Herculina oligosagittae

Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016, The Caucasus as a major hotspot of biodiversity: Evidence from the millipede family Anthroleucosomatidae (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida), Zootaxa 4211 (1), pp. 1-205 : 182-188

Herculina oligosagittae gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 152–156

Diagnosis. Differs from the only other known congener, Herculina polysagittae gen. et sp. nov., by the shape of the coxal processes of the anterior gonopods, and by the significantly less numerous arrow- shaped filaments on the coxites of the posterior gonopods.

Etymology. To emphasize the presence of several arrow-shaped filaments on the coxites of the posterior gonopods.

Material studied (total: 3 males, 1 female, 1 juvenile). Holotype. GEORGIA: male, 15 km W of Adigeni, Abies , Picea , Fagus , Acer forest, 1500–1700 m asl, litter, logs, under stones, 14–15 May 1983, S. Golovatch leg. ( ZMUM ρ3435).

Paratypes (total: 2 males, 1 female, 1 juvenile). GEORGIA: 1 male , 1 female, 1 juvenile (ZMUM ρ3436), 1 male ( IZB), same data as holotype.

Type locality. GEORGIA: 15 km W of Adigeni , Abies , Picea , Fagus , Acer forest.

Description. Body with 31 segments (including telson) in adults.

MEASUREMENTS. Males 8–9 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.6 mm. Females 9 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.7 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 152 ). Pale yellowish, with traces of brownish pigmentations on the head and first few body segments.

HEAD. Flattened in males. Labrum with three medial teeth and 4+4 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates with 4+4 setae, on each plate arranged in one row. Stipites with ca 17+17 setae. Antennae 1.3 mm long in holotype. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.07), II (0.15), III (0.33), IV (0.18), V (0.32), VI (0.14), VII (0.1) and VIII (0.01). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (1.6), III (3.6), IV (2), V (2.6), VI (1.3) and VII (1.1). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 8–13, arranged in 4 rows in males; 9–11 in 4 rows in female.

COLLUM. Narrower than head, with six macrochaetae. Anterior edge semi-circular, posterior margin gently concave.

BODY SEGMENTS ( Figs 152 A, 153). Lateral keels like lateral swelling. Macrochaetae long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 1; MIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 1.3; PIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.45; MA (pleurotergite 15) ~ 100˚. TELSON. Epiproct with a pair of spinnerets and 3+3 setae (1+1 paramedian, 2+2 marginal). Hypoproct with 1+1 apical setae. Paraprocts with 3+3 marginal setae.

WALKING LEGS. In both sexes, leg-pairs 1 and 2 with tarsal combs; prefemora with several long and robust setae; femora and postfemora with a group of several long and robust setae. Leg-pairs 12–15 each with a small, inner, subtriangular, coxal protrusion in males (females not examined).

MALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS ( Figs 152 B, 154). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged, especially so leg-pairs 5 and 6. Legpairs 3 and 4 each with a basal exterior protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pairs 6 the most robust, bizarre, femora extremly enlarged, tarsi with a basal inner protrusion. Leg-pair 5 similar to leg-pair 6, but with smaller podomeres. Leg-pair 7 with a posterior coxal horn, hook-shaped. Leg-pair 10 with coxal glands and a short, subtriangular, coxal protrusion. Leg-pair 11 with coxal glands and a smaller exterior and a larger interior, rounded, coxal protrusion.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 155 A–C, 156A–D). Sternal plate (sp) with a sternal lamella (sl) with nipples and a small, medial, anterior, sternal sac (ss). Coxal processes (cp) high, parallel-sided, completely divided. Apically, with an opening (o). Mesal edges folded inside and forming a lip-like posterior projection (ppr) in posterior view. Posteriorly, coxal processes with a lateral (ll) and a mesal lamella (ml), both with denticles and setae. Laterally to lips-like projection, coxal vesicles (cv) with setae can be seen.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 155 D, 156E, F). Coxites (c) divided. Laterally, with a small telopodite (t) devoid of arrow-shaped filaments. The most characteristic part of the coxites are the arrow-shaped filaments (af) which are significantly less numerous than in H. polysagittae gen. et sp. nov. Posteriorly, coxites with lamellar, denticulated, coxal processes (cp). Coxal vesicles (cv) on anterior side.

Distribution. Georgia (known only from type locality) ( Fig. 170 , blue triangle).

Figures

FIGURE 152. Herculina oligosagittae gen. et sp. nov., paratype male habitus with marked pregonopodal legs. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 153. Herculina oligosagittae gen. et sp. nov., paratype male. A. Pleurotergite 15, posterior view. B. Pleurotergites 13, 14 and 15, lateral view. C. Prozonite 14, dorsal view. D. Lateral keel 15, dorsal view. E. Pleurotergites 14 and 15, dorsal view.

FIGURE 154. Herculina oligosagittae gen. et sp. nov., holotype male. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 4. C. Leg 6. D. Leg 7. E. Leg 10. F. Leg 11. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 155. Herculina oligosagittae gen. et sp. nov., holotype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. C. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. D. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. c = coxite; o = opening; t = telopodite; af = arrow-like filaments; cp = coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; ll = lateral lamella; ml = mesal lamella; sl = sternal lamella; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; ppr = posterior projection. Scale line = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 156. Herculina oligosagittae gen. et sp. nov., paratype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. C. Anterior gonopods, posterior view. D. Anterior gonopods, distal view. E. Posterior gonopods, anterior view. F. Arrow-like filaments of posterior gonopods. c = coxite; o = opening; t = telopodite; af = arrow-like filaments; cp = coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; ll = lateral lamella; ml = mesal lamella; sl = sternal lamella; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; ppr = posterior projection.

FIGURE 170. Distribution of the Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Dentatosoma, the Herculina, the Ratcheuma and the Vegrandosoma complexes.