A genus of Brachyiulini differing from contribal genera by the following combination of characters: promeres positioned completely anteriorly in relation to opisthomeres; promere very short, on average half as long as opisthomere; opisthomere possessing a clearly discernible basoposterior process, the latter sometimes tightly contiguous with CBO, a usually well-pronounced lateral process (very small in some species), which is strongly mesolaterally flattened, and an anterior process; some species with a mesoanterior process.

Differs from its only congener known from the Caucasus, B. lusitanus Verhoeff, 1898, mainly by the opisthomere possessing a smooth rather than striated lateral process, and a slightly rather than strongly bent anterior process.

2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Georgia: AR Abkhazia, Pitsunda, Bzyb River Valley, meadow with a few Buxus trees, in litter, 8.IV.1983, SIG leg.

Russia: southern Rostov-on-Don Region and Stavropol (Evsyukov and Golovatch 2013; Zuev 2014).

From eastern Poland in the west to southwestern Siberia, Russia and western Kazakhstan in the east (Nefediev et al. 2014, Kime and Enghoff 2017); subendemic to the Russian [= East European] Plain (Wytwer et al. 2009; Zuev 2014).

The species is new to the fauna of AR Abkhazia. It has already been known from the Caucasus region, reported by Zuev (2014) from a farm in the city of Stavropol, while the current record marks the southernmost locality of its known range. The occurrences of this species both at Stavropol and in Abkhazia seem to be synanthropic.

Differs from its only congener known from the Caucasus, B. jawlowskii, mainly by the opisthomere possessing a striated rather than smooth lateral process, and a strongly rather than slightly bent anterior process.

(ZMUM). Georgia: 7 ♂♂, 1 ♀, AR Abkhazia, region of Sukhumi, Nizhnyaya Yashtukha, tobacco plantation, 26.V–19.VI.1981, A. Markosyan leg.; 1 ♂, Tbilisi, canyon of Vere River, 18.X.1980, M. Kokhia leg.; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, eastern Georgia, Akhmeta District, E of Kasristskali, salty swamp, reed thickets, 7.V.1983, V. Yanushev leg.

Subcosmopolitan (Kime and Enghoff 2017, Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018).

This ubiquitous, largely anthropochoric species was first listed by Lohmander (1936) and then repeated by Kokhia and Golovatch (2018) from central Georgia, Caucasus, but without any exact locality. Rakhmanov (1972) recorded this species from near Lankaran (= Lenkoran) in Hyrcania, southeastern Azerbaijan.

A genus of Brachyiulini differing from contribal genera by the following combination of characters: promeres positioned completely anteriorly in relation to opisthomeres; opisthomere with a mostly vestigial or lobe-like basoposterior process, sometimes bearing one or two apical outgrowths; and a well-developed lateral process; anterior process absent.

Azerbaijan: 1 ♂ (SMNG), İsmayıllı District, S of Zərgəran, 40.7310°N, 48.3680°E, 880 m a.s.l., slope with Corylus, Clematis and some Prunus trees, stone heaps overgrown by moss, mainly in thick litter and under stones, 30.III.2015, D. Antić and H. Reip leg.; 1 ♀ (SMNG), İsmayıllı District, near Qurbanəfəndi, 1.3 road km towards Xanəgah, 40.8614°N, 48.1132°E, 640 m a.s.l., slope with Fagus and a single Populus tree, in litter, same date and collectors; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juv. (ZMUM), Altıağaç National Park, 1050–1100 m, mixed broadleaved forest, litter, 20 and 26.IV.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), SW of Quba, 750 m, Fagus, Quercus, Carpinus etc. forest, litter and under bark, 23.IV.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Shemakha District, Pirkuli, 1700 m, Quercus, Taxus, 22.XI.1962, T. Perel leg. Georgia: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (SMNG), Mtskheta-Mtianeti, valley of Andaki River, 2.2 km upstream of its confluence with Argun River, 42.5006°N, 45.2156°E, 1430 m a.s.l., 08.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (SMNG), Mtskheta-Mtianeti, 1 km downstream of Mutso, 42.5006°N, 45.2156°E, 1530 m a.s.l., 9.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (SMNG), NW of Stepantsminda, 42°40'1"N, 44°36'49"E, 2093 m a.s.l., Juniperus, 02.VII.2019, K. Voigtländer leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Stepantsminda, 8.VI.1974, M. Kokhia leg. Russia: 1 ♂ (SMNG 33575), Republic of Adygea, Novoprokhladnoye, 20.V.2004, K. Voigtländer leg.; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), Stavropol Province, Kursavka, Acacia and Rosa hedge alongside a road, sifted litter, 30.V.1982, SIG leg.; 2 ♀♀ (SMNG), Stavropol, Tamanskaya Dacha Forest, near Komsomolskiy Reservoir, 45.0481°N, 41.9567°E, 530 m a.s.l., deciduous forest (Quercus, Carpinus, Acer), 22.VIII.2012, F. Walther leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀ (ZMUM), Stavropol Province, Novoaleksandrovsk, east end, X.2013, B. Korotyaev leg.; 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Chegemsky District, upper course of Chegem River, meadow, under stones, 1500 m, 12.VII.1986, SIG leg.; 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (SMNG), Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, Alagirsky District, Borzikau, near Fiagdon River, 1200 m a.s.l., 42°50'37"N, 44°18'44"E, under stones, 11.V.2016, A.S. Sazhiev leg.; 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, North Ossetian State Nature Reserve, Tsey Valley, 23.VII.1984, S. Alekseev leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Chechen Republic, Kharachoy, SE of Vedeno, 950 m, Fagus, Carpinus etc. forest, in litter, under bark and stones, 17.VII.1986, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Chechen Republic, Argun Valley, 5 km N of Shatoy, Corylus, Fagus, Carpinus etc. forest, 750 m, in litter, under stones and bark, 18.VII.1986, SIG leg.; 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀ (ZMUM), 8 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Kazbekovskiy District, Dylym, Fagus and Carpinus forest, 13.VII.1985, K. Khajialiyev leg.; 8 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Almak, Carpinus forest, 15.VII.1985, K. Khajialiyev leg.; 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Sergokalinskiy District, Murguk, Quercus forest, western slope, 4.III.1985, K. Khajialiyev leg.; 10 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀, Republic of Dagestan, Kayakentskiy District, Quercus forest, 27.VII.1985, K. Khajialiyev leg.; 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, Republic of Dagestan, Botlikh Distrikt, Kharami Pass, 2150 m, subalpine meadow, under stones, 16.VII.1986, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (HNHM), Republic of Dagestan, Kurush, 3000 m a.s.l., 8.VII.1989, Z. Korsós leg.

Gonopods: Promere (Fig. 1C and p in Fig. 1A, B) somewhat shorter than solenomere, with a well-developed median ridge and a deep and narrow median groove; flagellum of usual thickness; opisthomere (Fig. 1A, B, D) with a large lateral process with serrated mesal margin, and a basoposterior process with an apical outgrowth turned laterad; solenomere long (significantly exceeding promere), tubular, with a frontoapical acumination and a groove behind it; neither set- nor spiniform filaments at flagellum channel. Vulva (Fig. 1E) densely setose throughout, with operculum subequal to bursa.

Figure 1. 

Byzantorhopalum rossicum (Timotheew, 1897), ♂ from S of Zərgəran (A–D) and ♀ from near Qurbanəfəndi (E), both in Azerbaijan (SMNG) A left gonopods, mesal view B same, caudal view C right promere, caudal view D right opisthomere, latero-oral view E right vulva, latero-caudal, somewhat apical view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B, D), 0.1 mm (C, E). Abbreviations: bpp basoposterior process, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, lp lateral process, mg median groove, mr median ridge, op operculum, p: promere, s solenomere. Pictures by courtesy of Karin Voigtländer, Hans Reip and Dragan Antić.

Russia: Environs of Kislovodsk (Timotheew 1897), many places across the northern Caucasus (Lohmander 1936), Stavropol Province (Zuev 2014).

Also known from eastern Ukraine, Crimea, and the Kursk, Orel, Voronezh, Belgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Volgograd, and Saratov regions in central and southern European Russia (Lokšina 1969; Prisnyi 2001).

The subspecies B. r. strandschanum (Verhoeff, 1937) occurs in southeastern Bulgaria and northeastern Greece (Lazányi et al. 2012; Kime and Enghoff 2017). Despite its markedly disjunct distribution in relation to that of the nominate subspecies, until now, no reliable morphological characters to distinguish between the two taxa have been proposed (see also Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018). It thus seems that the usage of molecular data is the only way to define the nomenclatural faith of B. r. strandschanum.

The species is new to the faunas of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

A genus of Brachyiulini differing from contribal genera by the unique arrangement of the gonopod parts, including the promeres being positioned completely laterally rather than anteriorly in relation to the opisthomeres, and the solenomere being protected by specific grooves/channels in the anterior process of the opisthomere and in the distomesal process of the promere; as well as by the following combination of other characters: opisthomere with a lobe-like basoposterior process being mostly fused to CBO, ending with a freely protruding, branched, papillose, apical outgrowth, a well-developed anterior process, partially enveloping the solenomere, and a very slender, tapering solenomere, without any distinct apical structures.

• Small to medium-sized (L (males) = 15–37 mm) Brachyiulini.
• Ommatidia present.
• Ozopores right on or tightly behind pro-metazonal suture at least on more anterior body rings.
• Epiproct well-developed, from moderately to relatively (not conspicuously) long.
• Male hypoproct rounded trapezoidal to semi-circular, ventrally with two distal paramedian setae.
• Male mandibular stipites considerably expanded, broadly rounded, without a distinct anterior/anteroventral corner.
• Male walking legs ventrally with two well-developed adhesive pads, one each on postfemur and tibia.
• Penis short and stout, with very short apical lobes and small terminal lamellae.
• Gonopods:

• In situ considerably protruding from gonopodal sinus, directed caudoventrad.
• Promere higher than opisthomere, elongate, bearing a slender distomesal process with a narrow channel connected with a deep distomesal groove on caudal sur face of promere, both designed to envelop the solenomere; median ridge and median groove rather poorly developed; flagellum thin, micro-dentate apically.
• Opisthomere rather elongate; basoposterior process weakly pronounced, mostly fused to CBO, ending in a finely branched, papillose, freely protruding, apical outgrowth; anterior process long and flattened, partly enveloping the solenomere; an apicoposterior or lateral process, and a mesomeroidal lobe absent; solenomere fine and slender, with a simple tubular structure; with long spiniform filaments along flagellum channel.

• Vulva:

• Subcylindrical, mostly symmetrical.
• Bursa with a distinct, more or less obtuse, postero-apical margin.
• Opening placed apically on bursa.
• Operculum subequal in height to bursa.
• Receptaculum seminis: central tube narrow; posterior tube long and very narrow, somewhat folded; posterior ampulla small to medium-sized.

Vagalinski and Lazányi (2018), in their revision of the tribe Brachyiulini, retained Colchiobrachyiulus as a subgenus of Megaphyllum due to its apparent correspondence to the diagnosis of the latter genus. However, the examination of the present material of both C. dioscoriadis (Lignau, 1915), comb. nov. and C. montanus sp. nov. shows that the two species can hardly be regarded as close relatives of Megaphyllum s. str., and the unique arrangement of the gonopodal apparatus alone is sufficient to warrant Colchiobrachyiulus the status of a full genus. Besides this, certain morphological characters of Colchiobrachyiulus suggest proximity to Omobrachyiulus Lohmander, 1936: a lobe-like, basoposterior process of the opisthomere ending in a shield-like, apical outgrowth, branched or dentate at margin, a fine and slender solenomere, and the presence of long, erect and spiniform filaments along the flagellum channel are seen in many species of Omobrachyiulus. Nevertheless, the absence of an opisthomeral mesomeroidal lobe in Colchiobrachyiulus seems to be a sufficiently significant difference from Omobrachyiulus.

Both the distomesal process of the promere and the anterior process of the opisthomere in Colchiobrachyiulus seem to be specially designed for providing protection to the solenomere, enveloping the latter from the lateral and caudo-lateral sides, respectively. It is also possible that one or both of these structures take part in copulation, facilitating the penetration of the solenomere into the vulval opening.

(ZMUM). Georgia: AR Abkhazia: 2 ♂♂, 1 juv., Gulripsh near Sukhumi, 24.X.1953, E. Borutzky leg.; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Ochamchira District, Jgerda, Kodorskiy Mountain Range, in litter and under bark, 21.IX.1985, I.A. Ushakov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Pitsunda-Myussera Nature Reserve, Myussera part, 20–130 m, mixed deciduous forest (Castanea, Alnus, etc.), in litter, under bark and stones, 8–10.IV.1983, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Pskhu-Gumistinskiy Nature Reserve, Gumistinskiy part, cordon Nizhniy Tsumur, 25.IX.1985, I.A. Ushakov leg.; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv., Sukhum District, Tsebelda, 300 m a.s.l., Carpinus, Acer and Buxus scrub, in litter, 19.VIII.1986, SIG leg.; 6 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, 3 juv., Sukhum District, Lake Amtkelis (Azanta) ca. 16 km N of Tsebelda, 550 m, Alnus forest, litter and under bark, 19.VIII.1986, SIG leg.

A species of Colchiobrachiulus differing from its single known congener, C. montanus sp. nov., by the larger size (both sexes > 30 mm in length and 2 mm in height, vs. males < 20 mm in length and 1.3 mm in height, and females < 25 mm in length and 2 mm in height in C. montanus sp. nov.), the longer epiproct, and by certain details of gonopodal structure, more specifically, by the broader apex of the promere and its distomesal process significantly outreaching the apex, vs. the same being subequal to the apex in C. montanus sp. nov.; by the apical outgrowth of the opisthomere’s basoposterior process being relatively broader, with shorter branches at margin; and by the solenomere being bi- rather than unipartite in its distal section.

Colouration (Fig. 2) mostly brown with reddish tinges; prozonae darker above ozopore level, contrasting lighter below it; metazonae more regularly brown-beige.

Figure 2. 

Colchiobrachyiulus dioscoriadis (Lignau, 1915), comb. nov. A mid-body rings B caudal end, lateral views. Not to scale. After Lignau (1915).

Epiproct (in Fig. 2B) rather long, straight or slightly bent dorsad.

Gonopods (Fig. 3): Promere (Fig. 3A) slender, slightly tapering towards a broadly rounded apex; mesal margin distally bearing a long and fine process significantly exceeding the main promeral apex; caudal surface with a weakly pronounced median ridge, a shallow and rather narrow median groove, and a deep and narrow distomesal groove; flagellum slightly longer than height of promere, apically micro-dentate. Opisthomere (Fig. 3C, E–H) with a basoposterior process in the shape of a broad lobe running parallel to ending in a somewhat fan-like, apical outgrowth bearing numerous minute, papillose branches; anterior process long and slender, twisted at nearly 90° around solenomere, reaching somewhat higher than the latter; mesal side with a small lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a shallow anteromesal sinus frontal to the gland; two sparse rows of not too long spiniform filaments at basomedial section of flagellum channel; solenomere slender, distally divided in two pointed apices of similar size.

Figure 3. 

Colchiobrachyiulus dioscoriadis (Lignau, 1915), gonopods of ♂ from near Lake Amtkelis, Georgia (ZMUM) A right promere, caudal view B right opisthomere, mesal view C apical part of same aspect. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B), 0.1 mm (C). Abbreviations: ap anterior process, ao apical outgrowth, bpp basoposterior process, dmg distomesal groove, dmp distomesal process, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, mg median groove, mr median ridge, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus.

Georgia: AR Abkhazia: New Athos Monastery [S of Armianskoe Ushchelie]; at Besla [Basla] River [by Sukhumi]; Kamani Monastery [ca. 3 km N of Sukhumi]; Tsebelda; Lata; by the influx of Chkhalta River in Kodori River; village “Aschary” [Azhara]; on the right bank of Chkhalta River; near the influx of Gvandra River in Sekeni [must be Kodori] River (original localities); Cave Mikhailovskaya near Sukhumi (Lohmander 1936); Tsebelda; Klych River valley, near waterfalls (Kobakhidze 1965). [?!] Russia: Karachay-Cherkess Republic, influx of Marukha and “Adynge” rivers at 1400 m a.s.l. (original locality).

COLC-SWGC.

The original record from the valley of Marukha River in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Russia almost surely concerns Colchiobrachyiulus montanus sp. nov. All remaining records of C. dioscoriadis comb. nov. come from the Colchis Lowland and the southwestern foothills of the Greater Caucasus, and it is fairly unlikely that the species appears sympatric with its single known congener on the other side of the main Caucasus Major watershed.

Some of the examined females had large chunks of tar-like brownish substance behind leg pair 2, tightly stuck to the distal parts of the vulvae and covering the opening. These most likely represent ‘copulatory plugs’ (see, e.g., Shear 2010; Enghoff 2018) or, more precisely, in this case ‘copulatory caps’.

(all from Russia, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Teberda Biosphere Nature Reserve). Holotype: ♂ (ZMUM) (unbroken), Mount Mussa-Achitara in Dombai, 2700–2800 m, alpine meadow, under stones, 29.VII.1986, SIG leg. Paratypes: 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (head to ring 6 and rest of body, gonopods prepared for SEM), 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM) (one unbroken, the other with head to ring 3 and rest of body, left vulva dissected), same collecting data as for holotype; 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (head to ring 2 (head damaged, gnathochilarium separated), rings 3 to 6, and rest of body (half-broken in the middle, gonopods dissected)), 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM) (one unbroken, the other broken into two pieces), Alibek Canyon near Dombai, 2000–2100 m, sparse Betula stand, litter, under stones, 25.VIII.1986, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (NMNHS) (head to ring 3, ring 4 to ring 6, pleurotergum 7, and rest of body, penis and gonopods dissected), 1 subad. ♂ (NMNHS) (in 2 pieces), Arkhyz part, VI–VII.1988, A.P. Zolotarev leg.

