A genus of medium-sized to larger (up to 43 mm long) Orthomorphini with 20 segments and conspicuously enlarged and elevated paraterga (antler-like, wing-shaped or spiniform). Metaterga often granulate, tuberculate and/or spiculate. Certain male femora (5, 6, 7 and/or 9) often inflated ventrally. A setose central lobe or a paramedian pair of setose tubercles between male coxae 4 present.

Gonopods with rather short, subcylindrical, distoventrally setose coxae. Telopodites mostly suberect, only seldom subfalcate. Prefemoral (= densely setose) portion from 1/3 to 1/2 as long to nearly as long as femorite, the latter not twisted, at most only slightly enlarged distad and devoid both of a mesal groove/hollow and any processes. Seminal groove running entirely mesally to pass onto a usually shortened solenomere, the latter mostly sheathed by a usually condensed, rather simple solenophore, much shorter than femorite, composed of a smaller lamina medialis and a larger lamina lateralis. Solenophore demarcated from femorite by a clear-cut sulcus or cingulum at base, poorly or strongly set off from base of solenomere.

Desmoxytes coniger Chamberlin, 1923

Currently 29 described species.

The above diagnosis largely repeats that given by Golovatch and Enghoff (1994). Here it only emphasizes variation in relative lengths of the femoral and solenophore parts of the gonopod telopodite.

♂(IZAS), China, Hunan Prov., Chenzhou City, Linwu County, Tianhe, Cave 1, 500 m a.s.l., 19.VI.2009, leg. Tian Mingyi & Xue Zhihong (CHIhn09-LWX02).

1♂(SCAU), 1 ♀ (ZMUM), same locality, together with holotype. 1 ♂ (MNHN JA 130), 1 ♂juv., 1 ♀ juv., 1 fragment (SCAU), 1 ♀ juv. (GNUG), same county, Changshali, Cave 1, 500 m a.s.l., 19.VI.2009, leg. Tian Mingyi & Xue Zhihong (CHIhn09-LWX03).

To emphasize the paraterga being true wings.

Differs in the paraterga being mostly wing-shaped, rather long and strongly curved, combined with a short gonopod femorite and a condensed solenophore, as well as ♂legs totally devoid of femoral humps. See also Key below.

Length ca 25–29 (♂) or 32 mm (♀), juveniles (♀ with 18 segments) up to 26 mm; width of proterga and metaterga+paraterga 1.8 and 2.0–2.3 (♂), or 2.3 and 2.8 mm (♀), respectively. Holotype 27 mm long, 1.8 and 2.3 mm wide on midbody pro- and metazona, respectively. Juveniles (♀ with 18 segments) up to 1.9 and 2.8 mm wide on midbody pro- and metazona, respectively.

Body moniliform (Fig. 1D). Coloration of alcohol material (♂, ♀ and advanced juvenile instars) rather uniformly light grey-brownish to yellowish, anterior body part often a little darker brownish (Fig. 1A–C). In width, head << collum = segment 2 = 3 < 4 = 16; thereafter body gradually tapering towards telson. Front part of head densely setose, vertex bare, epicranial suture distinct. Antennae very long and slender, reaching back to segment 5 or 6 (♂) (Fig. 1A–C), or 4 (♀) dorsally, antennomeres 5 and 6 each with an apicodorsal compact group of bacilliform sensilla.

Tegument rather smooth and shining, both pro- and metazona very delicately microalveolate, metaterga finely shagreened and rugulose transversely, surface below paraterga finely shagreened. Collum with 3+3 small, but rather evident teeth in a row at front margin, behind it with 2+2 and 2+2 extremely small denticles, knobs or insertion points (setae invariably obliterated) in two transverse, often barely visible rows. Metatergum 2 with a pattern of similar, barely visible 2+2 and 2+2 knobs or insertion points in two transverse rows. Starting from metatergum 3, setation pattern entirely or nearly untraceable. Collum and all following metaterga with large, mostly subfalcate, wing-shaped, high paraterga (Fig. 1A–D) directed dorsolaterally and ending up clearly above dorsum on collum, as well as segments 2–7 and 17 & 18, remaining paraterga subhorizontal and about level with dorsum in ♂, but slightly lower and shorter in ♀ and juveniles. Paraterga with two indentations at front margin, starting from collum these becoming less distinct and nearly fully disappearing in segments 15 to 18. Paraterga 17–19 directed caudad, subspiniform (Fig. 1E). Stricture between pro- and metazona narrow only in a few anteriormost segments, thereafter much wider and only vaguely delimited, always smooth at bottom (Fig. 1D). Pore formula normal; ozopores inconspicuous, located about midway on ventral side of poriferous paraterga. Transverse sulcus evident on metaterga 3–18 (Fig. 1D). Pleurosternal carinae poorly developed in segments 2 and 3, absent from others (Fig. 1C). Epiproct (Fig. 1E) rather simple, dorsal subapical and, especially, lateral pre-apical papillae very distinct, tuberculiform. Hypoproct (Fig. 1E) subtrapeziform, caudal margin very slightly concave, setigerous cones at caudal edge very small, widely separated. Axial line missing.

