Ommatoiulus staglae, Nesrine Akkari & Henrik Enghoff, 2017

Nesrine Akkari & Henrik Enghoff, 2017, Revision of the genus Ommatoiulus Latzel, 1884 (Julida, Diplopoda) in Portugal, with description of six new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 295, pp. 1-42 : 27-31

Ommatoiulus staglae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:843168C3-8C9A-49B1-AE9F-528789B63930

Figs 19–21

Ommatoiulus SP.7 – Bailey & De Mendonça (1990)

Diagnosis

Most similar to O. alacygni sp. nov. and O. denticulatus sp. nov. sharing the above mentioned characters for the group (see diagnosis of O. alacygni ); different by the bipartite solenomerite with a long sinuous branch bearing a pointed accessory branch and a shorter one ending in a curved ‘fish-tail’ process and the absence of conspicuous serrations on the coxa and paracoxite.

Etymology

The species is named in honour of Verena Stagl, for her considerable effort (1995–2014) in organizing and curating the legacy collection of Carl Attems and Robert Latzel in the Natural History Museum Vienna, one of the most impressive historical collections of Myriapoda in Europe.

Material examined

Holotype

PORTUGAL: 1 ♂, Faro District, Chilrão, 12 km W of Monchique in litter of green shrub, 29 Sep. 1987 P.T. Bailey leg. (NHMW 8737).

Paratypes

PORTUGAL: 1 ♀, same data as holotype (NHMW 8738); 2 ♂♂, 3 juveniles, Beja District, Mértola, in Pine litter, 15 Oct. 1987, P.T. Bailey leg. (ZMUC).

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Males: L = 32-46.6 mm, H = 2.7-3.7 mm, 47-50 PR+1-2 AR+Telson. Female: L = 53 mm, H = 4.6 mm, 50 PR+2 AR+Telson.

COLOUR ( Fig. 19 A). Light brown, faded after 29 years stay in alcohol. Prozonites pale with grey-black sputter, posteriorly forming dorsal triangular spots; metazonites golden brown with a scattered fine black sputter; dorsum with a thin black mid-dorsal line; legs pale brown to yellowish; head light on the epicranium, dark brown on the frontal side, pale towards the labral zone, mouthparts yellowish; telson brownish. Prozonites with oblique striae; metazonites with regular striation; suture complete, rectilinear but sometimes with a sinus at ozopore level. Anal valves with a marginal row of short setae, a submarginal row of longer ones and ca 5–6 setae on the disc. Subanal scale triangular, blunt and setose. Preanal ring with a protruding caudal projection bearing 5+5 setae and a small hyaline process on the tip.

GONOPODS ( Figs 19 B, 20–21). Promerite (P) in posterior view subrectangular short and broad with an apical broad tooth pointing posteriad; posterior surface biconcave with a conspicuous rounded rudimentary telopodite (T) located close to the mesal ridge (Mr); the latter broad and protruding in a short blunt process ending at mid-length of the promerite and separated from the mesal margin by a big rounded notch ( Fig. 19 B); lateral margin more or less straight, gently curving distad, apical margin oblique. Mesomerite (Ms) very reduced with a curved, downturned apex, shorter than the promerite and half as long as the anteriormost solenomerite process, bi-sinuous, nesting against the promerite posterior concavities; solenomerite (S) large, with two long and oppositely directed processes: the anterior process (Sa) longest, slightly curved, bearing an accessory branch at ¾rd length, distally gradually tapering into a thin curved spine directed posteriad, and the posterior process (Sp) gradually narrowing distally, apically abruptly expanding and bifurcating into a ‘fish-tail’ with two slender short tines. Seminal groove (g) running posteriorly from the fovea (F) ( Figs 19 B, 21A) located at the base of the solenomerite up to og at the tip of Sp. Paracoxite (Px) narrow, expanded distally and bearing two apical asymmetrical processes pointing posteriad ( Figs 20 B, 21B). Coxa (Cx) large with a prominent posterior margin protruding in a rounded bulge.

Distribution

South Portugal, Algarve.

Figures

Fig. 19. Ommatoiulus staglae sp. nov. Paratype, ♂. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Right gonopod, mesal view.

Fig. 20. Ommatoiulus staglae sp. nov. A. Holotype, ♂, right promerite, posterior view. B. Paratype, ♂, right gonopod, lateral view. C – D. Holotype, ♂, right posterior gonopod. C. Mesal view. D. Lateral view.

Fig. 21. Ommatoiulus staglae sp. nov. Holotype ♂, right posterior gonopod. A. Mesal view. B. Lateral view.