A species of Colchiobrachiulus differing from its single known congener, C. dioscoriadis comb. nov., by its smaller size (males < 20 mm in length and 1.3 mm in height, mature females < 25 mm in length and 2 mm in height, vs. > 30 mm in length and 2 mm in height for both sexes in C. dioscoriadis comb. nov.), by a shorter epiproct, and by gonopodal details, more specifically by the more narrow apex of the promere and its distomesal process being subequal to the apex, vs. that same process significantly outreaching the apex in C. dioscoriadis comb. nov.; by the apical outgrowth of the opisthomere’s basoposterior process being relatively more narrow, with longer branches at margin; and by the solenomere being uni- rather than bipartite in its distal section.

Emphasising the high-mountainous occurrence of this species. Adjective.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S XI, 43+1+T, L = 16 mm, H = 1.2 mm; paratype ♂♂ in S X, 42–45+1+T, H = 1.15–1.2 mm; paratype ♀♀ in S X–XI, 42–45+1+T, L = 18–22 mm, H = 1.5–1.85 mm.

Colouration (after > 30 years of preservation in alcohol) (Fig. 4): Apparently heavily faded, mostly brown; head and collum (Fig. 4B) with a usual colour pattern; antennae brownish; prozonae dark brown above ozopore level, each with several uneven light spots dorsally, the largest one right above ozopore; metazonae lighter brown-beige; dorsum with a blackish axial line; legs brown; pre-anal ring dark brown, contrasting to the lighter previous ring, paraprocts proximally dark brown, distally lighter.

Figure 4. 

Colchiobrachyiulus montanus sp. nov., ♂ holotype A habitus B head and body rings 1–3 C telson, lateral views. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of 35–40 ommatidia arranged in easily countable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four, and 18–22, respectively. Antennae 1.4–1.5 × as long as head in males and 1.1–1.2 × in females; antennomere 2 > 3 > 4 ~ 5 > 6. Promentum of gnathochilarium separating lamellae linguales in their proximal 2/5 or so, each of the latter with three or four setae in a longitudinal row. Collum mostly smooth, with just two or three shallow grooves at posterolateral corners.

Body rings slightly vaulted. Prozonae with very short and shallow, mostly parallel, longitudinal striae. Metazonae not very deeply, but densely striate, n_Schub = 10 or 11; setae apparently mostly abraded, ca. 1/2–2/3 of metazonal length. Ozopores relatively large, placed right in pro-metazonal suture in more anterior body rings, and ca. 1× their diameter in more posterior ones; sutures not sinuous in front of ozopores. Tarsus of mid-body legs ca. 1.2 × as long as tibia and 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 4C): Epiproct moderately long in males, almost reaching the level of the longest paraproctal setae, considerably shorter and stouter in females, ending with a short and blunt hyaline tip turned slightly dorsad. Hypoproct roundly trapezoid, barely protruding behind rear contour of paraprocts in males, broadly rounded in females, completely concealed under paraprocts in females. Paraprocts densely covered with relatively long setae; without distinct rows of shorter setae along caudal margins.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites considerably expanded, protruding mostly ventrad, forming no distinct corner. Leg pair 1 compact, rounded, parallel hooks. Walking legs with crested adhesive pads, both tibial and postfemoral ones gradually reduced posteriad, but still visible until caudalmost pairs. Pleurotergum 7 ventrally forming elongated, narrowly rounded lobes (Fig. 5A) originating from the zone around pro-metazonal suture, protruding mostly ventro-mesad behind gonopods. Penis (Fig. 5B) short and stout, with broad and rounded apical lobes ending up in short and blunt terminal lamellae directed distad.

Figure 5. 

Colchiobrachyiulus montanus sp. nov., paratypes (ZMUM) A–C ♂ from near Arkhyz, Russia A left flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view B penis, caudal view C right gonopods, oral view D–H ♂ from Mount Mussa-Achitara, Russia D right promere, caudal view E distal part of left opisthomere, mesal-oral view F right opisthomere, caudal view G apical part of left opisthomere, with the flagellum remained in its channel, oral view H branches of apical outgrowth of basoposterior process I ♀ from Mount Mussa-Achitara, Russia left vulva, caudal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A–C, I), 0.1 mm (D, F), 0.05 mm (E, G), 0.01 mm (H). Abbreviations: ap anterior process, ao apical outgrowth, bpp basoposterior process, ct central tube, dmg distomesal groove, dmp distomesal process, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, hp hyaline protrusions, mg median groove, mr median ridge, p promere, pa posterior ampulla, pt posterior tube, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments.

Gonopods (5C, D–H): Promere (Fig. 5D, p in Fig. 5C) considerably higher than opisthomere, slender, gradually tapering towards a narrowly rounded apex; mesal margin distally bearing a long and fine process with a pointed tip turned mesad; caudal surface with a short and very weakly pronounced median ridge, a broad and shallow median groove, and a deep and narrow distomesal groove, the latter in situ enveloping the lateral side of solenomeral apex, ending up in an even narrower channel running through distomesal process; flagellum thin, slightly longer than height of promere, with a micro-dentate apical part. Opisthomere (Fig. 5C, E–H) relatively slender; basoposterior process shaped as a broad and flattened lobe running parallel to CBO, mostly fused to it, ending in a multibranched, coral-like, papillose, freely protruding, apical outgrowth; anterior process well-developed, long and tapering, twisted at > 90° around solenomere, partly enveloping the lateral and posterior sides of the latter, both being subequal in height; mesal side with a small lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a rather shallow anteromesal sinus frontal to the gland; two sparse rows of very long, erect, spiniform filaments running along basomedial section of flagellum channel; solenomere very fine and slender, unipartite, sigmoid, without specialised structures apically.

Female sexual characters: Leg pairs 1 (significantly) and 2 (slightly) shorter and thicker than following legs. Vulva (Fig. 5I) rather elongated, subcylindrical, mostly symmetrical (lateral valve somewhat broader than mesal one), with an obtuse postero-apical margin; operculum as high as bursa; both bursa and operculum apically with rather large hyaline protrusions; setation moderately dense throughout. Receptaculum seminis composed of a relatively narrow and moderately long, digitiform, central tube, and a very thin posterior tube, the latter somewhat bent on its way to a medium-sized, ovoid, posterior ampulla.

NWGC.

Apart from body size and gonopodal structural details, C. montanus sp. nov. differs from C. dioscoriadis comb. nov. also by the shape of the vulval receptaculum (cf. fig. 182 in Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018).

Two of the four paratype females have chunks of tar-like substance attached to the vulvae, like those observed in C. dioscoriadis comb. nov.

A genus of Brachyiulini differing from contribal genera by the following combination of characters: promeres positioned completely anteriorly in relation to opisthomeres; opisthomere lacking a basoposterior process or this represented by only a small remnant, also lacking an anterior process.

A subgenus of the genus Cyphobrachyiulus differing from other subgenera by the following combination of characters: opisthomere possessing an apicoposterior process and lacking a lateral process, or the latter represented by a weakly developed lobe; promere ending in a broad margin, rather than in a distinct apex, protruding in a conspicuous mesal tip; vulval operculum subequal to bursa; male coxae 2 not enlarged.

1 ♂ (ZMUM), Georgia: Kutaisi District, 8 km E of Orpiri, environs of Cave Tsutskhvati, deciduous forest, rock, litter, 24.X.1981, SIG leg.

Russia: Adler (type locality).

WECA?

The above represents the first record of this species since its original description, suggesting a broader distribution within the western parts of the Greater Caucasus. Nevertheless, considering the high collecting activity that has taken place over the years in this particular area of the Caucasus, C. litoreus seems to be a rare species. The species is new to the fauna of Georgia.

A subgenus of the genus Cyphobrachyiulus differing from other subgenera by the following combination of characters: promere significantly shorter than opisthomere; opisthomere possessing an apicoposterior process and lacking a lateral process or lobe; male coxae 2 not enlarged.

Apart from the unusually short promere, the gonopods and vulva in Grusiniulus match the diagnosis of the genus Cyphobrachyiulus. Consequently, the former taxon is downgraded to a subgenus of the latter genus. Examination of the gonopods of the sole species, Cyphobrachyiulus (Grusiniulus) redikorzevi (Lohmander, 1936), shows that the opisthomeral ‘horizontally protruding protecting branch directed mesocaudad’ [translated from Lohmander (1936)] is not part of the solenomere, as interpreted by Vagalinski and Lazányi (2018), but is homologous to the apicoposterior process present in some species of Cyphobrachyiulus. Grusiniulus is particularly similar to the subgenus Diaxylus in having a short thumb-like apicoposterior process of the opisthomere that protrudes perpendicularly to CBO, and a subquadrangular promere (i.e. with a broad rather than tapering apex, and with mostly parallel mesal and lateral margins). However, the very short promere in C. (G.) redikorzevi seems to provide sufficiently solid grounds for keeping the name Grusiniulus in use.

1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZIN), Armenia: Lake Sevan, Elenovka [Sevan], 16.VI.1927, A. Schelkovnikov leg.

20–25 labral setae. Promentum of gnathochilarium rather large, separating both lamellae linguales nearly halfway, each with four setae in a longitudinal row. Collum remarkably long, with five or six well discernible striae at posterolateral corner. Paraprocts very densely setose, without rows of shorter setae at caudal margins. Male leg pair 1 mostly parallel, slightly converging hooks, somewhat more slender compared to the usual brachyiulinine pattern. Male walking legs each with a crested adhesive pad on tibia and postfemur, tibial one very large, strongly protruding, covering the proximal half of tarsus; both pads gradually reduced towards telson, but still visible in last leg pairs; legs 3–8 additionally with a pad rudiment on femur; tarsus and tibia, on midbody legs subequal in length and 3.5–4 × as long as apical claw.

Penis very small, roughly quadrangular, slightly broader than long, with barely discernible apical lobes ending with short, blunt, terminal lamellae directed distad. Gonopods (Fig. 6): Promere (Fig. 6A) ~ 1/2 the height of opisthomere, roughly quadrangular, with parallel side margins and an incised apical margin; caudal surface with a median ridge present as a massive lobe occupying most of promere’s mesal half, basally with a groove for the flagellum to hinge into, and with a lateral ridge somewhat higher and narrower than the median ridge. Opisthomere (Fig. 6B) elongated; basoposterior process vestigial, represented by a faint hump at mid-height; apicoposterior process almost straight, slightly tapering distad, ending bluntly, directed mesocaudad, with short serrate lamellae ventrally at base; solenomere very short and broad, apically forming a deep hollow surrounded by a lamella, the latter protruding higher on lateral side, with a serrate edge; a short, central, linguiform process.

Figure 6. 

Cyphobrachyiulus (Grusiniulus) redikorzevi (Lohmander, 1936), comb. nov., gonopods of ♂ from Sevan, Armenia (ZMUM) A right promere, caudal view B right opisthomere, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: apl lamellae of apicoposterior process, app apicoposterior process, f flagellum, lr lateral ridge, mr median ridge, s solenomere, sl lamella of solenomere, sp central process of solenomere.

Georgia: Akhalkalaki and Borjomi (original localities).

CECA-LECA.

The species is new to the fauna of Armenia. The examined individuals have sparse and short metazonal setae, and very densely setose paraprocts, while the syntypes, according to the original description, completely lack metazonal setae and show only a sparse pilosity on the paraprocts; the type specimens are also somewhat larger. Apart from these differences, all other characters studied completely match Lohmander’s (1936) observations.

A genus of the tribe Brachyiulini differing from contribal genera by the unique, complex structure of the solenomere which consists of a basomesal process terminating the flagellum and seminal channels, a basocaudal process, and a branched apical part; as well as by the following combination of other characters: promeres positioned completely anteriorly in relation to opisthomeres; opisthomere with a lamellar basoposterior process ending with a visor-like apical outgrowth protruding mostly caudad, and an anterior process; a lateral process absent or poorly developed, in the shape of a rather weakly pronounced lobe.

• Small to medium-sized Brachyiulini (L (males) = 11–32 mm).
• Ommatidia present.
• Ozopores right on or tightly behind pro-metazonal suture at least on more anterior body rings.
• Epiproct well-developed, markedly long.
• Male hypoproct broadly rounded, without setae.
• Male mandibular stipites considerably expanded, broadly rounded, anterior/anteroventral corner either indistinct or broadly rounded.
• Male walking legs ventrally with two well-developed adhesive pads, one each on postfemur and tibia.
• Penis short and stout, with indiscernible or very short apical lobes, as well as small and rounded terminal lamellae.
• Gonopods:

• In situ protruding from gonopodal sinus only with their apical parts, directed completely ventrad.
• Promere as high as opisthomere, with a broad base, more or less narrowing distad and bearing a slender, tapering, apicomesal process.
• Opisthomere from rather stout to slender; a basoposterior process mostly vestigial, i.e., present as a weakly pronounced vertical ridge running parallel to CBO, ending with a simple, lamellar, apical outgrowth protruding nearly perpendicular to CBO; anterior process fine and tapering; a lateral process absent or represented by a small lobe; a mesomeroidal lobe absent; solenomere complex, consisting of a tapering basomesal process and several other small processes and lobes apically.

• Vulva:

• Subcylindrical, mostly symmetrical.
• Bursa with a distinct, slightly obtuse to subrectangular, postero-apical margin.
• Opening placed right on top of bursa.
• Operculum shorter than, to subequal to, bursa.
• Receptaculum seminis: central tube narrow, digitiform; posterior tube very narrow, more or less folded; posterior ampulla small to medium-sized.

Vagalinski and Lazányi (2018) referred to the distocaudal projection of the opisthomere in I. fagorum (Attems, 1951), the single known species of the genus at that time, as an apicoposterior process, because of its position and orientation being just like those of the latter process in other Brachyiulini, e.g., in the genera Enghophyllum Lazányi & Vagalinski, 2013 or species of Cyphobrachyiulus and Graecoiulus Vagalinski & Lazányi, 2018. However, SEM micrographs of the gonopods of both I. fagorum and I. tricornis sp. nov. reveal that what have seemed like an apicoposterior process does not originate immediately from the CBO, but is a continuation of the basoposterior process or its apical outgrowth, as denoted in species of the genera Omobrachyiulus and Byzantorhopalum. Also, in the aforementioned paper, the process observed disto-anteromesally on the opisthomere in I. fagorum (Attems, 1951) was called a meso-anterior process, suggesting homology with the similarly positioned process present in another two brachyiulinine genera, Brachyiulus Berlese 1884 and Graecoiulus. Again, from the SEM pictures it becomes clear that the flagellum and seminal channels terminate in that process rather than at the very top of the solenomere. Thus, that process in Iraniulus must be considered as part of the solenomere, unlike the condition observed in Brachyiulus and Graecoiulus, in both of which (as in all remaining Brachyiulini) the two channels end up at the solenomere apex.

Azerbaijan: 1 ♀ (SMNG), Lerik District, Hyrcan Nature Reserve, road Lǝnkǝran-Lerik at km 322, 38.7638°N, 48.5819°E, 400 m a.s.l., small valley, forest of Parrotia with some Quercus, in thick litter, 26.III.2015, D. Antić and H. Reip leg.; 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 8 juv. (ZMUM), Lankaran, Istisu W of Astara, forest, 29.VII.1974, SIG leg.; 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 2 juv. (ZMUM), Istisu, ca. 8 km SW of Masallı, Quercus, Acer, Carpinus etc., 80–140 m, in litter, under bark and stones, 19–20.X.1983, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM), Yardımlı, Avash, 1200–1500 m, 14–17.VI.1996, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Astara, Istisu, W of Astara, 100 m, 2– 6.VI.1996, W. Schawaller leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), ca. 6 km WSW of Astara, Quercus, Acer, Carpinus, etc., 10–30 m, in litter and under bark, 18.III.1983, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 juv. (ZMUM), Lankaran, Alekseevka (Avrora), 24.VII.1974, SIG leg.

A species of Iraniulus differing from its only known congener, I. tricornis sp. nov., by a larger body (males > 25 mm long and higher than 1.7 mm, females > 30 mm long and ca. 2.5 mm high, vs. males < 20 mm long and ca. 1 mm high, females < 25 mm long and ca. 1.5 mm high in I. tricornis sp. nov.), by having a proportionately longer, more slender opisthomere, and by certain details of solenomere structure: directed completely distad, with a larger basocaudal process, and with an apical part ending in two short rounded branches of equal size on the mesal side, and one slender sigmoid branch on the lateral side, vs. the same turned somewhat caudad in I. tricornis sp. nov., with a proportionately smaller basocaudal process, and with an apical part bearing three sharply pointed branches of equal size.

Gonopods: Promere (Fig. 7A) as high as opisthomere, broadest at base, significantly narrowing distad; apex narrow; apicomesal process similar to that in I. tricornis sp. nov., but longer; flagellum just slightly longer than height of promere. Opisthomere (Fig. 7B–E) relatively slender; anterior process tapering, straight; basoposterior process with its apical outgrowth protruding at nearly 90° to CBO, bent slightly apicad; a small lobe distolaterally; mesal side with a narrow, slender lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland) and a rather narrow anteromesal sinus; with a row of sparse spiniform filaments along flagellum channel; solenomere consisting of a tapering basomesal process, a broadly rounded basocaudal process, and an apical part ending in three minute branches: two rounded mesal ones, and a sigmoid lateral one. Vulva (Fig. 8) mostly corresponding to the description and drawing given in Vagalinski and Lazányi (2018) except for the opening, which is not large as claimed by these authors, but is in fact minute, hidden between the large bursal hyaline protrusions.

Figure 7. 