Sterna quite densely setose, cross-impressions faint. A paramedian pair of entirely separated, short, rounded, setose tubercles between ♂ coxae 4 (Fig. 2A). Legs (Fig. 1A, B, F) very long and slender, devoid of modifications, ca 3.2–3.5 (♂) or 2.5 (♀) times longer than midbody height.

Gonopods (Fig. 2B, C) short. Coxite rather short, subcylindrical, poorly setose distodorsally, about half as long as telopodite. Prefemoral (= densely setose) portion less than half as long as acropodite. Femorite (fe) quite stout, slightly enlarged distad, with seminal groove running entirely on mesal face, apically with a distinct sulcus demarcating a short, strongly condensed solenophore (sph). The latter distinguished by a parabasally spinigerous (s) and terminally poorly trifid lamina medialis (lm) and a simpler and somewhat larger lamina lateralis (ll). Solenomere (sl) similarly short, flagelliform, well separated at base from solenophore.

♂(IZAS), China, Guangxi Prov., Fuchuan County, Guanyuan, Cave Guanyuan Dong, 25.I.2012, leg. Li Youbang, Li Youting and Tang Kewen (CHIgx12-LYB04).

1 ♀ (GNUG), same locality, together with holotype.

To emphasize the extremely long and spiniform paraterga.

Differs in the paraterga being long and spiniform throughout, combined with a strongly condensed solenophore and both ♂ femora 6 and 7 being humped. See also Key below.

Length ca 27 (♂) or 36 mm (♀); width of pro- and metaterga together with paraterga 1.6 and 4.0 (♂) or 2.0 and 4.0 mm (♀), respectively.

Body strongly moniliform (Fig. 3A, B). Coloration of alcohol material rather uniformly light pink-brownish to nearly pallid, anterior body part a little darker, pinkish (Fig. 3). Antennomere 7 dark brown. In width, head << collum = segment 2 = 3 < 4 < 5 = 16; thereafter body gradually tapering towards telson. Head densely setose throughout, epicranial suture distinct. Antennae very long and slender, reaching back to segment 8 (♂) or 6 (♀) dorsally, antennomeres 5 and 6 each with an apicodorsal compact group of bacilliform sensilla.

Tegument rather smooth and poorly shining, prozona very delicately microalveolate, metaterga finely shagreened to microgranulate/microspiculate, surface below paraterga finely shagreened. Collum with 3+3 evident setigerous spines in a row at front margin (growing increasingly long laterad), behind it with 1+1 and 2+2 similar spinules in two transverse rows. Following metaterga with a pattern of similar 1+1 and 2+2 spinules in two transverse rows. Collum and all following metaterga with extremely long, straight, spiniform paraterga (Fig. 3A, B) directed more dorsally than laterally and ending up clearly above dorsum on collum and in segments 2–18; only paraterga 19 subhorizontal, about level with dorsum, directed clearly caudad and reaching behind until about midlength along telson. Paraterga ca 1.2–1.3 (♂) or 0.9 times (♀) as long as midbody height. Paraterga 1–18 with 2–3 evident indentations/spinules frontally (these growing increasingly inconspicuous towards telson) and a short, but evident tooth posteriorly at base. Stricture between pro- and metazona rather narrow and shallow, always smooth at bottom (Fig. 3B). Pore formula normal; ozopores inconspicuous, located just behind last indentation on ventral side of poriferous paraterga. Transverse sulcus missing. Pleurosternal carinae evident only in segments 2 and 3. Epiproct (Fig. 3C, D) rather simple, subapical and, especially, pre-apical papillae very distinct, finger-shaped. Hypoproct (Fig. 3D) subtrapeziform, caudal margin emarginate, setigerous cones at caudal edge small, but evident, widely separated. Axial line missing.

