Corresponding author: Robert Mesibov (
Academic editor: P. Stoev
Tasmanian
Mesibov R (2017) Iulomorphid millipedes (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Iulomorphidae) of Tasmania, Australia. ZooKeys 652: 1–36.
In Tasmania, Australia, native species of
Although the spirostreptidan family
In the present study
While preparing this paper I supplemented material in the collections of the Queen Victoria
In descriptions of individual spirostreptidans I follow
Long-preserved
Another methodological problem is that the pseudoflagellum on the anterior gonopod of several
Dissected gonopods and other body parts were first cleared in 80% lactic acid, then temporarily mounted in 1:1 glycerine:water and imaged using an eyepiece video camera mounted on an Amscope binocular microscope. Preliminary drawings of cleared parts were traced from printed copies of images. Drawings were then edited by reference to the actual part.
Photomicrographs were taken with a Canon EOS 1000D digital SLR camera mounted on a Nikon SMZ800 binocular dissecting microscope equipped with a beam splitter. Measurements were made to the nearest 0.1 mm with the same microscope using an eyepiece grid and a reference scale. Photomicrographs used in the figures are focus-stacked composites prepared with Zerene Stacker 1.04.
Plates were composed using GIMP 2.8. Backgrounds in some photomicrographs have been edited to remove distracting highlights and artifacts. Maps were drawn with QGIS 2.4.
Latitude/longitude figures are given in decimal degrees to four decimal places, both in the text and in Suppl. material
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
Queen Victoria
Tasmania
Zoological collections of the
Like
Living animals usually with black or dark grey rings with annular pale band at rear of each metazonite, often with a greenish tinge (live
Observed midbody diameter of larger males 2.5-4.2 mm, 55-71 podous rings. Head smooth, slightly convex, vertigial sulcus reaching to level of dorsalmost ocellar row. Ocellar area of larger males lenticular with ca 25-50 ocelli in 4-6 somewhat irregular horizontal rows. Antennae short, barely reaching past posterior edge of collum when manipulated dorsally; relative antennomere lengths (2=3)>6>(4=5); antennomere 6 widest; 4 apical cones; socket ca 1 socket diameter from lateral margin of head capsule. Gnathochilarium with lateral edges of mentum slightly convex, mentum about as wide as combined lingual plates; mentum-promentum junction slightly concave anteriorly; a prominent pit with small seta anteriorly on each gnathochilarial stipes. Collum convex, laterally narrowing with rounded corner, margins straight. Prozonites only slightly narrower than metazonites; suture weakly defined; fine longitudinal striae on lower portion of metazonite, anterior end of each stria (Fig.
Legpair 1 separate on coxosternite, each leg 1 with 5 podomeres without setae, anteroposteriorly somewhat flattened; relative podomere lengths typically femur>tibia>(prefemur=postfemur)>tarsus, relative widths typically prefemur> femur>tibia>postfemur>tarsus (see Remarks, below); no claw. Small brushes of setae on legpair 1 coxosternite anterior to and between legs, and laterally on coxosternite corners. Leg 2 leg-like with large claw and reduced prefemur; penis arising basally on posterior coxal surface, barrel-shaped with a few long setae in apical crown. Leg 7 (and sometimes other legs near gonopod aperture; see Remarks, below) with elongated coxa (Fig.
Posterior margin of gonopod aperture raised and thickened on either side, adjoining tips of retracted anterior gonopods. Anterior gonopods (Figs
Female slightly larger in diameter than male with same ring count; leg 1 normally leg-like, claw-bearing; no prefemoral pads on any legs.
Other differences between species do not seem to be large enough or consistent enough to be useful for taxonomic purposes:
Male, Apsley River,
1 male, locality and collector as for holotype but
22 males, 4 probable females from 16 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Coxite process of the anterior gonopod divided by narrow fossae apically and anterobasally; legs 6, 7, 10 and 11 with elongated coxae.
Mature males observed with (48+4) rings, 2.6 mm midbody diameter to (71+1) rings, 3.2 mm. Cardo deeper posteriorly than anteriorly (Fig.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Right anterior gonopod, medial view of distal portion of telopodite (left) and lateral view of distal portion of coxite process (right); = fossa = coxite process = posterobasal flange on telopodite = prostatic groove = pseudoflagellum = folded-over tab on coxite process = telopodite
Eucalypt forest over ca 1000 km2 on the East Coast of Tasmania, mainly in the Apsley, Douglas, St Pauls and Swan River catchments (Fig.
