Research Article |
Corresponding author: Robert Mesibov ( robert.mesibov@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Pavel Stoev
© 2017 Robert Mesibov.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Mesibov R (2017) Iulomorphid millipedes (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Iulomorphidae) of Tasmania, Australia. ZooKeys 652: 1-36. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.652.12035
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Tasmanian Iulomorphidae are here assigned to the genera Amastigogonus Brölemann, 1913, Atelomastix Attems, 1911 and Equestrigonus gen. n. Descriptions or redescriptions are given for Amastigogonus danpicola sp. n., A. elephas sp. n., A. fossuliger Verhoeff, 1944, A. hardyi (Chamberlin, 1920), A. hellyeri sp. n., A. michaelsae sp. n., A. orientalis sp. n., A. peninsulensis sp. n., A. tasmanianus Brölemann, 1913 (type species of Amastigogonus), A. verreauxii (Gervais, 1847), Atelomastix bonhami sp. n., A. smithi sp. n. and Equestrigonus tasmaniensis gen. n., sp. n. The synonymy of Amastigogonus nichollsii Verhoeff, 1944 with A. hardyi is accepted, and lectotypes are designated for A. nichollsii and A. tasmanianus.
Diplopoda , Spirostreptida , Iulomorphidae , Tasmania, Australia
In Tasmania, Australia, native species of Spirostreptida are found at all elevations and in most natural habitats, although they are rarely seen in coastal dune scrubs or in grasslands and moorlands. Spirostreptidans can be abundant in native forest and in Eucalyptus and Pinus radiata plantations. For example, spirostreptidans made up 65% (
Amastigogonus fossuliger Verhoeff, 1944. A Living male on author’s palm, later preserved in
Although the spirostreptidan family Cambalidae Bollman, 1893 occurs in Tasmania (Mesibov, in preparation), the most frequently collected spirostreptidans are in Iulomorphidae Verhoeff, 1924 as circumscribed by
Amastigogonus fossuliger Verhoeff, 1944.
A. hardyi (Chamberlin, 1920). Described as Euethogonus hardyi, assigned to Amastigogonus by
A. nichollsii Verhoeff, 1944. Synonymised with A. hardyi by
A. tasmanianus Brölemann, 1913, type species.
A. verreauxii (Gervais, 1847). Described as Iulus Verreauxii, assigned to Amastigogonus by
In the present study A. fossuliger, A. hardyi, A. tasmanianus and A. verreauxii are redescribed, lectotypes are designated for A. nichollsii and A. tasmanianus, and six new Tasmanian species are added to Amastigogonus. I also describe two new Tasmanian species of Atelomastix Attems, 1911, a genus previously known only from mainland Australia, and I propose a new genus for a distinctive iulomorphid species which is widespread and locally abundant in the north of Tasmania’s main island.
While preparing this paper I supplemented material in the collections of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery with fresh specimens from selected localities. Iulomorphid millipedes were hand collected in or under woody litter during the day, as well as on tree trunks at night.
In descriptions of individual spirostreptidans I follow
Long-preserved Spirostreptida are often deeply stained and made brittle by defensive secretion, and it is difficult to dissect such specimens to examine gonopods without breaking the rings adjoining the gonopod aperture. However, Amastigogonus males usually have everted gonopods when first killed by freezing, then submerged in tap water for several hours at room temperature (Fig.
Another methodological problem is that the pseudoflagellum on the anterior gonopod of several Amastigogonus species is remarkably thin and fragile. In this paper I provide gonopod drawings rather than scanning electron micrographs, as the SEM facility to which I have access does not have a critical-point dryer, and even brief drying can damage or distort an Amastigogonus pseudoflagellum.
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
Tas Tasmania
Amastigogonus
Euethogonus
Amastigogonus tasmanianus Brölemann, 1913, by original designation.
Amastigogonus danpicola sp. n., A. elephas sp. n., A. fossuliger Verhoeff, 1944, A. hardyi (Chamberlin, 1920), A. hellyeri sp. n., A. michaelsae sp. n., A. orientalis sp. n., A. peninsulensis sp. n., A. verreauxii (Gervais, 1847).
Like Victoriocambala Verhoeff, 1944 in having the coxite process on the anterior gonopod close to the telopodite and nearly as long, forming a chamber resembling a bird’s beak in which the pseudoflagellum is protected. Differences between Amastigogonus/Victoriocambala, as noted by
Living animals usually with black or dark grey rings with annular pale band at rear of each metazonite, often with a greenish tinge (live A. fossuliger more consistently green, see species description); head, collum and telson often faintly reddish brown; legs pale. With long storage in alcohol and staining by defensive secretion, animals dull grey with faintly reddish legs.
