The millipede genera Gephyrodesmus Jeekel, 1983 and Orthorhachis Jeekel, 1985 in southeastern Australia, a new Lissodesmus Chamberlin, 1920 from Victoria, and observations on male leg setae, spinnerets and metatergite sculpture (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae)
Mesibov, Robert
Zootaxa
2008
2008-06-11
1790
1
52
74YJR
Mesibov, 2008
Mesibov
2008
[151,428,1403,1429]
Diplopoda
Dalodesmidae
Orthorhachis
Animalia
Polydesmida
25
26
Arthropoda
species
durabilis
sp. nov.
Figs. 5D, 7A, 17; map Fig. 31 Holotype: 1 male, Rutherford Creek, Brown Mountainnear Nimmitabel, NSW, ca. 820 m, 26 May 1970, R. W. Taylor& R. Bartell, rainforest, ANICberlesates 285-6. In ANIC, 64-000189. Paratypes: In ANIC: 1 male, Rutherford Creek, Brown Mountain, NSW, 9 January 1968, M. Upton, rainforest, leafmould, ANICberlesate 55, 64-000187; 3 males, 1 female, Monga, NSW, 35º35'S 149º55'E, 27 February 1968, M. Upton& L. Mound, rainforest, ANICberlesate 72, 64-000188; 1 male, details as for holotypebut ANICberlesate 287, 64-000190. In MV: 2 males, Cobbanah Creek, Vic, 37º38'12"S 147º14'09"E, 320 m, 25 November 2004, R. Mesibov& T. Moule, K-10662, 10663; 4 females, same details, K-10664–10667; 2 males, 3 females, 1 stadium 7 female, Uralla Nature Reserve, Trafalgar, Vic, 38º13'55"S 146º08'40"E, 200 m, 2 August 2005, R. Mesibov, K-10673–10678; 1 male, 1 femalein copula, Buldah Gap Road, S of Buldah, Vic, 37º18'25"S 149º09'57"E, 560 m(GE), 10 November 2006, R. Mesibov& T. Moule, K-10682, 10683; 1 male, 1 female, same details, K- 10684, 10685. Other material examined: In AM: 1 male, Emerald district, Vic, August 1904, collector 'E.N.J.', KS103051; 1 male, 1 female, ca. 15 kmSE of Countegany, near Two RiverPlain, Wadbilliga Trail National Park, NSW, 36º17'50"S 149º32'32"E, 970 m, 17 May 2006, C.A. Car, KS103052. In MV: 5 males, 1 female, near Trafalgar, Vic, August 1890, W. Kershaw, K-10655; 2 males, Thorpdale, Vic, 1 April 1899, collector unknown, K-10656; 1 male, 2 females, 1 stadium 7 male, National Park, Vic, 11 June 1932, collector unknown, K-10657; 2 males, 1 female, 1 stadium 7 male, Wombargo Creek, Rockbank, Black Mountain, Vic, 30 April 1947, C. Barrett, K-10658; 1 male, 1 female, 3.8 milesE of turnoff on Benambra-Suggan Buggan Road, Vic, grid 1553(3) map ref 618434, no date or collector, snow gum stand, under logs, K-10659; 3 males, 1 female, 2.3 milesfrom Suggan-Buggan Road, Vic, grid 1553(3) map ref 618438, no date or collector, snow gum stand, grass ground cover, under logs, K-10660; 1 male, 1 female, grid 1553(3) map ref 616440, Vic, no date or collector, snow gum stand, K-10661; 1 male, Slippery Hillnear Dargo, Vic, 37º23'05"S 147º12'54"E, 920 m, same date and collectors, K-10668; 1 male, 1 stadium 7 male, Mt Buller, Vic, near sewage plant, 37º08'56"S 146º27'27"E, 1560 m, 1 January 2005, K. Bonham, K-10669; 1 male, 2 females, ' Loch Springs'property, Trafalagar, Vic, 38º13'38"S 146º08'55"E, 150 m, same date and collector, K- 10671; 1 male, 1 female, Uralla Nature Reserve, Trafalgar, Vic, 38º13'36"S 146º08'53"E, 140 m, 19 April 2005, R. Mesibov, K-10670; 1 male, 1 stadium 7 male, Darlimurla, Vic, 38º21'58"S 146º11'05"E, 200 m, 1 August 2005, N. Porch& R. Mesibov, K-10672; 1 female, Sunny Creekat Yarragon South, Vic, 38º14'54"S 146º05'31"E, 350 m, 3 August 2005, R. Mesibov& J. Poppins, K-10679; 1 male, Trafalgar East, Vic, 38º12'54"S 146º12'32"E, 190 m, 4 August 2005, R. Mesibov, K-10680; 1 stadium 7 male, Yarragon South, Vic, 38º15'06"S 146º06'23"E, 340 m, 21 April 2006, R. Mesibov, K-10681; 1 male, 1 female, Nadgee State Forest, S of Eden, NSW, 37º17'42"S 149º49'21"E, 100 m(GE), 12 November 2006, C. & G. Car, R. Mesibov& T. Moule, K-10686; 1 male, 1 female, Board Road, Mt Disappointment State Forest, Vic, 37º25'37"S 145º08'50"E, 770 m(GE), 20 September 2007, R. Mesibov, K-10687. In