Iraniulus fagorum (Attems, 1951), gonopods of ♂ from near Astara, Azerbaijan (ZMUM) A left promere, caudal view B right opisthomere (with flagellum in its channel), mesal view C left opisthomere, oral-lateral view D apical part of right opisthomere, mesal view E apical part of left opisthomere, oral-lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–C), 0.05 mm (D, E). Abbreviations: amp apicomesal process, ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, aps apical part of solenomere, bpp basoposterior process, cps basocaudal process of solenomere, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, lp lateral lobe, mg median groove, mps basomesal process of solenomere, mr median ridge, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus.

Iran, Lahijan (type locality); Azerbaijan, Lenkoran [Lankaran] (Samedov et al. 1972). Apparently, a Hyrcanian endemic.

Figure 8. 

Iraniulus fagorum (Attems, 1951), ♀ from E of Lerik, Azerbaijan (SMNG) right vulva A caudo-lateral B meso-caudal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: hp hyaline protrusions, op operculum. Pictures by courtesy of Karin Voigtländer, Hans Reip and Dragan Antić.

Iraniulus fagorum can easily be recognised in the field by both its greyish green colouration and its specific, strong odour (Dragan Antić, pers. comm.). The latter is the result of the large proportion of p-cresol (> 90%) in its defensive secretion. This compound is known to be produced by only a few species of Julidae, while it is typical of the order Callipodida (Bodner et al. 2016). Interestingly, p-cresol may be a major compound in the secretions of another two julids inhabiting the Caucasus, namely, Pachyiulus krivolutskyi Golovatch, 1977 from Colchis and Syrioiulus continentalis (Attems, 1903) from Hyrcania, both species showing a similar bright yellow-greyish colouration reminiscent of the green tinges in I. fagorum (Evsyukov et al. 2021).

(all from Georgia, Svanetia): Holotype: ♂ (unbroken) (ZMUM), Khumpreri River (left affluent of Enguri), near Dizi, 1.5–2 km before the influx, ca. 1000 m a.s.l., leaf litter, 14.IX.1986, A. Ryvkin leg. Paratypes: 6 ♂♂ (ZMUM) (one in 4 pieces, gonopods prepared for SEM, leg pair 2 and penis dissected; another in head and 2 pieces, gonopods in situ, the rest unbroken), 1 ♂ (NMNHS) (in 2 pieces with dissected gonopods), 1 ♂ (NHMD) (unbroken), 1 ♂ (IBER) (in 2 pieces, gonopods dissected, one flagellum prepared for SEM), 3 ♀♀ (ZMUM) (unbroken), 1 ♀ (NMNHS) 1 ♀ (NHMD), 1 ♀ (IBER) (all unbroken), 2 juv. (unbroken), same collecting data as for holotype; 3 ♂♂ (one in head to ring 3, ring 4–6, pleurotergum 7, and rest of body, gonopods and leg pair 2 dissected; the others unbroken), 2 adult ♀♀ (one in head to ring 3 and rest of body, vulvae dissected; the others unbroken), 5 juv. ♀♀ (unbroken) (all in ZMUM), ca. 50 km west of Mestia, west of Dizi, ca. 800 m a.s.l., by a waterfall, in leaf litter, 19.IX.1986, A. Ryvkin leg.; 2 ♂♂ (one in head to ring 6 and rest of body, gonopods dissected; the other unbroken), 3 juv. (unbroken) (all in ZMUM), Mestia, 1500 m, Betula and Rhododendron on moraine, litter and under stones, 5–16.IX.1986, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (in head to ring 6 and rest of body), 2 ♀♀, 1 juv. ♂, 2 juv. ♀♀ (all in ZMUM), same locality as for holotype, 9.IX.1986, A. Ryvkin leg.; 6 ♂♂ (one in 3 pieces, gonopods dissected, the others unbroken), 8 ♀♀ (two in 2 pieces, the rest unbroken), 1 juv. ♂, 4 juv. ♀♀ (all in ZMUM), Mestia, 1500 m a.s.l., litter and under stones, 22.X.1979, SIG leg.

A species of Iraniulus differing from its only known congener, I. fagorum, by a smaller body: males < 20 mm long and ca. 1 mm high, females < 25 mm long and ca. 1.5 mm high, vs. males > 25 mm long and higher than 1.7 mm, females > 30 mm long and ca. 2.5 mm high in I. fagorum), by having a proportionately shorter and stouter opisthomere, and by details of the solenomere: turned somewhat caudad, with a proportionately smaller basocaudal process, and with an apical part bearing three sharply pointed branches of equal size, vs. the same directed completely distad in I. fagorum, with a larger basocaudal process, and with an apical part ending in two short, rounded branches of equal size on the mesal side and one slender sigmoid branch on the lateral side.

Meaning three-horned in Latin, referring to the apical part of the solenomere which consists of three pointed branches. Adjective.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S IX, 43+2+T, L = 16 mm, H = 1.05 mm; paratype ♂♂ in S VII–X, 38–43+2–3+T, L = 11–13 mm, H = 0.85–1.1 mm; paratype ♀♀ in S VII–X, 38–45+1–2+T, H = 1.2–1.6 mm, L = 14–21 mm.

Colouration: (after > 30 years in alcohol) (Fig. 9): mostly brown-beige; head with the usual colour pattern; antennae light brown, collum brownish, margins dark brown; prozonae dorsally with a broad, dark brown, transverse stripe next to suture, and with irregular dark brown spots just before ozopores; metazonae ochre-brown; dorsum with a continuous, blackish, axial line; legs light brown; telson brown-grey, caudal parts of paraprocts lighter.

Figure 9. 

Iraniulus tricornis sp. nov. (ZMUM) A ♂ holotype, head and body rings 1–4, lateral, slightly dorsal view B ♂ paratype from near Dizi, Georgia (ZMUM), telson, lateral view. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of 20–38 ommatidia arranged in hardly traceable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four, and 17–20, respectively. Antennae 1.5–1.6 × as long as head in males and ca. 1.4 × in females; antennomere 2 > 5 ≥ 3 ~ 4 > 6. Gnathochilarium with promentum separating both lamellae linguales in their basal 1/3–2/5, each with three setae in a longitudinal row. Collum mostly smooth, with only 2–3 short striae near posterolateral corners.

Body rings slightly vaulted. Prozonae with very short, shallow, longitudinal striae in posterior parts. Metazonae moderately deeply striated, n_Schub = 7 or 8 in males and 9 or 10 in females; metazonal setae from 2/5 (in more anterior rings) to 1/2 (in more posterior rings) of metazonal length. Ozopores placed right on pro-metazonal suture in first several rings, gradually taking a more posterior position to ~ 1.5 their diameter in caudalmost rings; sutures sinuous in front of ozopores in some rings. Tarsus of mid-body legs slightly shorter than tibia and ca. 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 9B): Epiproct very long, straight, ending in a fine, tapering, hyaline tip surpassing the longest paraproctal setae in both sexes; with several long setae. Hypoproct broadly rounded in both sexes, somewhat protruding behind rear margin of paraprocts in males, tightly fitting under their ventral side in females; without setae. Paraprocts covered with sparse long setae, but without distinct rows of shorter setae along caudal margins.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites (in Fig. 9A) moderately expanded, forming a broadly rounded antero-ventral corner. Leg pair 1 compact and set parallel to hooks turned slightly mesad. Walking legs with crested adhesive pads, both tibial and prefemoral ones reduced towards telson, but still discernible in caudalmost legs; femora without modifications. Pleurotergum 7 ventrally forming relatively small shovel-like lobes (Fig. 10A) originating mostly from metazona, directed largely ventrad. Penis (Fig. 10B) stout, compact, nearly as broad as long, without differentiated apical lobes, but with broad and rounded terminal lamellae directed ventrad.

Figure 10. 

Iraniulus tricornis sp. nov., ♂ (A, B) and ♀ (C) paratypes from near Dizi, Georgia (ZMUM) A right flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view B penis, caudal view C left vulva, caudo-lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B), 0.1 mm (C). Abbreviations: ct central tube, op operculum, pa posterior ampulla, pt posterior tube.

Gonopods (Fig. 11): Promere (Fig. 11B, p in Fig. 11A) as high as opisthomere, broadest at base, somewhat narrowed distad; mesal and lateral margins gently sigmoid; apex laterally broadly rounded, mesally bearing a horn-like apicomesal process bent caudolaterad; caudal surface with a very strongly developed median ridge, a somewhat less strongly protruding lateral ridge running all the way to the top, and a relatively deep and broad median groove; a small, rounded, distomesal lobe directed mesad; flagellum somewhat longer than height of promere. Opisthomere (Fig. 11A, C–E) relatively thick and stout; anterior process fine and tapering, bent mesocaudad; apical outgrowth of basoposterior process well-developed, protruding at nearly 90° to CBO; a faint lobe distolaterally; mesal side with a large membranous lobe, probably gonocoxal gland, at the base of seminal channel, and a deep and narrow anteromesal sinus just frontally to the membranous lobe; with a group of spiniform filaments in distal section of flagellum channel; solenomere consisting of a tapering basomesal process bent caudad and terminating both flagellum and seminal channels, a fine basocaudal process directed meso-caudad, and an apical part ending with three more or less equally sized and shaped pointed branches.

Figure 11. 

Iraniulus tricornis sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ paratype from near Dizi (ZMUM) A left gonopods, mesal view B left promere, caudal view C right opisthomere, mesal, slightly oral view D left opisthomere, lateral view E right opisthomere, mesal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A), 0.1 mm (B–E). Abbreviations: amp apicomesal process, ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, aps apical part of solenomere, cps basocaudal process of solenomere, dml distomesal process, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, lp lateral lobe, lr lateral ridge, mg median groove, mps basomesal process of solenomere, mr median ridge, s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus.

Female sexual characters: Leg pairs 1 and 2 somewhat thicker and shorter than following legs. Vulva (Fig. 10C) roughly cylindrical, strongly transversely compressed; bursa with a well-pronounced, slightly obtuse, postero-apical margin; opening small, positioned at the very top of bursa; operculum subequal to bursa, both bursa and operculum apically bearing large hyaline protrusions; setation scattered over vulval surface. Receptaculum seminis consisting of a narrow, finger-shaped, central tube, and a very narrow, long, somewhat folded, posterior tube leading to an ovoid posterior ampulla.

SWGC.

A genus of Brachyiulini differing from contribal genera by the following combination of characters: promeres positioned slightly to considerably laterally (up to ca. 45° in species of Megaphyllum s. str.) rather than completely anteriorly in relation to opisthomeres; promere visibly broader than opisthomere, with a well-developed median groove partly enveloping the opisthomere; opisthomere possessing a well-developed basoposterior process, clearly detached from CBO in at least ~ its distal 1/3, a differently developed, sometimes vestigial anterior process, and lacking lateral process.

A subgenus of the genus Megaphyllum differing from other subgenera and certain isolated congeners by the following combination of characters: promeres positioned considerably laterally (ca. 45° in most species) rather than completely anteriorly in relation to opisthomeres; promere considerably broader than opisthomere, with a deep median groove tightly enveloping the opisthomere anterolaterally; opisthomere with a small or vestigial anterior process, solenomere composed of two processes, an anterior and a posterior one, the former positioned at the end of the flagellum channel; vulva with an apically or subapically positioned opening, operculum shorter than, or rarely subequal to, bursa; hypoproct trapezoidal or broadly rounded.

Differs from its only congener known from the Caucasus, M. (s. str.) spathulatum (Lohmander, 1936), mainly by the colour pattern: body uniformly dark with an orange to dark red mid-dorsal line, vs. body with a light yellow to ochre dorsum divided by a black axial line in M. spathulatum; and by the promere having mostly parallel side margins, ending with a flat apex, vs. the same significantly tapering all the way to a narrowly rounded apex in M. spathulatum.

Russia: Environs of Novorossiysk (Lignau 1903); Georgia: AR Abkhazia, Pitsunda (Issajev 1911).

Central and southwestern parts of the Balkan Peninsula, northwestern Caucasus.

Apart from the records from the Caucasus region, Lignau (1903) and Issajev (1911) both mentioned that M. hercules was rather common across the Crimean Peninsula, and although neither of them documented those reports with gonopod drawings, the very characteristic habitus of this species alone makes misidentification very unlikely: it has a dark grey to blackish body with an orange to dark red axial line, while the other two congeners occurring at the northeastern Black Sea coast, M. spathulatum (Lohmander, 1936) and M. tauricum (Attems 1907), are both characterised by a black axial line on a light yellow to ochre (spathulatum) or brown-grey (tauricum) dorsum. Also bearing in mind the disjunct Balkan-Caucasian distribution of Byzantorhopalum rossicum (see Vagalinski and Lázanyi 2018), as well as the Crimean endemic M. tauricum, a very close sibling of the Balkan M. rhodopinum (Verhoeff, 1928), M. hercules may be another example of this pattern, the lack of more recent samples from the Caucasus being due to its rarity in the region.

(SMNG): Russia: RU12-86, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Republic of Adygea, Kamennomostkiy, northern end of Dakhovskaya Canyon near quarry, limestone cliffs, 44.2844°N, 40.1778°E, 430 m a.s.l., 24.VIII.2012, F. Walther leg.; RU12-051, 3 ♂♂, 1 juv., Dakhovskaya, limestone cliffs NW of, 44.2439°N, 40.1758°E, 800 m a.s.l., 13.VIII.2012, F. Walther leg.; 33579, 1 ♂, Republic of Adygea, Mount Shibaba, 21.V.2004, K. Voigtländer leg.

Differs from its only congener known from the Caucasus, M. (s. str.) hercules, mainly by the colour pattern: body with a light yellow to ochre dorsum divided by a black axial line, vs. body uniformly dark with an orange to dark red mid-dorsal line in M. hercules; and by the promere significantly tapering all the way to a narrowly rounded apex, vs. the same having mostly parallel side margins, ending with a flat apex in M. hercules.

Western Caucasus (unspecified type locality) (Lohmander 1936).

WCIS?

This species seems to be a narrow local endemic of the northwestern foothills of the Caucasus Major, showing preferences for limestone terrain.

A genus of Brachyiulini differing from other contribal genera by the following combination of characters: promeres positioned completely anteriorly in relation to opisthomeres; opisthomere with a mesomeroidal lobe on anterior surface, and with a basoposterior process either completely absent (rarely) or present as a vertical lobe or ridge, with only apical part freely protruding; sometimes with a faint lateral lobe, but never with a well-developed lateral process; solenomere well differentiated, mostly slender.

• Small to medium-sized Brachyiulini (L (males) = 10–33 mm).
• Ommatidia present.
• Ozopores set tightly behind pro-metazonal suture at least on more anterior body rings.
• Epiproct present, varying in length.
• Male hypoproct either broad, dentate at margin and trapezoidal or semi-circular/semi-elliptic.
• Male mandibular stipites moderately to considerably expanded, forming a distinct anterior/anteroventral corner.
• Male pleurotergum 7 significantly bulging only in some species.
• Male walking legs ventrally with two well-developed adhesive pads, one each on postfemur and tibia, postfemoral pads rarely lacking in leg pair 2.
• Penis short and stout, usually considerably compressed anterocaudally, with short or indistinct apical lobes.
• Gonopods:

• In situ: promeres slightly to considerably protruding outside gonopodal sinus, directed completely ventrad.
• Promere subequal to or higher than opisthomere, mostly roughly leaf-shaped, caudal side sometimes forming small lobes, but bearing no distinct processes; flagellum usually much longer than height of promere.
• Opisthomere from stout to relatively slender; basoposterior process usually represented by a differently pronounced vertical lobe, apically forming a variously shaped and freely protruding outgrowth; an anterior process usually present, varying in shape and size; a mesomeroidal lobe always present, mostly rounded, varying in size and prominence; solenomere always conspicuously protruding from CBO, usually slender and tubular.

• Vulva:

• Subcylindrical.
• Bursa usually with a distinct, more or less obtuse, postero-apical margin.
• Opening narrow oval or cleft-like, positioned apically.
• Operculum usually somewhat longer than or subequal to, rarely shorter than, bursa.
• Receptaculum seminis: central tube narrow, mostly straight, forming no distinct central ampulla; posterior tube narrow, usually more or less twisted, ending in an ovoid or spherical posterior ampulla.

Georgia: AR Ajara: 1 ♂ (SMNG), Machakhlispiri, 2.7 km upstream of Acharistskali, 41.5278°N, 41.7211°E, 29.IX.2011, F. Walther leg.; 6 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, 4 juv. (ZMUM), Keda Municipality, Makhuntseti, Platanus grove, in leaf litter, 9.X.1981, SIG leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus differring from congeners mainly by the solenomere being apically bifurcate into two pointed branches of nearly equal size and shape, in combination with the complete absence of an anterior process on the opisthomere.

Georgia, AR Ajara, near mouths of Chorokhi and Acharistskali rivers (type locality).

LECA.