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.
A, B Amastigogonus fossuliger Verhoeff, 1944 ex
Posterior margin of gonopod aperture raised and thickened on either side, adjoining tips of retracted anterior gonopods. Anterior gonopods (Figs
A, B, D, E Amastigogonus hardyi (Chamberlin, 1920) ex
Female slightly larger in diameter than male with same ring count; leg 1 normally leg-like, claw-bearing; no prefemoral pads on any legs.
Amastigogonus species are closely similar in size, general appearance and habits, and males can only be positively identified by close inspection, and usually dissection, of the anterior gonopods. There is also some variation in non-gonopodal male structures, as noted here and in the species descriptions. The most reliable of these differences are in cardo shape and modifications of near-aperture legs:
Cardo. In A. danpicola sp. n. the cardo extends further ventrally in its posterior half than in its anterior half, i.e. the cardo is deeper posteriorly (Fig.
A, B Lateral view of right cardo of A A. danpicola sp. n., holotype,
Near-aperture legs. In all Amastigogonus species, leg 7 has an elongated coxa (Fig.
Other differences between species do not seem to be large enough or consistent enough to be useful for taxonomic purposes:
Legpair 1. The relative lengths and widths of the leg 1 podomeres vary a little between species (Fig.
Prefemoral pads. There are differences between species in pad length, as shown in Fig.
A, B Male midbody leg of A Amastigogonus tasmanianus (Chamberlin, 1920), ex
Metazonal striae. The height reached by the horizontal striae on the metazonites diminishes slightly from anterior to posterior. At ca 2/3 body length, the topmost horizontal stria lies at ca 1/2 or ca 3/4 of the height to the ozopore (Fig.
Male, Apsley River, Tas, -41.7992 148.1508 ±250 m [label “EP 955 717” (= 55G 595500 5371700, AGD66)], 300 m a.s.l., 5 July 1988, R. Mesibov,
1 male, locality and collector as for holotype but -41.7972 148.1544 ±250 m [label “EP 958 719” (= 55G 595800 5371900, AGD66)], 320 m a.s.l., 6 July 1988, R. Mesibov,
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); fo = fossa, cxp = coxite process, fl = posterobasal flange on telopodite, pg = prostatic groove, ps = pseudoflagellum, t = folded-over tab on coxite process, te = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm; dotted line indicates course of prostatic groove. A Amastigogonus danpicola sp. n., ex
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 Iulomorphidae; Mercator projections with approximate distance scale. A Amastigogonus orientalis sp. n. (open circles), A. peninsulensis sp. n. (stars), A. tasmanianus Brölemann, 1913 (triangles), A. verreauxii (Gervais, 1847) (squares) B Amastigogonus fossuliger Verhoeff, 1944 (squares), A. hardyi (Chamberlin, 1920) (triangles), A. hellyeri sp. n. (stars) C Amastigogonus danpicola sp. n. (squares), A. elephas sp. n. (stars), A. michaelsae sp. n. (triangles) D Atelomastix bonhami sp. n. (triangles), A. smithi sp. n. (stars), Equestrigonus tasmaniensis gen. n., sp. n. (squares).
Abbreviation in lower case “danp” for Douglas-Apsley National Park plus Latin cola, inhabitant; noun in apposition. This species is abundant in the Park, which also contains the type locality.
A. danpicola sp. n. is the most apomorphic species within the group included here in Amastigogonus. I place it in this genus because the structure and position of the pseudoflagellum and its supporting setae conform to the general pattern seen in the other Amastigogonus species.
Male, Mt Elephant, Tas, -41.6338 148.2421 ±25 m, 420 m a.s.l., 13 May 2016, R. Mesibov,
3 males , 3 females, details as for holotype,
6 males from 5 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like A. verreauxii in having a telopodite with a subquadrate extension of the posterobasal margin and a posteriorly curving pseudoflagellum; distinguished from A. verreauxii in the pseudoflagellum having a small, tooth-like, distally directed extension basal to the posterobasally directed tip.
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 elephas, elephant; noun in apposition. For the type locality, Mt Elephant.
The anterior gonopod of A. elephas sp. n. (Fig.
Right anterior gonopod, medial view of distal portion of telopodite (left) and lateral view of distal portion of coxite process (right); cxp = coxite process, fl = posterobasal flange on telopodite, pg = prostatic groove, ps = pseudoflagellum, t = folded-over tab on coxite process, te = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm; dotted line indicates course of prostatic groove. A Amastigogonus orientalis sp. n., paratype ex
Amastigogonus
fossuliger
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
A. fossuliger is more consistently and more obviously green than other Amastigogonus species, but the green colour varies in intensity from individual to individual.
