Atalopharetra bashfordi Mesibov, 2005, n. sp.
Creators: name: Mesibov, Robert
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2005
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Diplopoda
Polydesmida
Dalodesmidae
Atalopharetra
Atalopharetra bashfordi

description: Atalopharetra bashfordi n. sp.
Figs. 1 A(?), 2A, 3B, 3F, 4, 5, 8, 9; map Fig. 16
Holotype: Male, Bracken Ridge, Tasmania, DN897308 (43°04’26”S 146°52’29”E), 360 m, pitfall emptied 24.x.1995, R. Bashford, sample 1–3a, QVM 23:40502.
Paratypes: 1 male, same details as holotype but pitfall emptied 17.i.1995, sample 1­ 1b, QVM 23:40497; 1 male, same details but sample 1–3a, QVM 23:40498; 1 male, same details but sample 1–4a, QVM 23:40499; 1 male, same details but pitfall emptied 22.ii.1995, sample 1–2a, QVM 23:40500; 1 male, same details but sample 1–3a, QVM 23:40501; 2 males, same details but pitfall emptied 23.xi.1995, sample 1–4a, AM KS91434 (formerly QVM 23:40503); 1 male, same details but pitfall emptied 16.i.1996, sample 1–1b, QVM 23:40505; 1 male, same details but sample 1–3b, QVM 23:40506; 1 male, same details but pitfall emptied 15.ii.1996, sample 1–3b, QVM 23:40508.
Other material examined: 23 males, 4 females; see Appendix for details.
Diagnosis: Well­pigmented; paranota reduced to slight lateral swellings; large, laminar, hood­like distal process divided into two slightly overlapping portions; limbus elements tab­like. Distinguished from A. johnsi by upright solenomere and by short, distally toothed extension of posterodistal corner of hood.
Description: As for A. johnsi (see Figs. 2 A, 3B, 3F, 4, 5) in non­gonopod details. Apical lateral extension of gonocoxa large, bluntly rounded (Fig. 8). Telopodites (Figs. 8, 9) short, almost reaching leg 6 bases when retracted. Telopodite small at base, expanding from about one­quarter the telopodite height as large, laminar, hood­like process, the hood open only medially and divided near telopodite base into a smaller anteromedial and a much larger lateral portion; anteromedial portion erect, slightly convex medially and with minutely fringed edges, the rounded tip slightly overlapped by anterior branch of lateral portion of hood; lateral portion branching distally, the anterior branch curving medially and with fringe of long, fine, irregular elements, the posterior branch bending sharply medially and basally and tapering to bluntly toothed tip. Solenomere arising as separate process at about one­third the telopodite height on anteromedial surface of telopodite, bending slightly posteriorly and laterally to enter hood, extending distally and tapering strongly, curving slightly medially then posteriorly, terminating at about three­quarters the telopodite height in a slightly expanded, slightly rugose tip, with short, bluntly rounded, distally directed process arising at about one­third the solenomere length from its posterolateral surface. Telopodite with sparse coarse setae on posterior surface to about the level of solenomere origin.
Distribution and habitat: In richly organic soil in wet eucalypt forest and cool temperate rainforest over at least 3600 km 2 in southern and southwestern Tasmania (Fig. 16), from Wedge River and Mt Eliza in the north to the south coast, and east to Bracken Ridge near the Huon River, and from near sea level to ca. 450 m. A. bashfordi may also be represented among the unidentified western Atalopharetra in Fig. 15. As noted above, the range of this species and A. johnsi overlap by at least 2000 km 2, and the two species have been found to co­occur at several localities.
Etymology: In honour of Richard Bashford, Tasmanian forest entomologist, whose field work in the Southern Forests revealed the co­occurrence of this species with A. johnsi.
description: Published as part of Mesibov, Robert, 2005, (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae) from Tasmania, Australia, pp. 21-42 in Zootaxa 1034 on pages 29-31, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.169707