Georgia: Holotype: juvenile ♀ (by monotypy) (ZMB 748), Borjomi (Karsch 1881). Armenia: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 4 juv. (ZMUM), Byn Kulp(?), 15.VIII.1927, M. Makaryan leg.; 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 1 juv. (ZMUM), halfway between Alaverdi and Bagratashen, Carpinus forest, in litter, 24.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Ijevan, deciduous bush, in litter, 16.IV.1983, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 1 juv. (ZMUM), Odzun, W of Alaverdi, 1500–1550 m, Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus etc. forest, in litter and under stones with ants, 23–24.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 7 juv. (ZMUM), Stepanavan, 1600–1650, Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus etc. forest, in litter and under bark, 21–22.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg. Azerbaijan: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, (SMNG), İsmayıllı District, S of Zərgəran, 40.7310°N, 48.3680°E, 880 m a.s.l., slope with Corylus, Clematis and some Prunus trees, stone heaps overgrown by moss, mainly in thick litter and under stones, 30.III.2015, D. Antić and H. Reip leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Shamakhi District, Pirkuli, near observatory, 1200–1250 m, Quercus, Acer, Taxus etc. forest, litter, 30.IV.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. (ZMUM), Talysh Mts, Djoni, 1500 m, 28–29.V.1976, V.G. Dolin leg.; 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 3 juv. (ZMUM), NW of Bash Layisqi, ca. 20 km NNW of Sheki, 1250 m, Fagus, Carpinus, Acer etc. forest, 3.V.1987, in litter, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ (ZMUM), 9 juv., ca. 5 km N of Kutkashen, 1150–1200 m; Fagus and Carpinus forest, in litter and rotten wood, 2.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; ♂, ♀ (ZMUM), Altyagach National Park, 1050–1100 m, mixed broadleaved forest, litter, 20 and 26.IV.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM), Zagatala (= Zakataly) Nature Reserve, Agkemal, 1800–2100 m, forest, 24– 27.V.1981, SIG and J. Martens leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Laza, 2200 m, 10.VII.1985, H. Aliyev leg.; 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Istisu, ca. 8 km SW of Masally, Quercus, Acer, Carpinus, etc., 80–140 m, litter, under bark and stones, 19–20.X.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Azerbaijan, above Agsu, 120 km W of Baku, 900 m, Quercus, shrub, 22.V.1981, SIG and J. Martens leg.; Georgia: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Borjomi District, Akhaldaba, 1000 m, Nedzura River Valley, Picea, Carpinus and Fagus forest, in litter, under logs, 12.V.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), S of Bakuriani Pass, Tskhratskaro, 2100 m, sparse Betula forest at timberline, 13.V.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Lagodekhi, Fagus, Carpinus etc. forest, XI.1967, T.S. Perel leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), AR Ajara, 15 km W of Adigeni, Abies, Picea, Fagus, Acer forest, 1500–1700 m, litter, logs and under stones, 14–15.V.1983, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Mayakovskii District, above Sairme, 1700–2000, 1.V.1985, E. Kvavadze leg.; 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Babaneuri Nature Reserve, ENE of Akhmeta, near Babaneuri, 500 m, 4–5.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM), Magalakhari Pass, between Akhmeta and Tianeti, Fagus and Carpinus forest, 1200 m, in litter and under bark, 6.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), N of Kvareli, 700–750 m, Fagus, Carpinus, Quercus etc. forest, in litter and under bark, 4.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Batsaro Nature Reserve, ca. 20 km N of Akhmeta, Fagus, Castanea etc. forest, 800–850 m, in litter, 5–6.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), Mariamjvari Nature Reserve, ENE of Sagarejo, 1150–1250 m, Fagus, Carpinus, Acer, Pinus etc. forest, in litter, under bark and stones, 13–14.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂, 7 juv. (ZMUM), Saguramo Nature Reserve, NE of Mtskheta, Zedazeni, 1100–1200 m, Fagus, Carpinus, Acer etc. forest, litter and under bark, 20.VII.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Racha, Oni District, N of Utsera, decidous forest near spring, rock, litter, 20.IX.1981, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), 45 km W Mestia, above Nakra, 1700 m, Abies, Picea etc., forest, in litter and under stones, 3.IX.1986, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), above Sairme, 1700–2000 m, 1.V.1985, E. Kvavadze leg; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (SMNG), NW of Abano, 42.6115°N, 44.3742°E, 2270 m a.s.l., 06.VII.2019, K. Voigtländer leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Georgia, Telavi, in a house garden, 41.9240°N, 45.4670°E, 09.VII.2019, K. Voigtländer leg.; many ♂♂ and ♀♀ (SMNG), Tusheti, Pirikita Alazani Valley, close to Girevi, 42°29'42.1"N, 45°28'43.2"E, stony pasture at river bank, 2010 m a.s.l, 6.IX.2009, F. Walther leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (SMNG), Samtskhe-Javakheti, 500 m W of Gujarula Valley, 41.3078°N, 43.4672°E, 1010 m a.s.l, 17.IX.2011, F. Walther leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. (SMNG), Imereti, Zekari Pass, 41.8522°N, 42.8078°E, 2200 m a.s.l., 22.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Khevsureti, Churo Valley, near mouth of Khone Skali River, 42°34'05.8"N, 45°13'56.2"E, 10–12.IX.2009, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (SMNG), Mtshkheta-Mtianeti, 1.1 km SW of Kobi, 42.5553°N, 44.4973°E, 2060 m a.s.l., 12.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 2 ♂♂ (SMNG), Mukhli, bridge over Rioni River, 100 m from the village; 42.5436°N, 43.2325°E, 640 m a.s.l., 9.X.2011, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Tusheti, Diklo, 42°23'24.0"N, 45°40'41.8"E, 2100 m a.s.l., strongly eroded place near stream, 4.IX.2009, collector?; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ (SMNG), Akhaltsikhe to Borjomi, S of Chobiskhevi, near Chobiskhevi River, 42.7651°N, 43.3265°E, mountain Fagus forest, VII.2011, L. Mumladze leg.; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (SMNG), N of Lagodekhi, Lagodekhi Nature Reserve, Lagodekhiskhevi River, mixed forest, VII.2013, L. Mumladze leg.; Russia: 1 ♂ (SMNG), Stavropol, Tamanskaya Dacha Forest, near Komsomolskiy Reservoir, 45.0481°N, 41.9567°E, 530 m a.s.l., deciduous forest (Quercus, Carpinus, Acer), 22.VIII.2012, F. Walther leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM), Stavropol, Russkiy Forest, 6.VII.2013, R. V. Zuev leg. and det.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Stavropol Province, E of Novopavlovsk, Quercus forest, Salix, Alnus etc. along stream, 28.V.1982, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Sergokalinskiy District, Murguk, mixed forest, near a river, 10.VIII.1985, K. Khajialiyev leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Samur Valley, Garakh ca. 35 km SW of Magaramkent, 700–800 m, Crataegus, Quercus, Acer, Rosa etc. scrub, in litter, 23.X.1987, SIG leg.; 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juv. (ZMUM), Republic of Dagestan, Chiragchay Valley, Khiv, 900–950 m, Carpinus, Fagus, Corylus, Rhododendron etc. forest., in litter and under stones, 24.X.1987, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv. (HNHM), Republic of Dagestan, Kurush, 2400 m a.s.l., under stones, 9.VII.1989, Z. Korsós leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus differing from congeners mainly by the opisthomere having a thumb-like apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, bent somewhat anteriad, and by the solenomere ending with a fine, short, sharply pointed, apical process.

Gonopods: Promere (Fig. 12A) more or less tapering to a mesally slanting apex, median ridge well-pronounced, arched, median and distal grooves broad and deep; flagellum nearly as high as promere. Opisthomere (Fig. 12B–D): basoposterior process relatively well-pronounced, ending in a roughly thumb-like (in lateral view) apical outgrowth, mesally with a small lamellar part; anterior process running parallel to solenomere, mostly fused to the latter, apically forming a thorn-like outgrowth directed frontad; mesomeroidal lobe well-developed, forming a rounded apicolateral part; mesal side with a rather small lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a small and shallow anteromesal sinus; two rows of rather long spiniform filaments along proximal section of flagellum channel; seminal channel clearly visible; solenomere apically with a very slender, pointed, lateral process, and a much shorter and thicker, lamellar, mesal one. Vulva (Fig. 12E) somewhat asymmetrical: mesal valve somewhat broader than lateral one, and mesal side of operculum protruding higher than lateral one; opening broad cleft-like; operculum slightly higher than bursa; both bursa and operculum densely setose throughout.

Figure 12. 

Omobrachyiulus caucasicus (Karsch, 1881) comb. nov., ♂ (A–D) and ♀ (E) from S of Zərgəran, Azerbaijan (SMNG) A–D gonopods A right promere, caudal view B right opisthomere, mesal view C apical part of the same, meso-caudal view D distal part of right opisthomere, mesal view E right vulva, caudal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A), 0.1 mm (B, E), 0.05 mm (C, D). Abbreviations: al apicolateral part of mesomeroidal lobe, ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, o opening, op operculum, s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus. Pictures by courtesy of Karin Voigtländer, Hans Reip and Dragan Antić.

Numerous records from Georgia; Russia: Republic of Dagestan (Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018); and Azerbaijan (Loginova 1993; Bababekova 1996).

Also found in Russia, Kalmykia (Golovatch and Matyukhin 2011), the Hyrcan area of Azerbaijan, northern and northwestern Iran, northeastern Turkey, and the island of Thassos, Greece (the subspecies O. C. thassensis).

Revision of the holotype of Julus caucasicus Karsch, 1881 revealed that the juvenile specimen belongs to the tribe Brachyiulini. This can be inferred from the relatively short epiproct with the apex turned dorsad, in combination with the ozopores set tightly behind the pro-metazonal suture. Of the Caucasian Brachyiulini occurring in the region of Borjomi, only O. brachyurus (Attems, 1899) and O. macrourus Lohmander (Lohmander, 1928) show the aforementioned condition of the epiproct. However, in O. macrourus the latter is both much longer and broader, as the name of this species implies. Furthermore, the dorsolaterally dark trunk and contrasting yellow legs (according to the original description) is exactly the colour pattern seen in O. brachyurus. Thus, there can be little doubt that O. brachyurus is a junior subjective synonym of J. caucasicus. Lohmander (1936), in his monograph on the Caucasian Diplopoda, omitted J. caucasicus altogether. The earlier use of the proper name (Kokhia 1999) was based on an unpublished identification of material by one of us (SIG), thus being neither a new formal transfer nor of nomenclatural consequences.

The species is new to the fauna of Armenia, also being among the most common and widespread in the Caucasus region.

The subspecies O. C. dagestanus was described by Lohmander (1936) on the basis of a single male originating from Kumukh, in the south-central part of the Republic of Dagestan. Comparing the original description and drawings of dagestanus to the description and drawings referring to the nominate subspecies found in that same paper, the main diagnostic characters of dagestanus seem to be the more narrow promere with a straight rather than medially bulging lateral margin, and the opisthomere having a less strongly pronounced, more slanting mesomeroidal lobe and a smaller, tapering apical outgrowth of its basoposterior process. While the promere varies considerably throughout the species’ distribution range, with males from Stavropol and the Hyrcanian part of Azerbaijan showing a similar shape to that seen in the dagestanus holotype, the mesomeroidal lobe and the basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth in the examined males from Dagestan are more or less consistent with those depicted by Lohmander (1936), and the aforementioned shapes of the two structures seem to be characteristic of the population that inhabits the northeastern parts of the Caucasus Major. Whether dagestanus is a subspecies/geographic variation of the typical O. caucasicus or a separate species is a question that probably requires molecular analyses to receive a reliable answer.

Another subspecies, O. C. thassensis (Mauriès, 1985), was described from the Greek island of Thassos (Mauriès 1985). The large distance between the Aegean region and the Caucasus aside, the highly distinct shape of the basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth and the very weakly pronounced mesomeroidal lobe seen in the original figures seem to be enough as evidence of a separate species involved. However, no formal taxonomic changes are proposed here yet, pending the accumulation of more comparative information, both morphology- and molecular-based.

Georgia: 1 ♂ (SMNG), Mtshkheta-Mtianeti, forest SW of Lake Bazaleti, 42.0308°N, 44.6653°E, 910 m a.s.l., 4.X.2011, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM), Racha-Lechkhum-Kvemo Svaneti Planned National Park, 10 km NE of Shovi, Gurshevi near Mamisoni Pass, 2000–2200 m, Abies, Fagus, Alnus, litter and under stones, at a spring, 21.X.1981, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM), AR Abkhazia, Pitsunda-Myussera Nature Reserve, Myussera part, 20–130 m, mixed deciduous forest (Castanea, Alnus etc.), in litter, under bark and stones, 8–10.IV.1983, SIG leg. 1 ♂ (ZMUM), AR Abkhazia, environs of Lake Ritsa, in litter, mixed forest, 24.X.1978, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀ (ZMUM), AR Abkhazia, Myussera Forest, 13.VI.1978, V. Dolin leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM), AR Abkhazia, Ochamchira District., near Otapi, at the entrance to Cave Golova Otapa, II.1983, S. Smirnov leg.; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ (ZMUM), AR Ajara, Batumi Botanical Garden, 15–20 m, 30.V–7.VI.1981, SIG and J. Martens leg. Russia: 1 ♂ (SMNG), Republic of Adygea, Lagonakskiy Ridge, limestone cliffs on the SW slope of Mount Gora Matuk, 44.1061°N, 39.9225°E, 1810 m a.s.l., 16.VIII.2012, F. Walther leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus differing from congeners mainly by the opisthomere bearing a large, flattened, roughly diamond-shaped, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, and a shortly bifurcate solenomere, with the anterior branch being clavate, and the posterior one fine and pointed, bent anteriad.

Russia: Krasnodar Province, Pseashkho Pass (type locality); Sochi (Lohmander 1936); Georgia: AR Abkhazia, Gagra and Avadkhara (Kobakhidze 1965).

CAUC.

Armenia: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), “Prov. Zori, Mount Polat”, 30.VIII.1925, A. Schelkovnikov leg. [probably H. Lohmander det.]. Georgia: 1 ♂ (SMNG), Khevsureti, ca. 200 m below Shatili, 42°39'34.8"N, 45°09'55.0"E, 1415 m a.s.l., 12–15.IX.2009, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀ (SMNG), Guria, Chkhakoura, towards Bakhmaro, 41.8797°N, 42.3511°E, 1780 m a.s.l., 21.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (SMNG), Samtskhe-Javakheti, Mtsvanne Monastery, 41.8094°N, 43.3122°E, 840 m a.s.l., 24.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 3 juv. (SMNG), Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, 3 km NE of Ushguli, 42.9347°N, 43.0358°E, 19.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀ (SMNG), Samtskhe-Javakheti, Bakuriani, ca. 9 km to Tskhratskaro, Ugheltekhili Pass, 41.7070°N, 43.5028°E, 2210 m a.s.l., 22.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Imereti, Sairme, towards Zekari Pass, 41.8572°N, 42.7894°E, 1920 m a.s.l., 22.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Mtshketa-Mtianeti, Zhinvali towards Shatili, at rkm 41/65, 42.4031°N, 44.9281°E, 1090 m a.s.l., 8.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Khashuri, Akhaldaba, Nedzvi Managed Reserve, Nedzvistskali River, 41.9082°N, 43.5151°E, humid coniferous (Picea) forest, VI.2011, L. Mumladze leg.; 2 ♂, 1 ♀ (SMNG), AR Ajara, Goderdzis Ugheltekhili Pass, W slope, 41.6483°N, 42.4936°E, 1730 m a.s.l., 3.X.2012, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (SMNG), Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, 3 km S of Mravaldzali, 41.8797°N, 42.3511°E, 1900 m a.s.l., 9.X.2011, F. Walther leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (SNMG), Shida Kartli, Gagluantubani, Tana Valley, 24.1 road-km upstream Didi Ateni, 41.8508°N, 43.8658°E, 1290 m a.s.l., 16.IX.2011, F. Walther leg.; 3 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀ (ZMUM), near Manglisi, Quercus forest, 12.XI.1984, E. Kvavadze leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Racha, Oni District, N of Utsera, deciduous forest near a spring, rock, in litter, 20.IX.1981, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), Tsodoreti near Tbilisi, in litter, 24.XII.1974, unknown collector; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Mukhura, ca. 14 km E of Tkibuli, 650 m, Castanea, Acer etc. forest, in litter, under logs, 18.X.1987, SIG leg.; many ♂♂, ♀♀, juv. (ZMUM), Republic of South Ossetia – Alania, 15 km E of Kvaisi, Suram Mountain Ridge, Ertso Pass, ca. 1000 m, deciduous bush along spring, in litter and under stones, 20.X.1981, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juv. (ZMUM), 40 km W of Mestia, Kherkhvashi E of Nakra, 1250–1700 m, Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus, Picea, Abies etc. forest, litter and bark, 21.VIII–21.IX.1986, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Kutaisi District, 8 km E of Orpiri, environs of Cave Tsutskhvati, deciduous forest, rock, litter, 24.X.1981, SIG leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus very similar to O. unugulis sp. nov. by the general shape of the promere and by the opisthomere (Fig. 13) having a slender, rod-like, anterior process directed distad, a broad, strongly flattened, multilobed, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, and the similarly finely and asymmetrically bifurcate solenomere. Differs from the latter species by the following gonopodal characters: promere with a more narrowly rounded apex; apical outgrowth of opisthomeral basoposterior process nearly symmetrical, tripartite, vs. the same being asymmetrically bilobed, forming a dentate distal part and a thumb-like lateral part in O. unugulis sp. nov.; anterior process of opisthomere equal to or slightly higher than solenomere, vs. the same being significantly shorter than solenomere in O. unugulis sp. nov.; solenomere abruptly bent caudad rather than nearly straight and directed almost completely distad; and by the male hypoproct being penta- or septidentate rather than tridentate.

Figure 13. 

Omobrachyiulus divaricatus (Lohmander, 1936), gonopods of ♂ from near Nakra, Georgia (ZMUM) A left opisthomere, mesal view B same, oral, slightly lateral view C same, caudal, slightly mesal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A), 0.1 mm (B, C). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, fc flagellum channel, ml mesomeroidal lobe, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments.

Opisthomere (Fig. 13A–C): basoposterior process weakly pronounced, ending in a nearly symmetrical tripartite apical outgrowth; anterior process very long and slender rod-like, reaching the level of, or slightly exceeding, solenomere; mesomeroidal lobe rather well-pronounced, with a rounded apex, not forming an apicolateral part; two rows of rather small spiniform filaments at mid-section of flagellum channel; solenomere, bent abruptly distad before a very fine and slender apical process directed distocaudad.

Georgia: shore of Lake Tabatskuri; Turkey/Georgia, Ajara, “Post Arsian” [most likely a locality in the Arsiani Range shared between Turkey and Georgia] (original localities); Ipari; Rveli; Lentekhi District: Ushguli; Koruldashi; at the foot of Mt Shkhara (Kobakhidze 1965); AR Ajara, Kintrishi Nature Reserve, mouth of Khekhpara River (Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018); Armenia: Dilijan (original locality).

