ZooKeys 325: 33–64, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.325.5932
New species of Agathodesmus Silvestri, 1910 from Australia (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae)
Robert Mesibov 1,†
1 Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 7250

Corresponding author: Robert Mesibov (mesibov@southcom.com.au)

Academic editor: S. Golovatch

received 6 July 2013 | accepted 9 August 2013 | Published 20 August 2013


(C) 2013 Robert Mesibov. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


For reference, use of the paginated PDF or printed version of this article is recommended.

Citation: Mesibov R (2013) New species of Agathodesmus Silvestri, 1910 from Australia (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae). ZooKeys 325: 33–64. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.325.5932

Abstract

The genus Agathodesmus Silvestri, 1910 is speciose and widespread in high-rainfall parts of eastern Australia. In addition to the type species Agathodesmus steeli Silvestri, 1910 and Agathodesmus johnsi Mesibov, 2009 from New South Wales and Agathodesmus bucculentus (Jeekel, 1986) from Queensland, the following 18 new species are recognised: Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n., Agathodesmus aenigmaticus sp. n., Agathodesmus agnus sp. n., Agathodesmus anici sp. n., Agathodesmus gayundah sp. n., Agathodesmus hahnensis sp. n., Agathodesmus kerensis sp. n., Agathodesmus kirrama sp. n., Agathodesmus millaa sp. n., Agathodesmus parapholeus sp. n., Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n., Agathodesmus sagma sp. n., Agathodesmus summus sp. n. and Agathodesmus yuccabinensis sp. n. from Queensland; Agathodesmus carorum sp. n. from New South Wales and Victoria; Agathodesmus bonang sp. n. and Agathodesmus morwellensis sp. n. from Victoria; and Agathodesmus chandleri sp. n. from South Australia.

Keywords

Millipede, Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae, Australia

Introduction

Agathodesmus Silvestri, 1910 was established for a single female of Agathodesmus steeli Silvestri, 1910, a small polydesmidan millipede from New South Wales, Australia. In a recent paper (Mesibov 2009) I redescribed Agathodesmus steeli from freshly collected males and females, and added a second New South Wales species to the genus. The two species share with Atopogonus baccatus Carl, 1926 (New Caledonia) and Agathodesmus bucculentus Jeekel, 1986 (Queensland, Australia) a distinctive gonopod conformation: there is no cannula or prostatic groove, and the telopodite is sharply bent mid-length at a 'knee' topped with a thin tab. In Mesibov (2009) I made Atopogonus Carl, 1926 a junior synonym of Agathodesmus.

In this paper I describe 18 new species of Agathodesmus and add a few observations on Agathodesmus bucculentus. I collected specimens of four of the new species during field trips from 2006 to 2011. The remaining 14 species were found in the Australian National Insect Collection and the Queensland Museum, mainly among arthropods extracted from rainforest litter by the Berlese method.

The late C.A.W. Jeekel wrote of Agathodesmus bucculentus: “With the discovery of a species of Atopogonus in what seems to be a perfectly natural habitat in Queensland it becomes likely that the genus is in essence a continental Australian taxon” (Jeekel 1986, p. 46). Agathodesmus is now known to be widespread and speciose in parts of eastern Australia with a mean annual rainfall greater than 1000 mm (Fig. 1). Agathodesmus is particularly diverse in the Wet Tropics of far north Queensland, which is home to 12 of the 21 known Australian species. The wide gaps in the genus distribution map suggest to me that more species remain to be discovered, especially in the wetter mountain forests of New South Wales, southeast Queensland and Victoria.

Figure 1.

Localities for Agathodesmus spp. in Australia (filled black squares) as of July 2012. 1 = only known locality for Agathodesmus anici sp. n. 2 = cluster of 4 localities for Agathodesmus chandleri sp. n., ? = questionable Cammoo Caves locality for Agathodesmus agnus sp. n.; see Figs 11-13 for other species. Geographic projection, 5° latitude-longitude grid. NSW = New South Wales, NT = Northern Territory, QLD = Queensland, SA = South Australia, TAS = Tasmania, VIC = Victoria, WA = Western Australia.

Methods

'Male' and 'female' in the text refer to adult individuals. All specimens are stored in 75–80% ethanol in their respective repositories.

Gonopods were cleared in 80% lactic acid and temporarily mounted in 60% lactic acid for optical microscopy, while other body parts were temporarily mounted in a 1:1 glycerol:water mixture. Preliminary gonopod drawings were traced from photomicrographs taken at 160× through a binocular microscope. Measurements were made with a Nikon SMZ800 binocular dissecting microscope using an eyepiece scale, and are reported below to the nearest 0.5 mm. SEM images were acquired digitally using a FEI Quanta 600; some specimens were examined after air-drying and sputter-coating with platinum, while others were air-dried, examined and returned to alcohol. Images and drawings were prepared for publication using GIMP 2.8. Maps were generated using ArcView GIS 3.2.

The Appendix tabulates specimen data for all museum lots noted in the text. Locality details are given in all cases with latitude and longitude based on the WGS84 datum. Latitude/longitude data for Queensland Museum specimen localities are mainly taken from the Queensland Museum insect collection database, but some Mt Bellenden Ker data have been corrected following Mesibov (2012b). My estimate of the uncertainty for each locality is the radius of a circle around the stated position, in metres or kilometres.

Abbreviations: AM = Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW; ANIC = Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory; ANZSES = Australia New Zealand Scientific Exploration Society; NMV = Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Vic; NSW = New South Wales; Qld = Queensland; QM = Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Qld; SA = South Australia; SAM = South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA; Vic = Victoria.

Taxonomy
Order Polydesmida Pocock, 1887 Suborder Polydesmidea Pocock, 1887 Family Haplodesmidae Cook, 1895
Agathodesmus Silvestri, 1910

http://species-id.net/wiki/Agathodesmus

Agathodesmus: Silvestri 1910:362. Attems 1914:282, 1940:487. Brölemann 1916:547, 587. Jeekel 1971:310; 1982:11; 1983:146; 1985:50, 51; 1986:46. Hoffman 1980:184. Simonsen 1990:57. Golovatch et al. 2009:2. Mesibov 2009:92.
Atopogonus: Carl 1926:386. Attems 1940:477. Verhoeff 1941:406. Jeekel 1971:314, 1984:88, 1986:46. Hoffman 1980:186, 1999:480. Simonsen 1990:57. Golovatch et al. 2001:185, 2009:2, 44. Mesibov 2009:92 (synonymised).
Type species.

Agathodesmus steeli Silvestri, 1910, by original designation; of Atopogonus, Atopogonus baccatus (Carl, 1926), by monotypy.

Other assigned species: Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n., Agathodesmus aenigmaticus sp. n., Agathodesmus agnus sp. n., Agathodesmus anici sp. n., Agathodesmus bonang sp. n., Agathodesmus bucculentus (Jeekel, 1986), Agathodesmus carorum sp. n., Agathodesmus chandleri sp. n., Agathodesmus gayundah sp. n., Agathodesmus hahnensis sp. n., Agathodesmus johnsi Mesibov, 2009, Agathodesmus kerensis sp. n., Agathodesmus kirrama sp. n., Agathodesmus millaa sp. n., Agathodesmus morwellensis sp. n., Agathodesmus parapholeus sp. n., Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n., Agathodesmus sagma sp. n., Agathodesmus summus sp. n., Agathodesmus yuccabinensis sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Small Polydesmida with head and 19 or 20 rings; body not curling in spiral; head and telson facing downwards; metatergites with numerous tubercles of varying sizes, sometimes bearing a single seta; ring 2 tergite extended laterally, basally and anteriorly, and edged with large tubercles; no paranota on posterior rings, but 'pseudo-paranota' of metatergal tubercles sometimes present above leg bases; gonopod with neither cannula nor prostatic groove, telopodites separate, each consisting of a more or less cylindrical proximal portion tipped with a thin tab, and a lamellar distal portion arising near the apex of the proximal portion and directed posterobasally or laterobasally.

