa almost triangular, much wider at base than apically. Coxa mesally elongated to process carrying a single spine. Two coxal furrows originating at center of coxal basis, one stretches apically around coxa, the second terminates after 2/3 of coxal height in a meso-apical direction. Tibia, pre- and postfemur with a single mesal spine, femur with two. Apical margin of prefemur with a single small apical protrusion. Femur almost 3 times longer than wide. Tarsus with no apical, 11 dorsal and 8-11 ventral spines. Tarsus 4.5 times longer than wide. Claw elongated.

Male sexual characters.

Male tergite 11 and anal shield do not show any special structures (Fig. 4 J–L). See further and more detailed descriptions above.

Male first leg-pair sparsely covered with minute setae (Fig. 5A). Coxa not widened at basis, but mesally elongated to a process carrying two spines. Postfemur and tibia each with single mesal apical spine, prefemur and femur with two. Apical margin of prefemur with a single small protrusion. Tarsus with 7-10 dorsal and 8 ventral spines. Claw elongated but stout at basis. Tarsus almost 4 times longer than wide.

Male second leg-pair similar to midbody legs, but with a bulbous medial coxal protrusion carrying two spines (Fig. 5C), similar to leg 1. Tarsus approximately 3.8 times longer than wide.

Male gonopore clam-shaped and mesally protruding from posterior side of coxa 2 (Fig. 5E). Single elongate membranous opening surrounded by 9 or 10 apical and 4 basal setae. No division into separate plates.

Male leg 17 reduced with 4 podomeres (Fig. 5G). Coxa with small medial process bearing a subapical spine and a wide but narrow, almost triangular, coxal lobe. Apical edge of coxa with small protrusion. Podomere 1 with mesal spine. Second podomere approximately 1.8 times wider than podomere 3. Podomere 3 very short and inconspicuous. Podomere 4 with subapical spine. Complete leg sparsely covered with minute setae.

Male leg 18 reduced, but to a lesser extent than leg-pair 17 (Fig. 5H). Coxa slightly damaged during dissection, but apparently without widened coxal lobe and not fused to syncoxite. Small mesal coxal process with single subapical spine. Single, well-developed medial spine on podomere 1. Apical edge of podomere 1 with apical protrusion. Podomere 2 approximately 1.5 times as wide as podomere 3. Podomere 3 very short, no spines and with very inconspicuous borders to podomere 4. Podomere 4 with apical spine.

Telopod (male leg 19) stout, syncoxite likewise (Fig. 5 I–K). Syncoxal lobe small and rounded. Inner horns of syncoxite with numerous hairs of varying length and well-developed subapical spine, which is curved almost 90° (Fig. 5J). Telopoditomere 1 with mesal, highly reduced trichostele (Fig. 5I, J). Telopoditomere 2 mesally elongated into large bulbous process (immovable finger) with knobbed proximal surface. Telopoditomere 3 short, approximately 2 times wider than long, devoid of any peculiarities. Telopoditomere 4 with medial field of knobs juxtaposed to process of telopoditomere 2, and a large posteriorly oriented spine. Telopoditomere 4 forms chela (pincer) against medial process of second telopoditomere.

Female sexual characters.

Female second leg-pair similar to midbody legs, but coxa with two spines on separate medial protrusions which are fused basally (Fig. 5B). Tarsus 4 times longer than wide.

Female vulva large, attached to posterior side of coxa via membranes (Fig. 5D). Operculum recessed between vulva plates. Posterior end of operculum narrower than anterior one, with two spines. Vulva with ventrally symmetrical mesal and lateral plates, carrying altogether 7 or 8 spines. Lateral plate overlaps mesal one apically on posterior side, but both are fused together at their base via a membranous connection.

Intraspecific variation.

Not enough samples present to describe morphological variation. The populations from Ferla and Palazzolo Acreide have two different haplotypes, differing at one base pair position.

Volvation.

As described by Strasser (1965), the genus has a volvation strategy which differs from what is known from most other Glomerida . When rolling up into a ball the ventral ends of the tergites are not inserted in the schisma of the thoracic shield, unlike in Glomeris , but rest on top of it (Fig. 1A). The pegs on the ventral side of the tergites (Fig. 4D, F) rest within the depressions on the ventral side of the thoracic shield (Fig. 4B, C).

Habitat.

All of the samples were collected during the day in deciduous forests. Specimens were mainly found in the leaf litter or under small stones. Curiously, some were also found in close proximity to ant nests ( Hymenoptera ) and under moss growing directly on an exposed rocky surface.