Caucasian endemic with a broad distribution south of the Greater Caucasus watershed; not reported north of the latter.

Georgia: 1 ♂ (SMNG), Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Stepantsminda: mouth of river Snotskali, 42.6339°N, 44.6258°E, 1750 m a.s.l., 07.X.2012, F. Walther leg., 1 ♂ (SMNG), Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Darial Gorge at rkm 8/131, 42.7039°N, 44.6264°E, 1480 m a.s.l., 10.VIII.2014, F. Walther leg.; Russia: 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 6 juv. (ZMUM), Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Teberda Nature Reserve, Kizgich Canyon N of Arkhyz, near a riverine, Alnus and Betula wet forests, under bark and stones, 1450–1500 a.s.l., 5.VI.1985, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM), Chechen Republic, Assa Valley, ca. 9 km SSW of Muzhichi, 800 m, Fagus, Alnus, Carpinus etc. forest, in litter, under bark and stones, 15.VII.1986, SIG leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus differing from congeners by the following combination of opisthomere characters: basoposterior process in the shape of a strongly pronounced lobe forming a nearly right-angled corner at base, ending with a simple and smooth apical outgrowth with a blunt tip; anterior process shaped as a stout spine; mesomeroidal lobe strongly pronounced; solenomere simple, bent strongly caudad.

Russia, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, by Bolshoy Zelenchuk River (type locality), “Post Akssaut” [probably on Aksaut River] (Lohmander 1936); Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Bisinghi [Bezengi] Valley (Vagalinski and Lazányi 2018).

GRCA.

The species is new to the fauna of Georgia.

Georgia: 2 ♂♂ (SMNG), Akhaltsikhe to Borjomi, S of Chobiskhevi, at Chobiskhevi River, 42.7651°N, 43.3265°E, mountain Fagus forest, VII.2011, L. Mumladze leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Nikortsminda, Skhartali, near the entrance to Sakishore Cave, 42.4420°N, 43.1590°E, Picea and Abies forest, under dead wood, 15.VI.2019, H. Reip leg.; 1 ♂, 12 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Kherkhvashi E of Nakra, 1250–1700 m, Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus, Abies etc. forest, in litter and under bark, 21.VIII–21.IX.1986, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), Chokhatauri District near Bakhmaro, 4 km SSE of Nabeglavi, 600 m, Alnus along stream, 8.VI.1981, SIG and J. Martens leg.; 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, 3 juv. (ZMUM), Tbilisi, Tskhneti, 1150–1300 m, Fagus, Carpinus, Acer etc. forest, 16–18.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Mukhura, ca. 15 km E of Tkibuli, 700–800 m, Castanea, Fagus, Carpinus etc. forest, in litter, under bark and stones, 7–9.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (ZMUM), environs of Manglisi, Quercus forest, 12.XI.1984, E. Kvavadze leg.; 3 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, 4 juv. (ZMUM), Algeti National Park, W of Manglisi, Fagus, Picea, Acer etc., 1400–1450 m, litter and under bark, 16–18.V.1987, SIG and K. Eskov leg. Russia: 5 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Chechen Republic, Argun Valley, 5 km N of Shatoy, Corylus, Fagus, Carpinus etc. forest, 750 m, in litter, under stones and bark, 18.VII.1986, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (NHMD), Karachay-Cherkess Republic, ca. 15 km SW of Teberda, 1500 m a.s.l., Fagus-Picea forest, pitfall traps, 22–28.VIII.2011, A. Solodovnikov and S. Tarasov leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus closely resembling O. divaricatus and O. unugulis sp. nov. by the general shape of both pro- and opisthomere. Differs from these two species mostly by the bulging pillow-shaped, rather than antero-caudally strongly flattened, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, as well as by the very large (both long and broad) epiproct.

Georgia: Tbilisi; Borjomi (original localities); Zeskho near Lentekhi (Kobakhidze 1965); AR Abkhazia, at the mouth of Kelassuri River [S of Sukhumi], passage cave (type locality of O. m. abchasicus); Klych River valley (Kobakhidze 1965).

CAUC.

The species is new to the fauna of Russia.

The subspecies O. m. abchasicus was described by Lohmander (1936) from near Sukhumi, AR Abkhazia. The author emphasised the high similarity between the typical O. macrourus and his newly described subspecies, but failed to present a diagnosis to distinguish between the two forms. The sole diagnostic character than can be inferred from the original description of abchasicus is the presence of a small conical lobe distally at the apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process (z in figs 111, 113), that lobe being absent from the typical form. Considering the slight to moderate shape variations in the apical outgrowth in some of the examined specimens originating from different parts of the species’ distribution range, O. m. abchasicus does not look like a viable taxon. However, in the absence of material from Abkhazia we prefer to refrain from a formal synonymisation with the typical O. macrourus.

(SMNG). Holotype: ♂ (in head to ring 6, pleurotergum 7 to ring 29, and rest of body, gonopods, left antenna, right flange of pleurotergum 7, hypoproct, leg 6, a mid-body, and an end-body leg dissected), Georgia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Mestia, source of the valley above Lengeri, 43.0742°N, 42.6983°E, 2060 m a.s.l., 27.IX.2012, F. Walther leg. Paratype: 1 subadult ♂ (in head and collum and rest of body), same collecting data as for holotype.

A species of Omobrachyiulus very similar to O. divaricatus by the general shape of the promere and by the opisthomere having a slender, rod-like, anterior process directed distad, a broad, strongly flattened, multilobed, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, and a similarly finely and asymmetrically bifurcate solenomere. Differs from O. divaricatus by the following gonopodal characters: promere with a more broadly rounded apex; apical outgrowth of opisthomeral basoposterior process asymmetrically bilobed, forming a dentate distal part and a thumb-like lateral part, vs. the same being more or less symmetrical, tripartite in O. divaricatus; anterior process of opisthomere significantly lower rather than equal to, or higher than, solenomere; solenomere mostly straight, directed almost completely distad, vs. the same being abruptly bent caudad in O. divarictus; and by the male hypoproct being tri-, rather than penta- or septidentate.

Derived from the Latin unugula meaning paw, after the apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process of the opisthomere, which resembles an animal foot with claws and a large thumb. Adjective.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S in XI, 50+1+T, L = 29 mm, H = 1.95 mm. Paratype subadult ♂ in S X, 47+2+T.

Colouration (Fig. 14): Mostly brown-grey with purple tinges; head brown, with the usual pattern; collum mostly grey, dorsally brownish, with dark brown margins; prozonae grey, ventrolaterally with numerous light spots; metazonae grey, with a transverse dark brown stripe in posterior half, this abruptly narrowing below ozopore level, hind margins light brown-beige; dorsum with a black axial line; epiproct dark brown-grey, paraprocts somewhat lighter brown; legs light yellow.

Figure 14. 

Omobrachyiulus unugulis sp. nov., ♂ holotype A head and body rings 1–3 B telson, lateral views. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches consisting of ca. 45 ommatidia arranged in easily recognisable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four, and 18, respectively. Antennae (Fig. 14A) ca. 1.7 × as long as head in males; antennomere 2 > 5 ≥ 3 > 4 > 6. Gnathochilarium with promentum of moderate size, separating lamellae linguales in ca. 2/5 of their length, each latter with three setae in a longitudinal row. Collum mostly smooth, with several short and shallow striae at posterolateral corners.

Body rings not vaulted. Prozonae with numerous minute grooves in posterior third. Metazonae relatively shallowly striated, n_Schub = 10 or 11; setae (apparently) mostly abraded, rather short based on the few remaining. Ozopores set tightly behind pro-metazonal suture in more anterior rings, gradually moved further back, to nearly equal to their diameter behind the suture in caudalmost rings, sutures gently sinuous in front of ozopores in some rings. Tarsus of mid-body legs slightly shorter than tibia, and slightly over 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 14B): Epiproct moderately long, straight, broad, roof-like, ending with a short and blunt hyaline tip equal to, to slightly surpassed by, the longest paraproctal setae. Hypoproct (in males) (Fig. 15A) broadly trapezoidal, tridentate, ventrally with six submarginal setae, only the teeth protruding behind rear contour of paraprocts. Paraprocts moderately densely setose, with a row of sparse short (ca. half as long as the ‘regular’ ones) and stiff setae along each caudal margin.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites (in Fig. 14A) considerably expanded, protruding mostly anteriad, forming a narrow anterior corner. Leg pair 1 compact parallel. Walking legs (Fig. 15B) with well-developed crested pads, both tibial and postfemoral ones gradually reduced towards telson, but still visible in caudalmost pairs; femora without modifications. Pleurotergum 7 (Fig. 15C) ventrally forming rather slender and rounded lobes originating from the zone around pro-metazonal suture, protruding mostly ventrad behind gonopods.

Figure 15. 

Omobrachyiulus unugulis sp. nov., ♂ holotype (SMNG) A hypoproct, ventral view B distal three podomeres of leg 6 C left flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view. Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

Gonopods (Fig. 16): Promere (Fig. 16B, p in Fig. 16A) relatively slender, broadest at base, mesal margin gently concave, lateral one bulging in mid-section, both joining into a broadly rounded apex; caudal surface with a strongly pronounced and relatively long median ridge, a narrow and rather deep median groove, and a broad and deep, but indistinctly marked, distal groove; flagellum just slightly longer than height of promere. Opisthomere (Fig. 16A, C–E) rather slender; basoposterior process shaped as a weakly pronounced, hump-like lobe, distally forming a broad, bilobed, apical outgrowth: with an apically dentate distal lobe, and a rounded thumb-like lateral lobe; anterior process well-developed, slender and rod-like, with a slightly serrate apical part; mesomeroidal lobe large, but rather weakly pronounced, flattened; mesal side with a large lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a very deep anteromesal sinus; several minute spiniform filaments along flagellum channel; solenomere long and slender, significantly exceeding anterior process; apically finely and asymmetrically bifurcate, directed almost completely distad and only slightly caudad.

Figure 16. 

Omobrachyiulus unugulis sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ holotype A left gonopods (without the basal parts), mesal view B right promere, caudal view C right opisthomere, oral-lateral view D distal half of the same, oral view E same, caudal view. Scale bars: 0.4 mm (C), 0.3 mm (B), 0.2 mm (A, D, E). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, bpp basoposterior process, fc flagellum channel, ml mesomeroidal lobe, p promere, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments.

Female sexual characters: unknown.

Despite the considerable morphological similarity between Omobrachyiulus divaricatus and O. unugulis sp. nov., they undoubtedly represent two separate species, this being inferred from the few, but significant differences concerning gonopodal characters. Furthermore, the gonopod structure of O. divaricatus is remarkably consistent (in comparison with the condition in, e.g., O. caucasicus), with almost no visible variations between specimens from all over the species’ distribution area.

SWGC.

Georgia: 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), NE of Poti, Chaladidi, Alnus, Quercus, Fraxinus forest on swamp, in litter, 13.IV.1983, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), AR Abkhazia, Sukhum District, Nizhnyaya Yashtukha, forest nursery, 29.III.1985, А. Markossian; 1 ♂, 2 juv. (ZMUM), same place, tobacco plantation, 16.VI.1980 and 25.VII.1980, А. Markossian.

A species of Omobrachyiulus most similar to O. armatus sp. nov. by the promere significantly outreaching the opisthomere, the latter possessing a massive lobe-like basoposterior process forming two distinct corners, a basal and a distal one, and having a micro-spiculate mesal side, and a unipartite solenomere with a slender rod-like ending. Differs from O. armatus sp. nov. mainly by the clearly tripartite apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, consisting of a mesal lamellar, a median fan-shaped, and a lateral spiniform part, vs. that same outgrowth being broad, unipartite, collar-shaped and dentate at the margins in the latter species.

Promere rather slender, significantly outreaching the opisthomere, with a narrowly rounded apex; distolaterally micro-papillate. Opisthomere (Fig. 17A) short and stout; basoposterior process massive, with a micro-spiculate mesal side, and an apical outgrowth consisting of three parts: a mesal and a median one, both being fan-like and partly fused, and a lateral spine-like one (very similar to aol in Fig. 17C); an anterior process absent or vestigial; mesomeroidal lobe moderately developed; mesal side with a relatively large, but not freely protruding lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a very large and deep anteromesal sinus; two rows of very long, erect, spiniform filaments parabasally at flagellum channel; solenomere unipartite, very fine and rod-like.

Figure 17. 

A Omobrachyiulus hortensis (Golovatch, 1981), ♂ from near Poti, Georgia (ZMUM) B, C O. cf. hortensis from Mestia, Georgia (ZMUM) B right promere, caudal view A, C right opisthomere, mesal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: aod median part of basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth, aol lateral part of basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth, aos mesal part of of basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth, ap anterior process, bpp basoposterior process, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, ml mesomeroidal lobe, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus.

Georgia: AR Abkhazia, Sukhum Botanical Garden (type locality).

COLC-SWGC.

Georgia: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM), Mestia, 1500 m a.s.l., Betula, Rhododendron on moraine, litter and under stones, 5 and 15.IX.1986, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG), Mestia, below Chalaadi Glacier, 43.1118°N, 42.7453°E, Abies nordmanniana and various deciduous trees, in leaf litter, 9.VI.2019, H. Reip leg.

The males in these two samples from Mestia differ from both the original description and drawings, and the currently studied material of O. hortensis by certain structural details of the opisthomere (Fig. 17C), viz., presence of a smaller or larger, pointed, anterior process and differently shaped mesal and median parts of the apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process (compare to Fig. 17A); as well as by a stouter, abruptly rather than gradually tapering, promere (Fig. 17B). While these specimens may represent a new, closely related species, we cannot exclude possibly intraspecific variations; the more so that there are no significant differences between the solenomere, the taxonomically most important structure in Julidae, in these two forms (compare s in Fig. 17A and Fig. 17C), while the promere and the anterior process of the opisthomere tend to be the most variable gonopodal structures within the Brachyiulini.

(all from Georgia). Holotype: ♂ (unbroken) (ZMUM), Manglisi, Quercus forest, 12.XI.1984, E. Kvavadze leg. Paratypes: 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM) (one in head to ring 2, ring 3 to ring 6, pleurotergum 7, and rest of body; right antenna, leg pair 2, penis, legs 6, 7, and mid-body leg dissected, opisthomeres and left promere prepared for SEM; the other unbroken with removed hypoproct), 3 ♀♀ (ZMUM), same collecting data as for holotype; 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (partly broken in anterior section), 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM) (one unbroken, the other in 3 pieces), AR Ajara, E of Khulo, decidous forest near spring, rock, litter, 10.X.1981, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM) (one in three pieces, with dissected gonopods, the other with a missing posterior body half), 1 ♂ (NHMD) (unbroken), 1 ♂ (NMNHS) (in two pieces), 1 ♀ (NMNHS) (unbroken), Kutaisi District, Sataplia Nature Reserve, forest litter and under stones, 25.X.1981, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (in three pieces, with dissected gonopods), 1 ♂ (IBER) (unbroken), 5 ♀♀ (ZMUM) (unbroken), 7 juv. (ZMUM) (two unbroken, the rest in 2 or more fragments), AR Ajara, Khulo, 900 m, forest of Quercus, Abies, Alnus, litter, 11.X.1981, SIG leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (SMNG), Georgia, Samtskhe-Javakheti, 17.IX.2011, Bakuriani, Tskhratskaro Pass, 41.7067°N, 43.5058°E, 2080 m a.s.l., 17.IX.2011, F. Walther leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus most similar to O. hortensis by the promere significantly outreaching the opisthomere, the latter possessing a massive lobe-like basoposterior process forming two distinct corners, a basal and a distal one, and having a micro-spiculate mesal side, and a unipartite solenomere with a slender rod-like ending. Differs from O. hortensis mainly by the broad, unipartite, collar-shaped, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process dentate at margin, that same outgrowth being clearly tripartite in the latter species, consisting of a mesal lamellar, a median fan-like, and a lateral spiniform part.

Meaning armed in Latin, referring to the overall appearance of the male including the opisthomere bearing various spines and denticles, the large tapering mandibular stipites, and the prominent dentate hypoproct. Adjective.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S IX, 45+1+T, L = 17 mm, H = 1.4 mm; paratype ♂♂ in S IX, 44–46+1+T, L = 16–20 mm, H = 1.35–1.55 mm; paratype ♀♀ in S IX, 44–46+1+T, L = 17.5–22 mm, H = 1.7–1.9 mm.

Colouration (most specimens considerably faded in ethanol) (Fig. 18): Head light brown with the usual dark band between eye patches, distal part of male mandibular stipites saturated dark brown, contrasting to the much lighter proximal part; body mostly light brown, lighter ventrally; prozonae dorsally with dark grey to blackish transverse stripes; each metazona with a blurred dark brown band encircling entire ring; dorsum with a black axial line.

Figure 18. 

Omobrachyiulus armatus sp. nov., ♂ holotype A habitus B head and body-rings 1–3 C telson, lateral views. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of 30–35 ommatidia, usually arranged in easily countable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four, and 19–23, respectively. Antennae (in Fig. 18B) ca. 1.6–1.7 × as long as head in males and 1.1–1.4 × in females; antennomere 2 > 3 = 4 = 5 > 6. Gnathochilarium with an elongated promentum, the latter separating both lamellae linguales > halfway; four setae in a longitudinal row on each lamella. Collum completely smooth.