Remarks.

The diagnosis above slightly amends the one given in Mesibov (2009). Agathodesmus as a genus is easily recognised by the distinctive structure of the gonopod telopodite (Fig. 2). The proximal portion (pp) is typically straight and usually more or less cylindrical, but with the medial and posterior surfaces flattened. The pp arises from the distomedial corner of the small, oblong gonocoxa, where its base is partly contained in a small concavity. The telopodite base may extend basally as a short, rounded projection (be) to overlap the apex of the gonocoxa in ventral or posterior view. The apex of the pp extends distally as a thin tab (at), and on or just below the tab on the posterior surface there are three long, closely adjacent, apical setae (as) in a row; scattered smaller setae may be present on the posterior surface of the pp. Arising just basal to the as on the posterodistal surface of the pp is the distal portion (dp) of the telopodite. Jeekel (1986) used the word 'complicated' three times in his description of the dp ('acropodite') in Agathodesmus bucculentus, and while the details of its structure can be very hard to put into words, some generalities are clear and are applicable to all known Australian Agathodesmus species. The dp is always directed posterobasally or laterobasally, giving the telopodite as a whole the appearance of a leg tightly bent at the knee. The main branch (mab) of the dp is flattened into a lamella and is usually divided into lobes. The lamella is typically curved so that the surface seen in posterior view is slightly convex, and the distal margin of the mab and portions of its inner, concave surface may be thickened or folded. A smaller, medial branch (meb) of the dp arises near the base of the dp on its medial side and usually curves laterally so that its tip is hidden behind the mab in ventral view. Portions of the meb are sometimes densely covered with fine, hair-like structures.

Figure 2.

Generalised gonopods of Agathodesmus spp., posterior view. as = apical setae, at = apical tab, be = basal extension of telopodite, dp = distal portion of telopodite, mab = main branch of distal portion of telopodite, meb = median branch of distal portion of telopodite, pp = proximal portion of telopodite.

In this paper I provide posterior or posterolateral gonopod views of all species described here. These views are convenient when examining males with tightly flexed telopodites, and with careful attention to shape and position, a posterior or posterolateral view is diagnostic. However, readers should be aware that important diagnostic details of the telopodites may be hidden in these views, and that in the SEM views published here, thin portions of the mab may have been distorted by drying. Agathodesmus spp. are unusual among Australian Polydesmida in their 'hidden' gonopod complexity, and manipulation of the telopodite to partially unbend it and separate the meb is often necessary for a positive identification.

When an Agathodesmus sp. gonopod is cleared with 80% lactic acid, the telopodite sometimes extends so that the angle between the pp and dp is greater than 90°. It is easy to imagine that the telopodite extends in this way during mating, and that the apical tab (at) serves as a check on the rotation of the telopodite 'knee'. A tab in a similar location is present anterior to the 'joint' in the pseudo-articulated gonopod telopodite of species in the Australian genus Ginglymodesmus (Dalodesmidae) (Mesibov 2005). However, I have as yet no evidence to support the idea that the telopodite extends in living males. No Agathodesmus have been collected and preserved in copula, and in all of the 430+ Agathodesmus males I have examined the uncleared gonopod telopodites are flexed.

Variation in most non-gonopod characters across the genus is minor and the redescription of the type species Agathodesmus steeli in Mesibov (2009) applies to most details in the new species. The 'diagnostic descriptions' given below include only those characters known to vary significantly among Australian Agathodesmus spp.

In 12 of the 21 known Australian species, males and females have 19 body rings, in five species 20 rings, and in one species males have 19 rings and females 20; three species known only from males have 19, 19 and 20 rings. The smaller species generally have 19 rings and the larger 20 rings, but the correlation of ring number and body size is loose, and two of the largest Australian species have 19 rings (Agathodesmus kirrama sp. n. and Agathodesmus yuccabinensis sp. n.).

There is also no apparent relationship between body size and the development (or absence) of the 'pseudo-paranota' formed by lateral metatergal tubercles on posterior rings (Fig. 3).

Figure 3.

'Pseudo-paranotum' extremes. Lateral (A, C) and dorsal (B, D) views of midbody rings of Agathodesmus bucculentus (Jeekel, 1986) (A, B; no pseudo-paranotum; male ex ANIC 64-000332) and Agathodesmus gayundah sp. n. (C, D; wide pseudo-paranotum, p; male paratype ex QM S96038). Scale bars = 0.25 mm; A reversed (left-right) for clarity.

Although the metatergal setae in most Australian Agathodesmus spp. are short with slightly flared tips (Fig. 4A), three of the newly described species have very long setae (Fig. 4B) and appear 'hairy' at low magnification.

Figure 4.

Metatergal setae on midbody rings. A Agathodesmus bucculentus (Jeekel, 1986), short bipartite seta with slightly flared tip (male ex ANIC 64-000332) B Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n., very long bipartite setae with slightly flared tips (male paratype ex QM S96066). Scale bars: A = 0.02 mm, B = 0.2 mm.

While examining the new Agathodesmus species I was able to identify what appear to be spiracular openings, something I failed to do earlier (Mesibov 2009). The openings are minute (Fig. 5) and on diplosegments are both located close to the anterior leg base.

Figure 5.

Presumed spiracular openings (arrows) on midbody rings. A Agathodesmus steeli Silvestri, 1910, AM KS107964, anterior spiracle (anterior to left) B Agathodesmus chandleri sp. n., posterior spiracle (anterior to right; male paratype ex series SAM OM-2004-2018). Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

Finally, included here as Fig. 10D is a close-up of a typical Agathodesmus spp. ozopore, shown at much lower magnification in the Agathodesmus steeli redescription (fig. 4B in Mesibov 2009).

Holotype.

Male, Mt Bartle Frere, Qld, west slopes, 17°22'57"S, 145°46'45"E ±500m, 800-1000 m a.s.l., 30 December 1989, G. Monteith, QM S96015.

Paratype.

1 female, details as for holotype, QM S96016.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 20 rings. Colour in alcohol very faintly reddish. Male/female ca 8.0/8.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.6/0.7 mm, maximum width ca 0.85/0.9 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 8-10 irregular transverse rows, mostly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost two rows of tubercles not enlarged, together forming narrow pseudo-paranotum with 6 marginal tubercles. Male leg 6 coxa with small, rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 6A) with pp straight; at in longitudinal plane, short and rounded-triangular; dp directed laterobasally at base; mab concave medially, deeply divided with smaller medial lobe bent posteriorly, tapering and with sharp subterminal tooth on lateral surface; larger, lateral mab lobe widening to thickened, emarginate apex; meb curving strongly behind mab, divided at ca one-third length into 2 thin processes.

Figure 6.

Posterior gonopod views. A Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n., holotype, QM S96015 B Agathodesmus aenigmaticus sp. n., paratype ex QM S96018 C Agathodesmus agnus sp. n., paratype ex QM S96021 D Agathodesmus anici sp. n., holotype, ANIC 64-000327. A and D are uncoated specimens; scale bars = 0.1 mm. Note two mites on Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n. telopodites.

Distribution.

Known only from rainforest high on Mt Bartle Frere in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13A). Possibly co-occurs on Mt Bartle Frere with Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. and Agathodesmus summus sp. n., although both these species are found at higher elevations on the mountain.

Name.

Latin adelphus, 'brother', a punning reference to the 'Frere' in the name of the type locality; adjective.

Remarks.

Fig. 6A shows two unidentified mites, one on each telopodite. They have not been removed from the holotype.

Holotype.

Male, Mt Hayward, Qld, 20°19'39"S, 148°45'10"E ±500m, 350 m a.s.l., 20 November 1992, G. Monteith, G. Thompson, D. Cook and H. Janetzki, QM S96017.

Paratypes.

8 males, 3 females, 4 stadium 7 males, 2 stadium 7 females, 4 stadium 6 males, 2 stadium 6 females, details as for holotype, QM S96018.

Other material.

