Epanerchodus martensi, Golovatch, S. I., 2014

Golovatch, S. I., 2014, Review of the millipede genus Epanerchodus Attems, 1901 in continental China, with descriptions of new species (Diplopoda: Polydesmidae), Zootaxa 3760 (2), pp. 275-288 : 281-282

Epanerchodus martensi sp. nov.

Figs 12–15

Material examined: Holotype male ( SMF), China, Shaanxi Prov., Taibaishan Mts, S slopes, above Houzhenzi, secondary broadleaved forest, 1300–1700 m a.s.l., 107°50’E, 33°51’N, 19.06.1997, leg. J. Martens & P. Jäger. Paratypes: 1 female, 1 incomplete female ( SMF), same locality, together with holotype; 1 female ( SMF), same locality and habitat, 1300–1700 m a.s.l., 20.06.1997, leg. J. Martens & P. Jäger; 6 females, 1 subadult female ( SMF), same locality and habitat, 1300–1700 m a.s.l., 0 8.07.1997, leg. J. Martens & P. Jäger; 2 females, 2 juveniles ( SMF), same locality, mixed broadleaved forest, 1700–2000 m a.s.l., 29.06.1997, leg. P. Jäger and B. & J. Martens.

Name: Honours Dr. Jochen Martens, one of the main collectors.

Diagnosis: Differs from congeners by the large size, coupled with the lack of sphaerotrichomes, the slender male prefemora, and the presence of a spiniform exomere. See also Key below.

Description: Length of holotype ca 26 mm, of female paratypes 27–38 mm; width of pro- and metazona in holotype 2.0 and 3.7 mm, respectively, in female paratypes 2.3–2.4 and 3.9–4.0 mm, respectively. Coloration in alcohol rather uniformly grey-brown ( Fig. 12 ), but sometimes infuscate grey-brown with reddish lateral margins of paraterga.

All other characters like in E. jaegeri sp. nov., except as follows.

Antennae long and only slightly clavate due to moderately high antennomere 6 ( Fig. 12 ), slightly overreaching segment 4 or 3 dorsally in male and female, respectively; antennomere 3 longest, only ca 1.1 longer than 5th and 1.2 times longer than subequal antennomeres 4 and 6.

In width, head <collum <segments 2 = 3 <4 <5 <6=16, thereafter body gradually tapering towards telson ( Fig. 12 ). Paraterga especially broad and strongly developed, very much like in E. jaegeri sp. nov., but dorsum nearly flat, in male subhorizontal, in female a little declivous; metatergal bosses very flat, outlined by evident, but shallow sulci ( Fig. 12 ). Epiproct rather short, conical, pre-apical lateral papillae evident. Hypoproct subtrapeziform, caudal, paramedian, setiferous papillae small and well-separated spines.

Sterna without modifications, densely setose. Legs generally long and slender, male prefemora not bulging laterad, like coxae and femora beset ventrally with bi- or trifid setae, but sphaerotrichomes absent ( Fig. 14 ). Gonopods ( Figs 13 & 15 ) much like in E. potanini ( Fig. 6 ), but process p1 digitiform and truncate. Remarks. This species seems to be among the largest congeners in China.

Figures

FIGURES 12 & 13. Epanerchodus martensi sp. nov., holotype. 12: anterior body part, dorsal view. 11: right gonopod in situ, ventral view. Pictures by K. Makarov, not taken to scale.

FIGURES 14 & 15. Epanerchodus martensi sp. nov., holotype. 14: leg 7, lateral view. 15: left gonopod, submesal view. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 5 & 6. Epanerchodus potanini Golovatch, 1991, male from Lianhua Shan Mts. 5: leg 7, lateral view. 6: right gonopod, mesal view. Scale bars: 5, 1.0 mm; 6, 0.2 mm.