Micropathus kiernani Richards, 1974

Micropathus kiernani Richards, 1974 View in CoL

Fig. 1–2 View Fig View Fig , Table 1

Micropathus kiernani Richards, 1974: 253–255 View in CoL , fig. 3.

Diagnosis

Micropathus kiernani has a dark brown body colouration similar to M. fuscus but without its light brown patterning. It is the most strongly pigmented member of the genus. The apices of the hind femora variably bear a spine retrolaterally, but the ventral surfaces are entirely without linear spines. The male suranal plate is simple, being rounded both proximally and distally ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). The female subgenital plate is wide and rounded and bears two short, spiked lobes at the distal margin. The lobes touch at the bases but diverge distally ( Fig. 2 View Fig ).

Etymology

Named for Kevin Kiernan, a Tasmanian speleologist, geomorphologist, and conservationist. The species name ‘ kiernani ’ is a noun in the genitive case per ICZN Article 31.1.1 (ICZN 1999).

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Tasmania • ♂; Francistown near Dover, sandstone cave; 12 May 1973; K. Kiernan leg.; GenBank: PV440718 ( COI); ANIC 14-042015 About ANIC ; ANIC.

Paratype

AUSTRALIA – Tasmania • ♀; same data as for holotype; molecular data only; GenBank : PV440730 ( COI); ANIC 14-008956 About ANIC ; ANIC .

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Tasmania • 1 ♀, Precipitous Bluff, Damper Cave ( PB1 ); 43.482° S, 146.58° E; 26 m a.s.l.; 3 Feb. 2023; S.M. Eberhard leg.; GenBank: PV440729 ( COI); TMAG F156348 View Materials ; TMAG GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; TMAG F156349 View Materials ; TMAG GoogleMaps .

Redescription

As in Richards (1974), with exceptions as follows: ♂ suranal plate with distal margin curved ventrally and occasionally with projections underneath, ranging from a fringe of tubercles to prominent individual spines. Hind femur variably bearing a small retrolateral apical spine. Hind tibia with 21–35 prolateral and 22–35 retrolateral dorsal linear spines. First segment of hind tarsus with 0–5 prolateral and 1–4 retrolateral dorsal linear spines. Second tarsal segment with 0–2 prolateral and 0–2 retrolateral dorsal linear spines.

Distribution

Micropathus kiernani is listed as Critically Endangered federally and Rare under Tasmanian state legislation due to its exceptionally narrow distribution, previously restricted to a single sandstone cave at Francistown ( Fig. 1b View Fig ; Threatened Species Section 2022). However, we recently discovered a second population around 40 km away at Precipitous Bluff that was confirmed as M. kiernani based on a phylogenetic analysis against the type material ( Beasley-Hall et al. 2025a). Micropathus kiernani was previously only known from a moderate elevation ( 200 m), but this new record expands its altitudinal range to as low as 26 m. While this new record indicates M. kiernani is not as restricted as initially thought, the species nonetheless qualifies as a short-range endemic given its known distribution of less than 10 000 km 2 ( Harvey 2002).

Interestingly, the individuals at Precipitous Bluff were found amongst a colony of M. ditto Beasley-Hall sp. nov. Documented instances of sympatry in the Australian Rhaphidophoridae have previously only involved members of different genera ( Richards 1971b); to our knowledge, this is the first recorded instance involving congenerics. The two species are readily distinguished at a distance by their body colouration, even when occurring together in a tangle: M. kiernani stands out against the much lighter brown of M. ditto with a uniformly dark brown body, similar in shade to M. fuscus ( Fig. 7 View Fig ).

Remarks

In addition to correcting of Richards’ terminology regarding the orientation of leg spines in M. kiernani , there are several characters we have observed to differ from its initial description. Firstly, Richards described the male suranal plate of M. kiernani as bearing four anteriorly directed processes on the underside of the distal margin, which she illustrated as separate, well-produced teeth. However, upon inspecting the holotype we observed two lateromedial rows of tubercles, suggesting the trait is more variable than supposed by Richards. Secondly, the Precipitous Bluff material bears an apical spine on the retrolateral surface of the hind femur, previously thought absent from M. kiernani . As such, M. ditto Beasley-Hall sp. nov. is the only known member of Micropathus in which this trait does not exhibit intraspecific variation.