Body rings barely vaulted. Prozonae with short and very shallow longitudinal striae spread across whole surface. Metazonae moderately deeply striated, n_Schub = 7 or 8 in males and 9 or 10 in females; metazonal setae rather sparse, 2/3 (in middle to caudal parts of body)–3/4 (in frontal part of body) of metazonal length. Ozopores set tightly behind pro-metazonal suture in more anterior rings, gradually moved further backwards, to nearly equal to their diameter behind the suture in caudalmost rings; sutures straight to gently sinuous in front of ozopores. Tarsus of a mid-body leg slightly shorter than to equal to tibia, and nearly 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 18C): Epiproct moderately long, stout, shorter than, or barely reaching, the level of longest paraproctal setae, ending bluntly, without a distinct, or with a poorly defined, hyaline tip; with several long setae dorsolaterally. Hypoproct (Fig. 19A) in males very broad, subrectangular, its margin with three large median teeth and two lower protuberances laterally on each side, the latter being sometimes serrate; in females broadly rounded, tightly adhering under paraprocts; ventral surface sparsely setose. Paraprocts moderately densely setose, without distinct row of shorter setae along caudal margins.

Figure 19. 

Omobrachyiulus armatus sp. nov., ♂ (A–F) and ♀ (G) paratypes from near Khulo, AR Ajara, Georgia (ZMUM) A hypoproct, ventral view B leg 6 (coxa not shown) C right flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view D penis, caudal view E right opisthomere, caudo-mesal view F same, latero-oral view G left vulva, caudal, slightly mesal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (C, G), 0.1 mm (A, B, E, F) 0.6 mm (D). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, bpp basoposterior process, ct central tube, ml mesomeroidal lobe, pa posterior ampulla, pt posterior tube, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites (in Fig. 18B) strongly expanded, forming an acute anterior corner. Leg pair 1 compact rounded hooks, slightly turned against one another. Leg pair 2 and sometimes 3 slightly thicker than following pairs, adhesive pads rather weakly developed, becoming better developed towards mid-body, postfemoral ones disappearing in caudal third of body, tibial ones present until last leg pairs; femora from leg pair 5 to mid-body legs distally with a small shallow pit (arrow in Fig. 19B). Pleurotergum 7 considerably enlarged, ventrally forming large and rounded lobes (Fig. 19C) originating mostly from metazona, protruding caudoventrad behind gonopods. Penis (Fig. 19D) very short, slightly broader than long, compressed anterocaudally, with very short apical lobes ending in rounded terminal lamellae directed distad.

Gonopods (Figs 19E, F, 20): In situ considerably protruding from gonopodal sinus. Promere (Fig. 20B, p in 20A) considerably higher than opisthomere, slender; mesal margin mostly straight, lateral margin parallel to mesal one in proximal section, distally steeply slanting towards a blunt apex; caudal surface with a short, well-pronounced, median ridge, and a broad and rather shallow median groove; with a distinct, deep, distal groove, and a smooth, rounded, distomesal lobe directed caudad; flagellum slightly longer than height of promere. Opisthomere (Figs 19E, F, 20A, C–E) compact and robust; basoposterior process represented by a massive lobe with a micro-spiculate mesal surface, distally forming a very broad apical outgrowth bent anteriad, tightly adhering to caudal and partly to mesal side of solenomere, with several teeth/horns at margin; anterior process shaped as a lamellar ridge with a slightly serrate anterior margin; mesomeroidal lobe broad and rounded, moderately developed; a rounded hump-like lobe on lateral side; mesal side with a large lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland) leading to the seminal channel, and a large anteromesal sinus frontally to the gland; solenomere unipartite, mostly straight, relatively broad, apically with a fine digitiform process; a group of very long, erect, spiniform filaments in proximal section of flagellum channel.

Figure 20. 

Omobrachyiulus armatus sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ paratype from near Manglisi, Georgia (ZMUM) A left gonopods, mesal view B left promere, caudal view C right opisthomere, mesal view D left opisthomere, lateral view E distal part of right opisthomere, mesal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, lp lateral lobe, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus.

Female sexual characters: Leg pairs 1 and 2 shorter, leg pair 2 also thicker, than following legs. Vulva (Fig. 19G) mostly symmetrical (lateral valve somewhat more oblique than mesal one), rather elongate, slightly compressed on sides; bursa with an obtuse postero-apical margin; operculum shorter than bursa, both ending up with well-developed hyaline protrusions; setation denser on bursa than on operculum. Receptaculum seminis consisting of a long and mostly straight central tube with a somewhat enlarged bottom part, and a long and thin posterior tube forming several spiral twists on its way to an ovoid posterior ampulla.

LECA-COLC.

(all from Georgia). Holotype: ♂ (unbroken) (ZMUM), AR Ajara, 15 km W of Adigeni, Abies, Picea, Fagus, Acer, etc., 1500–1700 m, litter, logs, under stones, 14–15.V.1983, SIG leg. Paratypes: 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (in head and 4 pieces, gonopods, penis, legs 2, 3, 7 and a mid-body leg dissected), 1 ♂ (NHMD) (unbroken), 1 ♂ (NMNHS) (unbroken), 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM) (one unbroken, the other in 3 pieces with dissected left vulva), 1 ♀ (NHMD) (unbroken), 1 ♀ (NMNHS) (unbroken), 1 subad. ♀ (ZMUM) (unbroken), 5 juv. (ZMUM) (two unbroken, the others fragmented), same collecting data as for holotype; 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (in 3 pieces, gonopods prepared for SEM), AR Ajara, Khulo Distr., 1800 m a.s.l., Danisparauli, Abies and fern litter, 10.X.1981, SIG leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (in 5 pieces, with dissected gonopods), 2 ♀♀ (ZMUM) (one in 2 pieces, the other unbroken), AR Ajara, Khulo Distr., Goderdzi Pass, 2000 m, sparse Abies and Picea forest, litter, under stones and in rotten logs, 10.X.1981, SIG leg.; 3 ♂♂ (SMNG) (two in 2 pieces with dissected gonopods, one unbroken), 1 ♂ (IBER) (in head to ring 6, pleurotergum 7 to ring 9, and rest of body, gonopods dissected), 3 ♀♀ (SMNG) (all unbroken), 1 ♀ (IBER) (unbroken), 1 juv., one head to ring 6 ♂ fragment (SMNG), Sairme Gorge, 41.9580°N, 42.7713°E, 600 m a.s.l., Fagus orientalis and Castanea sativa, in litter, 14.VII.2013, L. Mumladze leg.; 3 ♂♂ (SMNG) (one unbroken, one in 2 pieces with intact gonopods, one in 3 pieces with dissected gonopods), Sairme Gorge, 41.8468°N, 42.8075°E, 2200 m a.s.l., Acer sp. and Betula sp., 11.VII.2013, L. Mumladze leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus most clearly differing from congeners by the caudally flattened, serrate, elongated, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process of opisthomere, and by the conspicuously large anterior process which is almost as high as the solenomere.

To emphasise the caudally flattened, serrate, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process of opisthomere, resembling the rostrum in the sawfishes of the family Pristidae when observed from caudal or caudomesal view. Noun in apposition.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S IX, 41+1+T, L = 15 mm, H = 1.3 mm; paratype ♂♂ in S IX–X, 41–44+1+T, L = 15–17 mm, H = 1.25–1.4 mm; paratype ♀♀ in S IX–X, 38–42+1–2+T, L = 15–19 mm, H = 1.4–1.65 mm.

Colouration (considerably faded from ethanol) (Fig. 21): Prozonae dorsolaterally dark grey to blackish, ventrolaterally dark grey near pro-metazonal suture; metazonae dorsolaterally with a transverse dark brown stripe; ozopores surrounded by an irregular blackish spot; ventrolateral side of body mostly light brown-beige; dorsum with a black axial line.

Figure 21. 

Omobrachyiulus pristis sp. nov., ♂ holotype A habitus B head and body rings 1–4 C telson, lateral views. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of 30–35 ommatidia, mostly arranged in easily countable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four, and 22–26, respectively. Antennae (in Fig. 21B) 1.40–1.55 × as long as head in males and 1.25–1.45 × in females; antennomere 2 > 3 = 5 > 4 > 6. Gnathochilarium with a relatively small promentum separating lamellae linguales by < 1/3 of their length, each latter with five setae in a longitudinal row; stipites in males basally with a kidney-shaped swelling densely covered with fine and stiff setae. Collum mostly smooth, with only several very short and fine striae near posterolateral corner.

Body rings somewhat vaulted (more significantly in caudal part of body). Prozonae with very short and fine longitudinal striae in their hind sections. Metazonae rather shallowly striated, n_Schub = 8 or 9 in males and 11 or 12 in females; metazonal setae 2/5–1/2 of metazonal length. Ozopores set tightly behind pro-metazonal suture in more anterior rings, gradually moved further back, to nearly equal to their diameter behind the suture in caudalmost rings, sutures not sinuous in front of ozopores. Tarsus of mid-body legs 1.1–1.2 as long as tibia and ca. 4 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (in Fig. 21C): Epiproct long (reaching the level of longest paraproctal setae), straight or slightly bent dorsad, ending with a minute hyaline tip. Hypoproct broadly rounded, ventrally with two median submarginal setae; barely protruding behind rear contour of paraprocts in males, tightly adhering to their ventral side in females. Paraprocts sparsely to moderately densely covered with long setae; no distinct rows of shorter setae along caudal margins.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites (in Fig. 21B) considerably expanded, broadly rounded, protruding mostly ventrad, with either an indistinct or strongly obtuse and blunt ventro-anterior corner. Leg pair 1 compact hooks, slightly to considerably turned against one another. Leg pair 2 slightly thicker than following legs, with a weakly pronounced adhesive pad distoventrally on tibia, without pad on postfemur; following pairs with two pads, one each on postfemur and tibia, both clearly discernible until caudalmost pairs; femora without modifications. Pleurotergum 7 strongly enlarged, ventrally forming rather slender, fingertip-shaped lobes (Fig. 22A) originating entirely from metazona, protruding ventrad behind gonopods. Penis (Fig. 22B) somewhat longer than broad, with very short, barely discernible apical lobes, and with broad, triangular, terminal lamellae directed completely caudad.

Figure 22. 

Omobrachyiulus pristis sp. nov., ♂ (A–C) and ♀ (D) paratypes from near Adigeni, AR Ajara, Georgia (ZMUM) A right flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view B penis, caudal view C distal part of left opisthomere, caudo-mesal view D left vulva, caudo-lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, D), 0.06 mm (C), 0.05 mm (B). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, ca central ampulla, ct central tube, pa posterior ampulla, pt posterior tube, s solenomere.

Gonopods (Figs 22C, 23): In situ considerably protruding from gonopodal sinus. Promere (Fig. 23B, p in Fig. 23A) considerably higher than opisthomere, relatively slender; mesal margin more or less straight, lateral margin gently sinuous, distally both margins symmetrically slanting towards a narrowly rounded apex; caudal surface with a rather short, strongly pronounced, median ridge, a relatively deep and broad median groove, a broad distal groove, and a small, rounded, micro-squamous, distolateral lobe; flagellum somewhat longer than height of promere, distally with rows of blunt teeth directed basad. Opisthomere (Figs 22C, 23A, C–E) relatively elongated; basoposterior process shaped like a weakly pronounced lobe, distally forming a rather narrow apical outgrowth with a flat caudal surface and densely serrate/dentate margins; anterior process large, distally tapering, bent caudad, reaching just below tip of solenomere; mesomeroidal lobe broad and rounded, weakly pronounced, positioned slightly above opisthomeral mid-height, forming a slender apicolateral part reaching as high as anterior process, proximally fused to the latter; lateral side with a rounded hump-like lobe; mesal side with a broad and flattened lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a rather deep and spacious anteromesal sinus; a group of very long, erect, spiniform filaments at proximal section of flagellum channel; solenomere unipartite, tubular, relatively narrow, bent caudad, meso-apically with a fine digitiform process.

Figure 23. 

Omobrachyiulus pristis sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ paratypes from Adigeni (A) and Danisparauli (B–E), AR Ajara, Georgia (ZMUM) A right gonopods, mesal view B right promere, caudal view C right opisthomere (with flagellum in its channel), caudo-mesal view D right opisthomere, lateral view E distal part of the same aspect. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–D), 0.05 mm (E). Abbreviations: al apicolateral part of mesomeroidal lobe, ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, dl distolateral lobe, f flagellum (broken near base), fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, lp lateral lobe, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, p promere, s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus.

Female sexual characters: Leg pairs 1 and 2 markedly thicker, first also shorter, than following legs. Vulva (Fig. 22D) mostly symmetrical, elongated, considerably compressed on sides; bursa with a strongly obtuse postero-apical margin; operculum slightly shorter than bursa, both parts ending with small hyaline protrusions; setation dense throughout. Receptaculum seminis consisting of a rather narrow, mostly straight, central tube, abruptly arched posteriad right before junction with a large, oblong, central ampulla, and a very narrow, somewhat folded, posterior tube leading to a rather large, pyriform, posterior ampulla.

This species possesses some peculiar morphological characters, being the only representative of Omobrachyiulus that shows a vulval seminal receptaculum with a differentiated central ampulla, as well as the only one that lacks postfemoral adhesive pads on male leg pair 2.

LECA.

Georgia: AR Abkhazia: 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 1 juv. (ZMUM), Pitsunda-Myussera Nature Reserve, Myussera part, 120–130 m a.s.l., mixed deciduous forest (Castanea, Alnus etc.), in litter, under bark and stones, 8–10.IV.1983, SIG leg.; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. (ZMUM), Avadhara, 1600–1700 m a.s.l., Abies, Fagus, fern, Rubus, Galium, 18.IX.1985, I.A. Ushakov leg.; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. (ZMUM), N of Lake Ritsa, Abies, Fagus, in litter, 13.IX.1985, I.A. Ushakov leg. Russia: Republic of Adygea: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (AE), near Maykop, Polkovnitskaya Ravine, 44°20.72'N, 40°11.37'E, pitfall traps, 01–17.X.2011, Yu. Chumachenko leg.; 1 ♂, 1 juv. ♂ (AE), same place, collecting method and collector, 17.X–01.XI.2011; 1 ♂, 1 juv. (ZMUM), confluence of Kisha and Belaya rivers, mixed forest, ca. 200 m a.s.l., 11.VI.2013, R. V. Zuev leg.; 5 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 5 juv. (ZMUM), Krasnodar Province, 5.5 km NE of Krasnaya Polyana, lower course of Achipse River, 43°15'25"N, 40°15'25"E, ca. 600 m a.s.l., 19–23.VIII.2014, K. Makarov and A. Matalin leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus most similar to O. fasciatus sp. nov. and O. lazanyiae sp. nov. by the overall shape of the promere, the weakly developed basoposterior process and mesomeroidal lobe of the opisthomere, and the broad, collar- or scarf-shaped, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, the latter having a characteristic, wrinkled, lamellar part partially covering the mesal side of the solenomere. Differs from these two species mainly by the very slender and tripartite solenomere apically forked into two mostly symmetrical, strongly diverging branches, with a minute ear-like lobe mesally at the base of the bifurcation; and by the distally broader promere with a very broad and deep distal groove on the caudal surface, this being a small pit in O. fasciatus sp. nov. and O. lazanyiae sp. nov.; as well as in other gonopod details summarised in a tabular key (Table 1) to these three species.

Promere (Fig. 24A) slightly sigmoid, of more or less same width all along, ending in a thick and broadly rounded apex; median ridge strongly pronounced and arched, median groove deep and narrow, distal groove deep and broad; flagellum slightly longer than height of promere, apically sparsely micro-dentate (Fig. 24B). Opisthomere (Fig. 24C–F) rather slender; basoposterior process weakly pronounced, lamellar, ending with a collar-like apical outgrowth having a rather small, wrinkled, lamellar part; mesomeroidal lobe moderately pronounced, with a concave apical margin; mesal side with a stout lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland) and a rather deep anteromesal sinus; flagellum channel with only a few minute spiniform filaments; solenomere long and slender, apically forked into two diverging, somewhat flattened branches of nearly equal size and shape; a minute, ear-shaped lobe mesally at the base of the bifurcation.

Figure 24. 

Omobrachyiulus implicitus (Lohmander, 1936), gonopods of ♂ from Myussera, AR Abkhazia, Georgia (ZMUM) A right promere, caudal view B apical part of flagellum C right opisthomere, mesal view D distal part of the same aspect E right opisthomere, oral-mesal view F same, oral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, C, E, F), 0.05 mm (D), 0.01 mm (B). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, dl distolateral lobe, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, s solenomere, si anteromesal sinus.

Georgia, AR Abkhazia, Gagry (type locality), near Lake Ritsa (the type locality of O. i. ritsensis)

WECA.

The species is new to the fauna of Russia.

The subspecies O. i. ritsensis was described by Golovatch (1981) from the environs of Lake Ritsa, AR Abkhazia. The author listed the sparser metazonal striations, the slightly upwards bent epiproct and the different shape of the promere as the main diagnostic characters that distinguish ristensis from the typical form. The gonopods of all examined males, including the topotypic material from north of Lake Ritsa, show no significant differences from each other and they all match well the original descriptions and drawings of both the typical O. implicitus and O. i. ritsensis. On the other hand, the two aforementioned external somatic characters cannot alone reliably delimit a subspecies, as in Julidae they normally display some variations even within one population. We thus formally synonymise O. implicitus ritsensis with the typical O. implicitus, syn. nov.