WAM: 1 male, 1 stadium 6 female, 'The Beeches', Vic, 37º28'S 145º49'E, 25 March 1991, M.S. Harvey& M.E. Blosfelds, T73068. Diagnosis: Paranota very wide (midbody paranota width twice as great as ring width), metatergites with Pattern B sculpture. Gonopod telopodite with solenomere and medial process well separated, the latter expanded distally and terminating in a wide truncation, with the anterior corner produced as a small distal tooth. Description: As for the genus. Male/female approximate measurements: length 18/ 20 mm, midbody prozonite diameter 1.5/ 1.8 mm, midbody width across paranota 3.0/ 3.2 mm. Colouring variable in alcohol, ranging from near-uniform grey-brown to medium brown with paler mottling. Antennal sockets separated by 1.5X a socket diameter. Antennae short, stouter than in other Orthorhachis, relative lengths of antennomeres (2,6)>3>(4,5). Collum D-shaped with posterior margin slightly emarginate on either side, slightly wider than head and narrower than tergite 2. Metatergite sculpture very distinct, Pattern B ( Fig. 7A). Paranota very wide,anterior margin sloping posterolaterally to distinct corner, lateral margin more or less parallel to long axis of body; ozopore between one-half and two-thirds the length of the lateral margin ( Fig. 7A). Legs short, leg 6 tarsus 1.2X as long as femur ( Fig. 5D). Brush setae with forked tips. Gonopod aperture ovoid, wider than long, about one-third the width of the ring 7 prozonite, rim raised posterolaterally. Telopodite ( Fig. 17) short, broad at base, tapering distally; long setae on posterolateral surface to one-third telopodite height; branching beginning at two-thirds telopodite height. Solenomere a slightly tapering rod with a bluntly pointed tip, directed distally and slightly posteriorly, slightly S-shaped in lateral view (right gonopod). Medial process well-separated from solenomere, broader than solenomere at base, expanding distally and mediolaterally flattened, ending at half solenomere height in a wide truncation with a posterior corner which extends further posteriorly than solenomere in lateral view, and with a small distal tooth at anterior end of truncation. FIGURE 17. Orthorhachis durabilis n. sp., male paratype, MV K-10662. (A) medial, (B) anterior, (C) lateral views of right gonopod telopodite. Setation not shown; dashed lines mark course of prostatic groove. Scale bar = 0.25 mm. Female slightly larger than male, legs not swollen. Genital aperture with posterior margin raised in slightly convex curve, bent slightly anteriorly. Cyphopods not examined. Distribution: From near sea level to at least 1560 mover ca. 60000 km 2ineastern Victoriaand far southeastern New South Wales( Fig. 31). I have collected O. durabilisunder loose bark on logs, in leaf litter and under pieces of rotting wood on the ground. Etymology: Latin durabilis, lasting, adjective, for the persistence of this species in farmed landscapes in the West Gippsland district of Victoria. Remarks: Ignoring gonopod structure, this species would not readily be recognised as an Orthorhachis: the tarsi are short and the paranota are remarkably wide and narrow. The gonopods, however, conform to the Orthorhachispattern and are similar to those of O. tallagandensisand O. weiri, which have long tarsi and more typically shaped and sized paranota. O. durabilisvaries little over its remarkably large range: specimens from Monga and Mt Disappointment State Forest, ca. 450 kmapart, are virtually identical. On the gonopod telopodite, there is minor variation in the depth of the branching and in the degree of overall taper. This species is unusual among southeastern Australian dalodesmids for its apparent tolerance of habitat disturbance. In Victoria, I have found it in degraded bush remnants, on roadsides and on the margins of pasture adjoining forest.
