Lissodesmus otwayensis Mesibov 2005, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Mesibov, Robert
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2005
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Diplopoda
Polydesmida
Dalodesmidae
Lissodesmus
Lissodesmus otwayensis

description: Lissodesmus otwayensis sp. nov.
Figures 60, 61, 69pen, 70pen, 71pen, 72 (map)
Figures 58, 59, 69otw, 70otw, 71otw, 79 (map)
Material examined. Holotype. Male, Australia, Victoria. Calder Ridge, 38°42'41''S 143°34'03''E, 380 m, 13.xii.2003, R. Mesibov & T. Moule, NMV K-9614.
Paratypes. Male, 2 miles W of Apollo Bay, 8.iii.1975, M. Campbell, NMV K-9607; 1 stadium 7 male, 1 female, 2 stadium 7 females, Aire Crossing Track, 0.5 km N of Aire R crossing, 38°40'S 143°29'E, 31.i.1995, G. Milledge, direct search, sample NOH-1086, NMV K-9608 to K-9611; 2 males, Turtons Pass, 38°38'43''S 143°40'36''E, 420 m, 12.xii.2003, R. Mesibov & T. Moule, NMV K-9612, K-9613, 1 dissected; 2 males, same details, AM KS91182; 2 males, details as for holotype, NMV K-9618, K-9619, 1 dissected; 3 females, details as for holotype, NMV K-9615 to K-9617; 7 males, Cape Horn, 38°44'13''S 143°34'30''E, 280 m, 13.xii.2003, R. Mesibov & T. Moule, NMV K-9620 to K-9626, 2 dissected; 2 males, 1 female, Diamond Hill, 38°27'05''S 143°56'10''E, 360 m, 14.xii.2003, R. Mesibov & T. Moule, NMV K-9627 to K-9629, 1 male dissected; male, same details but 38°27'00''S 143°56'14''E, NMV K-9630.
Description. Male c. 17 mm long, H = 1.6 mm. In alcohol, well-coloured specimens under low magnification pale brown in body colour with red speckling dorsally on prozonites and metatergites, and a darker, transverse red band posteriorly on metatergites. Antennae short, clavate (Fig. 69 otw), about 1.75X a socket diameter apart. Paranota reduced, R = 1.4 (Fig. 70 otw), posterior corners not turned up. Legs robust, tarsus longer than femur, tibia with prominent ventral distal swelling (Fig. 71 otw). Telopodite (Figs 58, 59) reaching leg 5 when retracted, with posterolateral row of sparse long setae running well distal to process origins, the base posteriorly somewhat excavate just below process origins. Solenomere arising at one-third the telopodite height, directed posterodistally at c. 45° to telopodite axis, curving very slightly laterally, terminating with small subapical projection at just under one-third the prefemoral process height. Tibiotarsus rod-like, bluntly pointed, more or less parallel to solenomere but somewhat narrower and about half its length. Femoral process arising distal to solenomere origin, blade-like, forked at about half its length, both branches wide and apically pointed; anterior branch curving anteriorly and terminating at about one-third the prefemoral process height (just distal to solenomere tip); posterior branch directed posterodistally and curving slightly mesally. Prefemoral process curving slightly laterally, narrowing and curving posteriorly and distally at just over half the process height, with a sharply pointed “shoulder” on the mesal edge marking the bend, distally bending sharply mesally and tapering to blunt point, almost the whole of the lateral edge distal to the bend a comb of c. 30–40 long, straight teeth. Uncus arising at just under half the prefemoral process height (distal to solenomere tip) on mesal edge of process.
Distribution and habitat. In wet eucalypt forest and cool temperate rainforest in the Otway Ranges (Fig. 79).
Etymology. Named for the Otway Ranges, where this species appears to be abundant.
description: Published as part of Mesibov, Robert, 2005, The millipede genus Lissodesmus Chamberlin, 1920 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae) from Tasmania and Victoria, with descriptions of a new genus and 24 new species, pp. 103-146 in Memoirs of Museum Victoria 62 (2) on page 121, DOI: 10.24199/j.mmv.2005.62.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8064747