Leucogeorgia lobata, Antić & Reip, 2020

Antić, Dragan Ž. & Reip, Hans S., 2020, The millipede genus Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 in the Caucasus, with descriptions of eleven new species, erection of a new monotypic genus and notes on the tribe Leucogeorgiini (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 713, pp. 1-106 : 41-47

Leucogeorgia lobata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A52F58C6-7035-48FA-924D-6F237089CE7C

Figs 1D , 2A , 25–26 , 27 A–C, 28, 56, 58

Diagnosis

This species belongs to the group of Leucogeorgia spp. with neither modified mouthparts nor teeth on the mesomeral claw (vs teeth present in L. abchasica , L. borealis sp. nov., L. gioi sp. nov., L. oculata sp. nov. and L. satunini ). Leucogeorgia lobata sp. nov. differs from L. golovatchi sp. nov. and L. prometheus sp. nov. by having a strongly developed lobe on the mesomeral lamella, with a deep rift between mesomeral claw and the lobe (vs absence of such a lobe or rift in L. golovatchi sp. nov. or sometimes a poorly developed lobe without a deep rift between the mesomeral claw and lobe in L. prometheus sp. nov.).

Etymology

From the Latin ʻ lobata ʼ (= ʻhaving lobesʼ, ʻlobateʼ), reflecting the presence of a well-developed lobe on the mesomeral lamella. Adjective in feminine gender.

Material examined

Holotype CENTRAL-WEST GEORGIA – Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti • ♂; Chkhorotsku District, near Chkhorotsku, Odishi Plateau , Kalitshona (= Konglomeratnaya) Cave ; 42.53° N, 42.16° E; 14 Aug. 2016; D.M. Palatov leg.; ZMUM.

Paratypes

CENTRAL-WEST GEORGIA – Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti • 1 ♀, 1 juv.; same collection data as for holotype; ZMUM • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype but 29 Oct. 1991; V. Kiselev leg.; ZMUM • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 5 juvs; same collection data as for holotype but 3 Feb. 2017; D.M. Palatov leg.; ZMUM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; IZB • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; SMNG ; • 1 ♂; village Garakha, Odishi Plateau, Garakha Cave ; 42.53° N, 42.17° E; 30 Apr. 2017; G. Nebieridze and S. Barjadze leg.; IZISU • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 2 Feb. 2017; D.M. Palatov leg.; ZMUM .

Other material

CENTRAL-WEST GEORGIA – Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti • 1 juv.; Martvili District, Askhi karst Massif , near Balda village, Motena Cave ; 42.47° N, 42.39° E; 19 Oct. 1978; R.A. Djanashvili leg.; ZMUM • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding except 12 Aug. 2016; ZMUM • 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding except 30 Jan. 2017; D.M. Palatov leg.; ZMUM • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding except 13 Jun. 2019; H. Reip leg.; SMNG • 2 ♀♀; Askhi karst Massif , Martvili village, Jortsku Cave ; 42.51° N, 42.42° E; 2 Feb. 2017; D.M. Palatov and A.M. Sokolova leg.; ZMUM .

Description

SIZE AND NUMBER OF BODY RINGS. Holotype male 20 mm long, vertical diameter of largest body ring 1.5 mm, body with 37 podous rings + 1 apodous ring + telson. Paratype males 14.5–22 mm long, vertical diameter of largest body ring 1.1–1.6 mm, body with 32–41 podous rings + 1–2 apodous rings + telson. Paratype females 20–22 mm long, vertical diameter of largest body ring 1.5–1.7 mm, body with 37–40 podous rings + 0–2 apodous rings + telson. Additional males 19–33 mm, vertical diameter of largest body ring 1.4–2 mm, body with 40–46 podous rings + 1–2 apodous rings + telson. Additional females 21–34 mm long, vertical diameter of largest body ring 1.6–2.3 mm, body with 39–46 podous rings + 1–2 apodous rings + telson.

COLOUR ( Figs 1D , 25 ). Yellowish white.

HEAD ( Figs 25B , 26C ). Without ommatidia. Frontal setae absent. Labrum with three labral teeth, four supralabral setae and 12–14 labral setae. Gnathochilarium with rhomboid promentum; lamellae linguales with 4+4–5+5 setae in one row, stipites each with 3 distolateral setae and 6–7 medial setae. Antennae 2.3 mm long in holotype male, their length ca 150% of vertical diameter of largest body ring. Lengths of antennomeres I–VIII (in mm): 0.12 (I), 0.45 (II), 0.46 (III), 0.4 (IV), 0.46 (V), 0.28 (VI), 0.11 (VII) and 0.02 (VIII). Length/width ratio of antennomeres I–VII: 0.75 (I), 3.7 (II), 3.5 (III), 3 (IV), 2.7 (V), 1.8 (VI) and 1 (VII). Antennomeres V and VI each with a terminal corolla of large sensilla basiconica bacilliformia; antennomere VII with a terminal corolla of small sensilla basiconica bacilliformia.

BODY RINGS ( Fig. 25D ). Entire metazonal area with longitudinal striations. Length of midbody setae ca 7% of vertical diameter of rings.

TELSON ( Fig. 25C ). Epiproct with a short and blunt preanal process, covered with dorsal and lateral setae. Paraprocts rounded, with numerous setae. Hypoproct without any modifications.

