The millipede genus Gasterogramma (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae) in Tasmania, Australia, with descriptions of seven new species Author Mesibov, Robert text Memoirs of Museum Victoria 2003 2003-12-31 60 2 207 219 https://museumsvictoria.com.au/collections-research/journals/memoirs-of-museum-victoria/volume-60-issue-2-2003/pages-207-219/ journal article 10.24199/j.mmv.2003.60.21 1447-2554 12207697 Gasterogramma psi Jeekel, 1982 Figures 6 , 7 , 11 (map) Gasterogramma psi Jeekel, 1982: 12 .— Shelley et al., 2000: 102 . Holotype . Male. Australia , Tasmania . “Sta. 100, Hellyer Gorge , 32 km SSW Somerset , 25.XI.1980 (temperate rain-forest ( Nothofagus, Eucalyptus, Dicksonia ) along the Hellyer R., under logs)” ( Jeekel, 1982: 12 ) . Holotype probably in Zoological Museum, Amsterdam; not examined. Figure 5. Sketches of epiproct form. A, Typical form in Gasterogramma ; G. austrinum paratype, QVM 23:40629; lateral view. B, G. plomleyi , male paratype, QVM 23:8068, lateral view. C, same specimen as B, ventral view. Figure 6. A–D, G. psi gonopod variations, seen in situ; see fig. 11 for locations.A, Washpond Forest, north-west Tasmania, QVM 23:8085. B, Notley Gorge, north-central Tasmania, QVM 23:8139. C, Coles Creek, central Tasmania, QVM 23:24797. D, Henty R., western Tasmania, QVM 23:8143. Scale-bar in all cases = 0.5 mm. Figure 7. A–C, body pattern variations in G. psi . A, almost uniformly pale; Cam R., north-west Tasmania. B, dark-spotted; Dial Range, north-west Tasmania. C, dark with faint mottling; Florentine R., south-west Tasmania. Figure 8. (left) G. rusticum sp. nov. , Don Reserve, north-central Tasmania, QVM 23:16199; SEM of gonopods in situ. Scale-bar = 0.5 mm. (right) G. rusticum sp. nov. , Gog Range, north-central Tasmania, QVM 23:8053; outline sketches of right gonopod showing course of prostatic groove (dashed line): lateral view, left; posterior view, right. Figure 9. (left) G. tarkinense sp. nov. , The Clump, north-west Tasmania, QVM 23:8056; SEM of gonopods in situ. Scale-bar = 0.5 mm. (right) G. tarkinense sp. nov. , Wombat Hill, north-west Tasmania, QVM 23:8057; outline sketch of right gonopod showing course of prostatic groove (dashed line). Figure 10. (left) G. wynyardense sp. nov. , Inglis R., north-west Tasmania, QVM 23:41909; SEM of gonopods in situ. Scale-bar = 0.5 mm. (right) G. wynyardense sp. nov. , Seabrook Creek, north-west Tasmania, QVM 23:40632; outline sketches of right gonopod showing course of prostatic groove (dashed line): lateral view, left; posterior view, right. Material examined. Paratypes . 10 males , 12 females , 3 stadium VII males, 3 stadium VI males, collection details as for holotype ; locations unknown. Other material. 393 males from 190 unique localities in northern and western Tasmania , including Allen Creek, Animal Creek, Arthur R., Balfour, Bellana Creek, Big Creek, Black Bog Creek, Black R., Blackfish Creek, Bond Tier, Bonneys Tier, Borradale Creek, Branchs Creek, Broadsword cave (Gunns Plains), Brooks Creek, Bubs Hill, Burnie Park, Burning Down the House cave (Junee–Florentine), Cam R., Cann Creek, Central Castra, Chester Creek, Christmas Hill, Christmas Hills, Coles Creek, Companion Hill, Companion Rd, Crayfish Creek, Dalgarth Forest Reserve, Dark Creek, Dawson R., Dead End Den cave (Mt Cripps), Dee Lagoon, Deep Creek Bay, Denison R., Dip R., Don R., Duck Creek, Dundas R., East Ridgley, Emu R., Fisher R., Florentine R., Flowerdale, Gawler R., Gibson Creek, Goderich Rd, Gordon R., Guildford Rd, Hardwood R., Heemskirk Rd, Henty R., Hermit Hill, Holwell