MYRIAPODOLOGICA Virginia Museum of Natural History Vol. 5, No. 1 ISSN 0163-5395 November 1, 1997 Chelodesmid studies. XXVI. A new genus for Lepiodesmus kalobatus Brolemann, 1919 and notes on the related genus Iphyria (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae: Chondrodesmini) By Richard L. Hoffman ABSTRACT The new genus /ilyssa is proposed for the Ecuadorian niiiliped originally named Leptodesmiis kalobatus by Brolemann m 1919. This taxon is clearly referable to the tribe Chondrodesmini, within which perhaps closest to Iphyria. A new key to chondrodesmme genera is provided, as w'ell as notes and (drawings for Iphyria claralata. PREFACE Several decades ago, on the occasion of describing a new genus and species of chelodesmid from Venezuela (1978), I proposed to recognize a new tribe Chondro- desmini to accomodate five genera from northern South America. In a concluding section that stmimanzed each of these taxa, 1 remarked, in the discussion oil Iphyria^ that ''A second possible congener, Lepiodesmus kalobatus Brolemann 1919, likewise needs a re-exammation, although Brolemann's original descnption leaves no doubt that kalobatus belongs in the Chondrodesmini. " Not many years after publication of that observation, during curating of the R. V. Chamberlin collection of millipeds acquired by the National Museum of Natural History' in 1971, 1 came across a jar of specimens from the Andean region which had been loaned to Chamberlin by the California Academy of Sciences. Among the interesting contents of the jar was a specimen of kalobatus, taken not far from the type locality' in western Ecuador. The opportunity' to evaluate the status of this species was thus serendipitiously presented, and I can now establish that separate Scanned with permission by Virginia Tech Insect Systematics Group 2014 (www.jointedlegs.org) 2 Myriapodologica species was thus sereiidipitiously presented, and I can now' establish that separate generic rank is entirely justified, with Iphyria, among known chondrodesmine taxa, perhaps the nearest relative. Figs. 1 “4. Alyssa kalobata. 1, left paranota of segments 8 and 9, dorsal aspect. 2, right side of segment 7, ventral view showing gonopod aperture. 3, left gonopod, lateral aspect. 4, left gonopod, mesal aspect. Abbreviations; pfp, prefemoral process; ps, parasolenomere; s, solenomerc; x, y, z, coiresponding stmctures m both figures. Hoffman; Alyssa During the years 1899 to 1906, a French astronomical expedition (the ’’Mission dll Sen ice geographique de I'Amiee pour le Mesure d'un Arc de Mendien equatorial en Amenque du Sud") traversed Ecuador accumulating geophysical infomiation, During this lime, one of the staff scientists, G. Rivet, assembled a small collection of myriapods at various localities, and this material was placed m Brdlemann's hands for study. His accoimt, which appeared in the 10th volume of tlie Expedition’s reports, was a model of detailed description and elegant drawings, and the presentation of kalohatus allow'ed my much-later estimation of the species' taxonomic position. The near topotype male from the California Academy provided a closer look at the gonopod structure and a contrast with Iphyna claralata. the t\pe of which 1 obtained on loan from the American Museum of Natural History . Although I redesenbed that specimen in 1953. the gonopod drawing was small and not adequately detailed, and I am glad to be able to provide now' a much better account of that appendage and some other aspects of body fomi. Tribe Chondrodesmmi Hoffman, 1978 Alyssa^ new genus Type species: Leptodesnms kalohcniis Brolemami, 1919. Diagnosis; A chondrodesmine genus in winch the gonopod coxa is elongated and compressed, but does not extend behind the prefemoral region on the lateral side; a long slender coxal apophysis is present: acropodite reduced in size, distal half strongly reflexed at midlength with a triangular lobe on medial side at flexure, terminating in a long slender solenomcrc and somewhat larger spatulate para- solenomere: prefemoral process gi'eatb enlarged and complex in structure, consisting of a large rounded basal lobe with a fringed distal edge and a long, apical falcate projection. Paranota moderate to small, overlapping on anterior and posterior segments, \videly separated at niidbody: candolateral comers acute, peritreme elongate, slender. Sterna glabrous, with roimded prominences between posterior coxae. Coxae and prefemora glabrous, ventroapical macroseta of latter eccentric, placed anterior to median line: no ventroapical spines present, Anterior edge of gonopod aperture not clc\ ated. Name: An arbitraiy combination of letters, gender feminine, Alyssa kalobata (Brdlemann), iiew' combination Figures 1-4 Leptodesnms kalohatus Brolemann, 1919, Miss. Arc Mer. equator., v. 10, p, 261, figs, 12.48, 49. Holoty'pc male (Mus. hist. Nat. Pans) from Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Dpto Pichincha, Ecuador, G. Rivet leg. 1905. Leptodesfnus (Brachyurodesnms) kalohatus: Attems, 1938, Das Tierreicli, lief. 69, p. 48 . 