Research Article |
Corresponding author: Cuong Huynh ( vancuong@deakin.edu.au ) Academic editor: Pavel Stoev
© 2018 Cuong Huynh, Anneke A. Veenstra.
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:
Huynh C, Veenstra AA (2018) Two new Lophoturus species (Diplopoda, Polyxenida, Lophoproctidae) from Queensland, Australia. In: Stoev P, Edgecombe GD (Eds) Proceedings of the 17th International Congress of Myriapodology, Krabi, Thailand. ZooKeys 741: 133-154. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.741.21814
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Lophoturus queenslandicus Verhoeff, 1924 was the first penicillate millipede in the family Lophoproctidae collected from Cairns, a tropical region in Queensland, Australia, to be formally described. Specimens collected from this region in a recent study had the morphological characters known to define this genus. However, their body form and length, as well as dorsal colouration proved to be different, suggesting the possibility of more than one Lophoturus species. This assertion was supported by the results of a phylogenetic analysis of DNA extracted and sequenced using 18S and COI regions from L. queenslandicus and two undescribed species from this genus. Specimens preserved in ethanol can prove difficult to confidently identify to species level because their colour gradually fades. Examination of live specimens with their body colour visible, together with morphological characters and DNA analysis is the most reliable way of correctly distinguishing between these three species. Two new species, L. boondallus sp. n. and L. molloyensis sp. n. collected in Queensland, Australia are described.
Millipedes, morphological characters, body length, colouration, phylogenetic analysis
Penicillate millipedes from family Lophoproctidae Silvestri, 1897 are characterised as lacking ommatidia, having 13 pairs of legs (except Lophoturus madecassus Marquet & Condé, 1950 having only 11 pairs of legs), a gnathochilarium with medial palp only; the 7th and 8th antennal articles are equal in length and reduced sensory cones, coxal glands absent in male, and simple claw structure. These millipedes are commonly found in low light environments such as deep leaf litter or cave habitats. The similarity in their morphological characters proves to be difficult with the classification to genus or species.
Lophoturus specimens (Lophoproctidae) were collected from the Cairns region, in tropical far north Queensland and Boondall Wetlands Park in Boondall, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Fig.
Map of state of Queensland with a map of Australia, indicating type localities of Lophoturus queenslandicus Verhoeff, 1924 (⚪) and other two new Lophoturus species: L. boondallus sp. n. found in Boondall (★), Brisbane and L. molloyensis sp. n found in Mount Molloy (⬛), Cairns region, Queensland, Australia. (Not in scale)
Light microscopy. Lophoturus specimens were examined and measured using a SMZ 800 stereoscope with an Infinity I camera and an Olympus CX 41 compound microscope with an image capture DP21 digital camera (a reticule with calibration of 0.1 mm stage micrometer and the Infinity I camera program were used for all measurements). Specimens were measured from head to telson, excluding the caudal bundle of trichomes. The sex of the specimens was identified by the presence of reproductive organs on the coxal plates of the 2nd pair of legs.
Taxonomic drawings Prepared slides (method described below) were used to complete drawings of the body trichomes using a Nikon drawing tube YID-T attached to a Nikon Eclipse E200 compound microscope.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Whole specimens were preserved in 80% ethanol and dehydrated by passing through a graded series of ethanol, 80%, 90% and 100%, bathed in acetone for 2 minutes then air dried for a further 2 minutes. Specimens were subsequently mounted on a stub for gold coating using a Fisons sputter coater (0.02 mbar, 18 mA, 2 nm/min), then examined using a JEOL (JSM–IT300 Scanning Electron Microscope). Digital SEM images of the specimens were obtained.
Morphometric and genetic studies. The specimen preparation technique of
Two common gene markers were used in this study: the small subunit ribosomal RNAs (SSU18S rRNAs) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI). Both have been used as universal primers for highly conserved gene regions and are common molecular markers used for species detection and identification. The 18S gene marker has been used to elucidate relationships among arthropod groups including crustaceans, insects and myriapods (
The quality of the DNA extracted from individual specimens of L. queenslandicus, L. boondallus sp. n. and L. molloyensis sp. n. were determined by using a NanoDrop 1000 Spectrophotometer (ND 1000V3.60 software) following manufacturer’s instructions. The primers used for amplification and sequencing of COI were dgLCO1490 and dgHCO2198 (
Representative sequences of L. queenslandicus, L. boondallus sp. n. and L. molloyensis sp. n. were used in a phylogenetic analysis. Partial genomic sequences from these species obtained using the molecular markers SSU18S rRNAs (18S) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI), were deposited in GenBank: For 18S, the GenBank accession numbers are MG210573 for L. boondallus sp. n., MG210574 for L. molloyensis sp. n. and MG210575 for L. queenslandicus. For COI, the GenBank accession numbers are MG204535 for L. queenslandicus; MG204536 for L. boondallus sp. n. and MG204537 for L. molloyensis sp. n.