Euethogonus
hardyi
Amastigogonus
hardyi
Amastigogonus
nichollsii
Male, Tasmania, date unknown, G.H. Hardy,
At least 1 female, details as for holotype,
(here designated). Male (slide mount of gonopods), Mt Nelson, Tasmania, date and collector unknown,
1 female, same collection details,
3 males and 3 females from 2 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like A. fossuliger in having the pseudoflagellum with a narrow, tapering, pointed tip; distinguished by the prostatic groove following a straight course on the pseudoflagellum rather than having an S-bend, and by the lack of a dense field of short setae on the telopodite behind the pseudoflagellum tip.
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 E. hardyi were collected by the entomologist George H. H. Hardy, probably during Hardy’s tenure as Assistant Curator of the Tasmanian Museum in Hobart, 1913-1917 (
Two males and one female of A. nichollsii were presumably sent to Verhoeff by G.E. Nicholls, collector of the A. fossuliger types.
Male, Keddies Creek area, Tas, -41.1704 146.0545 ±25 m, 60 m a.s.l., 7 May 2016, R. Mesibov,
1 male, details as for holotype,
142 males and 10 females from 26 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like A. orientalis sp. n. in having a broad pseudoflagellum abruptly reduced apically; distinguished by having a smoothly curving rather than a subquadrate extension of the posterobasal telopodite margin, with a notch anteriorly at the base of the reduced pseudoflagellum tip and the tip relatively long and curving laterally or medially.
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, Tas, -42.5139 147.7767 ±100 m [label “EN 637 927” (= 55G 563700 5292700, AGD66)], 210 m a.s.l., 24 April 1991, R. Mesibov,
2 males, Montgomery Road, Tas, -42.6863 147.7111 ±50 m, 330 m a.s.l., 21 June 2016, R. Mesibov,
11 males and 1 probable female from 8 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like A. peninsulensis sp. n. in having a relatively broad, gently tapering pseudoflagellum; distinguished by the pseudoflagellum tip directed distally rather than posteriorly and with a prominent, posterodistally directed tooth basally on the posterior margin.
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, Tas, -42.4628 147.8564 ±100 m [label “EN 703 983” (= 55G 570300 5298300, AGD66)], 260 m a.s.l., 26 April 1991, R. Mesibov,
2 males, details as for holotype,
14 males and 3 probable females from 14 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like A. hellyeri sp. n. in having a broad pseudoflagellum abruptly narrowed apically; distinguished by having a subquadrate extension of the posterobasal telopodite margin, with the prostatic groove opening on a very short tooth-like extension of the reduced pseudoflagellum tip, rather than on a relatively long, flexible extension.
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 orientalis, eastern; adjective. This species is restricted to the East Coast region of Tasmania.
Male, Coal Mine Hill, Tas, -42.9852 147.7113 ±25 m, 40 m a.s.l., 20 June 2016, R. Mesibov,
13 males and 5 females, details as for holotype,
3 males and 1 female from 3 unique localities; details in Suppl. material
Like A. michaelsae sp. n. in having a relatively broad, gently tapering pseudoflagellum, but with the tip directed distally and without a prominent tooth on the posterior margin.
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.
Amastigogonus
tasmanianus
(here designated). Male, Tasmania, date and collector unknown,
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 Amastigogonus species by having a long, gradually tapering, narrowly ribbon-like pseudoflagellum.
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
Iulus
verreauxii
Julus
Verreauxii
“Julus” verreauxii
Amastigogonus
verreauxii
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 A. elephas sp. n. in having a telopodite with a subquadrate extension of the posterobasal margin and a posteriorly curving pseudoflagellum; distinguished from A. elephas sp. n. in the pseudoflagellum lacking a small, tooth-like, distally directed extension on the tip.
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.
A. verreauxii varies remarkably little in size or gonopod details over its large range.
Atelomastix
Atelomastix albanyensis Attems, 1911, by subsequent designation.
A. albanyensis Attems, 1911, A. anancita Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. attemsi Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. bamfordi Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. bonhami sp. n., A. brennani Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. culleni Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. danksi Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. dendritica Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. ellenae Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. flavognatha Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. francesae Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. gibsoni Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. grandis Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. julianneae Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. lengae Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. longbottomi Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. mainae Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. melindae Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. montana Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. nigrescens Attems, 1911, A. poustiei Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. priona Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. psittacina Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. rubricephala Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. sarahae Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. smithi sp. n., A. solitaria Jeekel, 2009, A. tigrina Edward & Harvey, 2010, A. tumula Edward & Harvey, 2010.