LEGS IN MALES. First pair of legs modified, hook-shaped ( Figs 26 A–B, 28E–F), with three podomeres; coxae each with one seta; prefemora each with 6–9 setae; femora, postfemora and tibiotarsi coalesced, with 4+4 setae (3+3 on remnants of femora and 1+1 on remnants of postfemora). Tibiotarsal part with a small distal lobe. Tip slightly tuberculated. Postfemoral and tibial ventral pads well-developed on anterior legs, then gradually disappearing towards posterior legs.

PENES ( Fig. 28D ). In the form of a short trapezoid, apically with two small subtriangular lobes.

VENTRAL MARGIN OF MALE BODY RING 7 ( Fig. 25E ). Strongly developed, more or less rounded in lateral view.

GONOPODS ( Figs 2A , 26D , 27 A–C, 28A–C). Promere (p) long and slender, with a flagellum (f); apical part spatulate, with denticulated margin; basal half with two developed ridges. Mesomere (m) with a slender mesomeral claw (mc) lacking teeth, more or less curved anteriad; mesomeral lamella (ml) with a strongly developed lobe (l) and a deep rift between mesomeral claw and lobe, distal margin smooth, posterior part finely fimbriate. Opisthomere (o) bipartite. Anterior branch of o with a solenomere (s) with a short tip, and a well-developed and fimbriate velum (v). Posterior branch of o in form of a shield-like protective lamella (pl). Mesomere and opisthomere connected basally with an accessory membrane (am).

Distribution

Known only from four caves in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region in Central-West Georgia ( Fig. 58 , violet triangles).

Remarks

In the Motena and Jortsku caves,this species has been found together with another taxon of Leucogeorgiini , Martvilia parva gen. et sp. nov.

See also under Leucogeorgia aff. lobata sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 1. Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 species in situ. A. L. abchasica (Lohmander, 1936) comb. nov., ♂ from Abraskila Cave (photo: Ilya Turbanov). B. L. caudata sp. nov., type ♂ from Novoafonskaya Cave (photo: Olga Chervyatsova). C. L. gioi sp. nov., paratype ♀ (SMNG) (photo: Hans Reip). D. L. lobata sp. nov., specimens from Motena Cave (photo: Hans Reip). E. L. prometheus sp. nov., specimen from Prometheus Cave (photo: Hans Reip). F. L. profunda sp. nov., non-type ♀ from Veryovkina Cave (photo: Sergei Ivanov). G. L. turbanovi sp. nov., non-type ♂ from Krubera Cave (photo: Ilya Turbanov).

Fig. 2. Gonopods, mesal view. A. Leucogeorgia lobata sp. nov., right gonopods, paratype ♂ from Kalitshona Cave (ZMUM). B. L. longipes Verhoeff, 1930, right gonopods, ♂ from Dolabistavi Cave (SMNG). C. L. prometheus sp. nov., left gonopods, non-type ♂ from Sataplia II Cave (ZMUM). D. L. satunini (Lohmander, 1936) comb. nov., right gonopods, ♂ from Kelasurskaya Cave (ZMUM). Abbreviations: am = accessory membrane; f = flagellum; l = lobe; m = mesomere; mc = mesomeral claw; ml = mesomeral lamella; o = opisthomere; p = promere; pl = protective lamella; s = solenomere; v = velum.

Fig. 25. Leucogeorgia lobata sp. nov., type ♂♂. A. Holotype from Kalitshona Cave, habitus, lateral view (ZMUM). B. Paratype from Garakha Cave, anterior part of body, lateral view (IZISU). C. Paratype from Kalitshona Cave, posterior part of body, lateral view (ZMUM). D. Paratype from Garakha Cave, midbody rings, lateral view (IZISU). E. Paratype from Garakha Cave, body ring 7, lateral view (IZISU). Arrow indicates metazonal setae. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 26. Leucogeorgia lobata sp. nov., paratype ♂ from Kalitshona Cave (ZMUM). A. Left leg 1, lateral view. B. Leg-pair 1, anterior view. C. Head, ventral view. D. Right gonopods, mesal view. Abbreviations: am = accessory membrane; f = flagellum; l = lobe; m = mesomere; mc = mesomeral claw; ml = mesomeral lamella; o = opisthomere; p = promere; pl = protective lamella; s = solenomere; v = velum. Scale bars: A = 0.05 mm; B, D = 0.1 mm; C = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 27. Gonopods (A–C: Leucogeorgia lobata sp. nov.; D: L. aff. lobata sp. nov., ♂ from Eckis Cave). A. Paratype ♂ from Garakha Cave, right gonopods, lateral view (IZISU). B. ♂ from Motena Cave, left gonopod, mesal view (SMNG). C. ♂ from Motena Cave, left gonopod, mesal view (ZMUM). D. Left gonopod, mesal view (SMNG). Scale bar: 0.3 mm.

Fig. 28. Leucogeorgia lobata sp. nov., paratype ♂ from Garakha Cave (IZISU). A. Right gonopods, mesal view. B. Left gonopods, lateral view. C. Left promere, lateral view. D. Penes, posterior view. E. Left leg 1, lateral view. F. Leg-pair 1, anterior view. Scale bar: 0.3 mm.

Fig. 58. Distribution of the southeastern group of the genus Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 and the species Martvilia parva gen. et sp. nov.