(all from Russia). Holotype: ♂ (in two pieces, gonopods dissected, right antenna missing) (ZMUM), Republic of Adygea, Caucasian Nature Reserve, Lagonaki Plateau, Azishskiy Pass, forest, pitfall traps, 14–26.VIII.2013, Yu. Chumachenko leg. Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 subad. ♂, 2 juv. ♀♀ (SMNG 34136) (the male in 2 pieces, with dissected gonopods; the female unbroken, the subadult in two pieces, the juveniles unbroken), Republic of Adygea, Mt. Koryto, by a hut, 44°03'53"N, 40°21'02"E, 1600 m a.s.l., open Abies forests with dense undergrowth of herbs and shrubs, sifting leaf litter, 22.VIII.2005, K. Voigtländer leg.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (SMNG 34142) (the male in 2 pieces, with dissected gonopods; the female in two pieces, right vulva dissected), Republic of Adygea, Shestakova Meadow, 44°01'56"N, 40°23'25"E, Abies, Acer, ferns, etc., pitfall traps, 24–25.VIII.2005, K. Voigtländer leg.; 1 ♂, 1 juv. ♀ (SMNG 34154) (the male in head to ring 6 and rest of body, gonopods and hypoproct dissected; the juvenile unbroken), Republic of Adygea, a hut on the west bank of Afonka River, 44.0019°N, 40.4066°E, at a tree base, hand collecting, 27.VIII.2005, K. Voigtländer leg.; 1 ♂ (NMNHS) (in head to ring 6, ring 7, and rest of body in three pieces; gonopods and hypoproct dissected), at Sakhray River, some 2 km E of Novoprokhladnoye, 44°08'11.4"N, 40°19'04.4"E, 635 m a.s.l., Fagus forest, in dead wood, hand collecting, 30.VIII.2005, K. Voigtländer leg.; 2 ♂♂ (NHMD) (one in 2 pieces, gonopods, dissected, the other in 2 pieces, gonopods missing), 5 ♀♀ (NHMD) (some partly damaged), 3 juv. (NHMD), Krasnodar Province, ca. 9 km SW of Mount Fisht, Babuk-Aul, 43°53'26"N, 39°49'11"E, 560 m a.s.l., Castanea and Fagus forest, sifting leaf litter, 11.VII.2011, A. Solodovnikov leg.; 2 ♂♂ (NHMD) (one unbroken, the other in five pieces, antenna, penis, leg 3, left flange of pleurotergum 7, and hypoproct dissected, opisthomeres and left promere prepared for SEM), 17 ♀♀ (NHMD) (some partly broken, one with dissected vulvae), 28 juv. and subad. (NHMD), Russia, Krasnodar Prov., ca. 7 km SW of Mount Fisht, 43°54.214'N, 39°50.507'E, 1200 m, Fagus and Rhododendron forest, sifting leaf litter, 14.VII.2011, A. Solodovnikov leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus most similar to O. implicitus and O. lazanyiae sp. nov. by the overall shape of the promere, the weakly developed basoposterior process and mesomeroidal lobe of the opisthomere, and the broad, collar- or scarf-shaped, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process which has a characteristic, wrinkled, lamellar part and partially covering the mesal side of the solenomere. Differs from these two species mainly by the apically clavate solenomere, and by the apical outgrowth of the opisthomeral basoposterior process consisting of a relatively narrow cockscomb-like distal part and a strongly developed scarf-shaped mesal part; as well as by other morphological details summarised in Table 1.

From the Latin fascia, meaning scarf or band, after the strongly developed lamellar part of the apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process of the opisthomere, which is wrapped around the basomesal part of the solenomere. Adjective.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S IX, 45+3+T, L = 15.5 mm, H = 1.05 mm; paratype ♂♂ in S VIII–IX, 44–46+1–3+T, L = 14–16 mm, H = 1–1.1 mm; paratype ♀♀ in S VIII–X, 41–46+2–3+T, L = 11.9–19.9 mm, H = 0.85–1.3 mm.

Colouration (Fig. 25A): mostly brown, dorsum dark brown, prozonae dorsally with two short, transverse, blackish stripes, one each at frontal margin and near suture; metazonae with one longer, brown, transverse stripe, gradually narrowing and disappearing somewhat below ozopore level; dorsum with a blurred, blackish, axial line, this being more prominent on prozonae; with a dark brown spot above and in front of ozopore.

Figure 25. 

Omobrachyiulus fasciatus sp. nov., ♂ holotype A head and body rings 1–4 B telson, lateral views. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of 30–40 ommatidia, mostly arranged in easily countable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four (one ♂ with five), and 16–18, respectively. Antennae 1.3–1.4 × as long as head in males and 1.2–1.3 × in females; antennomere 2 > 4 = 5 ≥ 3. Gnathochilarium with a promentum separating both lamellae linguales over ca. 2/5 of their length, each latter with three or four setae in a longitudinal row; male stipites parabasally each with a longitudinal row of several short and stiff setae. Collum mostly smooth, with two or three broad shallow grooves near posterolateral corners, and with several densely set, oblique, shallow striae laterally at anterior margin.

Body rings barely vaulted. Prozonae with very short, fine, mostly parallel, longitudinal striae near pro-metazonal suture. Metazonae moderately deeply striated, n_Schub = 8 or 9; metazonal setae 1/3 to nearly half of metazonal length. Ozopores set tightly behind pro-metazonal suture in more anterior rings, gradually moved further backwards, to nearly equal to their diameter behind the suture in caudalmost rings, sutures not being sinuous in front of ozopores. Tarsus of mid-body legs equal to, to slightly longer than, tibia, and nearly 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 25B): Epiproct long, wedge-like, with a well-developed, slightly clavate, hyaline tip turned dorsad, considerably surpassing longest paraproctal setae. Hypoproct (Fig. 26A) rounded subtrapezoidal to semi-circular, ventrally with two distal paramedian setae; somewhat protruding past caudal margin of paraprocts in males, tightly fitting to their ventral side in females. Paraprocts sparsely to moderately setose.

Figure 26. 

Omobrachyiulus fasciatus sp. nov., ♂ (A–D) and ♀ (E) paratypes from near Mount Fisht, Krasnodar Prov., Russia (ZMUC) A hypoproct, ventral view B left flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view C penis, caudal view D distal part of right opisthomere, lateral, somewhat oral view E right vulva, mesal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (B, E), 0.1 mm (D), 0.06 mm (A, C). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, bpp basoposterior process, ct central tube, pa posterior ampulla, pt posterior tube, s solenomere.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites weakly to moderately expanded, forming a blunt rectangular or slightly obtuse anterior corner. Leg pair 1 rather slender, parallel to slightly converging hooks. Adhesive leg pads large and crested, gradually reduced in caudal direction, postfemoral ones disappearing in caudal third of body, tibial ones discernible until caudalmost leg pairs; femora without modifications. Pleurotergum 7 ventrally forming rather elongated, distally somewhat clavate and broadly rounded lobes (Fig. 26B) originating from the zone around pro-metazonal suture. Penis (Fig. 26C) very short, with short diverging apical lobes and broad terminal lamellae directed caudad.

Gonopods (Figs 26D, 27): Promere (Fig. 27A, B) rather slender, subequal in height to opisthomere, broadest at base, gradually tapering towards a narrow apex bent mesad; caudal surface with a strongly developed median ridge, and a very deep and relatively narrow median groove; with a small and not too deep distal groove, and a thick, strongly pronounced, distolateral lobe; flagellum (Fig. 27C and f in Fig. 27A) slightly longer than height of promere, apically with several whorls of basad pointing denticles. Opisthomere (Figs 26D, 27D–G) rather elongated; a basoposterior process present as a long and narrow, weakly developed lobe, distally forming a dentate cockscomb-like apical outgrowth, mesally extending into a strongly developed, soft, wrinkled, lamellar part, tightly enveloping the base of solenomere mesally and partly frontally; an anterior process absent; a mesomeroidal lobe barely discernible as a weakly developed rounded swelling slightly above opisthomeral mid-height, with a slender apicolateral part bent strongly mesad, considerably outreached by solenomere; mesal side with a large conoid lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a not too deep anteromesal sinus frontal to the gland; several very long, erect and spiniform filaments parabasally along flagellum channel; solenomere relatively slender, bent caudomesad; apex somewhat clavate, consisting of two tightly contiguous, irregularly shaped, apical lobes; a minute tapering lobe bent basad and positioned subapically on mesal side.

Figure 27. 

Omobrachyiulus fasciatus sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ paratype from near Mount Fisht, Krasnodar Prov., Russia (NHMD) A left promere, caudal, somewhat lateral view B same, caudal view C apical part of flagellum D left opisthomere, mesal view E distal part of right opisthomere, caudo-mesal, somewhat apical view F distal part of left opisthomere, oral-mesal view G left opisthomere, caudo-mesal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, B, D), 0.05 mm (G), 0.02 mm (E, F) 0.01 mm (C). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, aol lamellar part of basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, dl distolateral lobe, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, s solenomere, si anteromesal sinus.

Female sexual characters: Leg pairs 1 and 2 thicker and considerably shorter than following legs. Vulva (Fig. 26E) symmetrical, strongly compressed on sides; bursa with an obtuse postero-apical margin; operculum as high as bursa; setation sparse, present only in distal parts of bursa and operculum. Receptaculum seminis consisting of a rather narrow and short central tube, and a very narrow and short, mostly straight, posterior tube leading to a minute, ovoid, posterior ampulla.

NWGC.

The legs on body rings 2–6 of the paratype male from NMNHS were densely overgrown with fungi.

(SMNG). Holotype: ♂ (in two pieces, gonopods, leg 6 and a mid-body leg dissected), Georgia, AR Abkhazia, Gulripsh Distr., 6 km E of Tsebelda, right bank of Jampali River, Cave Nizhnyaya Shakuranskaya, 8–9.XI.1987, N. Myuge leg. Paratype: 1 ♂ (in head, collum, rings 2–3, ring 4, rings 7–8, and rest of body; leg pair 1, leg 7, a mid-body leg, right flange of ring 7, and hypoproct dissected; opisthomeres and one promere prepared for SEM), same collecting data as for holotype.

A species of Omobrachyiulus most similar to O. implicitus and O. fasciatus sp. nov. by the overall shape of the promere, the weakly developed basoposterior process and mesomeroidal lobe of the opisthomere, and the broad, collar- or scarf-shaped, apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process, having a characteristic, wrinkled, lamellar part, partially covering the mesal side of the solenomere. Differs from those two species mainly by the solenomere which is apically slender (not clavate as in O. fasciatus sp. nov.), divided in two parallel, tightly contiguous (not strongly diverging as in O. implicitus) branches, subapically on mesal side bearing a minute lobe with several denticles, protruding perpendicular to the main axis of the solenomere.

Honours the friend and long-term collaborator of the first author, Eszter Lazányi, a diplopodologist from the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary, whose scientific contributions mostly focus on the tribe Brachyiulini as well.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S IX, 41+2+T, L = 12 mm, H = 0.95 mm; paratype ♂ in S IX, 42+1+T, L = 12.5 mm, H = 0.9 mm.

Colouration (strongly faded from the ethanol conservation) (Fig. 28A): mostly brownish beige; head and collum with the usual pattern; prozonae dorsally with two dark transverse stripes, one in frontal section and the other next to pro-metazonal suture, the former broader; a dark washed spot in front of ozopores; metazonae uniformly light brown-beige; dorsum with a blackish axial line.

Figure 28. 

Omobrachyiulus lazanyiae sp. nov., ♂ holotype A head and body rings 1–3, lateral, slightly dorsal view B telson, lateral view. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of 20–30 ommatidia arranged in unclear vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four (one ♂ with five), and 16, respectively. Antennae (in Fig. 28A) 1.1–1.2 × as long as head in males; antennomere 2 > 3 ≥ 4 = 5. Gnathochilarium with a very small promentum separating both lamellae linguales over ca. 1/4 of their length, each latter with four setae in a longitudinal row. Collum completely smooth, with just one or two faint longitudinal grooves near posterolateral corners.

Body rings not vaulted. Prozonae with very short, shallow, scattered, longitudinal striae in posterior parts. Metazonae moderately deeply striated, n_Schub = 7 or 8; metazonal setae from 1/2 (in frontal and mid-body rings) to 2/3 (in caudalmost rings) of metazonal length. Ozopores set tightly behind pro-metazonal suture in more anterior rings, moved slightly backwards, to ca. half their diameter behind the suture in more posterior rings, sutures being gently sinuous in front of ozopores. Tarsus of mid-body legs ca. 1.3 × as long as tibia and ca. 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 28B): Epiproct rather long (approximately reaching the level of longest paraproctal setae), straight, ending bluntly without distinct hyaline tip; bearing several long setae. Hypoproct (Fig. 29A) rounded subtrapezoidal, ventrally with two distal paramedian setae; slightly protruding past caudal margin of paraprocts. Paraprocts sparsely setose.

Figure 29. 

Omobrachyiulus lazanyiae sp. nov., ♂ paratype (SMNG) A hypoproct (basal corners broken off), ventral view B right leg 1, mesal view C right flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view D right opisthomere, mesal, somewhat oral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (D), 0.1 mm (A–C). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, aol lamellar part of basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, ml mesomeroidal lobe, s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, sl mesal lobe of solenomere.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites (in Fig. 28A) rather weakly expanded, forming a narrowly rounded anterior corner. Leg pair 1 (Fig. 29B) markedly slender, slightly converging hooks with minute pointed tarsal remnants in the paratype (black arrow), the latter being absent in the holotype. Leg pair 2 somewhat shorter than following pairs. Adhesive pads as in O. fasciatus sp. nov. Ventral protrusions of pleurotergum 7 (Fig. 29C) similar to those in O. fasciatus sp. nov., but insignificantly widening distally.

Gonopods (Figs 29D, 30): Promere (Fig. 30A) rather stout, subequal to opisthomere, broadest at base, insignificantly tapering towards a broadly rounded apex; caudal surface with a pronounced median ridge, a deep and broad median groove, a small, but deep distal groove near lateral margin, and a rather weakly pronounced distolateral lobe. Opisthomere (Figs 29D, 30B–E) relatively slender; basoposterior process similar to that in O. fasciatus sp. nov., but with a broader apical outgrowth surrounding the proximal part of solenomere from all sides except frontally, and having a less strongly developed lamellar part; a (presumably) anterior process present as a small slender leaf running tightly contiguous with the basal part of solenomere; mesomeroidal lobe moderately pronounced, without an apicolateral part; mesal side mostly as in O. fasciatus sp. nov., but with somewhat shorter spiniform filaments at flagellum channel; basal section of seminal channel densely micro-spiculate; solenomere slender, gently sigmoid, directed distad; apex divided into two parallel, tightly contiguous branches, the mesal one bearing a minute lobe protruding meso-caudad, with several denticles at margin.

Figure 30. 

Omobrachyiulus lazanyiae sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ paratype (SMNG) A right promere (flagellum broken off), caudal view B right opisthomere, mesal view C left opisthomere, latero-oral view D apical part of right opisthomere, mesal view E distal part of left opisthomere, latero-oral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–C), 0.05 mm (E), 0.02 mm (D). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, aol lamellar part of basoposterior process’ apical outgrowth, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus, sl mesal lobe of solenomere.

Female sexual characters: unknown.

SWGC.

Syntype slide (gonopods, flange of male body ring 7) (ZMB 13622; Verhoeff prep. 3794). Russia: Republic of Adygea: 1 ♂ (SMNG 33579), Mount Shibaba, 21.V.2004, K. Voigtländer leg.; 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (SMNG 33575), at Sakhray River, 20.V.2004, K. Voigtländer leg.; 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 7 juv. (SMNG 33576), same collecting data.

A species of Omobrachyiulus morphologically very similar to O. zuevi sp. nov. Differing from the latter species by having generally more slender and less strongly embossed gonopods, and by certain details of opisthomere structure, as follows: anterior process well-developed, linguiform, clearly visible from most aspects, vs. the same being vestigial, visible only in oral and oral-mesal views in O. zuevi sp. nov.; mesomeroidal lobe with a rather weakly developed apicolateral part, vs. the same being massive, nearly reaching the level of the solenomere in O. zuevi sp. nov.; solenomere apically only moderately enlarged, with a soft sigmoid process directed basad, vs. the same ending with a very broad, flower-like apex in O. zuevi sp. nov.

Length 11–12 mm, height 0.8–0.9 mm. Labral setae: 16. Promentum of gnathochilarium separating both lamellae linguales almost halfway; stipites parabasally each with a row of short, stiff setae, similar to the condition seen in O. ponticus sp. nov. Tarsus of mid-body legs somewhat shorter than tibia and ca. 3 × as long as apical claw. Leg pair 1 parallel hooks; ventral lobes of ring 7 protruding entirely from metazona.

Figure 31. 

Omobrachyiulus roseni (Verhoeff, 1921), gonopods of ♂ from Mount Shibaba, Adygea, Russia (SMNG) A right opisthomere, meso-oral view B same, oral-mesal view C distal part of the same aspect. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, B), 0.05 mm (C). Abbreviations: ap anterior process, ml mesomeroidal lobe, s solenomere, sp sigmoid process of solenomere.

All remaining external somatic characters as in O. zuevi sp. nov.

Russia: Republic of Adygea, 40 km NE of Mount Oshten, at an influx of Belaya River [some 20 km S of Maykop] (type locality).

WCIS.

The gonopods of the presently examined near-topotypic males show no differences from those seen on the syntype slide.

