Nesopauropus tasmaniensis, Scheller, 2009

Scheller, Ulf, 2009, New species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Tasmanian temperate rainforests, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66 (2), pp. 289-329 : 307

Nesopauropus tasmaniensis sp.nov.

( Figs. 94–104 )

Material examined. Holotype. Ad.9 (female), Mount Michael , Loc. 6, (41°10.9'S, 148°00.4'E), soil core, 11.xi.1989, ( RC).

Diagnosis. Nesopauropus tasmaniensis is the sixth species in the genus. It is easily distinguished from the previously described species, three from Sri Lanka ( Scheller 1970) and two from the Seychelles ( Scheller 1982), by the shape of the anal plate: very short, blunt, parallel, posterior appendages and in between a distinct median incision. Disregarding the very dissimilar anal plate, the new species may have most in common with two species from Sri Lanka, subtilis Scheller and unifibratus Scheller ( Scheller 1970).

Description. Length.- 0.63 mm.

Head.-Tergal setae annulate, submedian ones rather short, somewhat clavate, sublateral and lateral ones at least of medium length, subclavate-cylindrical. Relative lengths of setae, 1st row: a 1 =10, a 2 =14; 2nd row: a 1 =10, a 2 =25, a 3 =22; 3rd row: a 1 =10, a 2 =17; 4th row: a 1 =11, a 2 =?, a 3 =?, a 4 =18; lateral group setae: l 1 =30, l 2 =28, l 3 =25. The ratio a 1 /a 1 -a 1 in 1st row 0.9, 2nd row 0.5, 3rd row 0.8 and 4th row 1.3. Temporal organs oval in tergal view, 1.2 times as long as shortest distance apart; small aperture at posterior margin. Head cuticle glabrous.

Antennae.-Segment 4 with four subclavate-subcylindrical annulate blunt setae; their relative lengths: p =100, p' =34, p'' =18, r about 16. Neither p''' nor u. Tergal seta p 1.8 times as long as tergal branch t. The latter fusiform, 2.3 times as long as its greatest diameter and 1.1 times as long as sternal branch s which is 1.6 times as long as its greatest diameter; anterodistal corner of s truncate. Seta q somewhat clavate, annulate, blunt, about 1.2 times as long as s. Relative lengths of flagella (basal segments included) and basal segments: F 1 =100, bs 1 =8; F 2 =35, bs 2 =5; F 3 =88, bs 3 =7. The F 1 4.6 times as long as t, F 2 and F 3 1.8 and 4.4 times as long as s respectively. Distal calyces subhemispherical, on F 2 and F 3 very small; distal part of flagella axis fusiform. Globulus g 1.3 times as long as wide; 10 bracts and capsule subspherical; width of g 0.9 of the greatest diameter of t. Antennae glabrous.

Trunk.-Setae of collum segment simple, somewhat clavate, annulate, blunt. Sublateral ones 1.7 times as long as submedian ones; sternite process very small pointed; appendages proportionally large, almost cylindrical with subhemispherical caps; process and basal segment of appendages with distinct almost erect pubescence.

Tergites II and III weakly divided transversally, II between the groups of setae (two groups of setae, 6+6) and III more posteriorly (two groups of setae, 8+4). Setae on tergites thin, (sub)cylindrical, annulate, blunt, not decreasing in length posteriorly; 4+4 setae on tergite I, 6+6 on II–V, 4+2 on VI. Submedian posterior setae on VI 0.8 of their distance apart and 0.8 of the length of pygidial setae a

1

. Tergites glabrous.

Relative lengths of bothriotricha: T 1 =100, T 2 =119, T 3 =110, T 4 =85, T 5 =159; setae with thin, simple, straight axes, the proximal half of T 3 and T 5 thickest. Pubescence hairs on T 5 and on proximal 1/4 of the others short oblique, on distal 2/3 of T

1

-T

4

much longer, branched and arranged in whorls.

Legs.-Setae on coxa and trochanter of legs 1–8 and seta on coxa of leg 9 simple, somewhat clavate, annulate, blunt; seta on trochanter of leg 9 furcate, branches cylindrical, annulate, secondary branch somewhat thinner and shorter than primary branch. Tarsus of leg 9 tapering, 3.2 times as long as its greatest diameter. Setae subcylindrical, densely annulate, proximal seta 0.2 of the length of tarsus and 0.7 of the length of distal seta; the latter thicker than proximal seta. Cuticle of tarsus with minute pubescence.

Pygidium. Tergum.-Posterior margin between st almost straight. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 =10, a 2 =64, a 3 =129, st =57; setae tapering, pointed, striate; a 1 almost straight, a 2 and a 3 curved inwards, st somewhat S-shaped and pointing inwards. Distance a 1 -a 1 0.7 of the length of a 1; distance a 1 -a 2 1.8 times as long as distance a 2 -a 3; distance st-st 1.9 times as long as st and 1.5 times as long as distance a

1

-a

1

. Cuticle glabrous.

Sternum.-Posterior margin between b 1 with a broad indentation. Relative lengths of setae (a 1 =100): b 1 =293, b 2 about 98. The b 1 cylindrical, striate, distally annulate; b 2 tapering, striate, somewhat pointing outwards. The b 1 1.5 times as long as their distance apart; b 2 about 0.9 of distance b 1 -b 2. Anal plate glabrous, as long as broad, narrowest anteriorly, with convex lateral margins and two distal and two sternal appendages; distal ones projecting backwards, short and thick, cylindrical, blunt, somewhat pointing inwards, length 1/4 of the length of the plate; sternal appendages of the same length but thinner and with short oblique pubescence.

Figures

Figs. 94–104. Nesopauropus tasmaniensisr sp.nov., holotype: 94, head, median and right part, tergal view; 95, right antenna, sternal view; 96, collum segment, median and left part, sternal view; 97, tergite VI, posterior part; 98, T; 99, T; 100, seta on coxa of 9th pair of legs; 101, seta on 1 3 trochanter of 9th pair of legs; 102, tarsus of 9th pair of legs; 103, pygidium, posterior part, sternal tergal view; 104, anal plate, lateral view. Scale line a for figures 98, 99; b for figures 100–102; c for figures 94–97, 103, 104.