1970-05-26
R, ANIC
W. Taylor & Bartell & In
Nimmitabel
820
Rutherford Creek
Brown Mountain
25
26
1
1
holotype
[198,440,1597,1623]
ANIC
25
26
1
paratype
1968-01-09
ANIC
M. Upton
Rutherford Creek
Brown Mountain
25
26
1
1
paratype
1968-02-27
ANIC
M. Upton & L. Mound
-35.583332
Monga
1192
149.91667
25
26
4
1
3
paratype
ANIC
25
26
1
1
holotype
[291,1322,1757,1783]
2004-11-25
R
320
-37.63667
Cobbanah Creek
19
147.23584
Vic
25
26
2
2
T
Mesibov
25
26
1
[219,514,1797,1823]
Moule
25
26
1
2005-08-02
R
Vic
200
-38.231945
Uralla Nature Reserve
19
146.14444
Trafalgar
25
26
7
7
Mesibov
25
26
1
2006-11-10
R
560
-37.306942
Buldah Gap Road
19
149.16583
25
26
2
1
1
[576,733,1917,1943]
T
Mesibov
25
26
1
[744,1029,1917,1943]
Moule
25
26
1
[535,738,152,178]
AM
In
26
27
1
1
KS103051
1904-08
KS
Emerald district
Vic
26
27
2
1
1
KS103052
2006-05-17
KS
C. A. Car
Wadbilliga Trail National Park
970
-36.297222
Two River Plain
19
149.54224
River Plain
26
27
1
[292,1189,272,298]
1890-08
W. Kershaw
Trafalgar
Vic
26
27
6
1
5
1899-04-01
Thorpdale
Vic
26
27
2
2
1932-06-11
National Park
Vic
26
27
7
7
1947-04-30
C. Barrett
Vic
Wombargo Creek
Black Mountain
26
27
7
7
Benambra-Suggan Buggan Road
Vic
26
27
2
1
1
Suggan-Buggan Road
Vic
26
27
4
1
3
Vic
920
-37.384724
Slippery Hill
19
147.215
Dargo
26
27
1
1
2005-01-01
K. Bonham
1560
-37.14889
Mt Buller
19
146.4575
Vic
26
27
7
7
Vic
150
-38.227222
Loch Springs'
19
146.1486
Trafalagar
26
27
3
2
1
2005-04-19
R
Vic
140
-38.226665
Uralla Nature Reserve
19
146.14806
Trafalgar
26
27
2
1
1
[263,487,752,778]
Mesibov
26
27
1
2005-08-01
R
N. Porch
200
-38.366108
Darlimurla
19
146.18472
Vic
26
27
7
7
[500,724,792,818]
Mesibov
26
27
1
2005-08-03
R
Vic
350
-38.248333
Sunny Creek
19
146.09193
Yarragon South
26
27
1
1
[665,1072,832,858]
J. Poppins
Mesibov
26
27
1
2005-08-04
R
190
-38.215
Trafalgar East
19
146.2089
Vic
26
27
1
1
[779,1136,872,898]
Mesibov
26
27
1
2006-04-21
R
340
-38.251667
Yarragon South
19
146.1064
Vic
26
27
7
7
[823,1048,912,938]
Mesibov
26
27
1
2006-11-12
R
C. & G. Car
100
-37.295
Nadgee State Forest
19
149.8225
26
27
2
1
1
T
Mesibov
26
27
1
[221,425,992,1018]
Moule
26
27
1
2007-09-20
R
770
-37.426945
Board Road
19
145.14722
Vic
26
27
2
1
1
[743,967,1032,1058]
Mesibov
26
27
1
T73068
1991-03-25
T
M. S. Harvey & M. E. Blosfelds
-37.466667
1181
145.81667
26
27
7
6
1