Corresponding author: Mingyi Tian (
Academic editor: D. V. Spiegel
Four new species of
Liu WX, Golovatch SI, Tian MY (2014) A review of the dragon millipede genus
At present, China supports 10 species of
The present paper describes a further four new species of
The holotypes and a number of paratypes are deposited in the zoological collection of the South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China (SCAU), with some material also to be housed in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IZAS), and Zoological Museum, State University of Moscow, Russia (ZMUM). The methods and terminology used are after
♂ (SCAU), China, Guangxi, Guilin City, Pingle County, Ertang Town, Chaotianyan,
3 ♂ (SCAU), same locality and collecting data as of the holotype.
To emphasize a peculiar, paramedian, linguiform, sternal process between ♂ coxae 5.
Differs from congeners in the paraterga being antler-shaped, the humped ♂ femur 6, combined with small, setose tubercles between ♂ coxae 3 and a peculiar sternal process between ♂ coxae 5, as well as the shout and curved gonopod femorite and a condensed solenophore.
Length ca 18.0–18.5 mm (♂), width of pro- and metaterga together with paraterga 0.8–1.0 and 1.8–2.0 mm (♂), respectively. Holotype 18.0 mm long, 0.8 and 2.0 mm wide on midbody pro- and metazonae, respectively. Head broadest, 1.2–1.4 mm (♂) (Fig.
Prozonae very delicately microalveolate; surface below paraterga 2–4 rather shagreened and microspinulate (Fig.
Sterna sparsely setose, cross-impressions faint (Fig.
Gonopods (Figs
This species seems to be especially similar to
♂ (SCAU), China, Guangxi, Hechi City, Du’an County, Xia’ao Town, cave I,
1 ♀ (SCAU), same locality and collecting data as of the holotype.
To emphasize the small size of this species.
Differs from congeners in the combination of spiniform paraterga, a paramedian pair of subtrapzoidal processes between ♂ coxae 4, the humped ♂ femur 6, and certain details of gonopod structure.
Length ca 18 (♂) or 19 mm (♀), width of pro- and metaterga together with paraterga 0.8 and 1.2 (♂), or 1.0 and 1.4 mm (♀), respectively. Head broadest, 1.3 mm (♂) or 1.5 mm (♀) wide. Coloration of material rather uniformly brownish, antennae and lateral body parts dark brown, venter and a few basal podomeres yellowish, basal parts paraterga pink (Fig.
Pro- and metazonae very delicately microalveolate, metaterga finely shagreened and transversely rugulose, surface below paraterga finely shagreened (Fig.
Sterna moderately setose, cross-impressions very weak (Fig.
Gonopods (Fig.
Even though this species has been taken from a cave, it hardly represents a true cavernicole as it is rather strongly pigmented and shows short antennae and legs.
♂ (SCAU), China, Guangxi, Hechi City, Du’an County, Xia’ao Town, near Xia’ao Middle School, cave II,
3 ♂, 4 ♀ (SCAU), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (IZAS), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), same locality, and collecting data as of the holotype. 1 ♀ (SCAU), same county, Yong’an Town, Yong’an Village, cave I,
To emphasize the humped ♂ femora 5–7.
Differs from congeners in most of the paraterga being wing-shaped, combined with the humped ♂ femora 5–7, the sternal process present between ♂ coxae 4, occasionally also between ♂ coxae 3, as well as a short gonopod femorite and a strongly condensed solenophore.
Length ca 19–22 (♂) or 20–23 mm (♀), width of midbody pro- and metaterga together with paraterga 1.0–1.5 and 2.2–2.8 (♂), or 1.8–2.0 and 2.8–3.0 mm (♀), respectively. Holotype 21.0 mm long, 1.5 and 2.5 mm wide on midbody pro- and metaterga, respectively. Coloration of material varying from pallid to rather uniformly dark brownish (Fig.
Prozonae very delicately microalveolate, but shining; collum, metaterga, paraterga and surface below paraterga finely shagreened and microgranulate, moderately setose in posterior parts of metaterga (Fig.
Sterna sparsely setose, cross-impressions visible (Fig.
Gonopods (Figs
Although the coloration of this species is quite variable, based on several troglomorphic traits such as some individuals being completely unpigmented, and the antennae and legs clearly elongated, this species may well be a troglobite.
♂ (SCAU), China, Guizhou Prov., Anshun City, Ziyun County, Getuhe National Geopark, cave Suidao Dong,
2 ♂, 5 ♀, 1 ♂ juv., 1 ♀ juv. (SCAU), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (IZAS), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), same locality and collectiong data as of the holotype. 1 ♂, 6 ♀ (SCAU), same locality, cave Taiyang Dong,
To emphasize the location of the new species within the Getuhe National Geopark.
