Acanthophorella gaumarjos, Antić & Margalitadze & Šević, 2025

Acanthophorella gaumarjos View in CoL sp. nov.

Figs 7–10 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 , 16G View FIGURE 16 , 17 View FIGURE 17

Diagnosis. Troglobiotic species, which differs from the epigean, pigmented A. aurita , A. chegemi and A. irystoni by the depigmented body. The new species differs from the troglobiotic A. didi sp. nov., A. barjadzei , A. eto sp. nov. and A. devi by the presence of black ommatidia (vs. pale brownish or transparent ommatidia in A. didi sp. nov., A. barjadzei , A. eto sp. nov. and A. devi ). From the troglobiotic A. spinicoxa sp. nov., the new species differs in the absence of lateral projections and distal pairs of processes on the medial parts of the anterior gonopods, by the presence of axelike processes on the coxae 7 or by the presence of subtriangular processes on the coxae 10 (vs. presence of lateral projections and distal pairs of processes on the medial parts of the anterior gonopod, the presence of bilobed processes on the coxae 7 or the presence of spinelike processes on the coxae 10 in A. spinicoxa sp. nov.). From the last troglobiotic species, A. valerii , A. gaumarjos sp. nov. differs by the presence of axelike processes on coxae 7 or by the presence of long angiocoxites on the posterior gonopods, which are only slightly shorter than the colpocoxites and positioned posteriorly (vs. processes on coxae 7 bilobed, angiocoxites on posterior gonopods very short and positioned posterolaterally in A. valerii ).

Name. The new species is named after the Georgian word for toast, gaumarjos (გაუმარჯოს). This word was used quite frequently during DA’s stay in Georgia and AM’s stay in Serbia. Noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype: GEORGIA ● ♂; Ambrolauri Municipality , Racha karst massif, a cave by the roadside near the Shaori Reservoir; 42°22’46”N 43°02’28”E; 1193 m a.s.l.; 22 June 2023; D. Antić and A. Margalitadze leg.; NHMW-MY10638. GoogleMaps

Paratypes: GEORGIA ● 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 4 juveniles; same data as for holotype; IZB GoogleMaps ● 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; IZISU GoogleMaps ● 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; NHMW-MY10639 GoogleMaps .

Description

Number of body segments and size. Body with 31 segments (including collum and telson). Holotype male 15.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest segment 1.2 mm. Paratype male 18.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest segment 1.3 mm. Paratype females 14.5–18.5 mm long, vertical diameter of the largest segment 1.2–1.3 mm.

Coloration ( Figs 7 View FIGURE 7 , 8A, B View FIGURE 8 ). Living animals almost completely depigmented. Only head, anterior segments and telson light brownish. Ommatidia blackish.

Head ( Fig. 8C, D View FIGURE 8 ). Densely setose, roundly convex in females, in males with labral and frontal surfaces flat with a convexity between and with a pair of lateral lobes, each below antennal sockets. Labrum with three medial teeth and 4+4 labral and 2+2 supralabral setae. Promentum triangular, without setae. Lamellae linguales with 7+9 setae. Stipites with ca 40 setae each. Antennae 2.4 mm long in holotype male. Length of antennomeres (in mm): I (0.10), II (0.20), III (0.66), IV (0.34), V (0.60), VI (0.25), VII (0.20) and VIII (0.05). Length/breadth ratios of antennomeres I–VII: I (1), II (1.3), III (6.0), IV (2.6), V (4.3), VI (1.5) and VII (1.7). Antennomeres II, IV, V, VI and VII with one, three, one, four and one long sensillum trichoideum, respectively. Antennomere 6 with a distal corolla of longer sensilla basiconica. Antennomere 7 with one rather bacilliform sensillum (sensillum basiconicum?) curved distad, located below sensillum trichodeum. Lateral to antennal sockets, a group of papilliform outgrowths present. In males 9–11 ommatidia in 3–4 rows, in females 6–13 ommatidia in 3–4 rows.

Collum. Narrower than head, with six macrochaetae as all body segments. Anterior edge semi-circular, posterior margin gently concave.

Body segments ( Fig. 8E, F View FIGURE 8 ). With well-developed lateral keels, anterior margins rounded in dorsal view. Macrochaetae long and rather trichoid.

