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 extremum
sp. nov.
Figures 2
,
12
(map)
Material examined.
Holotype
. Male.
Australia
,
Tasmania
.
Deadmans Bay
, DM
592802 [43º31´47´´ 146º29´42´´], <
40 m
,
26 Jan 1994
,
R. Mesibov
, wet eucalypt forest and rainforest,
QVM 23
:14018.
Paratypes
.
Male
(dissected), near
Hastings Caves
, approx. DM870960 [43º23´18´´ 146º50´22´´],
5 Dec 1952
,
V.V. Hickman
,
QVM 23
:
8059; male (dissected for SEM),
Lake Sydney
, DN
686070 [43º17´20´´ 146º36´46´´],
690 m
,
2 Feb 1994
, R,
Mesibov
, rainforest,
QVM 23
:14019.
Diagnosis.
Gonopod without tibiotarsus; femoral process unbranched; prefemoral process curved laterally, then posteriorly, with short, tooth-like projections near tip; solenomerite arising near base of prefemoral process.
Description.
Males c.
15–17 mm
long and c.
1.6–1.8 mm
wide at midbody. Body in both sexes ivory-coloured with faint pink-purple mottling. Gonopod telopodites massive at base (fig. 2), lightly joined mesally for most of their length, with a few short, coarse basal setae, setate area extending just outside aperture. Aperture more or less ovoid, long axis transverse, posterior margin not noticeably raised. Telopodite axis more or less straight. Telopodite base ending abruptly at about one-half length of telopodite, with a relatively slender, anterioposteriorly flattened prefemoral process arising from anteromesal corner of top of base. Prefemoral process tapering gradually to a fine point, bending first laterally, then posteriorly, and bearing set of 10–20 short, simple or bifid teeth on posterolateral surface just proximal to tip. Tibiotarsus not evident. Femoral process massive, tapering gradually to a fine point, arising from posteromesal corner of top of telopodite base and curving laterally, then anteriorly, then distally and slightly laterally. Solenomerite a short, helical, somewhat flattened process arising at base of prefemoral process on its posterior face. Prostatic groove running first posteriorly and distally across mesal face of telopodite base to its posterior surface, then curving laterally, distally and mesally around base of femoral process, then extending distally to enter solenomerite base on its mesal side.
Distribution.
Rainforest and wet eucalypt forest at 3 locations in far southern
Tasmania
(fig. 12) from near sea level to
690 m
, with maximum linear range of c.
30 km
. Likely to be more widespread in this little-sampled part of
Tasmania
.
Etymology.
From Latin
extremus
, farthest, adjective. This species extends to the southern-most part of mainland
Tasmania
.