Catamicrophyllum caucasicum ( Attems, 1901 )

Vagalinski, Boyan, 2024, Catamicrophyllum beroni sp. nov. - the first European record of the genus Catamicrophyllum Verhoeff, 1901 (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), Zootaxa 5397 (2), pp. 239-250 : 245-246

Catamicrophyllum caucasicum ( Attems, 1901)

Figs 4 & 5

Leptophyllum (Anuroleptophyllum) caucasicum Attems, 1901: 293–296 , T. IX, figs 13–15, T. X, figs 2–9.

Catamicrophyllum georgianum Jawłowski, 1929: 51–52 , figs 5 & 6.

Anuroleptophyllum caucasicum : Lohmander (1936: 53–57, fig. 31).

Catamicrophyllum caucasicum : Enghoff (1995: 724–728, figs 55, 65–70); Enghoff (2006: 170); Kokhia & Golovatch (2018: 40); Kokhia & Golovatch (2020: 205).

Material examined. 4 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀, 1 juv. ( ZMUM) , 1 ♁, 1 ♀ ( IBER) , Azerbaijan, Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, Shakhbuz District, S of Bichanak Pass, oak forest, 1900 m a.s.l., litter, 22.IV.1983, S. Golovatch leg.

Diagnosis. A species of the genus Catamicrophyllum , belonging to the caucasicum -group, as defined by Enghoff (1995), being most similar to C. beroni sp. nov. Differs from the latter species by a larger body size (males with L = ca 25 mm on average and H> 1.9 mm, vs. L = ca 18 mm and H <1.9 mm in C. beroni sp. nov.), as well as by the somewhat stouter body proportions (sensu Enghoff 1995)( Fig. 5 ); by the presence of a small epiproct vs. dorsal margin of pre-anal ring (almost) completely adhered to paraprocts’ caudal contour in C. beroni sp. nov.; and by the following details of the opisthomere: intermediate lamella represented by only one, lateral crest (a vestigial mesal crest can be (sometimes) seen at the very base of opisthomere), vs. same forming two well-developed crests in C. beroni sp. nov.; hamulus slender all along, vs. same being somewhat clavate apically in C. beroni sp. nov.; and terminal process being slender and tapering, vs. same being piri-/ampulliform in C. beroni sp. nov.

Descriptive notes. Measurements: ♁♁ in S XI–XII, with BRF 40–43 + 0–1 + T, L = 23–30 mm, H = 2.25–2.55 mm; ♀♀ in S XII–XIII (?), with BRF 45–47 + 1 + T, L = 30–36.5 mm, H = 2.95–3.2 mm. (fitting within the ranges given by Enghoff (1995), except for the maximum length and number of body rings in females, which are shown here to be slightly greater)

Gonopods ( Fig. 4 ): Promere (P) and mesomere (M) almost indistinguishable from those in C. beroni sp. nov., apparently differing only by the promere being less strongly bulging apically and by the mesomere being somewhat shorter in relation to the latter. Opisthomere (O) elongate (more than in C. beroni sp. nov.) and bent considerably anteriad, apically bearing a very long and fine hamulus (h) with the tip being dorsally denticulate, and a tapering terminal process (t); intermediate lamella (l) represented by a well-developed lateral crest distally reaching the base of the terminal process.

Distribution. Eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia ( Enghoff 1995, 2006, present data).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Catamicrophyllum caucasicum (Attems, 1901), ♁ from Nakhichevan (ZMUM). A. Left gonopods, lateral view. B. Right gonopods, mesal view. C. Distal part of hamulus, mesal view. Abbreviations: h: hamulus, l: intermediate lamella, M: mesomere, O: opisthomere, P: promere, pl: posterior lobe, t: terminal process. Scale bars: 0.3 mm (A, B), 0.05 mm (C).

FIGURE 5. Slenderness of body of males of Catamicrophyllum caucasicum (Attems, 1901) (x: data of Enghoff (1995); +: present data) and Catamicrophyllum beroni sp. nov. (o) expressed as relation of vertical diameter to number of body rings.