18S: The consensus 18S sequences from L. queenslandicus, L. boondallus sp. n. and L. molloyensis sp. n. were used in a BLAST search (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) to identify sequences of closely related species. To explore relationships between these species, an entire sequence from Monographis sp. collected in China (GenBank accession number AY596371), partial sequences from M. queenslandicus (KF147166), M. dongnaiensis (KP255446), Polyxenus lagurus (EU368619), Polyxenus fasciculatatus (AF173235), Propolyxenus australis (MF592753), Unixenus mjobergi (MF592755), Lophoproctus coecus (MF592760), Chilexenus rosendinus (MF592765), Lophoturus madecassus (MF592767), Alloproctoides sp. (MF592759), and two species of pill millipedes (Sphaerotheriida): Sphaeromimus musicus (FJ409961) and Procyliosoma leae (FJ409955) as an outgroup, were aligned with sequences from Lophoturus species using BioEdit (Hall 2010); MEGA7 (
COI: Sequences of L. queenslandicus, L. boondallus sp. n. and L. molloyensis sp. n. were aligned with the following sequences from related species available on GenBank using a BLAST search (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov): Polyxenus lagurus (HQ966144), Propolyxenus trivittatus (MF592724), Chilexenus rosendinus (MF592731), Lophoproctus coecus (MF592729), Alloproctoides sp. (MF592725), Eudigraphis sp. (LC010908), a pill millipede Glomeridella minima (JN271878) (Sphaerotheriida) and Pogonsternum sp. (KU745274) (Polydesmida) as outgroups. Phylogenetic analysis of these species was performed as described above for 18S. The maximum likelihood method was used for pairwise distance analysis of nucleotide composition between these Lophoturus.
Lophoturus obscurus Brölemann, 1931.
Lophoturus, is a synonym of Alloproctinus Jeekel, 1963 and it was replaced by Alloproctus Silvestri, 1948; reassessed by
Lophoturus queenslandicus Verhoeff, 1924 was the first lophoproctid penicillate millipede collected from Ravenshoe, Australia (
L. queenslandicus has 13 pairs of legs, 10 segments and a telson; 9 pleural projections; body covered with barbate trichomes; tergal trichomes form 2 latero-posterior groups with a few trichomes extending anteriorly and these groups are separated by a gap; Chaetotaxy with pubescent oval setae; simple claw; the ornamental trichomes with 8a, 1b and 2c (c1 and c3); labrum with setose surface and 0 to 1 pairs of linguiform processes; the 6th antennal article with 3 thick sensilla (
Adult male, stadium VIII – 13 leg pairs stage, collected from Boondall Wetlands Park, Boondall, Brisbane, Queensland; 27°20'25.85"S, 153°4'36.94"E, elevation 9 m. The species was collected from leaf litter near the main entrance of the park on 10 November 2015 by author (CH).
One male and 9 females were collected in the same location and date as holotype. (1 male and 2 females were used for SEM imaging in this study).
The species is named Lophoturus boondallus sp. n. as they were first found in Boondall Wetlands Park, Boondall, Queensland, Australia.
L. boondallus has the following morphological characteristics: 3 sensilla on the 6th antennal article and labrum with two linguiform processes. These features are typical characteristics of Lophoturus. Live specimens from this species are light orange in colour with a round arc-shaped body form in cross section. Adults body length range from 1.6–2.2 mm.
Measurements: Holotype male body length 1.9 mm, females (paratypes) (n = 8) range from 1.9–2.2 mm. Caudal bundle of the male is slightly narrower in width with 0.6 mm in length than that of the female (0.5 mm) (Fig.
Colouration. Head light orange and dark reddish-brown laterally; body light orange, contrasting with their white pleural trichomes and lighter coloured caudal bundle (Figure
Head. Ommatidia absent. Vertex with two posterior trichome groups, a large gap presents between them. Each group consists of 2 rows, the anterior, oblique row has similar sized trichome sockets. Posterior row has fewer trichome sockets with a narrow space between the anterior and posterior rows. Holotype male has 12 + 12 trichome sockets in anterior rows and 4 + 4 trichome sockets in posterior rows (Fig.