Telson. Epiproct with a pair of spinnerets and 3+3 setae (1+1 paramedian, 2+2 marginal). Hypoproct with 1+1 distal setae. Paraprocts with 3+3 marginal setae in distal part.

Leg pairs 1 and 2. In both sexes with tarsal combs; femora, postfemora and tibiae with long and robust setae.

Male sexual characters ( Figs 7C, D View FIGURE 7 , 8A, C View FIGURE 8 , 9A–G View FIGURE 9 ). Gonopores mesally on coxae 2 ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ). Leg-pairs 3–7 enlarged, especially leg-pairs 3, 4 and 7 ( Figs 7C, D View FIGURE 7 , 8A, C View FIGURE 8 ). Leg-pairs 3 and 4 very thick ( Fig. 9B, C View FIGURE 9 ), each with a proximal lateral protrusion on prefemora; prefemora and femora strong, rectangular; tarsi shorter and thicker compared to other legs; femora, postfemora and tibiae each with a distoventral pad. Leg-pair 5 with a proximal, anterior, triangular, coxal protrusion ( Fig. 9D View FIGURE 9 ). Leg-pair 6 with a small proximal lateral protrusion on prefemora; without other peculiarities ( Fig. 9E View FIGURE 9 ). Leg-pair 7 robust; coxae with wide, well-developed, flattened and axelike posterior processes, covered with long setae anteriorlly ( Fig. 9F View FIGURE 9 ). Leg-pair 10 with coxal glands and well-developed, subtriangular, coxal processes oriented posteriad ( Fig. 9G View FIGURE 9 ). Leg-pair 11 with coxal glands, no other peculiarities.

Anterior gonopods ( Figs 9H View FIGURE 9 , 10A–C View FIGURE 10 , 16G View FIGURE 16 ). Gonopodal sternum (s) wide, medially with a poorly developed and fimbriate lamella (sl) on anterior side. Angiocoxites (a) consisting of a medial part (mp), lateral lamellae (ll) and a synangiocoxal base (sa) with anterior processes (ap). Medial parts well developed, divided, shieldlike, heart shaped, mesal margins posteriorly with well-developed acuminate projections; angiocoxites posteroproximally with a pair of tufts (tf) including lobes with spiculiform outgrowths and long hairs. Lateral lamellae well developed with denticulate margin, oblong in lateral view, strongly curved posterior. Anterior processes long, tapering distad, subacuminate, as high as medial parts, sigmoid in lateral view, almost completely hidden behind medial parts. Syncoxal vesicle (cv) present posteriorly.

Posterior gonopods ( Figs 9I View FIGURE 9 , 10D View FIGURE 10 ). Gonopodal sternum (s) wide, well developed. Angiocoxites (a) positioned posteriorly, slender, the same width throughout their height, curved slightly anterolaterad, slightly shorter than colpocoxites (c). Colpocoxites in anterior and posterior views rather lanceolate; fused with basal halves of angiocoxites. Telopodites (t) medium sized, rounded, placed posteriolaterally.

Leg pair 2 in females. Coxae and first podomere covered with tubecules and numerous setae.

Vulvae ( Fig. 10E–G View FIGURE 10 ). Operculum (o) well developed, bilobed, with 12 (6+6) setae, esal pair of setae setae very long, as long as vulval width. Bursa (b) with pronounced anteroproximal lips. Lateral valve with seven setae, mesal valve with 13–14 setae. Posteriorly, bursa with wrinkled lateral lobe.

Locality and ecology. A cave by the roadside near the Shaori Reservoir is located on the Kutaisi-Tkibuli-Ambrolauri highway near Lake Shaori in the Racha karst massif. According to the information available, the cave entrance was opened during the road construction works in 2011. There is no speleological description of this cave and no species have been described or recorded prior to this study. The cave is dry and rather small, but with a dark zone and high humidity. The specimens of the new species were found in the dark zone of the cave, where they walked on the wet walls or on the rocks. Specimens of Carabidae and Pseudoscorpiones have also been recorded in the cave.

Distribution. A Georgian endemic, known so far only from a cave by the roadside near the Shaori Reservoir in the Racha karst massif ( Fig. 17 View FIGURE 17 ).