Two new and unusual genera of millipedes (Diplopoda: Polydesmida) from Tasmania, Australia
Author
Mesibov, Robert
text
Zootaxa
2003
368
1
32
journal article
51241
10.5281/zenodo.157087
2e793b2d-9ce7-47f0-8590-69ee8ec38fd2
11755326
157087
Procophorella bashfordi
n. sp.
Fig. 4
, map
Fig. 5
Holotype
:
Male
,
Weavers Creek
,
Tasmania
, EQ312106 (
41°27’19”S
,
147°22’24”E
),
630m
,
19.vii.1994
,
R. Mesibov
,
QVM 23
:41384.
Paratypes
:
Male
, details as for
holotype
,
AM
KS86295
;
male
(dissected),
Weavers Creek
,
EQ319163
(
41°24’14”S
,
147°22’53”E
),
970m
,
8.i.1995
,
R. Mesibov
&
T. Moule
,
QVM
23:41387
;
male
,
Weavers Creek
,
EQ305133
(
41°25’52”S
,
147°21’54”E
),
620m
,
23.iii.1995
,
R. Mesibov
,
QVM
23:41388
;
6 females
,
Weavers Creek
,
EQ320110
(
41°27’06”S
,
147°22’59”E
),
530m
,
22.iii.1995
,
R. Mesibov
,
QVM
23:41496
.
Other material examined
:
15 males
,
79 females
and
29 juveniles
. See Appendix for details.
Diagnosis
: Differs from
P. innupta
in having a less flexed telopodite tip and in bearing a prominent, subterminal uncus on the telopodite.
Description
: As for the genus. Telopodite base (
Fig. 4
) concave on the distal surface, the distal portion of the telopodite directed cephalad and distad from the base before curving distad in a smooth arc, a few medium to long setae on the posterior surface to about twothirds the telopodite length. Tip flattened dorsoventrally (i.e., anteroposteriorly if the telopodite were uncurved), bearing a very small, acuminate and somewhat sinuous solenomerite laterally, pointing distad; more mesally a short, narrow, acutely pointed axial process bent mesad, and a few very small teeth near the mesal edge of the tip; between the solenomerite and the narrow axial process a single bladelike process strongly flexed and slightly curved proximad and laterad. A short, somewhat swollen uncus on the posterolateral surface of the telopodite at about 0.8 of its length, its blunt tip directed proximad.
Distribution and habitat
: An uncommon, inconspicuous species in leaf and woody litter in dry eucalypt forest, wet eucalypt forest and
Nothofagus
rainforest over
ca
.
7000 km
2 in
northern and northeastern
Tasmania
, from near sea level to at least
1200 m
(
Fig. 5
).
Etymology
: In honour of Richard Bashford, Tasmanian forest entomologist.
Remarks
: Over most of the range of this species there is very little variation in gonopod form. However, three males from the Old Chum Dam area (circled locality in
Fig. 5
) differ in that the strongly flexed process just mesal to the solenomerite is clublike rather than bladelike.