Cave millipeds of the United States. X. New species and records of the genus Pseudotremia Cope. 2. Species from Virginia, USA (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Cleidogonidae)
Author
Shear, William A.
text
Zootaxa
2011
3109
1
38
journal article
45917
10.5281/zenodo.279260
ffbcaa56-6a77-4df4-b944-508fb074171f
1175-5326
279260
Pseudotremia orndorffi
,
n. sp.
Figs. 26–33
Types
:
Male
holotype
and female
paratype
from Birthday Cave, Sugar Run cave system, White Gate quadrangle,
Giles Co.,
VIRGINIA, collected
25 October 2003
by Wil Orndorff.
Diagnosis:
While the gonopods of this species are simplified, they remain quite large and obvious, and the reduction of the colpocoxites is distinctive. Among troglobionts from the area,
P. orndorffi
is unique in its low segmental shoulders (the body is nearly cylindrical beginning at the eighth segment) and quite smooth dorsum.
Etymology:
I am happy to name this species for Wil Orndorff, chief of the Virginia Natural Heritage Karst Protection Program, to thank him for the many specimens of millipeds, spiders and harvestmen from caves he has sent me for study over the years. Suggested vernacular name: Orndorff’s Cave Milliped.
Description:
Male
17 mm
long,
1.2 mm
wide, third antennal segment
1.15 mm
long. Appearing eyeless under light microscopy; SEM examination shows nine or 10 very reduced unpigmented ocelli (fig. 27). Segmental shoulders weak, beyond segment eight body nearly cylindrical; metazonites smooth (fig.28); segmental setae long, thin, acute; lateral striations 3–5, all incomplete (fig. 29). Entirely without pigment.
Gonopods (figs. 30, 32, 33) large, protruding; angiocoxites appressed basally, then diverging, then converging distally; MAPs lacking spines; LAPs broad at base, tapering, curving inward, appear slightly divided at tip into two lobe-like terminations (fig. 32). Colpocoxites relatively small, fused for most of their length, slightly diverging distally, mitten-shaped with “thumb” deflexed anteriorly; both colpocoxite processes as triangular lobes when seen laterally (fig. 33). Ninth legs intermediate between troglophile and troglobiont form, both podomeres relatively long, subequal, but three apical podomeres entirely fused, coxoprefemur sharply constricted in middle, vestigial articulation between coxa and prefemur possibly present (fig. 31).
Female (fig. 26) similar to male.
Additional records:
VIRGINIA:
Giles Co.:
Stearn’s Cave,
3.5 mi
SSE of Narrows,
19 May 1974
, J. Holsinger, S. Hetrick, mm;
3 May 1971
, L. and B. Ferguson, m;
December 1968
, C. J. Rushin, m.
Craig Co.:
Rufe Caldwell’s Cave,
4 mi
SW of Newcastle,
19 April 1975
, J. Holsinger, L. and B. Ferguson, 3 ƤƤ; Newcastle Murder Hole,
2.5 mi
SW Newcastle,
1 March 1975
, J. Estes, J. Wolf, 3.