The depiction of holotype of Lophoturus boondallus sp. n. A A head capsule showed the posterior vertex trichome sockets (pv) and trichobothria B, C, D Collum (col) with the lateral protuberances (Lp), tergite 2 (t2) and tergite 10 (t10), with trichome socket patterns E Trichobothria: Trichobothrium a (located posteriorly with medium socket), trichobothrium b (located laterally with largest socket) are typical thin sensory hairs and trichobothrium c with a claviform funicle (located anteriorly with smallest socket) F Gnathochilaria of male and G Gnathochilaria from female (paratype) H Labrum displayed two linguiform processes (lp) and setose surface.
Antennae. 8 articles (4 tiny, reduced sensory cones), 7th and 8th antennal articles are equal in length (Fig.
Antennal articles of the holotype Lophoturus boondallus sp. n. A Antenna with eight articles and the arrangement of sensilla on the 6th and 7th articles; articles 7th and 8th were equal in length; the arrangement of sensilla on the 6th and 7th antennal articles B Sensilla on the 7th antennal article; a conical sensillum (c), a long thick sensillum located posteriorly (Tp) and a short thick sensillum located anteriorly (Ta) with a setiform sensillum (s) located between these sensilla C Sensilla on the 6th antennal article; a conical sensillum (c), a medium length thick sensillum (Tp), a long thick sensillum (Ti) and the short thick sensillum (Ta).
Clypeo-labrum: Holotype has 10 setae, all half the width of the labrum. Setae on paratypes ranged from 10–12. Labrum surface setose, with tiny, backward facing hairs. Anterior margin of labrum with two whole lamellae, and a linguiform process present on each side of median cleft of labrum (Figs
Gnathochilaria. Medial palps only, 58 sensilla on the palp of holotype (male) and 18–22 sensilla on paratypes (females) (Fig.
Trunk. Comprised of 10 segments, 9 pleural projections, excluding the telson and caudal bundle; 13 pairs of legs. Collum – tergite 1 (smallest tergite) with trichome sockets arranged in 2 oval shapes laterally, connected by posterior curved rows of trichome sockets with a large gap in the middle. The collum is the only tergite with lateral protuberances bearing a small number of trichome sockets. In holotype, the collum has 52 (Left: L), 52 (Right: R) trichome sockets and the lateral protuberances with 7 trichome sockets on each side (Fig.
Legs. Leg segments are named following
Holotype of Lophoturus boondallus sp. n. A The second left leg showing a penis (p), seven leg segments (co coxa, pf pre-femur, f femur, pof: post-femur, ti tibia, T1 tarsus 1, T2 tarsus 2 and a spine), a claw and its chaetotaxy (setae on the leg segments) B a pubescent oval seta C a spine on tarsus 2 D A simple claw structure with two latero-dorsal denticles (ldd), claw (c), a basal denticle (bd) and small denticle (smd) E The ornamental trichome sockets, located dorsally on the caudal bundle structure, with six trichomes a, one trichome b and two trichomes c (c1 and c3).
Telotarsus–Claw. slender with two latero-dorsal denticles (ldd) equal in length, a basal denticle (bd) and a small denticle (smd) present near the tip of the claw (Figs
Telson. Dorsal ornamental trichome sockets symmetrically arranged on each side, with 6 sockets of trichome a in the holotype; paratype females have 6–8 sockets of trichome a, a single trichome b and two large protruding base sockets of trichome c: c1 and c3 (The absence of c2 is characteristic of lophoproctid species) (Fig.
Caudal bundles. In the holotype male, the caudal bundle is formed by a single group of trichome sockets of uniform sizes; this structure is split ventrally with trichome socket-free tissue present and extending with a small gap dorsally toward the centre. 3 rows of the largest size barbate trichome sockets present, forming slightly uneven lateral rows that extend toward the centre of the caudal structure (Fig.
SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) images of Lophoturus boondallus sp. n. A A dorsal view of whole body showing the body trichome arrangements and the caudal bundle B A ventral view of whole body showed 13 pairs of legs C A head capsule displaying two posterior vertex trichome groups (pv), a collum (col) and tergite 2 (t2) D Trichobothria a (a), b (b) and c (c) showing different sizes in trichobothrium sockets E and F Antennal articles 6 and 7 with sensilla (Ta: thick sensillum located anteriorly, Ti: intermediated thick sensillum, Tp: posterior thick sensillum, setiform sensillum (s) and a conical sensillum (c)).
SEM images of Lophoturus boondallus sp. n. A Mouth part showed setose labrum (l) with typical two linguiform processes (lp) and sensilla from the gnathochilarium (g) B Simple claw with lateral dorsal denticles (ldd), claw (c), small denticle (smd) and basal denticle (bd) C Male caudal bundle showed an ornamental trichome sockets (a, b and c) and the uniform caudal bundle trichome sockets (cbts); D Female caudal bundle structure displaying ornamental trichome sockets and two main parts: caudal bundle trichome sockets dorsally (cbts) and two nest trichome sockets (nts) ventrally.