Gorge, Inglis R., Interview R., Jessie Rd, Jones Creek, Julius R., Kelcey Tier, Kenzies Hill, Lake Chisholm, Lake Lea, Lake Mackenzie, Laughing Jack Lagoon, Lawson Plains, Library Creek, Little Claytons Rivulet, Loongana cave L9, Maggs Mountain, Mahoneys Creek, Marine Creek, Maxwell R., Mersey R., Meunna, Meunna Hills, Milkshakes, Montagu Swamp, Mossy Marsh Creek, Mostyn Hardy cave (Loongana), Mt Oakleigh, Mt Sprent, Newall Creek, Nietta Creek, No Mans Creek, Nook, Notley Gorge, Olga R., Orange R., Ordnance Point, Parrawe Creek, Pelion Valley, Pencil Pine Creek, Philrod cave (Mt Cripps), Poppys Lagoon, Punchs Terror, Richardsons Flats, Roger R., Roger R. West, Rosebery, Salmon R., Sassafras Creek, Savage R., Saxons Creek, Scopus, Seabrook Creek, Serpentine Dam, Shadow Lake, Sisters Creek, Smithton, Somerset, Sterling R., Stony Rises, Sundown Point, Table Cape, Tarraleah, Three Hummock I., Trowutta Caves, Tunnel, Upper Natone, Wakefield Creek, Wandle R., Washpond Forest, Weaning Paddock Creek, Welcome Heath, West Montagu, Whisky Creek, Wild Wave R., Williamsford, Wilsons Creek and Wombat Hill. Diagnosis. Gonopod with femoral process terminating in a mesally directed tip with shape of bird’s head; prefemoral process fringed with tooth-like projections; tibiotarsus prominent, distally or distally and mesally directed; solenomerite arising near base of prefemoral process. Descriptive notes. For a very detailed description of this species, see Jeekel (1982: 12–14) . Variations in gonopod structure and body colour pattern (see below) occur across the range of G. psi , but I am reluctant to divide G. psi into subspecies. Gonopod: The form described by Jeekel (1982) from north-west Tasmania (site “TL” in fig. 11) extends with little variation to central Tasmania . In the latter area (“C” in fig. 11), the tip of the prefemoral process is shortened and bent slightly posteriorly (fig. 6C). In the central west (“D” in fig. 11), the tip of the prefemoral process is further flexed and lies lateral to the tibiotarsus, which is directed posteriomesally (fig. 6D) rather than standing more or less “upright” as in north-west forms. In the far north-west (“A” in fig. 11), the tibiotarsus extends well distal of the prefemoral process, and a second small, lateral tooth is present towards the base of the femoral process (fig. 6A). In the north-east of the G. psi range (“B” in fig. 11), the tibiotarsus is enlarged and directed slightly mesally, and the tips of the femoral process turn slightly posteriorly (fig. 6B). Colour: Over much of the western and north-western portion of its range, G. psi is pale with very faint, brownish gray markings (fig. 7A). In the north of the range almost all specimens have a striking pattern of dark lateral spots on the segments with ozopores (5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–18; fig. 7B), while specimens from the south and central portions of the G. psi range are dark with faint mottling (fig. 7C). Distribution. From sea level to c. 1250 m over c. 25 000 km 2 in northern and western Tasmania , including Three Hummock Island in Bass Strait (fig. 11). In coastal, subalpine and riparian scrubs; in swamp forest, wet eucalypt forest and rainforest; in exotic tree plantations; and occasionally in caves. Syntopic with G. imber , G. rusticum , G. tarkinense , and G. wynyardense over parts of its range. Remarks. Gasterogramma psi is the most ecologically tolerant species of the genus in north-west Tasmania , and is generally more abundant than co-occurring G. rusticum , G. tarkinense or G. wynyardense .