Male, White Spur, Tas, -42.7764 146.0369 ±100 m [label “DN 211 634” (= 55G 421100 5263400, AGD66)], 320 m a.s.l., 2 February 1994, R. Mesibov,
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 A. gibsoni Edward & Harvey, 2010 from the Ravensthorpe Ranges in Western Australia; both species have a wedge-shaped sclerite “b” and a non-bifurcate sclerite “c”. Differences between A. bonhami/A. gibsoni: rounded tab present under sclerite “a” near pseudoflagellum/no tab; anterior corner of distal margin of sclerite “b” higher than posterior corner/anterior corner lower than posterior corner; sclerite “c” taller than sclerite “b”/ sclerite “c” shorter than sclerite “b”.
Atelomastix as a genus has been well characterised by
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.
Atelomastix bonhami sp. n., males. A Left lateral view showing partly everted gonopods;
A, C, D Atelomastix bonhami sp. n., male,
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 Iulomorphidae (Fig.
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 A. bonhami sp. n. is similar to that of A. nigrescens as illustrated in figs 13, 14 and 118 of
Male, Ooze Lake, Tas, -43.5003 146.7019 ±100 m [label “DM 758 834” (= 55G 475800 5183400, AGD66)], 870 m a.s.l., 16 February 1988, S.J. Smith,
2 males and 1 juvenile, details as for holotype,
None.
Readily distinguished from the otherwise similar A. bonhami sp. n. by the pseudoflagellum curving distally; this difference can be seen in undissected males.
As for A. bonhami sp. n., but the two known males with 40-50 ocelli in 5-6 horizontal rows; holotype with (54+0) rings, 2.2 mm midbody diameter, paratype with (47+1) rings, 2.1 mm. Females (
Anterior gonopod (Fig.
Known from two localities ca 45 km apart at ca 900 m elevation, south and west of the known range of A. bonhami sp. n. in southwest Tasmania (Fig.
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 Amastigogonus and Victoriocambala Verhoeff, 1944 in having greatly reduced posterior gonopods with a single lateral process, and relatively simple, two-branched anterior gonopods with the prostatic groove entering a pseudoflagellum on the telopodite. Distinguished from the other two genera by the form of the anterior gonopods (Figs
Equestrigonus tasmaniensis gen. n., sp. n. A Gonopod aperture (a) of male paratype
Equestrigonus tasmaniensis gen. n., sp. n. A Living animals before preservation in
Equestrigonus tasmaniensis gen. n., sp. n.,
Equestrigonus tasmaniensis sp. n., by present designation.
From Latin equestris, genitive singular of equester, pertaining to horse-riding, plus -gonus, a suffix commonly used in millipede names, referring to the gonopods; masculine gender. The tips of the anterior gonopod of the type species (Fig.
Male, Sideling Range, Tas, -41.2358 147.4131 ±100 m [label “EQ 345 348” (= 55G 534500 5434800, AGD66)], 550 m a.s.l., 7 July 1993, T. Kingston,
3 males, Sideling Range, Tas, -41.2303 147.4117 ±100 m [label “EQ 344 354” (= 55G 534400 5435400, AGD66)], 550 m a.s.l., 15 June 1992, T. Kingston and R. D’Orazio,
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 Amastigogonus and Equestrigonus gen. n. are endemic to Tasmania, because the iulomorphid fauna of mainland Australia is still very poorly known. The few well-described iulomorphids from the eastern Australian mainland, closest to Tasmania, were named from a small number of specimens mostly held in non-Australian collections: Apocoptogonus Jeekel, 2006 (two species from one locality each in New South Wales), Atelomastix (one species from one locality, Victoria), Dimerogonus Attems, 1903 (one species from one locality, New South Wales), Merioproscelum Verhoeff, 1924 (one species from one locality, Queensland), Proscelomerion Verhoeff, 1924 (one species from one locality, Queensland), Thaumaceratopus Verhoeff, 1924 (two species from one locality, Queensland) and Victoriocambala (one species from one locality, one species from six localities, Victoria) (
Like the dalodesmid Polydesmida genus Tasmaniosoma Verhoeff, 1936 (
The recognition of two Atelomastix species from a high-rainfall district in Tasmania is an interesting result of the present study.
Using a draft version of this paper, Henrik Enghoff (in litt., 26 July 2016) has identified Amastigogonus tasmanianus and A. verreauxii as millipede species that are parasitised by the fungus Rickia candelabriformis Santamaria et al., 2016 and that were referred to as undetermined Iulomorphidae in
I thank David Maynard and Tammy Gordon (
Specimen records of Tasmanian Iulomorphidae
Data type: Tab Separated Value File (tsv).
Explanation note: Specimen records of Tasmanian Iulomorphidae as of 14 July 2016.