Known localities as of 14 July 2016 for Tasmanian
Abbreviation in lower case “danp” for Douglas-Apsley National Park plus Latin
Male, Mt Elephant,
3 males , 3 females, details as for holotype,
6 males from 5 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like
Mature males observed with (47+3) rings, 3.2 mm midbody diameter to (69+0) rings, 3.6 mm. Cardo not deeper posteriorly. Leg 7 (only) with elongated coxa. Prefemoral pad ca 1/2 femur length. Striae on posterior metazonites reaching ca 3/4 of ozopore height.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Eucalypt forest at the eastern end of the Fingal Valley on the Tasmanian East Coast (Fig.
Latin
The anterior gonopod of
Right anterior gonopod, medial view of distal portion of telopodite (left) and lateral view of distal portion of coxite process (right); = coxite process = posterobasal flange on telopodite = prostatic groove = pseudoflagellum = folded-over tab on coxite process = telopodite
At least 1 male and 1 female, Lake Leake, Tasmania, date and collector unknown (see Remarks, below), specimens not located.
130 males and 12 females from 66 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Coxite process of anterior gonopod with posterodistal margin not extended; pseudoflagellum with dense field of short setae on telopodite behind pseudoflagellum tip; pseudoflagellum with distinct shoulder, the prostatic groove making an S-bend before entering the abruptly tapered tip of the pseudoflagellum.
Live males and females with more or less greenish-grey rings (Fig.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Widespread in the eastern half of Tasmania (Fig.
At least one male and one female of this species from the Lake Leake area were probably sent to Verhoeff by George Edward Nicholls, a Western Australian biologist who collected in Tasmania in 1928, 1929 and 1939 (
I have trouble understanding the differences in the two anterior gonopods illustrated by
Male, Tasmania, date unknown, G.H. Hardy,
At least 1 female, details as for holotype,
1 female, same collection details,
3 males and 3 females from 2 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like
Three mature males examined: (52+3) rings, 2.8 mm midbody diameter, (61+1) rings, 3.1 mm and (65+1) rings, 3.2 mm. Cardo not deeper posteriorly. Leg 7 (only) with elongated coxa. Prefemoral pad ca 1/2 femur length. Striae on posterior metazonites reaching ca 1/2 of ozopore height (Fig.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Currently known only from eucalypt forest at two sites in the Hobart metropolitan area (Fig.
The types of
Two males and one female of
Male, Keddies Creek area,
1 male, details as for holotype,
142 males and 10 females from 26 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like
Mature males observed with (40+4) rings, 2.5 mm midbody diameter to (63+1) rings, 3.9 mm. Cardo not deeper posteriorly. Leg 7 with elongated coxa, legs 10 and 11 with less elongated coxae. Prefemoral pad ca 1/2 femur length. Striae on posterior metazonites reaching ca 3/4 of ozopore height.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Eucalypt forest and cool temperate rainforest in northwest Tasmania (Fig.
For Henry Hellyer (1790-1832), explorer of northwest Tasmania; noun in the genitive case.
The tip of the pseudoflagellum in preserved males is often bent laterally into the space between the pseudoflagellum and the rest of the telopodite, as shown in Fig.
Male, Douglas Creek,
2 males, Montgomery Road,
11 males and 1 probable female from 8 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like
Mature males observed with (55+1) rings, 3.3 mm midbody diameter to (66+1) rings, 3.4 mm. Cardo not deeper posteriorly. Leg 7 (only) with elongated coxa. Prefemoral pad ca 3/4 femur length. Striae on posterior metazonites reaching 3/4 ozopore height.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Eucalypt forest in southeast Tasmania from Coles Bay south to the Nugent area, including Maria Island (Fig.
For the ecologist Karyl Michaels, who trapped specimens in the previously little-sampled dry forests of southeast Tasmania; noun in the genitive case.
Most of the non-type males are partial or fragmented specimens.
Male, Maclaines Creek,
2 males, details as for holotype,
14 males and 3 probable females from 14 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like
Mature males observed with (43+3) rings, 2.6 mm midbody diameter to (67+0) rings, 4.2 mm. Cardo not deeper posteriorly. Leg 7 (only) with elongated coxa. Prefemoral pad ca 1/2 femur length. Striae on posterior metazonites reaching 3/4 ozopore height.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Eucalypt forest over ca 100 km linear extent in the Eastern Tiers of Tasmania (Fig.
Latin
Male, Coal Mine Hill,
13 males and 5 females, details as for holotype,
3 males and 1 female from 3 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like
Mature males observed with (40+3) rings, 1.8 mm midbody diameter to (60+1) rings, 2.5 mm. Cardo not deeper posteriorly. Leg 7 (only) with elongated coxa. Prefemoral pad ca 3/4 femur length. Striae on posterior metazonites reaching 1/2 ozopore height.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Eucalypt forest on Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas (Fig.