Differs from congeners in the paraterga being long and spiniform throughout, and the antennae and legs very long, combined with setose tubercles between ♂ coxae 4, the humped ♂ femur 6, and the gonopods strongly condensed.
Length ca 23–27 (♂) or 25–28 mm (♀); width of pro- and metaterga together with paraterga 1.2–1.4 and 2.5–3.0 (♂) or 1.5–2.0 and 2.8–3.0 mm (♀), respectively. Holotype 26.0 mm long, 1.2 and 2.5 mm wide on midbody pro- and metaterga, respectively. Coloration of material rather uniformly light brownish to nearly pallid, anterior body part a little darker, some specimens pinkish (Fig.
Tegument rather shining and smooth, prozonae delicately microalveolate, metaterga and surface below paraterga finely shagreened to microgranulate (Fig.
Sterna quite spasely setose, cross-impressions weak (Fig.
Gonopods (Figs
Based on several troglomorphic traits such as some individuals being nearly unpigmented, and the antennae and legs very strongly enlongated, this species seems to be a troglobite.
1 ♂, 1 ♀ (SCAU), China, Guangxi, Du’an County, Disu Town, Dading Village, cave II,
This species has been described from a few caves in Huanjiang County, Guangxi, China while the new samples derive from two caves in the neighbouring Du’an County, Guangxi. The above material is in good agreement with the original description by
1 ♀ (SCAU), China, Guangxi, Du’an County, Gaoling Town, Jinzhu Village, cave I,
This species has been described from a cave in Huanjiang County, Guangxi, China while the new samples come from a few more caves in the neighbouring Du’an County, Guangxi. The above material is in good agreement with the original description by
1 | Paraterga spiniform, mostly very long and directed evidently more dorsad than laterad (Figs |
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– | Paraterga wing- (Fig. |
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2 | Adult body relatively small, length <20 mm |
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– | Adult body much larger, length >20 mm |
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3 | Paraterga long and spiniform only on collum and following four segments, evidently shorter on segment 5, small and coni- to tuberculiform thereafter |
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– | Paraterga subequally long and spiniform at least in segments 2–18 (Fig. |
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4 | Only ♂ femur 7 very evidently humped distoventrally |
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– | Either ♂ femur 6 or both femora 6 and 7 very evidently humped distoventrally |
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5 | Both ♂ femora 6 and 7 very evidently humped ventrally in distal quarter |
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– | Only ♂ femur 6 very evidently humped distoventrally |
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6 | Metaterga not only with normally arranged setigerous tubercles, but also with a row of similar tubercles along posterior rim |
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– | Metaterga 2–4 with several transverse rows of setigerous spines, following metaterga smooth, sculpture gradually disappearing |
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7 | Gonopods telopodite subfalcate, femorite stouter relative to a condensed solenophore; Guangxi |
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– | Gonopods (Figs |
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8 | Paraterga wing-shaped |
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– | Paraterga antler-shaped |
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9 | ♂ femora unmodified |
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– | At least a pair of ♂ femora (5–7) humped |
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10 | Metaterga 2–19 with only two transverse rows of 2+2(3) setigerous spines |
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– | Metaterga 2–19 with more than two transverse rows of setigerous spines |
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11 | ♂ femora 5–7 very evidently humped distoventrally (Figs |
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– | ♂ femora 5 and 6 slightly humped distoventrally; two processes between ♂ coxae 4 |
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12 | Paraterga 2–18 antler-shaped, evidently branched; Jiangxi |
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– | Anterior paraterga evidently antler-shaped, posterior paraterga rather long and spiniform, evidently 2- or 3-dentate laterally; Guangxi |
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13 | A pair of setose tubercles between ♂ coxae 3, and a peculiar linguiform sternal process between ♂ coxae 5 (Figs |
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– | A pair of bristle-like tubercles between ♂ coxae 3, and a very deeply divergent sternal process between ♂ coxae 5 |
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We thank Ms. Bo Jiang, Biodiversity Conservation official, Department of Environmental Protection, Guangxi Regional Government, Nanning, for her support and encouragement. Our thanks are also due to Mr. Weihu Yang, Getuhe National Geopark, and members of our team in SCAU, for their assistance. Two reviewers kindly provided their suggestions and critical remarks which were helpful to improve the manuscript. This study was sponsored by Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, through a biodiversity conservation project in 2013 which was focused on cave biodiversity, and the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (Grant no. 20134404110026).