2 males, Bellenden Ker, Centre Peak, Qld, summit, 17°15'40"S, 145°51'25"E ±500m, 1500 m a.s.l., 11 April 1979, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 17, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96019.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 20 rings. Colour in alcohol pale yellow. Male/female ca 9.0/10 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.75/0.9 mm, maximum width ca 0.9/1.0 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 8-10 irregular transverse rows, larger tubercles mostly with setae; metatergal setae long, bluntly pointed; 5 lateralmost tubercles slightly enlarged, forming very narrow pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 coxa with small, rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 6B) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, short, broad and with rounded apex curving posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab slightly expanded apically with rounded distal margin, lateral edge with small, tapering, posterolaterally directed lobe, medial edge with short, curved lobe partly protecting meb; meb divided near base into 3 thin, subequal processes curving behind mab.

Distribution.

Known from rainforest at two localities ca 450 km apart in north Queensland (Figs 12, 13A; see Remarks).

Name.

Latin aenigmaticus, 'puzzling'; adjective (see Remarks).

Remarks.

The very wide disjunction between the two known localities is puzzling, and I suspect that the Bellenden Ker locality on the specimen label is incorrect. I have not noticed any differences in gonopod or non-gonopod features between the two populations.

Holotype.

Male, Lamb Range, 19 km S of Mareeba, Qld, 17°06'39"S, 145°34'04"E ±500 m, 1200 m a.s.l., 3 December 1988, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 804, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96020.

Paratypes.

7 males, 10 females, 1 stadium 6 female, details as for holotype, QM S96021.

Other material.

QM: 1 male, 3 females, 3 stadium 6 females, North Bell Peak via Gordonvale, Qld, 17°05'19"S, 145°52'44"E ±500 m, 900 m a.s.l., 16 September 1981, G. Monteith and D. Cook, QM berlesate 300, rainforest, sieved litter and moss, S96022; 1 male, 1 female, 22 km SE of Mareeba, Qld, 17°06'39"S, 145°34'04"E ±500 m, 900 m a.s.l., 4 November 1983, D. Yeates and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 615, rainforest, sieved litter, S96023; 1 female, 1 stadium 6 female, North Bell Peak, Qld, 17°05'06"S, 145°52'00"E ±500 m, 600 m a.s.l., 22 November 1990, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 845, rainforest, sieved litter, S96024; 2 males, 2 females, Mt Haig, Lamb Range, Qld, 17°05'52"S, 145°36'09"E ±500 m, 1000 m a.s.l., 25 February 1997, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 918, rainforest, sieved litter, S37557. ANIC: 1 male, near Mt Haig, Qld, 17°10'S, 145°36'E ±1 km, 750 m a.s.l., 30 June 1971, R.W. Taylor and J. Feehan, ANIC berlesate 350, rainforest, 64-000323; 2 males, Mt Haig, Qld, 17°06'S, 145°36'E ±1 km, 1000 m a.s.l., 29 October 1976, R.W. Taylor and T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 541, rainforest, 64-000325; 15 males, 9 females, 3 km W by S of Mt Haig, Qld, 17°06'S, 145°34'E ±1 km, 1150 m a.s.l., 3 April 1984, A. Calder and T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 952, rainforest, 64-000324; 7 males, 2 females, Cammoo Caves near Rockhampton (? – see Remarks), Qld, 23°10'S, 150°28"E ±1 km, 25 October 1976, R.W. Taylor and T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 535, dense low closed forest, ANIC 64-000326.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale yellow. Male/female ca 8.0/8.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.65/0.8 mm, maximum width ca 0.7/1.1 mm. Metatergal tubercles in ca 12 irregular transverse rows, mostly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Male legs 6 coxa with rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 6C) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, short, triangular and curving posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab deeply divided into large posterior and small posterolateral lobes; posterior lobe of mab distally with small folds and with medial edge producednear mab base as short, pointed lobe; posterolateral lobe of mab folded, the posteriormost fold with apex tooth-like and pointing anteromedially; meb divided at base into 2 needle-like processes curving behind mab.

Distribution.

Rainforest in the Lamb Range and adjacent hills inland from Gordonvale, tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13A). Co-occurs with Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. on North Bell Peak. There is also a doubtful record from Cammoo Caves in central Queensland (Fig. 1; see Remarks).

Name.

Latin agnus, 'lamb', for the type locality, the Lamb Range; adjective.

Remarks.

Like Agathodesmus agnus sp. n., Asphalidesmus magnus Mesibov, 2011 and Prosopodesmus crater Mesibov, 2012 were found in ANIC berlesate 535 from Cammoo Caves (Mesibov 2011, 2012a). For all three species, all other specimens are from localities on or near the Lamb Range, ca 800 km to the north of Cammoo Caves. The locality labelling for ANIC berlesate 535 appears to be incorrect (Mesibov 2012a). In March 2013 I searched briefly for millipedes in rainforest in the Cammoo Caves area but found no specimens of Agathodesmus, Asphalidesmus or Prosopodesmus.

Holotype.

Male, 11 km W by N of Bald Hill, McIlwraith Range, Qld, search party campsite, 13°44'S, 143°20"E ±2 km, 520 m a.s.l., 27 June–12 July 1989, T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 1111, closed forest, leaf and log litter, in several pieces in genitalia vial, ANIC 64-000327.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male with head + 20 rings. Colour in alcohol pale white. Male ca 7.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.6 mm, maximum width ca 0.75 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 7-8 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae long, pointed; 4 lateralmost tubercles not enlarged, forming very narrow pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 coxa with prominent mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 6D) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, short, narrowly triangular and with tip curving posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally and laterally at base; mab shallowly divided into narrower anterior and wider posterior lobes; meb curving behind mab and divided at ca 1/3 length into short, needle-like medial and broader lateral processes, the latter following the curve of the posterior mab lobe and nearly as long.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland (Fig. 1).

Name.

In honour of ANIC, the Australian National Insect Collection, whose collection of berlesates has yielded many new species of Australian millipedes.

Remarks.

The telson of the holotype is damaged and the distal portions of legs 6 are missing.

Holotype.

Male, Bonang Road, Vic, 37°23'26"S, 148°35'49"E ±25 m, 320 m a.s.l., 9 April 2011, R. Mesibov, NMV K-11860.

Paratypes.

NMV: 9 males (K-11861-11869), 5 females (K-11872-11876), 1 stadium 6 female (K-11871), 1 stadium 5 female (K-11870), details as for holotype; 1 stadium 6 female, same details but 37°15'31"S, 148°44'02"E ±25 m, 620 m a.s.l., K-11878; 1 female, same locality but 37°26'01"S, 148°35'47"E ±25 m, 240 m a.s.l., 8 November 2006, R. Mesibov and T. Moule, K-11877.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale white. Male/female ca 3.5/4.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.3/0.4 mm, maximum width ca 0.4/0.5 mm. Metatergal tubercles in ca 4-5 irregular transverse rows, mostly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; 3 lateralmost tubercles enlarged, forming narrow pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 without coxal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 7A) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, very short, rounded-triangular and bent posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally and slightly laterally at base; mab deeply and widely divided into 2 subequal lobes with bluntly pointed apices; meb not divided, bent first posteriorly, then laterobasally and only very slightly curved, apex behind medial edge of medial lobe of mab.

Figure 7.

Posterior gonopod views. A Agathodesmus bonang sp. n., paratype ex series NMV K-11861-11869 B Agathodesmus carorum sp. n., NMV K-11884 C Agathodesmus chandleri sp. n., paratype ex series SAM OM-2004-2018 D Agathodesmus hahnensis sp. n., paratype ex QM S38962. B is uncoated specimen; scale bars: A, B, C = 0.1 mm, D = 0.2 mm.

Distribution.

Known from wet eucalypt forest in East Gippsland, Victoria, over a linear extent of ca 20 km (Fig. 11).

Name.

For the Bonang Highway, a narrow and winding road through the eastern Victorian mountains, type locality of this species; noun in apposition.

Remarks.