L. boondallus differs from L. queenslandicus in being shorter in length, in having light orange colouration, a round arc-shaped body form when viewed in cross section. Furthermore, it also differs genetically from the other Lophoturus species. In contrast, L. queenslandicus is rusty brown with a yellowish light green median band dorsally and two darker brown strips laterally; body 2.4–2.8 mm long, with a flattened arc shape (Fig.
Adult male, stadium VIII – stage 13 leg pairs, was collected from Mount Molloy, Cairns region, Queensland; 16°41'10.50"S, 145°19'49.43"E, elevation 396 m, 8 December 2016.
1 male, 4 females and one 12 leg pairs (subadult), collected with holotype.
Lophoturus molloyensis sp. n. is named after the collection location, Mount Molloy in the Cairns region of far north Queensland, Australia.
L. molloyensis, has 3 sensilla on the 6th antennal article, and labrum has two linguiform processes. These features are typical of Lophoturus. In live, this species is white in colour with rounded body shape, covered with shorter trichomes. Body length of adults ranges from 1.4–1.8 mm, which distinguishes it from the longer Lophoturus species.
Measurements: Holotype male body length 1.4 mm; females (paratypes) (n = 4) range from 1.6–1.8 mm. Caudal bundle of male is slightly narrower in width and 0.2 mm in length than that of the female with 0.3 mm (Fig.
Colouration. Head white and dark reddish brown in eye area; body yellowish-white with dull white pleural trichomes and bright white in caudal bundle (Fig.
Head. Ommatidia absent. Vertex with two posterior trichome groups, a large gap presents between them. Each group consists of 2 rows, the anterior, oblique row has similar sized trichomes. Posterior row has fewer trichome sockets with a narrow space between the anterior and posterior rows (Figs
Holotype of Lophoturus molloyensis sp. n. A Head capsule, absence of ommatidia indicated, two posterior vertex trichome sockets (pv) and trichobothria a, b and c with the sockets only B the collum (col) and two lateral protuberances (Lp) C Tergite 2 (t2) and D The last tergite 10 (t10), showing the arrangement of trichome sockets F Trichobothria: a (the medium base socket located posteriorly) and b (the largest base socket located laterally) are typical thin sensory hairs, c with with a claviform funicle (the smallest base socket located anteriorly) G The male, right gnathochilarium showing numerous sensilla (ranged 56 – 58 sensilla in male) E Labrum showing a pair of linguiform processes (lp) and setose surface.
Antennae. 8 articles, 7th and 8th antennal articles are equal in length (Fig.
Holotype of Lophoturus molloyensis sp. n. A The arrangement of sensilla on the 7th antennal article: A conical sensillum (c), a long thick sensillum located posteriorly (Tp) and a short thick sensillum located anteriorly (Ta) with a setiform sensillum (s) located between these sensilla B Sensilla on the 6th antennal article: a conical sensillum (c), a medium length thick sensillum located posteriorly (Tp) and a long thick sensillum located intermediately (Ti) followed the short thick sensillum (Ta) C The left antenna with eight articles and the arrangement of sensilla on the 6th and 7th articles.
Clypeo-labrum. Holotype has 10 setae, all shorter than half the width of the labrum. Setae on the paratypes ranged from 10–12. Labrum surface setose, with tiny, backward facing hairs. Anterior margin of labrum has two whole lamellae, and a linguiform process present on each side of median cleft of labrum (Figs
Gnathochilaria. Medial palps only, 58 sensilla on the palp of holotype (male) and 18–22 sensilla on paratypes (females) (Fig.
Trunk. Comprised of 10 segments, 9 pleural projections, excluding the telson and caudal bundle; 13 pairs of legs. Collum with trichome sockets arranged in 2 oval shapes laterally, connected by a posterior row of trichome sockets forming a line with a large gap in the middle. Lateral protuberances have a small number of trichome sockets. In holotype, the collum has 26 trichome sockets on both sides and the lateral protuberances have 7 trichome sockets on each side (Figs
Legs. Leg segments are named following
Telotarsus - Claw: robust with two latero-dorsal denticles (ldd) equal length, a basal denticle (bd) and a small denticle (smd) present near the middle of the claw (Fig.
Telson. Dorsal ornamental trichome sockets symmetrically arranged on each side, with 6 sockets of trichome a in the holotype; paratype females have 4–6 sockets of trichome a, a single trichome b and two large protruding base sockets of trichome c: c1 and c3 (Fig.
