Two new cave-dwelling species of the millipede genus Paracortina Wang & Zhang, 1993 from southern China (Diplopoda, Callipodida, Paracortinidae)

Abstract Two new species of the millipede genus Paracortina Wang & Zhang, 1993 are described. Both are presumed troglophiles: Paracortina zhangi sp. n. from a cave in Ceheng County, southwestern Guizhou Province and Paracortina yinae sp. n. from a cave in Longlin County, western Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A distribution map and a key to all 12 Paracortina species are also provided.

The family has since been reviewed and shown to have Relictus and Altum as junior synonyms of Paracortina (Stoev and Geoffroy 2004). The genus Scotopetalum Shear, EOS 40D camera, further processed using Adobe Photoshop CS5 computer software. The distribution map was created using MapInfo Professional 12.0 software.
Etymology. The species is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Chongzhou Zhang for his contribution to the systematics of Diplopoda in China.
Remarks. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of 5+5 primary crests, 5+5 secondary crests on the metazonae, two processes on coxa 7 in males, and in certain specific characters of the male gonopods, as well as in the small process on coxa 3, and reduced leg-pair 2 in females.
Collum much narrower than head, with two paramedian spots covered with brown granules, pleurotergite 6 in males strongly enlarged. Prozonae delicately alveolateareolate; fine longitudinal striations in front of stricture between pro-and metazonae. Two first primary crests on collum relatively large. All crests on the metazonae, ozopores site, pleurotergal setae, and axial line as in P. zhangi sp. n. (Figs 24, 26, 28); setal pattern as in Table 1.
Female. A little larger than males, pleurotergites 2 and 3 strongly enlarged. Leg-pairs 1 and 3 with tarsal pads (Figs 34-35). Prefemur 3 evidently enlarged (Fig. 35). Leg-pair 2 (Fig. 36) rather strongly reduced down to a pairs of stout, apically deeply biramous remnants in adult females, normal in younger ones. Cyphopods small, densely setae, hidden in membranous sacs, partly extruded, laterally divided in the middle, the smaller part roundly concave apically (Figs 36-37). Coxae 6 and 7 normal, without processes. Etymology. The species is named in honour of Miss Haomin Yin, an active collector in our team.
Remarks. The new species differs from its congeners by the presence of small, pointed, posterior processes (e) on coxae 6 and two pairs of processes on coxae 7 in males, as well as in certain specific charaters of the male gonopods and reduced leg-pair 2 in females.
Distribution. China: Guangxi (Fig. 46). Cave I (Figs 42-45) is situated at the foot of a karst mountain. It is a large cave, made up of a hall of several layers covered by numerous big rock boulders. We explored approximately 150 meters deep, but then had to withdraw because of a rushing underground river. Other animals also found in this cave are diplopods from the genera Glyphiulus (Spirostreptida, Cambalopsidae) and Eutrichodesmus (Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae), the blind trechine beetle Satotrechus longlinensis Deuve & Tian, 2011, and bats. Key to species of the genus Paracortina  Coxa 6 with a small, pointed, posterior process (e) (Fig. 30)