(all from Russia): Holotype: ♂ (unbroken) (ZMUM), Republic of Adygea, Caucasian Biosphere Nature Reserve, Lagonaki Plateau, Azishskiy Pass, subalpine meadow, pitfall traps, 26.VIII–23.IX.2013, Yu. Chumachenko leg. Paratypes: 1 ♂ (SMNG) (in 2 pieces, with dissected gonopods), Stavropol, Tamanskaya Dacha Forest, near Komsomolskiy Reservoir, 45.0481°N, 41.9567°E, 530 m a.s.l., Quercus, Carpinus, Acer, etc., 22.VIII.2012, F. Walther leg.; 1 ♂ (SMNG 34143) (in 3 pieces, with dissected gonopods), Republic of Adygea, Shestakova Meadow, 44°01'56"N, 40°23'25"E, grassy area with sparse Fagus and Betula next to a brook, pitfall traps, 24–25.VIII.2005, K. Voigtländer leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM) (one in 2, the other in 3 pieces, with dissected gonopods), 1 ♂ (unbroken) (NHMD), same collecting data as for holotype; 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (in head to collum and 4 pieces, gonopods and penis dissected), 1 juv. (ZMUM), Republic of Adygea, Caucasian Biosphere Nature Reserve, Lagonaki Plateau, Instruktorskaya Cleft, forest, pitfall traps, 23.VIII–11.IX.2013, Yu. Chumachenko leg.; 2 ♂♂ (ZMUM) (one in two pieces with dissected gonopods, the other in head, collum to ring 2, ring 3 to ring 6, and rest of body, gonopods prepared for SEM), Stavropol, Mamayskiy Forest, 31.III.2013, R. Zuev leg.; 1 ♂ (NMNHS) (in two pieces with dissected gonopods), Stavropol, Tamanskaya Dacha Forest, 10.IX.2013, R.V. Zuev leg.; 1 ♂ (ZMUM) (in 2 pieces with dissected gonopods), 3 adult ♀♀ (ZMUM) (two unbroken, one in 2 pieces with dissected vulvae), 2 subadult ♀♀ (ZMUM), Stavropol, Tamanskaya Dacha Forest, Quercus, Acer, Carpinus, 01.VI.2014, R.V. Zuev leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus differing from congeners mainly by the apically strongly enlarged and hollow solenomere, postero-apically bearing a fine, pointed, sigmoid process, and by the well-developed lateral lobe of the opisthomere ending with a pointed process which is turned anteriad.

Meaning torch-bearer in Latin, after the resemblance of the solenomere to a burning torch, the flame being represented by a fine apical sigmoid process. Noun in apposition.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S IX, 42+1+T, H = 1.1 mm, L = 18.5 mm; paratype ♂♂ in S VIII–IX, 40–43+1+T, L = 15–19 mm, H = 1.05–1.3 mm; paratype ♀♀ in S VIII–IX, 42–45+0–1+T, L = 15–21 mm; H = 1.5–1.8 mm.

Colouration (Fig. 32): Head and collum with the usual pattern; prozonae brown-beige, dorsally with a narrow, dark grey, transverse band near pro-metazonal suture, and with a blackish spot in front of ozopores; metazonae brownish, darker in anterior section, light ochre-brown at hind margin; dorsum with a continuous, blackish, axial line; pre-anal ring dark brown, paraprocts lighter brown-beige.

Figure 32. 

Omobrachyiulus faxifer sp. nov., ♂ holotype (A) and ♂ paratype from Lagonaki Plateau, Adygea, Russia (ZMUC) (B) A habitus, mostly lateral view B head and collum, lateral, slightly frontal view C telson, lateral view. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of 22–35 well-pronounced ommatidia mostly arranged in easily countable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four, and 22–28, respectively. Antennae (in Fig. 32B) 1.6–1.7 × as long as head in males and 1.3–1.4 × in females; antennomere 2 > 5 ≥ 3 ≥ 4 > 6. Gnathochilarium with a relatively large promentum separating both lamellae linguales nearly halfway, each latter with two or three setae in a longitudinal row. Collum mostly smooth, with only tree or four striae near posterolateral corners.

Body rings gently vaulted. Prozonae with very short, fine, mostly purely longitudinal striae in posterior sections. Metazonae rather deeply striated, n_Schub = 6 or 7 in males and 7 or 8 in females; metazonal setae 1/2–2/3 of metazonal length. Ozopores touching or set barely behind pro-metazonal sutures along entire body; sutures not sinuous in front of ozopores. Tarsus of mid-body legs equal to, to slightly longer than, tibia, and ca. 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 32C): Epiproct mostly straight, distally slightly turned ventrad, wedge- rather than roof-like, ending with an indistinct, blunt, hyaline tip reaching the level of longest anal setae. Hypoproct (Fig. 33A) in males broad trapezoidal with broadly rounded corners, margin coarse, sometimes forming three small blunt denticles, considerably protruding past rear margin of paraprocts; same being broader, with an always smooth margin, barely protruding behind rear margin of paraprocts. Paraprocts covered with relatively sparse long setae; without distinct rows of shorter setae along caudal margins.

Figure 33. 

Omobrachyiulus faxifer sp. nov., ♂ paratypes from Lagonaki Plateau, Adygea, Russia (ZMUM) (A–D) and Mamayskiy Forest, Stavropol, Russia (ZMUM) (E), and ♀ paratype (F) from Tamanskaya Dacha Forest, Stavropol, Russia (ZMUM) A hypoproct, ventral view B leg 2 C left flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view D penis, caudal view E left opisthomere, oral-mesal view F right vulva, caudal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, C, D), 0.1 mm (B, E, F). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, bpp basoposterior process, ct central tube fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, lh horn-like process of lateral lobe, ml mesomeroidal lobe, pa posterior ampulla pt posterior tube s solenomere, sc seminal channel, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus, sp sigmoid process of solenomere.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites (in Fig. 32B) considerably expanded, forming a distinct, blunt or narrowly rounded, anteroventral corner. Leg pair 1 compact, parallel hooks, slightly turned mesad. Legs 2 (Fig. 33B) and following pairs ventrally with well-developed crested adhesive pads, postfemoral ones vanishing in caudal third of body; femora 2 basoventrally with small bumps (black arrow), femora of other legs without modifications. Pleurotergum 7 ventrally forming broad shovel-like lobes (Fig. 33C) originating mostly from metazona, directed ventromesad, touching one another behind gonopods. Penis (Fig. 33D) nearly as long as broad, compressed antero-caudally, with short diverging apical lobes ending in rather large terminal lamellae directed distad.

Gonopods (Figs 33E, 34): Promere (Fig. 34A) as high as opisthomere, broadest at base, abruptly narrowing after an incision at lateral margin’s mid-proximal section; lateral margin distally slightly convex, mesal one very gently sigmoid; apex broad, with a nearly rectangular meso-apical corner; caudal surface with a strongly pronounced median ridge, a deep and very narrow median groove, and a deep, rounded, distal groove; flagellum somewhat longer than height of promere, apically bearing blunt denticles directed basad, arranged in two or three transverse rows. Opisthomere (Figs 33E, 34B–F) moderately elongated; basoposterior process moderately developed, its apical outgrowth large, forming two parts: a smaller median one, and a larger mesal one bent strongly basofrontad, covering the basomesal side of solenomere like a hood; both parts distally with several small conical denticles; an anterior process absent; mesomeroidal lobe well-developed, narrow, ridge-like in its proximal part, distally widening in a pyramidal structure with a distinct apex; lateral side with a well-developed ridge-like lobe apically forming a pointed horn-like process bent frontad; mesal side with a relatively large, subtriangular lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a shallow, indistinct, anteromesal sinus; moderately long, erect, spiniform filaments present over most of flagellum channel; solenomere unipartite, apically clavate and deeply hollow, with a fine sigmoid apical process.

Figure 34. 

Omobrachyiulus faxifer sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ paratype from Mamayskiy Forest, Stavropol, Russia (ZMUM) A left promere (somewhat damaged in proximal part), caudal view B apical part of flagellum C left opisthomere, mesal view D right opisthomere, lateral view E distal part of left opisthomere, mesal view F distal part of right opisthomere, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, C, D), 0.05 mm (E, F), 0.01 mm (B). Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, bpp basoposterior process, dg distal groove, f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, lh horn-like process of lateral lobe, lp lateral lobe, mg median groove, ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, s solenomere, si anteromesal sinus, sp sigmoid process of solenomere.

Female sexual characters: Vulva (Fig. 33F) rather short and compact, symmetrical; operculum slightly higher than bursa, both bursa and operculum ending up with broad and rather short hyaline protrusions; setation dense throughout. Receptaculum seminis consisting of a very large, sack-shaped, central tube, and a very long, narrow, somewhat folded, posterior tube leading to a nearly spherical posterior ampulla.

NWGC-WCIS.

(ZMUM). Holotype: ♂ (in head to ring 6 and rest of body, opisthomeres dissected), Stavropol, Mamayskiy Forest, 31.III.2013, R. Zuev leg. Paratypes: 1 ♂ (in head to ring 2, ring 3 to ring 6, pleurotergum 7 (broken into two pieces), and rest of body; penis and pleurotergum 7 dissected, gonopods prepared for SEM), 1 ♀ (in head to body ring 2 + rest of body, left vulva dissected), same collecting data as for holotype.

A species of Omobrachyiulus being morphologically very similar to O. roseni (Verhoeff, 1921). Differing from the latter species by having generally stouter, more robust gonopods, and by details of the opisthomere, as follows: anterior process minute, vestigial, mostly hidden between base of solenomere and distal part of mesomeroidal lobe, vs. the same being significantly larger, clearly visible from most angles in O. roseni; mesomeroidal lobe protruding in a massive, rounded, apicolateral part, and a much smaller mesoapical part, vs. the apicolateral part being much less pronounced, nearly same size as the mesoapical one in O. roseni; solenomere with a strongly enlarged, flower-like apex, vs. the same being apically only moderately enlarged, with a soft sigmoid process directed basad in O. roseni.

Honours Roman Zuev, a myriapodologist from Stavropol, Russia, and the collector of the material on which the description of this new species is based.

Measurements: holotype ♂ in S VIII or IX, 40+2+T, L = 10.5 mm, H = 0.8 mm; paratype ♂ in S VIII or IX, 42+2+T, L = 12 mm, H = 0.85 mm; paratype ♀ in S IX or X, 44+1+T, L = 14.5 mm, H = 1.15 mm.

Colouration (Fig. 35): Mostly brown-beige, frontal and caudal parts of body darker than mid-body; head with the usual pattern; antennae light brown; collum dark brown at margins; prozonae with numerous densely set yellowish oval spots surrounded by brown rings forming a reticulate pattern; dorsally with a transverse dark brown stripe; metazonae light brown to yellowish beige; whole ventral side of body light beige; dorsum with a dark brown axial line; legs very light, in males dorsally with brown tinges.

Figure 35. 

Omobrachyiulus zuevi sp. nov., ♂ holotype (A, C) and ♀ paratype (B) A head and body rings 1–5, lateral view B head and collum, dorsolateral view C telson, lateral view. Not to scale.

External structures: Eye patches in adults consisting of ca. 30 weakly pronounced ommatidia, arranged in hardly recognisable vertical rows. Vertigial, supralabral, and labral setae: two, four, and 13 or 14, respectively. Antennae (in Fig. 35A, B) ca. 1.3 × as long as head in males and 1.15 × in females; antennomere 2 > 3 = 5 > 4 > 6. Gnathochilarium with relatively small promentum separating lamellae linguales in ca. 1/3 of their length, each latter with four setae in a longitudinal row. Collum mostly smooth, with only three or four very shallow, barely visible grooves near posterolateral corners.

Body rings not vaulted. Prozonae with very short and fine, mostly parallel longitudinal striae. Metazonae rather shallowly striated, n_Schub = 6 or 7; setae absent. Ozopores set tightly behind pro-metazonal suture in more anterior rings, gradually moved further back, to nearly equal to their dm behind the suture in caudalmost rings, sutures slightly (in the males) to strongly (in the female) sinuous in front of ozopores in anterior body section. Tarsus of mid-body legs as long as tibia, and slightly > 3 × as long as apical claw.

Telson (Fig. 35C): Epiproct moderately long, stout, turned somewhat ventrad in males, almost perfectly straight in females, ending with a short and blunt hyaline tip, not reaching the level of the longest paraproctal setae; with several long setae. Hypoproct semi-elliptical (more broadly rounded in the female) ventrally with two median submarginal setae, margin somewhat protruding behind rear contour of paraprocts in the males, tightly adhering to their ventral side in the female. Paraprocts sparsely covered with very long setae; no distinct rows of shorter setae along caudal margins.

Male sexual characters: Mandibular stipites (in Fig. 35A) moderately expanded, protruding mostly ventrad, forming a rounded anteroventral corner. Leg pair 1 compact hooks turned slightly to considerably against one another. Leg pair 2 and following pairs with crested adhesive pads, postfemoral ones disappearing after mid-body, tibial ones present until caudalmost legs; femora of leg pair 3 and next several pairs with an oval groove. Pleurotergum 7 ventrally forming elongated rounded lobes (Fig. 36A) originating from the zone around pro-metazonal suture, protruding mostly mesad behind gonopods. Penis (Fig. 36B, C) compact, stout, broader than long, with very short, contiguous, apical lobes ending in small terminal lamellae turned caudad.

Figure 36. 

Omobrachyiulus zuevi sp. nov., ♂ (A–D) and ♀ (E) paratypes A left flange of pleurotergum 7, ventro-lateral view B penis, caudal view C same, lateral view D right opisthomere, oral-mesal view E left vulva, caudal, somewhat lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, bpp basoposterior process, ct central tube, ml mesomeroidal lobe, pa posterior ampulla, pt posterior tube, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments.

Gonopods (Figs 36D, 37): Promere (Fig. 37A) relatively broad and stout, as high as opisthomere, broadest at base, somewhat narrowing in mid-section, then widening again distally, before lateral margin abruptly slanting to join mesal margin in a narrow, blunt apex; caudal surface with a well-pronounced, strongly arched, median ridge, a relatively deep and very narrow median groove, and a broad and deep distal groove; a broad and flat, subapical denticle turned basocaudad; flagellum somewhat longer than height of promere. Opisthomere (Figs 36D, 37B–E) stout and robust; basoposterior process present as a weakly pronounced lobe, distally forming a broad, flattened, shield-like, apical outgrowth protruding in a median, blunt, digitiform tip at margin; anterior process very small, mostly concealed behind distal part of mesomeroidal lobe, the latter massive, very strongly pronounced, distally extending into a broad and rounded apicolateral part, and a much lower, pointed, pyramidal apicomesal part; mesal side with a rather narrow lobe (presumably gonocoxal gland), and a very deep and spacious anteromesal sinus; a row of long and erect spiniform filaments at proximal section of flagellum channel; solenomere unipartite, rather broad tubular, turned anteriad, apically strongly broadening, forming a lamellar flower-like structure with multiple, minute, spiniform filaments at margin.

Figure 37. 

Omobrachyiulus zuevi sp. nov., gonopods of ♂ paratype A right promere, caudal view B right opisthomere, mesal, somewhat oral view C left opisthomere, lateral, somewhat oral view D distal part of right opisthomere, oral-mesal view E apex of solenomere, same aspect. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–C), 0.05 mm (D), 0.01 mm (E). Abbreviations: al apicolateral part of mesomeroidal lobe, am apicomesal part of mesomeroidal lobe, ao apical outgrowth of basoposterior process, ap anterior process bpp basoposterior process, d subapical denticle dg distal groove f flagellum, fc flagellum channel, g (supposed) gonocoxal gland, mg median groove ml mesomeroidal lobe, mr median ridge, s solenomere, sf spiniform filaments, si anteromesal sinus.

Female sexual characters: Leg pairs 1 and 2 slightly thicker than following legs. Vulva (Fig. 36E) symmetrical, relatively elongate, somewhat compressed on sides; bursa with a strongly obtuse postero-apical margin; operculum as high as bursa, both parts ending with small hyaline protrusions; setation dense throughout. Receptaculum seminis consisting of a rather broad, digitiform, central tube, and a very narrow, short, mostly straight, posterior tube gradually widening into a small, drop-like, posterior ampulla.

The complete lack of metazonal setae is a rare condition to be observed in the Brachyiulini: apart from O. zuevi sp. nov. and its close sibling, O. roseni, this can only be seen in their Aegean congener, O. strasseri Vagalinski & Lazányi, 2018.

WCIS.

Armenia: Elenovka [Sevan], 2 ♂♂ (ZIN) (gonopods dissected, not in the vial), 4 ♀♀ (vulvae dissected, not in the vial), 10.VIII.1932, A. Schelkovnikov leg.

A species of Omobrachyiulus most simillar to O. kvavadzei sp. nov., O. ponticus sp. nov., and O. trochiloides sp. nov. in gonopod structure, as well as in the shape of the male telson. Differs from these species mostly by details of the opisthomere: from O. kvavadzei sp. nov. by the significantly lower position of the mesomeroidal lobe devoid of a distinct apicolateral part; from O. ponticus sp. nov. by both the anterior process and the apical outgrowth of the basoposterior process being subequal to, rather than considerably exceeded by, the solenomere; and from O. trochiloides sp. nov. by having a much more obscure, poorly differentiated basoposterior process ending in an unciform, rather than a fine rod-like, apical outgrowth.

Armenia: Sevan (type locality); ?Turkey: vil. Artvin, above Göktaş (Enghoff 2006).

LECA.

Until now, the systematic position of this species has been doubtful. Lohmander (1936) treated it as the sole member of Armeniobrachyiulus Lohmander, 1936, a subgenus of Megaphyllum (= Chromatoiulus auct.). In that same publication he emphasised the similarity of the gonopod conformation in sevangense to that of members of Omobrachyiulus (at that time a subgenus of Megaphyllum), which implied that the two subgenera were closely related. Vagalinski and Lazányi (2018) elevated Omobrachyiulus to a full genus and stated that examination of material of sevangense was necessary in order to reveal its generic affiliation.

Unfortunately, the presently examined material has previously been dissected and lacks both male and female copulatory organs. However, the newly described species Omobrachyiulus kvavadzei sp. nov., O. ponticus sp. nov., and O. trochiloides sp. nov. undoubtedly belong to the same species group, together with sevangense. Thus, the latter is treated here as a member of Omobrachyiulus. We refrain from the usage of the subgenus Armeniobrachyiulus for reasons explained in the Remarks section under O. kvavadzei sp. nov.

Given the general trend for narrow endemism within the sevangensis group and the big distance between Sevan, Armenia (the type locality of O. sevangensis) and the province of Artvin, Turkey, the latter record of “Megaphyllum cf. sevangense” (Enghoff, 2006) may also refer to another closely related, yet undescribed species.