Rupidesmus ruber Schubart, 1952

Bouzan, Rodrigo Salvador, Iniesta, Luiz Felipe M. & Brescovit, Antonio Domingos, 2018, A review of the millipede genus Rupidesmus Schubart, 1952 (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae), Zootaxa 4434 (3), pp. 589-599 : 592-593

Rupidesmus ruber Schubart, 1952

Figures 2A–C , 3A–C , 4 , 5

Rupidesmus ruber Schubart, 1952: 450 , figs. 4–6 (Male holotype from Lapa Vermelha , Lagoa Santa (43°54'8.07"W, 19°40'25.31"S), Minas Gerais, Brazil, 22/X/1947, J. Schubart coll., deposited in MZSP 996 , vis.

Additional material examined. BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Confins (43°59'25.29"W, 19°37'46.94"S), Sino Cave , 1♂, 21/XII/2016, F. Bondezan coll. ( IBSP 4652 ); cave CC40, 2♀, 26/I/2017, F. Bondezan coll. ( IBSP 4653 ); Lagoa Santa (43°53'54.96"W, 19°37'49.64"S), 1♂, 26/III/2009, I.L.F. Magalhães coll. ( IBSP 2865 ); Lapa Vermelha, Lagoa Santa (43°54'8.07"W, 19°40'25.31"S), 1♀, 22/X/1947, J. Schubart coll. ( MZSP 999 ).

Diagnosis. Adults males of Rupidesmus ruber differ from those of R. aclys n. sp. based on combination of gonopodal characteristics: Prefemoral process directed diagonally in relation to acropodite ( Fig. 3A ). Prostatic groove running marginally on acropodite, with a basal curvature and a sinuous distal curvature ending upon a short prostatic apex ( Fig. 3A ). Indention located distal to a bulky tab; tab curving ventrally imparting a twisted shape ( Figs. 3A, B ). Presence of a rounded ventral tip on acropodite ( Fig. 4F ).

Redescription. Male (Holotype, MZSP 996). Coloration in life, of the specimens described by Schubart (1952), reddish brown (when viewed just before preservation). Coloration (fixed in 70% ethanol): Head ochre. Body light ochre. Paranota tip a little lighter than the color of the body. Legs yellow. Telson ochre. Sternites of body rings 5 to 17 with two pairs of rounded projections between the coxae ( Fig. 5F , arrows). Total length: 60.6. Collum 3.27 long, 8.02 wide. Antennomere lengths (1>7): 1.05; 1.89; 1.69; 1.60; 1.78; 1.64; 0.40. Gonopod aperture ( Fig. 5E ) 1.85 long, 3.08 wide. Telson 1.35 long. Gonopods ( Figs 3A–C , 4 ): coxae with two setae on distal dorsal side and with a row of setae on distal ventral side. Spiniform process present on gonocoxae (SP; Fig. 3B ). Prefemoral region short, 1/4 length of telopodite. Prostatic groove with a basal curvature and a sinuous distal curvature ending upon a short prostatic apex. Prefemoral process small, dagger-shaped and directed diagonally in relation to acropodital branch (PfP; Figs 3A , 4D ). Acropodite flat and massive (A; Figs 3A–C ), middle part with prominent indentation just distal to a tab at posterior margin which continues to anterior margin ( Figs. 3A, B , arrow). Posterior margin in apical region with a rounded acropodital process (AP; Figs 4A, F ), acropodite ending upon a short prostatic apex ( Figs 4A–B, F ).

Female (MZSP 999). Coloration (in 70% ethanol) as in male. Total length 63.7. Collum 3.72 long, 8.10 wide. Telson 1.79 long. Cyphopods ( Figs 5A–B ) with thick setae dispersed over the whole of the valves. Apical part of cyphopod concave, with the intermediate membrane projecting between the valves ( Fig. 5A ).

Distribution. Known only from the state of Minas Gerais, in the southeast portion of the limestone karst Bambui Group.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dorsal views of anterior (A, D), midbody (B, E) and posterior (C, F) body rings of Rupidesmus ruber (holotype, MZSP 996) (A–C) and Rupidesmus aclys n. sp. (holotype, IBSP 2890) (D–F). Scale bar: 2 mm.

FIGURE 3. Rupidesmus ruber (holotype, MZSP 996), left gonopod. A, mesal view; B, lateroventral view; C, ectal view. Rupidesmus aclys n. sp. (IBSP 2890), left gonopod. D, mesal view; E, lateroventral view; F, ectal view. Scale bars: 1 mm. Abbreviations: AP, acropodital process; PfP, prefemoral process; PG, prostatic groove; SP, spiniform projection on gonopod coxae. Arrows refer to the indentation at the posterior margin of the acropodite.

FIGURE 4. Rupidesmus ruber (IBSP 2865). A, left gonopod in mesal view; B, left gonopod in ectal view; C, detail of coxal apophysis; D, detail of prefemoral process; E, indentation at the posterior margin of the acropodite; F, detail of the apical portion of acropodite. Scale bars: A) 1 mm.; B) 1 mm.; C) 300 µm; D) 200 µm; E) 300 µm; F) 200 µm. Abbreviations: AP, acropodital process; A, acropodital region; C, cannula; Cx, coxa of gonopod; Pf, prefemoral region; PfP, prefemoral process; PG, prostatic groove; SP, spiniform projection on gonopod coxae; T, telopodite.

FIGURE 5. Rupidesmus ruber. A, right cyphopod in ventral view; B, left cyphopod in lateroventral view (IBSP 4653); C, leg (8 th leg pair) in lateral view; D, sternite of body ring 5 in dorsal view; E, aperture of gonopod; F, sternite on body ring 8 (MZSP 996). The arrows point to the pairs of projections of the sternite on body ring 8. Scale bars: A) 500 µm; B) 400 µm; C) 1 mm.; D) 1 mm.; E) 1 mm.; F) 1 mm. Abbreviations: EV, external valve; Op, operculum; IV, internal valve; VaP, ventro-apical process; MP, membranous process.