Like Agathodesmus carorum sp. n., Agathodesmus bonang sp. n. is white in colour when alive, and contrasted well with the wet leaf litter and rotting wood in which I found it.

Holotype.

Male, Imlay Road, NSW, 37°07'40"S, 149°27'28"E ±25 m, 610 m a.s.l., 11 November 2006, C. Car, G. Car, R. Mesibov and T. Moule, NMV K-11879.

Paratypes.

NMV: 1 male (K-11882), 1 stadium 6 female (K-11883), Nadgee State Forest, S of Eden, NSW, 37°23'56"S, 149°49'18"E ±25 m, 260 m a.s.l., 12 November 2006, C. Car, G. Car, R. Mesibov and T. Moule; 2 females, same details but 37°24'54"S, 149°48'57"E, 230 m a.s.l., K-11880-11881.

Other material.

NMV: 1 male (K-11884), 2 females (K-11885), Dyer Creek, near Murrungowar, Vic, 37°38'26"S, 148°43'24"E ±25 m, 170 m a.s.l., 8 November 2006, R. Mesibov and T. Moule; 1 male, Cabbage Palms Flora Reserve, Vic, 37°44'39"S, 148°38'55"E ±25 m, 30 m a.s.l., 10 April 2011, R. Mesibov, K-11886.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale white. Male/female ca 4.0/4.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.4/0.5 mm, maximum width ca 0.5/0.6 mm. Metatergal tubercles in ca 6 irregular transverse rows, mostly without setae; metatergal setae short; 3 lateralmost tubercles enlarged, forming narrow pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 without coxal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 7B) with pp slightly curved posteriorly, widening distally; at in transverse plane, long, tapering to blunt point and curving posteromedially; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab directed posterolaterally at ca 90° to pp axis, then curving basally, the distal margin emarginate in its medial portion; meb not divided, bent sharply and directed posterolaterally near base, apex behind medial edge of mab.

Distribution.

Wet eucalypt forest in far southeastern New South and far eastern Victoria (Fig. 11).

Name.

In honour of Catherine and George Car, co-collectors of this species at the holotype and paratype localities; adjective.

Remarks.

Like Agathodesmus bonang sp. n., Agathodesmus carorum sp. n. is white in colour when alive.

Holotype.

Male, Wotton Scrub, Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park, SA, 34°58'58"S, 138°46'39"E ±100 m, 450 m a.s.l., 1 July 2010, R. Mesibov and T. Moule, SAM OM2003.

Paratypes.

SAM: 15 males, OM2004-OM2018; 5 females, OM2019-OM2023; 2 stadium 6 males, OM2024, OM2025; details as for holotype.

Other material.

SAM: 2 males, Richardsons Road, Uraidla, SA, 34°58'13"S, 138°45'02"E ±25 m, 580 m a.s.l., 21 August 2010, R. Mesibov and T. Moule, OM2026, OM2027; 1 male, Whites Scrub, SA, 34°58'06"S, 138°46'42"E ±25 m, 510 m a.s.l., same date and collectors, OM2028. ANIC: 4 males, 1 female, Pill Box Track, Cleland Conservation Park, 16 km SE of Adelaide, SA, 34°58'S, 138°42'E ±1 km, 500 m a.s.l., 25 April 1993, D.S. Chandler, ANIC berlesate 1539, cut dry sclerophyll, Eucalyptus and grass litter, 64-000337.

Diagnostic description.

Males and females with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale yellow. Male/female ca 5.0/5.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.45/0.5 mm, maximum width ca 0.55/0.7 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 6-7 irregular transverse rows, mostly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; 5 lateralmost tubercles enlarged, forming very narrow pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 without coxal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 7C) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, short, narrowly triangular with rounded tip curving posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab directed laterobasally and curving anterobasally, narrow and not divided into lobes, distal margin thickened and with small emargination; meb curving behind mab, then following anterobasal curve of mab and terminating with it.

Distribution.

Wet and dry eucalypt forest in the Adelaide Hills east of Adelaide, South Australia (Fig. 1).

Name.

In honour of the American entomologist Don Chandler, who collected the first known specimens of this species while on a field trip to Australia; adjective.

Remarks.

At the type locality I found an isolated aggregation of individuals of this species in very wet, friable material inside a rotting eucalypt log (http://www.polydesmida.info/polydesmida/thanks.html). Other specimens were in wet litter close to rotting wood.

As with Agathodesmus spp. localities elsewhere in eastern Australia, the four Agathodesmus chandleri sp. n. localities in the Adelaide Hills all have mean annual rainfalls of at least 1000 mm. This species is likely to be a wet-forest relict surviving on a high-rainfall 'island' in an otherwise dry region of the Australian continent. Nevertheless, Agathodesmus chandleri sp. n. appears to be locally abundant in the Adelaide Hills, and occurs in habitats much disturbed by burning and (formerly) stock grazing.

Holotype.

Male, Gayundah Creek, Hinchinbrook Island, Qld, 18°21'59"S, 146°13'09"E ±500 m, 10 m a.s.l., 11 November 1984, V. Davies, G. Thompson and J. Gallon, QM berlesate 664, rainforest sieved litter, QM S96029.

Paratypes.

QM: 4 males, 2 females, details as for holotype, S96035; 1 male, 2 females, 3 stadium 7 males, 1 stadium 7 female, 3 stadium 6 males, 4 stadium 6 females, 1 stadium 5 male, 1 stadium 4 male, same details but 9 November 1984, QM berlesate 663, S96033; 1 male, same details but 10 November 1984, QM berlesate 666, S96031; 2 males, 1 female, same details but QM berlesate 668, S96034; 1 male, 1 female, same details but 8 November 1984, G. Monteith, V. Davies, G. Thompson and J. Gallon, QM berlesate 667, S96032; 1 male, same details but QM berlesate 665, S96030; 3 males, same locality, 7-14 November 1984, V. Davies and J. Gallon, S96038; 3 males, 3 females, 2 stadium 7 females, 1 stadium 6 male, same locality, 7–15 November 1984, G. Monteith, G. Thompson and D. Cook, S96039; 3 males, 4 females, 2 stadium 7 males, 4 stadium 7 females, 1 stadium 6 male, 1 stadium 6 female, same locality but 18°21'36"S, 146°13'33"E ±500 m, 80 m a.s.l., 12 November 1984, G. Monteith, V. Davies, G. Thompson and J. Gallon, QM berlesate 669, S96036; 1 female, 2 stadium 7 females, same details but G. Monteith and G. Thompson, S96037.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 20 rings. Colour in alcohol very pale yellow. Male/female ca 10.5/10.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.9/1.1 mm, maximum width ca 1.25/1.3 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 10–12 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost row of tubercles enlarged, together with more medial 1-2 rows forming wide pseudo-paranotum with 5-6 marginal tubercles (Figs 3C, 3D). Male leg 6 coxa with small, rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Figs 8A, 8B) with pp slightly flattened mediolaterally, slightly curved posteriorly; at in oblique plane (facing posterolaterally), short, narrowly triangular, curving posteriorly; dp directed laterobasally at base; mab directed basally and a little anteriorly, widening distally and divided into 2 lobes; longer anterior mab lobe medially concave with interior folds; shorter posterior mab lobe concave medially with flat, spike-like, basally directed process at medial edge; meb curving behind mab, divided at about one-third length into 2 parallel processes, the shorter posteromedial process needle-like, the longer, wider anterolateral process terminating in triangular tooth.

Figure 8.

Agathodesmus spp. gonopod telopodites, not to same scale. A, B Agathodesmus gayundah sp. n., paratype ex QM S96039, right gonopod, posterior (A) and lateral (B) views C, D Agathodesmus millaa sp. n., paratype ex QM S96055, left gonopod, posterior (C) and lateral (D) views, as not shown in lateral view E Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n., paratype ex QM S96074, left gonopod, posterior and slightly basal view.

Distribution.

Known only from rainforest on Hinchinbrook Island, east of Cardwell in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13A).

