The Rhynchoproctinae, a south-east Asiatic subfamily of giant millipedes: cladistic analysis, classification, four new genera and a deviating new species from north-west Thailand (Diplopoda:Spirostreptida:Harpagophoridae)

Abstract

The subfamily Rhynchoproctinae is revised at the generic level. Four new genera and a remarkable new species are described: Alienostreptus, gen. nov. from Vietnam, Armatostreptus, gen. nov., Heptischius, gen. nov., and Heptischius lactuca, sp. nov. from Thailand, and Prominulostreptus, gen. nov. from China. Agaricogonopus Zhang & Zhang, 1997, is removed from synonymy with Junceustreptus Demange, 1961. All 14 genera of the subfamily share three diagnostic gonopodal characters: the posterior surface of the anterior coxal fold forms a deep concavity, there is a mesal flap on the gonopod coxa, and the posterior coxal fold is very low. A cladistic analysis based on morphological data supports monophyly of Rhynchoproctinae and the distincness of the newly described genera. A dichotomous key to the genera is included.

A new species of the giant pill-millipede genus <i>Sphaerobelum </i>Verhoeff, 1924 from northern Thailand, with an extensive description and molecular characters (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Zephroniidae)

“…In 2005, Enghoff reported 105 species of Thai millipedes. However, recently, several studies in the extensive area (see Stoev et al 2007;Enghoff et al 2007;Golovatch et al 2009Golovatch et al , 2011aGolovatch et al , 2011bPimvichai et al 2009aPimvichai et al , 2009bPimvichai et al , 2010Pimvichai et al , 2011aPimvichai et al , 2011bLikhitrakarn et al 2010aLikhitrakarn et al , 2010bLikhitrakarn et al , 2010cLikhitrakarn et al , 2011Decker 2010) have increased the number of the Thai millipede fauna to 168 species. Most of them belong to the cylindrical and flat-backed millipedes, superorder Juliformia and order Polydesmida.…”

A strikingly coloured new giant millipede from Vietnam has copycat in Borneo (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Harpagophoridae)

“…The morphological terminology follows previously published papers (Pimvichai et al 2009(Pimvichai et al , 2010. Living specimens were photographed with a digital camera.…”

“…We use the following terminology for the gonopod structure of the genus Alienostreptus (terms not in Pimvichai et al 2010 in bold): as = additional spine: an additional spine on the telopodite, different from femoral spine (fe) and tibial spine (ti) ac = anterior coxal fold: the main part of the gonopod as seen in anterior view. Confusingly called posterior coxal fold by Demange (1961) and Hoffman (1975) ca = canopy of anterior coxal fold: the canopy-like apical part of the anterior coxal fold in some species fe = femoral spine: a spine originating slightly distal to the point where the telopodite is flexed ('knee') or where the telopodite emerges from the coxa fl = flap: a mesal, lamellar process of posterior coxal fold (pc) lr = lateralmost ridge: lateralmost ridge of posterior coxal fold (pc) mr = mesal ridge: mesal ridge of posterior coxal fold (pc) pc = posterior coxal fold: the main part of the gonopod as seen in posterior view, much shorter than anterior coxal fold (ac) px = paracoxite: the basal, lateral part of the posterior coxal fold sp = setalike spines: apical processes on the solenomere, slender, pale, soft ti = tibial spine: a long spine on the telopodite, originating distal to the femoral spine, at the basis of the apical part of the telopodite tp = triangular process: a pointed triangular process of lateralmost ridge (lr) of posterior coxal fold (pc) tr = transverse ridges: transverse ridges across the outer surface of the solenomere Apical part = the distalmost part of the telopodite…”

“…Based mainly on gonopodal characters, Jeekel (2006) divided the family into three subfamilies, viz, Harpagophorinae Attems, 1909, Adiaphorostreptinae Hoffman, 1977and Rhynchoproctinae Demange, 1961. The subfamily Rhynchoproctinae is a monophyletic group sharing three synapomorphic gonopodal characters: anterior coxal fold (ac) forming a deep concavity in posterior view; posterior coxal fold (pc) very low; posterior coxal fold mesally with a 'flap-like' process (Pimvichai et al 2010). The subfamily currently includes 35 species in 14 genera (Zhang et al 1997;Jeekel 2006;Pimvichai et al 2010).…”

“…The subfamily Rhynchoproctinae is a monophyletic group sharing three synapomorphic gonopodal characters: anterior coxal fold (ac) forming a deep concavity in posterior view; posterior coxal fold (pc) very low; posterior coxal fold mesally with a 'flap-like' process (Pimvichai et al 2010). The subfamily currently includes 35 species in 14 genera (Zhang et al 1997;Jeekel 2006;Pimvichai et al 2010). The genus Alienostreptus Pimvichai, Enghoff & Panha, 2010 differs from other rhynchoproctine genera by having duplicated femoral spines.…”