Geotypodon iringensis, Enghoff, 2016

Enghoff, Henrik, 2016, A mountain of millipedes III: A new genus for three new species from the Udzungwa Mountains and surroundings, Tanzania, as well as several ‘ orphaned’ species previously assigned to Odontopyge Brandt, 1841 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Odontopygidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 177, pp. 1-19 : 14-16

Geotypodon iringensis gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0171D40F-1E0D-4194-8D1B-045D46F92095

Figs 1 , 3 , 6

Diagnosis

A species of Geotypodon gen. nov. in which the gonopod coxal metaplica is apically rounded, the telomere is apically divided into a small posterior lobe and a large anterior lobe, which gives rise to a strongly curved terminal lobe, and the limbus lobes are pointed triangular.

Etymology

The species is named after the type locality.

Material studied (total: 2 ♂♂)

Holotype

TANZANIA: ♂, Iringa Region, 10 km E of Iringa city, 7°46' S, 35°42' E, Mar.–Apr. 1996, L.L. Sørensen leg. ( ZMUC00046993 ).

Paratype

TANZANIA: 1 ♂, same data as holotype (ZMUC00046994).

Type locality

TANZANIA: Iringa Region, 10 km east of Iringa city, 7°46' S, 35°42' E.

Description

SIZE. Length ca. 9 cm. Diameter 6.0– 6.1 mm. 61–67 podous rings, no apodous rings in front of telson.

COLOUR. After 19 years in alcohol uniform greyish; posterior part of metazona amber, legs and antennae dark brownish.

HEAD. Without peculiarities.

COLLUM. With a marginal and a submarginal furrow.

BODY RINGS. Almost perfect cylinders, not vaulted; suture straight; ozopores ca. three diameters behind suture.

LIMBUS ( Fig. 6 ). With sharply pointed lobes.

ANAL VALVES. Each with a well-developed dorsal spine and a smaller, yet distinctive ventral one, margin raised, with 3 setae not borne on tubercles.

MALE LEGS. From 4 th pair with postfemoral and tibial pads on all legs, except last few pairs where only postfemoral pads are present.

torsotope. Scales: A–D = 0.2 mm, E = 0.01 mm. GONOPOD COXA ( Fig. 6 ). Basally parallel-sided, with antero-lateral concavity (lc) ( Fig. 6A ). Proplica ending in small proplical lobe (hidden behind anterior edge of metaplica on Fig. 6A ). Metaplica with poorly developed basal anteriad flange (mf) ( Fig. 6A ), distally regularly rounded and projecting laterad as semicircular lobe; metaplica at level of proplical lobe, with a long, latero-basad process (msp) on anterior side of coxa ( Fig. 6 A–B); process straight and slender in anterior view, slightly curved and broader in lateral view.

GONOPOD TELOPODITE ( Fig. 6 ). Arculus 90°. Torsotope (tt) simple, compact, without processes ( Fig. 6A ). Posttorsal narrowing (pn) pronounced, very slender, without processes or spines ( Fig. 6A ). Telopodite just distal to posttorsal narrowing dividing into slender, whip-like solenomere and complicated telomere. Solenomere (slm) curved in 3 dimensions (at least on preserved specimens), apically pointed, without any outgrowths ( Fig. 6 A–D). Efferent groove continuing from posttorsal narrowing onto solenomere and running all the way to its tip. Telomere with short, dark basal spine (pts) ( Fig. 6B ) and a basal lamella (bl) ( Fig. 6A ), followed by a slender part formed by a longitudinally folded lamella (lfl) with irregular edges ( Fig. 6 B–C); distal part divided into a slender posterior lobe (ptl) and a large, broad anterior lobe (atl) ( Fig. 6 A–B, D), the latter terminally giving rise to a slender, strongly curved terminal lobe (tl, curvature not visible on Fig. 6D ). An intermediate lamella (itl) lodged in the space between atl and plm ( Fig. 6B ).

Distribution and habitat

Known only from the environs of Iringa city. The altitude of the type locality will be at ca. 1600 m asl.

Coexisting species

No other odontopygid species were found together with G. iringensis gen. et sp. nov.

Notes

Geotypodon iringensis gen. et sp. nov. is very similar to G. multianulatus from Kenya, but there are differences, including that in G. multianulatus the gonopod coxa has a much larger, narrower and less rounded lateral lobe, and the solenomere has a small subdistal spine (cf. Discussion section).

Figures

Fig. 1. Map of the Udzungwa Mountains, showing the collecting sites for the three new Geotypodon species, as well as names of the Forest Reserves in question and names of individual mountains in West Kilombero FR. Red diamonds = G. millemanus gen. et sp. nov., yellow dot: G. submontanus gen. et sp. nov., blue triangle: G. iringensis gen. et sp. nov. Based on fig. 1 in Marshall et al. (2010) and information in Doody et al. (2001).

Fig. 3. Body size of males of Geotypodon spp. Bold symbols indicate numbers of podous rings and midbody vertical diameter of the new species described here. Small circles and shaded areas indicate

Fig. 6. Geotypodon iringensis gen. et sp. nov. A–D. Holotype, left gonopod. A. Anterior view. B. Posterior view. C. Mesal-ventral view. D. Telomere and solenomere, basal (dorsal) view. — E. Paratype, limbus. Abbreviations: atl = anterior distal lobe of telomere, bl = basal lamella of telomere, cx = coxa (seen from the basis, with remains of muscles); itl = intermediate distal lamella of telomere; lc = lateral concavity of coxa; lfl = longitudinally folded lamella; mf = anteriad metaplical flange; mp = metaplica; msp = metaplical spine-like process; pn = posttorsal narrowing; pp = proplica; ptl = posterior distal lobe of telomere; pts = proximal telomeral spine; slm = solenomere; tl = terminal lobe of telomere; tt =