Name.

For the type locality, Gayundah Creek; noun in apposition.

Holotype.

Male, Hahn Tableland, N end, Qld, 16°48'35"S, 145°10'53"E ±500 m, 950–1000 m a.s.l., 11-14 December 1995, G. Monteith, G. Thompson and D. Cook, rainforest, QM S96040 (ex S38962).

Paratypes.

9 males, 6 females, details as for holotype, QM S38962.

Other material.

QM: 1 male, Mt Finnigan, 37 km S of Cooktown, Qld, 15°48'53"S, 145°16'28"E ±500 m, 850–1100 m a.s.l., 22 April 1982, G. Monteith, D. Yeates and D. Cook, rainforest, S96044; 1 male, Mossman Bluff track, 9 km W of Mossman, Qld, 16°27'52"S, 145°17'12"E ±500 m, 1000 m a.s.l., 22-24 December 1989, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, pitfall trap, S96042; 1 male, 1 stadium 7 female, 10 km N of Mt Lewis, Qld, 16°29'29"S, 145°15'10"E ±500 m, 1100 m a.s.l., 25 November 1990, G. Monteith, G. Thompson, D. Cook, R. Sheridan and H. Janetzki, S96043; 1 male, 1 female, Mt Misery road, Qld, 15°52'39"S, 145°12'58"E ±500 m, 730 m a.s.l., 2 January 1991, ANZSES personnel, S37591; 1 female, Graham Range, Qld, 17°16'24"S, 145°57'58"E ±500 m, 550 m a.s.l., 1 November 1995, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees and logs, S96041; 2 males, same details but 8-9 December 1995, G. Monteith, G. Thompson and D. Cook, S38960. ANIC: 1 male, Windsor Tableland, 1.2 km past barracks, Qld, 16°15'10"S, 145°02'30"E ±500 m, 1060 m a.s.l., 8 February 1998, G. Monteith and D. Cook, ANIC berlesate 1831, 64-000338.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 20 rings. Colour in alcohol very pale yellow. Male/female ca 9.0/10.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.8/1.0 mm, maximum width ca 0.9/1.2 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 10-12 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost row of tubercles enlarged, together with more medial 1-2 rows forming prominent pseudo-paranotum with 6 marginal tubercles. Male leg 6 coxa with small, rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 7D) with pp straight, slightly flattened mediolaterally; at in oblique plane (facing posterolaterally), short, narrowly triangular, curving posteriorly; dp directed laterobasally at base; mab deeply divided into 3 lobes: 2 anterolateral lobes curving anteriorly, then posterolaterally, narrowing and with upturned apices, and a basally directed posteromedial lobe widely divaricate at mid-length; meb curving behind mab, divided at ca one-third length into 2 closely appressed, needle-like processes, terminating between divaricate posteromedial and curved anterolateral lobes of mab.

Distribution.

Rainforest in tropical north Queensland from Mt Finnigan near Cooktown south to the Graham Range, a linear extent of ca 180 km (Fig. 13A). Co-occurs with Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. in the Graham Range.

Name.

For the type locality, the Hahn Plateau; adjective.

Holotype.

Male, Bellenden Ker Range, Qld, summit TV station, 17°15'50"S, 145°51'14"E ±100m, 1550 m a.s.l., 25-31 October 1981, Queensland Museum and Earthwatch personnel, QM S96045.

Paratypes.

QM: 2 males, 1 stadium 6 female, details as for holotype, S96046; 3 males, same details but 1–7 November 1981, S96047; 2 males, same details but 1–7 November 1981, QM berlesate 338, rainforest, sieved litter, S96048.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol brownish yellow. Male ca 8.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.6 mm, maximum width ca 0.65 mm. Metatergal tubercles in ca 10 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost row of tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 coxa with small, rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 9A) with pp curving anteriorly, then distally at base, slightly flattened anteroposteriorly; at in oblique plane (facing posterolaterally), short, narrowly triangular, arising abruptly from medial side of truncate pp apex, curving slightly posterolaterally; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab divided into 2 distally notched lobes, the posterior lobe curving medially and terminating in a basally directed point; meb broad, not divided, curving behind mab, apex slightly expanded.

Figure 9.

Posterior gonopod views. A Agathodesmus kerensis sp. n., paratype ex QM S96046 B Agathodesmus kirrama sp. n., paratype ex QM S96051 C Agathodesmus morwellensis sp. n., paratype, NMV K-11889 D Agathodesmus parapholeus sp. n., paratype ex QM S96057. A, C, D are uncoated specimens; scale bars: A, C = 0.1 mm, B, D = 0.2 mm.

Figure 10.

AC, posterior gonopod views. A Agathodesmus sagma sp. n., paratype ex QM S96076 B Agathodesmus summus sp. n., paratype ex QM S96091 C Agathodesmus yuccabinensis sp. n., paratype ex QM S96094 D Midbody ozopore (arrow) of Agathodesmus agnus sp. n., male paratype ex QM S96021. B is uncoated specimen; scale bars: A, C = 0.1 mm, B = 0.2 mm, D = 0.05 mm.

Figure 11.

Localities for Agathodesmus bonang sp. n. (filled triangles), Agathodesmus carorum sp. n. (open circles), Agathodesmus johnsi Mesibov, 2009 (star), Agathodesmus morwellensis sp. n. (filled squares) and Agathodesmus steeli Silvestri, 1910 (crosses). Mercator projection; ACT = Australian Capital Territory, NSW = New South Wales, VIC = Victoria. Inset shows location of main map.

Figure 12.

Localities for Agathodesmus aenigmaticus sp. n. (filled square) and Agathodesmus bucculentus (Jeekel, 1986) (open circles) in central coastal Queensland. Mercator projection; inset shows location of main map.

Figure 13.

Localities in far north Queensland for A Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n. (open circle), Agathodesmus agnus sp. n. (open triangles), Agathodesmus gayundah sp. n. (filled triangle), Agathodesmus hahnensis sp. n. (open squares), Agathodesmus kerensis sp. n. (filled square), Agathodesmus kirrama sp. n. (filled circles), Agathodesmus millaa sp. n. (star) and B Agathodesmus parapholeus sp. n. (open circles), Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. (crosses), Agathodesmus sagma sp. n. (open squares), Agathodesmus summus sp. n. (open triangles), and Agathodesmus yuccabinensis sp. n. (filled squares). Arrow in A indicates questionable, disjunct locality for Agathodesmus aenigmaticus sp. n. Mercator projections; inset shows location of main maps.

Distribution.

Known only from rainforest on the summit of Mt Bellenden Ker in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13A). Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. occurs lower down on the same mountain.

Name.

For the type locality, Mt Bellenden Ker; adjective.

Remarks.

Latitude/longitude data corrected following Mesibov (2012b).

Holotype.

Male, Mt Pershouse, Kirrama Range, Qld, 18°13'30"S, 145°47'42"E ±500m, 12 December 1986, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 734, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96049.

Paratypes.

QM: 4 males, 1 female, 1 stadium 6 male, details as for holotype, S96051; 2 males, 2 females, same details but QM berlesate 735, S96050.

Other material.

QM: 1 male, 2 females, Mt Hosie, Kirrama Range Qld, 18°12'29"S, 145°46'41"E ±500m, 800 m a.s.l., 10 December 1986, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, S96052; 2 males, same details but 930 m a.s.l., 11 December 1986, QM berlesate 733, rainforest, sieved litter, S96053.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale yellow. Male/female ca 10.0/10.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.75/0.8 mm, maximum width ca 0.8/0.9 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 12-16 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost row of tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Legs 6 and 7 coxae with long mediodistal projections (shorter on leg 7) with rounded tips. Telopodite (Fig. 9B) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, short and narrowly triangular, tip not curving posteriorly (curve in Fig. 9B is artefact of drying); dp directed posterobasally and laterally at base; mab divided into 3 lobes increasing in width and length from anterior to posterior, with anterior lobe curving medially and pointed, middle lobe distally truncate, posterior lobe distally expanded, the distal margin curving cup-like anteriorly and with small notch near medial edge; meb curving behind mab, divided at ca one-quarter length into 2 subequal, closely appressed, needle-like processes.