For the Tasman Peninsula, type locality of this species; adjective.
Collection details as for lectotype,
92 males, 1 probable female and 1 possible juvenile from 8 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Distinguished from all other
Mature males observed with (46+2) rings, midbody diameter 2.5 mm to (67+1) rings, 3.4 mm. Cardo not deeper posteriorly. Leg 7 (only) with elongated coxa. Prefemoral pad 1/3-1/2 femur length (Fig.
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Eucalypt forest and cool temperate rainforest at scattered locations in northeast Tasmania (Fig.
The types were in excellent condition when examined in 2016. Because it is not possible to decide which of the two dissected male syntypes (or both) was illustrated by Brölemann, I am unable to follow Recommendation 74B (Preference for illustrated specimen) of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature in choosing a lectotype, and instead have selected the intact male syntype. The lectotype is the third of the three males listed by
I suspect that the type locality is the Launceston area, and the
Male, “De la Nouvelle-Hollande, sur le penchant du mont Wellington, par M. Jules Verreaux” (
360 males, 100 probable females and 34 possible juveniles from 111 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like
Mature males observed with (38+4) rings, midbody diameter 2.2 mm to (55+1) rings, 3.2 mm in single 1-month pitfall sample,
Coxite process on anterior gonopod (Fig.
Widespread in forested and some non-forested habitats in western and southern Tasmania and on the Central Plateau (Fig.
Male, White Spur,
1 male, 1 female, details as for holotype,
7 males, 5 females and 5 juveniles from 7 unique localities in Tasmania; details in Suppl. material
Most similar to
Colour in alcohol variable, dark blueish grey to dark brown anteriorly on metazonites, pale posteriorly; some specimens largely brown. Ocelli 30-40 in 4-5 horizontal rows. Mature males with (37+5) rings, 2.0 mm midbody diameter to (60+1) rings, 2.3 mm. Longitudinal striae on metazonites meeting suture almost at right angle. Female substantially more robust than male with similar ring number, e.g. male with (51+1) rings, midbody diameter 2.2 mm vs female with (52+1) rings, midbody diameter 2.8 mm, both in
Male gonopod aperture with sides slightly raised (Fig.
= anterior tab on prefemur
= pseudoflagellum = process “a” tab
Posterior gonopods (Fig.
Leg 1 (Fig.
Posterolateral margin of preanal ring meets epiproct margin at obtuse angle, making anal valves appear more prominent in lateral view than in other Tasmanian
Known from wet forest, rainforest and scrub over ca 1500 km2 in southwest Tasmania at elevations ca 300-1100 m (Fig.
For Kevin Bonham, Tasmanian malacologist and diligent millipede hunter, who collected this species at two remote sites in 2016; noun in the genitive case.
The posterior gonopod of
Male, Ooze Lake,
2 males and 1 juvenile, details as for holotype,
None.
Readily distinguished from the otherwise similar
As for
Anterior gonopod (Fig.
Known from two localities ca 45 km apart at ca 900 m elevation, south and west of the known range of
For Steven J. Smith, first collector of this species and formerly a senior zoologist with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service; noun in the genitive case.
Like
= right coxite tip (“prick spur”) = right telopodite tip (“rowel spur”) = pseudoflagellum
= anterolateral extension of leg 1 coxosternite = anterior tab of leg 1 prefemur = coxal tab of leg 2 = field of setae = gnathochilarial stipes = lingual plate = mentum = promentum = pit on gnathochilarial stipes = left leg penis
= coxite = small process on coxite = telopodite
From Latin
Male, Sideling Range,
3 males, Sideling Range,
1013 males, 82 probable females and 12 possible juveniles from 68 unique localities in Tasmania; details in Suppl. material
Living animals (Fig.
Mature males (Fig.
Legpair 1 (Fig.
Leg 2 (Fig.
Coxae not elongated on near-aperture legs. Rear portion of gonopod aperture flat, not raised behind gonopods.
Anterior gonopods (Figs
Posterior gonopods (Fig.
Mature females (specimens in
Wet eucalypt forest and cool temperate rainforest in northern Tasmania (Fig.
For the occurrence of this species in Tasmania; adjective.
The distinctive tips of the anterior gonopods invariably protrude from the gonopod aperture (Fig.
I am not certain that
Like the dalodesmid
The recognition of two
Using a draft version of this paper, Henrik Enghoff (in litt., 26 July 2016) has identified
I thank David Maynard and Tammy Gordon (
Specimen records of Tasmanian
Tab Separated Value File (tsv).
Specimen records of Tasmanian