Cryptocorypha exovo, Enghoff, 2022

Enghoff, Henrik, 2022, A mountain of millipedes X: Species of Pyrgodesmidae and Cryptodesmidae in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), European Journal of Taxonomy 845, pp. 66-100 : 81

Cryptocorypha exovo sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:35365AB4-87E7-4510-A5F9-E506BCFECE06

Figs 10–11

Diagnosis

Differs from all congeneric species by the unique shape of the ‘snakelike’ gonopod telopodite. Agrees with C. geminiramus sp. nov. in non-gonopodal characters.

Etymology

The species epithet means ‘out of the egg’ and refers to the shape of the gonopod which somewhat resembles a snake (telopodite) hatching from the egg (coxa).

Material examined

Holotype TANZANIA • ♂; Morogoro Region, Udzungwa Mountains Natl Park, Mito Mitatu ; 07°50′14.3″ S, 36°50′46.8″ E; 1207 m a.s.l.; 16 Dec. 2013; T. Pape and N. Scharff leg.; pitfall trap, Plot MM1; NHMD 621840 .

Description

SIZE. Male: Length 5.3 mm; maximal body width (across metazona) 0.78 mm; 17 podous + 1 apodous ring + telson. Female: unknown.

OTHER NON- GONOPODAL CHARACTERS ( Fig. 10 ). Virtually identical to C. geminiramus sp. nov.

GONOPODS ( Fig. 11 ). Coxa (cx) moderately globose, its surface scaly and with scattered level 3 spherules, mesally forming a shallow gonocoel. Cannula ( Fig. 11C, E : ca, not seen in the other two species) with a few tiny denticles (de).Telopodite projecting strongly from gonocoel, very evident in lateral and ventral views. Basal (‘prefemoral’) part of telopodite (bt) massive, with several distolateral setae, giving rise to a very long, sinous shaft which slightly beyond its midlength divides into a slightly curved branch, probably corresponding to an exomere (ex), and a strongly S-shaped branch, probably the solenomere (slm). A velum is not evident.

Remarks

A male of C. geminiramus sp. nov. was found in the same pitfall trap as the unique holotype of C. exovo sp. nov.

If the Afrotropical alternative in the first couplet of the key provided by Golovatch (2019) is chosen, C. exovo sp. nov. runs to C. diffusa (Brolemann, 1920) from which it differs by several characters, especially by strongly different gonopods. If the Asian alternative in the first couplet is chosen, C. exovo sp. nov. runs to couplet 17(18) where it fits neither alternative.

Figures

Fig. 10. Cryptocorypha exovo sp. nov., holotype (NHMD 621840), ♂. A. Head, frontal view. B. Collum and rings 2–3, dorsal view. C. Rings 2–3, dorsal view. D. Rings 16 (part), 17, 18 (apodous) and telson, oblique dorsal view, showing setae (long arrows) and a probably abraded seta (long stippled arrow) on posterior row of tubercles on apodous ring, and setae (short arrows) on paranota of apodous ring. E. Labrum and second coxae. Scale bars: A–C = 0.1 mm; D–E = 0.02 mm.

Fig. 11. Cryptocorypha exovo sp. nov., holotype (NHMD 621840), ♂, right gonopod. A. Lateral view. B. Posterior view. C. Mesal view. D. Anterior view. E. Close-up of circled area in D, showing cannula. Abbreviations: bt = basal part of telopodite; ca = cannula; cx = coxa; de = denticles; ex = exomere; slm = solenomere; x = ‘dirt’, not part of the gonopod. Scale bars: A–D = 0.02 mm; E = 0.01 mm.