Distribution.

Known only from rainforest on Mt Hosie and Mt Pershouse, ca 3 km apart in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13A). Co-occurs with Agathodesmus yuccabinensis sp. n. on Mt Hosie.

Name.

For the Kirrama Range; noun in apposition.

Holotype.

Male, Mt Fisher, 7 km SW of Millaa Millaa, Qld, Whiteing Road, 17°33'56"S, 145°33'47"E ±500m, 1200 m a.s.l., 5 May 1983, G. Monteith and D. Yeates, QM berlesate 583, moss on rocks and logs; in 3 pieces in genitalia vial, QM S96054.

Paratypes.

1 male, 1 stadium 5 male, details as for holotype, QM S96055.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale yellow. Male ca 7.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.5 mm, maximum width ca 0.6 mm. Metatergal tubercles in ca 10-12 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost row of tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 without coxal projection. Telopodite (Figs 8C, 8D) with pp curving posteriorly, anteroposteriorly flattened (wider in posterior view than lateral); at in oblique plane (facing posterolaterally), short, narrowly triangular, curving posterolaterally; dp directed posterobasally and laterally at base, a small, rounded, mediolaterally flattened tab arising on posterior surface just above (basal to) mab origin; mab divided into 2 lobes; lateral mab lobe terminating in basomedially curving, finger-like process; medial mab lobe curving medially, divided into broad medial and narrow, distally expanded lateral process with truncate distal margin; meb curving behind mab, divided near base into needle-like, basally directed medial process and long, broad lateral process curving medially and terminating in short, broad hook behind medial lobe of mab.

Distribution.

Known only from rainforest at the type locality on the Atherton Tableland in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13A).

Name.

For the type locality, Millaa Millaa; noun in apposition.

Holotype.

Male, Fosters Gully, Morwell National Park, Vic, 38°21'41"S, 146°23'20"E ±25 m, 170 m a.s.l., 31 July 2006, R. Mesibov, in pieces in genitalia vial, NMV K-11887.

Paratypes.

NMV: 1 female, details as for holotype, K-11888; 1 male (K-11889), 1 female (K-11890), E of Churchill, Vic, 38°19'39"S, 146°27'59"E ±25 m, 190 m a.s.l., same date and collector.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale white. Male/female ca 4.5/5.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.4/0.5 mm, maximum width ca 0.5/0.6 mm. Metatergal tubercles in ca 5 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae very short; 4 lateralmost tubercles enlarged, forming narrow pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 without coxal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 9C) with pp gently curving posteriorly, somewhat fusiform; at in transverse plane, short, narrowly triangular, curving posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab folded outwards at base, shallowly divided into 2 lobes; meb short, broad, pointed, bent behind mab, not visible in posterior view.

Distribution.

Known from eucalypt forest in the Latrobe River valley in West Gippsland, Victoria, at two sites ca 7 km apart (Fig. 11). Non-male specimens (in NMV) only tentatively assigned to Agathodesmus have been found in the mountains northwest of the type locality.

Name.

For the type locality, Morwell National Park; adjective.

Holotype.

Male, Tower near The Crater, Qld, 17°27'23"S, 145°29'12"E ±500 m, 1230 m a.s.l., 23 November 1994, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 878, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96056 (ex QM S46994).

Paratypes.

QM: 12 males, 4 females, 1 stadium 6 male, 1 stadium 6 female, details as for holotype, S96057; 1 male, 2 females, same details but 16 May 1995, QM berlesate 886, rainforest, stick brushing, S96058.

Other material.

QM: 1 female, 21 km S of Atherton, Qld, 17°26'41"S, 145°28'35"E ±500 m, 1000 m a.s.l., 5 November 1983, D. Yeates and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 616, rainforest, sieved litter, S96059; 3 males, 1 female, same details but QM berlesate 617, S96060; 1 male, 1 female, Kjellberg Road, Mt Fisher, Qld, 17°32'34"S, 145°33'31"E ±500 m, 1100 m a.s.l., 18 May 1995, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 892, rainforest, sieved litter, S96061; 16 males, 5 females, 2 stadium 6 females, 2 stadium 5 females, Mt Murray Prior, Qld, 16°55'59"S, 145°50'59"E ±500 m, 770 m a.s.l., 30 October 1995, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 894, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96062. ANIC: Longlands Gap Road, 27 km S of Atherton, Qld, 17°28'S, 145°29'E ±2 km, 11 November 1969, J.G. Brooks, ANIC berlesate 169, leaf mould, rainforest, 64-000339.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale yellow. Male/female ca 8.0/9.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.75/0.85 mm, maximum width ca 0.75/0.85 mm. Metatergal tubercles in ca 12 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 coxa with prominent mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 9D) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, short, rounded-triangular, tip not curving posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally and laterally at base; mab deeply divided into 2 lobes; anterior mab lobe subdivided, its posterior portion curving medially; posterior mab lobe with cup-like partial fold at midlength, the distal margin bent into narrow shelf and with small notch near medial edge; meb curving behind mab, divided at base into 2 subequal, closely appressed, needle-like processes.

Distribution.

Known from rainforest on the Atherton Tableland and the coastal range just southeast of Cairns in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13B); the two areas are ca 70 km apart. Co-occurs with Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. on the Atherton Tableland.

Name.

Greek para, 'near', and pholeos, 'hole'; adjective. The type locality is close to Mt Hypipamee Crater, a vertical volcanic pipe.

Remarks.

Agathodesmus parapholeus sp. n. is very similar to Agathodesmus kirrama sp. n. (compare Figs 9B and 9D). I am separating them on the number of mab lobes (three in kirrama sp. n. vs two in parapholeus sp. n.) and the development of long mediodistal projections on the leg 6 coxae in kirrama sp. n. These differences may be clinal, and further collecting would be useful in the ca 70 km-wide gap between closest known occurrences of the two species.

Holotype.

Male, Bellenden Ker Range, Qld, cable tower 5, 17°16'04"S, 145°53'00"E ±100 m, 500 m a.s.l., 17-24 October 1981, Queensland Museum and Earthwatch personnel, QM S96063.

Paratypes.

QM: 4 males, 4 females, details as for holotype, S96064; 2 males, same locality but cableway base station, 17°16'06"S, 145°53'54"E ±100 m, 110 m a.s.l., 25-31 October 1981, same collectors, S96067; 2 males, 1 female, same details but QM berlesate 309, rainforest, stick brushings, S96073; 1 male, 1 female, 1 stadium 6 female, same locality but 1 km S of cable tower 6, 17°16'33"S, 145°53'15"E ±100 m, 500 m a.s.l., 17-24 October 1981, same collectors, QM berlesate 319, rainforest, sieved litter, S96074; 1 male, 1 female, 1 stadium 6 male, 1 stadium 6 female, 1 stadium 5 male, same details but 25-31 October 1981, QM berlesate 321, rainforest, sieved litter, S96068; 3 males, same locality but cable tower 3, 17°16'02"S, 145°52'12"E ±100 m, 1020 m a.s.l., 17-24 October 1981, same collectors, S96066.

Other material.

