Ralampia complexa Shear & Marek, 2022

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2022, The millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1893. VI. Six new genera and thirteen new species from western North America (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striarioidea), Zootaxa 5205 (6), pp. 501-531 : 524-530

Ralampia complexa Shear & Marek , n. sp.

Figs 45 , 79, 80

Types: Male holotype and male and female paratypes from Patrick Creek Campground on Rt. 199, 7 mi by road ENE of Gasquet, 41.8718°N, - 123.8456°W, 990’ asl, Del Norte Co., California, collected 22 December 1977 by A. R. Johnson. Parts of the holotype and paratypes are mounted on SEM stub WS35-9. All materials deposited in FSCA .

Etymology: The species name, an adjective, refers to the complicated gonopods.

Diagnosis: Distinct from Ralampia filamentosa , n. sp., in lacking a multifilamentous lateral branch of the gonopods.

Description: Male holotype. Length 5.0 mm, width 0.38 mm; 30 rings. Two black ommatidia on each side of head ( Fig. 45 , om). All crests subequal, but C6 oriented horizontally.

Telson lobes hardly discernable. Metazonital setae of moderate length, with brushy tips. Color white after long preservation. First legs enlarged, with needle-like setae. Second legpair smaller, when coxae apposite, appearing to have common seminal opening. Flasks of third coxae short, scarcely reaching fourth coxae; telopodites with broad, flattened prefemora. Fourth through sixth legs encrassate, podomeres flattened, with prominent characteristic modified setae. Seventh coxae lacking lobes.

Gonopods ( Figs 79, 80 ) small, compact. Sternum massive, long ( Fig. 79 , s). Coxae with 4 setae on lateral side, coxal process ( Fig. 79 , cp) small, narrow, quadrate. Anterior angiocoxites short ( Figs 79, 80 aac), apically divided, with sharp posterior bend midlength. Posterior angiocoxites ( Fig. 80 , pac) with complex group of branches. Flagellocoxite not observed, likely absent. Colpocoxites oblong, flattened, with long apical fimbriae ( Fig. 80 , cc). Ninth legs with broad coxosternal processes, telopodites free, large, flattened, notched on mesal surface to embrace gonopod anterior angiocoxites, laterally fitting tightly into notch in seventh pleurotergite. Tenth coxae not much swollen, gland openings anteriodorsal.

Females similar to males in nonsexual characters.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 45–48. Striariid millipedes. Fig. 45. Ommatidia and Tömösváry organ of Ralampia complexa, n. gen., n. sp. Figs 46–48. Ralampia filamentosa, n. gen., n. sp. 46. Female, lateral view. 47. Right leg 1 of male, posterior view. 48. Legpairs 2–5 of male, ventral view. Abbreviations: L2–5, legs 2–5, respectively; om, ommatidium; To, Tömösváry organ.

FIGURES 79–83. Striariid millipedes. Figs 79, 80. Rampalia complexa, n. gen., n. sp. 79, Right gonopod, lateral view. 80. Right gonopod, mesal view. Figs 81–83. Rampalia filamentosa, n. gen., n. sp. 81. Right gonopod, lateral view. 82. Right gonopod, mesal view. 83. Left leg 9 of male, anterior view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cp, coxal process; cx, gonopod coxa; cxs, coxosternum of ninth legs; fc, flagellocoxite; pac, posterior angiocoxite; s9, sternum of ninth legs; t9, telopodite of ninth leg.