Caucaseuma glabroscutum, Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016

Antić, Dragan Ž. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2016, The Caucasus as a major hotspot of biodiversity: Evidence from the millipede family Anthroleucosomatidae (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida), Zootaxa 4211 (1), pp. 1-205 : 36-37

Caucaseuma glabroscutum sp. nov.

Figs 24–28

Diagnosis. Differs from the other Caucaseuma species by the general shape of the anterior shields of the anterior gonopods, which are very wide and nearly rounded.

Etymology. To emphasize the presence of very smooth anterior shields of the anterior gonopods.

Material studied (total: 4 males, 4 females, 3 juveniles). Holotype. RUSSIA: male, Karachaevo-Cherkessia Republic (formerly in Stavropol Province), Teberda Nature Reserve , Canyon Baduk between Teberda and Dombai, dwarf Fagus , Acer , Abies , Pinus and Betula stands, litter, under bark and stones, 2000 m asl, 3 Jun. 1985, S. Golovatch leg. ( ZMUM ρ3255).

Paratypes (total: 3 males, 4 females, 3 juveniles). All from RUSSIA, Karachaevo-Cherkessia Republic, Teberda Nature Reserve: 1 female, 2 juveniles, same data as holotype ( ZMUM ρ3256) ; 2 males, 2 females, 1 juvenile (ZMUM ρ3257), 1 male, 1 female (IZB), Mt Malaya Khatipara above the town of Teberda, Pinus , Abies and Betula forest, Rhododendron thicket, 2150 m asl., litter, 29–30 May 1985, S. Golovatch leg.

Type locality. RUSSIA: Karachaevo-Cherkessia Republic , Teberda Nature Reserve, Canyon Baduk between Teberda and Dombai, dwarf Fagus , Acer , Abies , Pinus and Betula stands, liiter, under bark and stones, 2000 m asl.

Description. Body with 30 segments (including telson) in adults.

MEASUREMENTS. Males 11–13 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 0.85–0.90 mm. Females 13–14 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest pleurotergite 1.15–1.2 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 24 ). Metazonites brownish with yellowish spots on lateral keels; prozonites greyish anteriorly, yellowish posteriorly, with yellowish spots ventrolaterally.

HEAD. Without frontal depression in male. Labrum with three medial teeth and 6+6 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lingual plates with 9+8 setae, on each plate arranged in irregular rows. Stipites with ca 22+22 setae. Antennae 1.83 mm long in holotype. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.08), II (0.18), III (0.49), IV (0.24), V (0.48), VI (0.2), VII (0.14) and VIII (0.02). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I– VII: I (1), II (1.5), III (5.4), IV (2.4), V (3.7), VI (1.5) and VII (1.3). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one sensillum, respectively. Number of ocelli 20–23, arranged in 5–6 rows in males; 20–22 in 5–6 rows in females.

COLLUM. Narrower than head, with six macrochaetae. Anterior edge semi-circular, posterior margin gently concave.

BODY SEGMENTS ( Figs 24 , 25 ). Lateral keels like lateral swellings, better developed in males. Macrochaetae relatively long and trichoid. CIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 0.7; MIX (pleurotergite 15) ~ 1.8; PIX (pleurotergite 15) = 0.45; MA (pleurotergite 15) ~ 110˚.

TELSON. Epiproct with a pair of spinnerets and 3+3 setae (1+1 paramedian, 2+2 marginal). Hypoproct with 1+1 apical setae. Paraprocts with 3+3 marginal setae.

WALKING LEGS. In both sexes, leg-pairs 1 and 2 with tarsal combs; prefemora with several long and robust setae; femora and postfemora with a group of several long and robust setae.

MALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS ( Fig. 26 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged. Leg-pairs 3 and 4 each with a basal external protrusion on prefemur. Leg-pairs 5 and 6 without pecularities. Leg-pair 7 with a posterior coxal cavity with few denticles. Leg-pairs 10 and 11 with coxal glands; no other peculiarities.

ANTERIOR GONOPODS ( Figs 27 A–C, 28). Sternal plate (sp) [= v sensu Strasser (1970): 201, figs 1 and 2] with a medial, anterior, triangular, acuminate, hairy, sternal sac (ss) [= s sensu Strasser (1970): 201, figs 1 and 2]. Anterior shield-like coxal processes (cp) [= sc sensu Strasser (1970): 201, figs 1 and 2] wide, nearly rounded or subovoid, completely divided from each other all along. Mesal edges distally folded inside and forming a wide posterior projection (ppr) curved posteriorly in lateral view. Posterior coxal processes (pp) [= te sensu Strasser (1970): 201, 202, figs 2 and 3] starting with an anterior horn (ah) [= z sensu Strasser (1970): 201, 202, figs 1–3]. This horn connected to a lever (lv) by a denticulated lamella (dl). Levers divided into an anterior (alv) [= y sensu Strasser (1970): 201, 202, figs 1–4] and a posterior part (plv) [= f sensu Strasser (1970): 201, 202, figs 1–4]. Anterior parts orientated anteriorly, wide in lateral view, with setae apically. Posterior parts narrower, curved anteriorly and rising above all other elements. Basal parts of levers wide at base and covered mesally by setae. Another row of setae (rs) present on both medial parts of levers in posterior view. Coxal vesicles (cv) [= w sensu Strasser (1970): 202, fig 3] seen in inner parts.

POSTERIOR GONOPODS ( Fig. 27 D). Similar to other Caucaseuma species.

Distribution. Russia (Teberda Nature Reserve) ( Fig. 168 , violet circle).

Figures

FIGURE 24. Caucaseuma glabroscutum sp. nov., paratype male habitus. Scale line = 1 mm.

FIGURE 25. Caucaseuma glabroscutum sp. nov., paratype male. A. Pleurotergite 14 and 15 posterior view. B. Pleurotergite 14 and 15 lateral view. C. Prozonite of pleurotergite 15, dorsal view. D. Lateral keel of pleurotergite 15, dorsal view. E. Pleurotergites 14 and 15, dorsal view.

FIGURE 26. Caucaseuma glabroscutum sp. nov., holotype male. A. Leg 3. B. Leg 4. Scale lines = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 27. Caucaseuma glabroscutum sp. nov., holotype male gonopods. A. Anterior gonopods, anterior view. B. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. C. Anterior gonopods, lateral view. D. Posterior gonopods, posterior view. c = coxites, t = telopodites; ah = anterior horn; cp = anterior coxal process / coxal process; cv = coxal vesicle; dl = denticulate lamella; lv = lever of the posterior gonopods; pp = posterior coxal process; rs = row of setae; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; alv = anterior part of lever; plv = posterior part of lever; ppr = posterior projection. Scale line = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 28. Caucaseuma glabroscutum sp. nov., paratype male anterior gonopods. A. Anterior view. B. Anterolateral view. C. Lateral view. D. Posterolateral view. E. Posterior view. F. Distal view. ah = anterior horn; cp = anterior coxal process; dl = denticulate lamella; lv = lever of the posterior gonopods; pp = posterior coxal process; sp = sternal plate; ss = sternal sac; alv = anterior part of lever; plv = posterior part of lever.

FIGURE 168. Distribution of the Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae: the Caucaseuma complex.