QM: 1 male, 2 females, 1 stadium 6 female, North Bell Peak via Gordonvale, Qld, 17°05'19"S, 145°52'44"E ±500 m, 900 m a.s.l., 16 September 1981, G. Monteith and D. Cook, QM berlesate 300, rainforest, sieved litter and moss, QM S96065; 1 male, Massey Range, Qld, 17°15'45"S, 145°49'06"E ±500 m, 1250 m a.s.l., 10 October 1991, G. Monteith and H. Janetzki, QM berlesate 853, rainforest, sieved litter, S96069; 1 male, 2 females, Tower near The Crater, Qld, 17°27'23"S, 145°29'12"E ±500 m, 1230 m a.s.l., 23 November 1994, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 878, rainforest, sieved litter, ex S46994, S96070; 2 males, 1 female, Kjellberg Road, Mt Fisher, Qld, 17°32'34"S, 145°33'31"E ±500 m, 1100 m a.s.l., 18 May 1995, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 892, rainforest, sieved litter, S96071; 2 males, Graham Range, Qld, 17°16'24"S, 145°57'58"E ±500 m, 550 m a.s.l., 1 November 1995, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 895, rainforest, sieved litter, S96072. ANIC: 1 male, Bartle Frere Track, 17 km E of Malanda, Qld 17°22'57"S, 145°46'45"E ±500 m, 1200 m a.s.l., 8 December 1988, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 815, rainforest, sieved litter, 64-000340 [handwritten ANIC label incorrectly gives '17 km W' and '1989']

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol very pale yellow. Male/female ca 5.5/6.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.6/0.65 mm, maximum width ca 0.8/0.85 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 4-5 irregular transverse rows, larger tubercles mainly with setae; metatergal setae long with slightly flared tips (Fig. 4B); 3 lateralmost tubercles enlarged, forming narrow pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 coxa with small, rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 8E) with pp curving gently posteriorly; at in transverse plane, short, rounded-triangular, curving posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab greatly widening distally, divided into 2 lobes; lateral mab lobe directed anterobasally, distally spoon-shaped, concave medially; medial mab lobe produced basomedially with roundly pointed tip; meb large and complex, divided into 2 lobes; medial meb lobe curving widely mediobasally at base, then laterobasally, then basally, tapering to blunt point, the curve at base often overlapping the initial curve of the contralateral medial meb lobe; lateral meb lobe directed basolaterally, divided at about midlength into flat, basally directed, distally deeply emarginate tab, and long, needle-like process curving first posteriorly, then anterobasally, terminating anterior to pp.

Distribution.

Rainforest southwest of Babinda in tropical north Queensland, with a known east-west extent of ca 50 km (Fig. 13B). Co-occurs with Agathodesmus hahnensis sp. n. in the Graham Range and with Agathodesmus parapholeus sp. n. near Mt Hypipamee Crater. Possibly co-occurs on Mt Bartle Frere with Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n.

Name.

Latin quintanus, 'of the fifth'; adjective. The type locality was recorded as the fifth tower supporting the cableway to the top of Mt Bellenden Ker. This tower has since been renumbered '4' (Mesibov 2012b)

Remarks.

Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. has a particularly complicated gonopod telopodite and I am not certain that I have clearly seen all its details. The species is distinguished by the wide initial curve of the medial meb lobe and the basomedially directed, roundly pointed medial mab lobe.

Specimens from North Bell Peak are larger than those from the type locality and have more prominent dorsal tubercles. Latitude/longitude data for the types have been corrected following Mesibov (2012b).

Holotype.

Male, Saddle Mountain, Qld, summit, 16°49'11"S, 145°39'42"E ±500 m, 650 m a.s.l., 21 November 1994, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 877, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96075.

Paratypes.

6 males, 1 female, 1 stadium 6 female, details as for holotype, QM S96076.

Other material.

QM: 1 male, Mt Demi, 7.0 km S of Mossman, Qld, 16°29'54"S, 145°19'13"E ±500 m, 900–1000 m a.s.l., 26 April 1983, G. Monteith and D. Yeates, QM berlesate 546, rainforest, litter, S96085; 1 male, 2.5 km N of Mt Lewis via Julatten, Qld, 16°33'49"S, 145°15'51"E ±500 m, 1040 m a.s.l., 3 November 1983, D. Yeates and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 611, rainforest, sieved litter, S96077; 1 male, 1 female, 1 stadium 5 male, 2 km SE of Mt Spurgeon via Mt Carbine, Qld, 16°27'17"S, 145°12'26"E ±500 m, 1100 m a.s.l., 20 December 1988, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 825, rainforest, sieved litter, S96078; 1 male, Lambs Head, 10 km W of Edmonton, Qld, campsite, 17°01'23"S, 145°38'33"E ±500 m, 1200 m a.s.l., 12 December 1989, G. Monteith, G. Thompson and H. Janetzki, QM berlesate 835, rainforest, litter, S96086; 1 male, 1 female, same details but 10 December 1989 to 8 January 1990, rainforest pitfalls, S96087; 4 males, 1 female, Davies Creek Road, Qld, 17°02'33"S, 145°36'51"E ±500 m, 750 m a.s.l., 17 December 1989, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 836, rainforest, sieved litter, S96079; 2 males, 2 females, same details but QM berlesate 841, S96080; 1 male, 6 females, 1 stadium 6 male, Mt Formartine South, Qld, 16°43'48"S, 145°36'45"E ±500 m, 700 m a.s.l., 24 November 1990, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 848, rainforest, sieved litter, S96081; 1 male, same details but 23–24 November 1990, pitfall traps, S96084; 6 males, 4 females, Mt Halcyon, Qld, 16°03'16"S, 145°25'16"E ±500 m, 870 m a.s.l., 24 November 1993, G. Monteith and H. Janetzki, QM berlesate 864, rainforest, sieved litter, S96082; 5 males, 1 female, Isley Hills, Qld, 17°02'52"S, 145°41'25"E ±500 m, 1050 m a.s.l., 1 December 1993, G. Monteith and H. Janetzki, QM berlesate 866, rainforest, sieved litter and moss, S96083; 1 male, 1 female, 2 stadium 6 males, Mt Spurgeon, Qld, summit, 16°26'22"S, 145°12'00"E ±500 m, 1300 m a.s.l., 22 November 1997, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 956, rainforest, sieved litter, S46128; 1 male, 3 km S of Mt Spurgeon, Qld, 16°27'59"S, 145°12'02"E ±500 m, 1140 m a.s.l., 19-23 November 1997, G. Monteith, D. Cook and C. Burwell, sclerophyll forest, S35882. ANIC: 1 male, Mt Lewis, Qld, 16°35'S, 145°17'E ±1 km, 960 m a.s.l., 30 October 1976, R.W. Taylor and T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 545, rainforest, 64-000341; 5 males, 2 km N by E of Mt Tiptree, Qld, 17°03'S, 145°37'E ±1 km, 1 April 1984, A. Calder and T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 950, rainforest, 64-000343; 4 males, Mt Tiptree, Qld, 17°03'S, 145°37'E ±1 km, 13 July 1984, B. Halliday, ANIC berlesate 1006, rainforest, leaf litter, 64-000342.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol very pale yellow. Male/female ca 8.0/8.0 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.7/0.8 mm, maximum width ca 0.7/0.85 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 10-12 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 coxa with small, rounded, mediodistal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 11A) with pp straight; at in oblique plane (facing posterolaterally), short, rounded-triangular, curving posterolaterally; dp directed posterobasally and laterally at base; mab somewhat expanded distally, divided into 2 lobes with large anterior fold; meb divided at base into 2 needle-like processes, the smaller medial process directed basally, the longer medial process curving behind mab.

Distribution.

Wet forest in tropical north Queensland from the Cape tribulation area south to the Atherton Tableland, a north-south extent of ca 120 km (Fig. 13B).

Name.

Latin sagma, 'saddle'; noun in apposition. For the type locality, Saddle Mountain.

Holotype.

Male, Mt Bartle Frere, Qld, centre peak ridge, 17°23'27"S, 145°48'33"E ±500 m, 1400–1500 m a.s.l., 7-8 November 1981, Queensland Museum and Earthwatch personnel, QM berlesate 358, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96088.

Paratypes.

QM: 2 males, 2 females, 1 stadium 7 female, details as for holotype, S96091; 2 males, same locality and collectors but S peak summit, 17°24'03"S, 145°49'00"E ±500 m, 1620 m a.s.l., 6-8 November 1981, QM berlesate 359, rainforest, sieved litter, S96090; 1 female, same details but QM berlesate 354, S96089; 2 females, same locality but top camp, 17°23'47"S, 145°48'53"E ±500 m, 1500 m a.s.l., 29 November 1998, G. Monteith, pyrethrum knockdown, S96092.