Holotype of Lophoturus molloyensis sp. n. A The second right leg with a penis (p), seven leg segments (c coxa, pf pre-femur, f femur, pof post-femur, ti tibia, T1 tarsus 1, T2 tarsus 2 and a spine), a claw and its chaetotaxy (setae on the leg segments) B A pubescent oval seta C A spine on tarsus 2 D A simple claw structure showing two latero-dorsal denticles (ldd), claw (c), a basal denticle (bd) and a small denticle (smd) E The ornamental trichome sockets, which located dorsally above the caudal bundle structure, with six trichomes a, one trichome b and two trichomes c (c1 and c3).
Caudal bundles. These caudal structures similar in both sexes and like those of L. boondallus described above.
L. molloyensis differs from both L. queenslandicus and L. boondallus in size, body length (about 1.6 mm), form and colouration. Body trichomes are short. The 12 leg pairs stage of this species may initially be confused with L. madecassus Marquet & Condé, 1950 as they have the same body length and appearance. Both have 8 pleural projections, but L. molloyensis has 12 leg pairs in subadult stage compared to L. madecassus which has 11 leg pairs in the adult stage.
SEM images of Lophoturus molloyensis sp. n. A A dorsal view of whole body showing the body trichome arrangements and the caudal bundle B A ventral view of whole body showing 13 pairs of legs C A head capsule displaying two posterior vertex trichome groups (pv), a collum (col) and tergite 2 (T2) D The trichobothria: a, b and c, showing different sizes in trichobothrium sockets E Antennal articles 6 and 7 with their sensilla (Ta: thick sensillum located anteriorly, Ti: intermediate thick sensillum, Tp: posterior thick sensillum, setiform sensillum (s) and a conical sensillum (c) F Mouth parts with setose labrum (l) with typical two linguiform processes (lp) and the gnathochilarium (g).
The 18S maximum likelihood tree was generated by 1000 bootstrap replications yielded a strongly supported phylogenetic tree. The 18S region of the 3 sequences from studied Lophoturus species formed a statistically supported clade with all sequences of Lophoturus species. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these species belong in the same genus Lophoturus (Fig.
Another bootstrap maximum likelihood tree based on comparison of the COI region of three Lophoturus species also yielded a strongly supported phylogenetic tree with the bootstrap value (>50%, shown on the nodes of the clade of three species) that these Lophoturus species are sufficiently distinct to warrant separation into 3 species (Fig.
The molecular phylogenetic analysis by maximum likelihood method. A A consensus tree of sequences from 18S marker generated by the bootstrap test (1000 replications and the support values >50% shown on the nodes) yielded a strongly supported phylogenetic tree B The maximum likelihood test of sequences from COI marker provided the molecular phylogenetic tree of evolutionary history between each species. Again, this tree supported all Lophoturus species in the same clade as in the result of 18S.
Pairwise distances of the genomic DNA among Lophoturus species were analysed based on the maximum likelihood method to estimate of the evolutionary divergence between sequences. The genomic sequences based on the COI molecular marker showed significant percentage difference in the genetic distance between these Lophoturus spp.: L. queenslandicus was 16% genetic distance to L. boondallus sp. n. and 14% genetic distance to L. molloyensis. L. boondallus sp. n. and 14% genetic distance to L. molloyensis (Table
Pairwise distances of the sequences from three Lophoturus species were analysed based on the estimate of the evolutionary divergence between sequences from 18S and COI.
L. queenslandicus Verhoeff, 1924, L. boondallus sp. n. and L. molloyensis sp. n. all exhibit many similar morphological characteristics i.e. labrum with setose surface and a pair of linguiform processes, 3 thick sensilla (thick sensilla: located in anterior position (Ta), intermediate position (Ti) and posterior position (Tp)) on the 6th antennal article, which are typical characteristics of genus Lophoturus. In preserved specimens where their colouration has gradually faded and trichomes damaged or lost, it is difficult to identify to species level. In live specimens, these species appear quite different based on body colouration and form: L. queenslandicus is rusty brown colour with a yellowish light green median band dorsally with two darker brown strips laterally; body length ranged 2.4–2.8 mm and it has a flattened arc body shape. L. boondallus is different in colour, being light orange with a rounded arc body shape, the adult body lengths often ranged from 1.6–2.2 mm. In contrast, L. molloyensis differs from the other two species having the shortest body length of about 1.6 mm and being white colour with round body shape (Fig.
Special thanks to Megan Short who reviewed an earlier version of this manuscript; also to Dr Nick Porch who produced the beautiful pictures of the specimens for Figure