4 Myriapodologica Material: Male (CAS) from Pichilmgiie, Dpto Los Rios, Ecuador, E. S. Ross & E. Schlinger, leg. 2 February 1955. Remarks: The original account of this species requires no amplification aside from an illustration of the gonopod in the standard mesal orientation, as Brole- mann's figure 48 is from a slightly tilted, dorsomedian aspect, I provide also a drawing of the telopodite in lateral aspect to show the strong retroflexion of the acropodite region. The general appearance is similar to that m Iphyria, the paranota being broad and overlapping on anterior and posterior segments. They differ, however, in that tire caudolateral comers are more acute, and the peritreme more slender and elongate than the subovoid condition in L claraiata (cf Figs. 1 and 6). Genus Iphyria Chamberlin Iphyria Chamberlin, 1941, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., v. 78, p. 500. Type species: Iphyria claraiata Chamberlin, by original designation and monolypy. - Hoff- man, 1953, Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, v. 56, p. 219. Iphyria claraiata Chamberlin Figures 5-8 Iphyria claraiata Chamberlin, 194L Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist., v. 78, p. 500, figs. 222-224. Male holotype (Amer. Mus, Nat. Hist.) from Rio Cainarachi, Dpto '^Loreto. Pern, H. Bassler leg. December 1925. - Hoffman, 1953, Proc. Entoni. Soc. Washington, v. 56, p. 219, fig. 2. The gonopod illustration in my 1953 note is entirely accurate but rather too small to show desired detail, I therefore give here two more adequate drawings made from the holotype. The paranota of this species are relatively large for a chelodesmid, and overlapping at both ends of the body (cf Fig. 5). Taking this body fomi into account with the spined prefemora, it is not surprising that Chamberlin referred the genus to the family Xystodesmidae. Iphyria rubripes Chamberlin Iphyria rubripes Chamberlin, 1952, Ami. Ent. Soc. America, v. 45, p. 71. Female holotype (Field Mus.) from Hacienda Limon, 10 mi. west of Bulgas, [?Dpto] Peru; Osgood and Anderson leg. 8 May 1912. Examination of male topotvpes is required for confimiation of the generic position of this species, and to define gemtalic differences between it and claraiata. Hoffman: Alyssa 5 Figs. 5-8 Iphyria claralata. 5, left side of coilum and paranoia of segments 2 and 3, dorsal aspect. 6, left paranoia of segments 1 1 and 12, dorsal aspect. 7, left gonopod, mesal aspect. 8, left gonopod, lateral aspect. Drawings fi om holoftpe. 6 Myriapodologica KEY TO GENEIM OF CHONDRODESMINl 1 . Prefemoral process of gonopod broadly expanded into a large, laminate shield, with a basal branch on the median side; telopodite reduced to a short, simple, falcate remnant; limbus fringed and/or setose . 2 - Prefemoral process not in the form of a broad concave shield, telopodite rela- tively larger; limbus broad but neither fringed or setose 3 2. Anterior sterna of males with large, bilobed paramedian processes, prefemoral process of gonopod with a small laminate secondar}/ lobe adjacent to telopod- ite; side margin of face with labrogenal offset FAimasiosiethus - Anterior sterna of males unmodified; prefemoral process of gonopod lacking laminate secondary process; side margin of face without offset .... Leptherpum 3. Coxae of gonopods not notably prolonged distolaterad beyond base of telopod- ite; dorsal side of coxae with numerous long setae Chondrodesmus - Coxae of gonopods slightly or considerable prolonged laterally adjacent to base of telopodite; dorsal surface of coxae with one to three or four setae .4 4, Coxal apophysis long and slender, extending nearly to apex Raima - Coxal apophysis much shorter 3 5 . Prefemora of legs with apicoventral spine; sterna, coxae and prefemora setose, hypoproct with elongate median projection; coxa of gonopod projecting beyond base of telopodite on lateral side; telopodite not reflexed Iphyria ‘ Prefemora without spine; sterna, coxae and prefemora glabrous; hypoproct not prolonged medially; gonopod coxa not projecting beyond base of telopodite on lateral side, telopodite strongly reflexed Alyssa LITERATURE Brolemann, H. W. 1919. Mvriapodes, in; Mission du Ser\ice geographique de I'Armee poui' la Mesure d’un Arc de Meridien equatorial en Amerique du Sud 1899-1906, vol. 10, pt. 2, pp, 235-273, pis. xviii-xxii, figs. 1-53. Chamberlin, R. V. 1941. On a collection of millipedes and centipedes from north- eastern Peru. Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist., vol.78, pp. 473-535, figs. 1-230, Hoffman; A lyssa 1 Hoffman, R. L, 1953. On three poorly-known Neotropical milliped genera (Poly- desnnda; Euiydesmidae). Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, vol. 56, pp. 215-221, figs. 1-6. Hoffman. R. L, 1978, Chelodesmid studies. XI. A new genus and species from Venezuela, referable to the new tribe Chondrodesmini. Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 85. pp. 543-551. figs. 1-14. Address of the author; Dr Richard L. Hoffman Virginia Museum of Natural Histor\' Martms\'ille. Virginia 241 12, USA