Siliquobolellus amicusdraconis gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 2, 3, 6, 7

Material studied.

Holotype. 1 male (CUMZ-D00149-1), Thailand, Uthaithani Province, Lan-Sak District, Hub Pa Tard; 15°22'37.13"N, 99°37'49.98"E; 119 m a.s.l.; 26 July 2020; P. Pimvichai, T. Backeljau and P. Prasankok leg.

Paratypes. 3 males (CUMZ-D00149-3), 3 females (CUMZ-D00149-2); same data as holotype .

Etymology.

The species epithet means "friend of the dragon" and refers to the type locality, which is shared with the "shocking pink dragon millipede", Desmoxytes purpurosea Enghoff, Sutcharit & Panha, 2007.

Diagnosis.

Differing from other species in the genus by having the tip of anterior gonopod crossing over with tip of opposite side, the two together delimiting a drop-shaped “window”, whereas in the other two species the tips of anterior gonopod are separated from each other; externally differing by its bright orange color on the anterior and posterior ends. In contrast, S. constrictus gen. et sp. nov. has a row of triangular dark brown spots middorsally on its body rings, while S. prasankokae gen. et sp. nov. has a row of rectangular dark brown spots middorsally on the body rings.

Description.

Adult males with 41 or 42 podous rings, 1 apodous ring. Length ~3 cm, diameter 2.7-2.9 mm. Adult females with 41-43 podous rings, 1-3 apodous rings. Length ~3 cm, diameter 2.8-3.1 mm.

Colour. Living animal mainly dark brown. Head, dorsal part of the first four body rings and telson orange, antenna light brown, middorsal metazona orange (Fig. 6A, B).

Anterior gonopods (Fig. 3A, B, D, E) with extremely small triangular process between coxae (st), with high coxae, apically narrow, curving mesad, tip crossing over with tip of opposite side, the two together delimiting a drop-shaped “window” . Telopodite flattened apically rounded, curving backward, directed distad, as a thumb-like process (Fig. 3B, arrow).

Posterior gonopods (Fig. 3C, F-K) simple, rounded, with short, smooth coxal part (pcx); telopodital part (pt) twice the length of the pcx, lateral margin folding mesad, forming a deep concavity, the inner lateral margin expanded into rounded lamella, apically forming a canopy (Fig. 3J, arrow).

Female vulvae (Fig. 3L): simple, valves prominent, the right valve slightly larger than the left valve.

DNA barcode.

The GenBank accession number of the COI barcode of the paratype is OP174621 (voucher code CUMZ-D00149).

Habitat.

Found under leaf litter and on rocks.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Uthaithani Province, Thailand (Fig. 7).