Sterna quite densely setose, cross-impressions faint. A paramedian pair of entirely separated, short, rounded, setose tubercles between ♂ coxae 4 (Fig. 4A). Legs (Fig. 3A–C) extremely long and slender, > 4.0 (♂) or 3.2 (♀) times longer than midbody height. ♂femora 6 and 7 strongly inflated ventrally in distal quarter (Fig. 3E)

Gonopods (Fig. 4B, C) simple. Coxite rather short, subcylindrical, poorly setose distodorsally, about 1/3 as long as telopodite. Prefemoral portion (= densely setose) about half as long as acropodite. Femorite (fe) slender, elongate, only slightly enlarged distad, with seminal groove running entirely on mesal face, also with a distinct sulcus demarcating a short, strongly condensed solenophore (sph). The latter distinguished by a smaller, somewhat folded lamina medialis (lm) and a simpler and larger lamina lateralis (ll). Solenomere (sl) similarly short, flagelliform, rather faintly separated at base from solenophore.

♂(IZAS), China, Guangxi Prov., Yongfu County, Shangxiao, Cave Dachong Dong, 17.I.2012, leg. Li Youbang and Lu Shiyi (CHIgx12-LYB03).

1 ♀ (GNUG), 1 ♀ juv. (MNHN JA 131), same locality, together with holotype.

To honour Mr Lu Shiyi, one of the collectors.

Differs in the paraterga being spiniform only until segment 5, combined with the gonopods being strongly condensed, ♂femora 6 humped. See also Key below.

Length ca 36 (♂), 43 mm (♀) or 40 mm (1 ♀ juvenile with 19 segments); width of pro- and metaterga together with paraterga 2.0 and 2.2 (♂), 3.2 and 3.4 mm (♀) or 3.0 and 3.1 mm (1 ♀ juvenile with 19 segments), respectively.

Body strongly moniliform (Fig. 5A–C). Coloration of alcohol material rather uniformly light pink-brownish to nearly pallid, anterior body part a little darker, pinkish (Fig. 5). Antennomere 7 dark brown (even in the juvenile). In width, segment 3 = 4 < head < collum = segment 2 < 6 = 16; thereafter body gradually tapering towards telson. Head very densely setose throughout, epicranial suture distinct. Antennae extremely long and slender, reaching back to segment 9 (♂) or 7 (♀) dorsally, antennomeres 5 and 6 each with an apicodorsal compact group of bacilliform sensilla.

Tegument rather smooth and poorly shining, prozona very delicately microalveolate, metaterga finely shagreened to microgranulate/microspiculate, surface below paraterga finely shagreened to microgranulate. Collum with 6+6(7) evident setigerous spinules in a row at front margin, behind it with about 4+4 smaller spinules in an irregular transverse row.

Following metaterga with a pattern of similar, smaller, 3+3 and 3+3 spinules in two transverse rows, last row gradually growing up to 6+6 until segment 19. Collum and following metaterga 2–4 with straight, spiniform paraterga, about as long as body height in ♂, a little shorter in ♀ and juvenile (Fig. 5A–C), directed much more dorsally than laterally and ending up clearly above dorsum; paraterga 5 only slightly shorter than preceding ones; paraterga 6–18 contrasting short, coni- to dentiform; paraterga 19 subhorizontal, about level with dorsum, directed clearly caudad and reaching behind until about midlength (♂) or front third (♀) along telson. Paraterga 1–5 with two rather evident, setigerous indentations/spinules/knobs frontally and a short tooth posteriorly at base (Fig. 5A). Stricture between pro- and metazona very broad and shallow, always smooth at bottom (Fig. 5B, C). Pore formula normal; ozopores inconspicuous, located just at base on lateral side of poriferous paraterga. Transverse sulcus usually very vague, traceable in segments 4–18. Pleurosternal carinae evident only in segments 2 and 3 (Fig. 5A). Epiproct (Fig. 5C, D) rather simple, lateral pre-apical papillae very distinct, finger-shaped. Hypoproct (Fig. 5D) subtrapeziform, caudal margin emarginate, setigerous cones at caudal edge very large, widely separated. Axial line missing.

Sterna quite densely setose, cross-impressions faint. A paramedian pair of entirely separated, short, rounded, setose tubercles between ♂ coxae 4 (Fig. 6A). Legs (Fig. 5A, B) extremely long and slender, ca 6.0 (♂) or 4.5 (♀) times longer than midbody height. ♂femora 6 strongly inflated ventrally in distal quarter (Fig. 5B).

Gonopods (Fig. 6B–D) simple. Coxite rather short, subcylindrical, poorly setose distodorsally, about 1/3 times as long as telopodite. Prefemoral portion (= densely setose) about half as long as acropodite. Femorite (fe) rather slender, elongate, only slightly enlarged distad, with seminal groove running entirely on mesal face, also with a distinct sulcus demarcating a short, strongly condensed solenophore (sph). The latter distinguished by a somewhat folded lamina medialis (lm) and a simpler lamina lateralis (ll). Solenomere (sl) similarly short, flagelliform, evidently separated at base from solenophore.