Plusioglyphiulus ampullifer, Golovatch & Geoffroy & Mauriès & Den Spiegel, 2009

Golovatch, Sergei I., Geoffroy, Jean-Jacques, Mauriès, Jean-Paul & Den Spiegel, Didier Van, 2009, Review of the millipede genusPlusioglyphiulusSilvestri, 1923, with descriptions of new species from southeast Asia (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Cambalopsidae), Zoosystema 31 (1), pp. 71-116 : 79-83

Plusioglyphiulus ampullifer n. sp.

( Figs 4-7)

TYPE MATERIAL. — Vietnam. Dong Nai Prov., Dinh Quan, 11.27°N, 107.22°E, lava tube 1, 23.XII.1994, leg. L. Deharveng, Truong Quang Tam & A. Bedos (VIET-048), holotype ♂ ( MNHN GA055 ) ; 1 ♂ paratype ( MNHN GA055); 1 ♂ paratype ( SEM); 1 ♂ paratype ( ZMUM) .

ETYMOLOGY. — To emphasize the ampulliform distal part of the posterior gonopods.

DIAGNOSIS. — Differs from congeners by certain details of gonopod structure (very characteristic shapes of the various outgrowths and processes), coupled with the isostichic carinotaxy of the collum and of other body segments, the flattened paraprocts, the broadly rounded epiproct and the presence of spots dorsad of the ocellaria.

DESCRIPTION

Length 30-35 mm, width 2.0- 2.2 mm, collum being broadest. Coloration mainly dirty brown to red-brown, only collum and, in part, head and segment 2 contrastingly yellowish; metatergal crests/ tubercles usually dark brown to blackish, due to heavy sclerotization; ocellaria black, head dorsad of ocellaria with 1+1, nearly contiguous, marbled brown spots; antennomeres 5 (distally) to 7 (entirely) usually dark brown; both a narrow axial line and a broader stripe level to ozopores grey-brown, usually distinct; legs and venter yellow-brown, only distal podomeres slightly reddish.

Body with 55-72p+2a+T. Length of holotype about 30 mm, width 2.0 mm, with 58p+2a+T.

Antennae relatively short and clavate ( Fig. 7A), antennomeres 6 and 7 each with a small group of bacilliform sensilla distodorsally ( Fig. 7A). Ocellaria black, ovoid in shape, with 18-20 ocelli in 5 or 6 longitudinal rows. Gnathochilarium ( Fig. 4C) oligotrichous.

Postcollar constriction very evident, due to especially enlarged collum and segment 2 ( Fig. 4B). Carinotaxy formula of collum: I+t/t+3p/t+IV+ V(a)+VI+7a+P+ma ( Fig. 4A, B). Carinotaxy of metatergum 2, 7/7+m/m+7/7, anterior parts of all crests except “m” transverse, those of “m” longitudinal; formula of metaterga 3 and 4, 4/4+3+m+3+4/4, of which 3+m+3 rounded and placed transversely; formula of metatergum 5, 3/3+I/i+3/3+m+3/3+I/ i+3/3; formula of subsequent metaterga, except last few, 3/3/3+I/i+3/3/3+m/m+3/3/3+I/i+3/3/3; formula of last ozoporiferous metatergum, 3/3+I/ i+3/3+m/m+3/3+I/i+3/3; that of apodous segments, 2+5/5+m/m+5/5+2 ( Fig. 4 A-E); all crests and tubercles, including poriferous cones, rather low. Dorsal crests on several posteriormost segments considerably higher than others ( Fig. 4E). Midbody segments circular in cross-section ( Fig. 5B). Pleural regions of segments 2-4 conspicuously expanded, flap-shaped, especially so on segment 3 ( Fig. 4A). An evident, transverse pleural ridge behind gonopod aperture on male segment 7, with rounded flaps bent abruptly caudad ( Fig. 5A). Tegument and limbus as in P. grandicollis . Epiproct broadly rounded apically, with 1+1 paramedian tubercles at midway; paraprocts evidently flattened, without an elevation at midline; hypoproct emarginate at caudal margin ( Fig. 4E, F).

Legs short, about half as long as body diameter ( Fig. 5B), claws with an evident spine near base ( Fig. 7F). Tarsi and tarsal setae as in P. grandicollis .

Male legs 1-3 as in P.grandicollis . Male legs 1 with elongate, setose coxites and a single, very large, falcate, median sternal process with several long setae at base on frontal face ( Figs 5C; 7B, C). Male legs 2 evidently enlarged, telopodite hirsute on frontal face; penes subtriangular, fused at base ( Figs 5D; 7D). Male legs 3 with particularly elongate and slender coxae, and shortened telopodites ( Fig. 7E).

Anterior gonopods with a paramedian pair of high, slender, apically curved, contiguous but free coxosternal processes (cxp1) anteriorly, each with several lateral setae in basal half; coxal region produced mesad into a slender sigmoid process (cxp2); telopodites (te) elongate, attached to coxal region on caudal face, probably capable of movement, carrying a few setae subapically and tridentate apically ( Figs 6A, B; 7G). Posterior gonopods small, complex, coxites well separated from sternum, at least on caudal face ( Figs 6C, D; 7H); frontal face of each coxite with a strong, dentate arm (d) at midway and a complex ampulla-like structure with several teeth nearby.

REMARKS

Any obvious troglomorphic traits in this species seem to be absent.