Other material.

None.

Diagnostic description.

Male with head + 19 rings, female with head + 20. Colour in alcohol very pale yellow. Male/female ca 9.0/9.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.75/0.9 mm, maximum width ca 0.8/1.0 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 10–12 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 without coxal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 11B) with pp slightly curving posteriorly; at in oblique plane (facing posterolaterally), short, narrowly triangular, curving posterolaterally; dp directed laterobasally and slightly posteriorly at base; mab expanded distally, divided into 2 distally rounded lobes, the medial lobe with truncate medial projection at ca midlength; meb curving behind mab and nearly as long, divided at ca midlength into shorter, needle-like lateral process and broad medial process terminating in upturned hook.

Distribution.

Known only from rainforest at the type locality in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13B). Possibly co-occurs on Mt Bartle Frere with Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n. and Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n.

Name.

Latin summus, 'highest'; adjective. This species was found at the top of Queensland's highest mountain, Mt Bartle Frere.

Remarks.

The Bartle Frere females were assigned to this species rather than to the co-occurring Agathodesmus adelphus sp. n. and Agathodesmus quintanus sp. n. because the females lack the narrow pseudo-paranota found in the other two species.

Holotype.

Male, near Yuccabine Creek, Kirrama Range, Qld, 18°12'21"S, 145°45'47"E ±500 m, 700 m a.s.l., 10 December 1986, G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 732, rainforest, sieved litter, QM S96093.

Paratypes.

3 males, 7 females, 1 stadium 6 female, details as for holotype, QM S96094.

Other material.

QM: 2 males, 1 female, Kirrama Range, Qld, 18°12'57"S, 145°47'15"E ±500 m, 700 m a.s.l., G. Monteith and G. Thompson, QM berlesate 730, rainforest, sieved litter, S96095; 3 males, Mt Hosie, Kirrama Range, Qld, 18°12'29"S, 145°46'41"E ±500 m, 930 m a.s.l., 11 December 1986, same collectors and method but QM berlesate 733, S96096; 3 males, 2 females, Mt Macalister, Cardwell Range, Qld, 18°18'16"S, 145°56'32"E ±500 m, 1000 m a.s.l., 20 December 1986, same collectors and method but QM berlesate 739, S96098; 1 male, 1 stadium 6 male, 1 stadium 6 female, same details but 700 m a.s.l., QM berlesate 741, moss on trees and rocks, S96097; 1 female, same locality but 900 m a.s.l., 15 January 1987, S. Hamlet, QM berlesate 757, rainforest, sieved litter, S96099.

Diagnostic description.

Male and female with head + 19 rings. Colour in alcohol pale yellow. Male/female ca 9.0/9.5 mm long; ring 12 maximum diameter ca 0.7/0.85 mm, maximum width ca 0.8/0.9 mm. Metatergal tubercles in 10-12 irregular transverse rows, mainly without setae; metatergal setae short with slightly flared tips; lateralmost tubercles not enlarged, not forming pseudo-paranotum. Male leg 6 without coxal projection. Telopodite (Fig. 11C) with pp straight; at in transverse plane, short, rounded-triangular, tip curving very slightly posteriorly; dp directed posterobasally at base; mab curving medially, then basally, the apex divided into truncate lobe with fine marginal teeth, and apically forked lobe; meb broad, curving behind mab and nearly as long, divided at midlength into short, rounded lateral lobe and 2 slender, subequal, pointed posterior processes reaching almost to mab apex.

Distribution.

Rainforest in the Cardwell Range (includes Kirrama Range), inland between Tully and Ingham in tropical north Queensland (Fig. 13B). The linear extent of the known range is ca 20 km. Co-occurs with Agathodesmus kirrama sp. n. on Mt Hosie.

Name.

For Yuccabine Creek, the type locality; adjective.

Agathodesmus bucculentus (Jeekel, 1986)

http://species-id.net/wiki/Agathodesmus_bucculentus

Figs 3A, 3B, 4A
Note.

This species was described from three specimens collected by Dr and Mrs Jeekel in 1980, under logs in rainforest along the 'Broken Hill' [probably 'Broken River'] track in Eungella National Park (Jeekel 1986). Another 183 specimens from the same general area are in Australian collections (see below), and the Agathodesmus bucculentus range in central coastal Queensland is now known to have a north-south extent of ca 50 km (Fig. 12).

Material examined.

ANIC: 35 males, 17 females, 1 stadium 7 female, Eungella National Park, Qld, 21°09'S, 148°30'E ±1 km, 760 m a.s.l., 10 November 1976, R.W. Taylor and T.A. Weir, ANIC berlesate 562, rainforest, 64-000332; 16 males, same details but ANIC berlesate 563, 64-000329; 27 males, same details but ANIC berlesate 564, 64-000333; 4 males, Finch Hatton Gorge, Qld, 21°05'S, 148°38'E ±1 km, 200 m a.s.l., 11 November 1976, R.W. same collectors, ANIC berlesate 565, rainforest, 64-000334; 6 males, 4 females, 2 stadium 7 males, 5 stadium 7 females, Broken River, Eungella National Park, Qld, 21°10'S, 148°31'E ±1 km, 700 m a.s.l., 10-12 November 1976, same collectors, ANIC berlesate 559, rainforest, 64-000331; 3 males, 1 female, same details but ANIC berlesate 560, 64-000330; 17 males, 1 female, 1 stadium 7 female, same details but ANIC berlesate 561, 64-000335; 7 males, 1 female, 1 stadium 7 female, same details but ANIC berlesate 568, 64-000328; 18 males, 2 females, same details but ANIC berlesate 570, 64-000336. QM: 1 male, 2 females, Mt William, Eungella National Park, Qld, 21°01'05"S, 148°35'57"E ±500 m, 1240 m a.s.l., 19 April 1979, G. Monteith, QM berlesate 41, rainforest, sieved litter, S96025; 2 males, 1 stadium 7 female, Eungella, Qld, schoolhouse, 21°07'51"S, 148°29'32"E ±2 km, 13 February 1986, J. Gallon and R. Raven, QM berlesate 709, rainforest, S96026; 1 male, Finch Hatton Gorge, Qld, 21°04'13"S, 148°38'11"E ±500 m, 300 m a.s.l., 18 November 1992, G. Monteith, G. Thompson, D. Cook and H. Janetzki, S96027; 3 males, 4 females, Mt Macartney, Qld, 20°49'57"S, 148°33'07"E ±500 m, 950 m a.s.l., 19 November 1992, same collectors, S96028.

Remarks.

There is little to add to the excellent description and illustrations of Jeekel (1986), except to confirm that the short metatergal setae noted by Jeekel are bipartite with slightly flared tips (Fig. 4A) as in most other Agathodesmus, and that the dp in Agathodesmus bucculentus is indeed 'complicated'. Fig. 16 in Jeekel (1986) clearly shows the meb: it is divided near its base into a curving, needle-like medial process and a more or less parallel, broader, distally expanded and lamellar lateral process. However, the meb in Agathodesmus bucculentus is not 'on caudal side' (Jeekel 1986, p. 49), but lies between the mab and the pp, as in other Agathodesmus spp.

Acknowledgements

I thank Beth Mantle, Robyn Meier and Cate Lemann (ANIC), Peter Lillywhite (NMV) and Owen Seeman (QM) for assistance, registrations and the loan of specimens, and Kate Sparks (SAM) for registrations. SEM images were acquired with the help of Karsten Goemann (Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania). Robert and Jenni Henzell very kindly provided access to their private forest at Uraidla, SA. Valuable suggestions for improvement were made by reviewers Sergei Golovatch and Nguyen Duc Anh. Field trips and laboratory studies were funded by the author.

References
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Appendix

Specimen records of Australian Agathodesmus species. (doi: 10.3897/zookeys.325.5932.app) File format: Comma Separated Value File (csv).