Anoplodesmus saussurii Humbert, 1865

Anoplodesmus saussurii Humbert, 1865 View in CoL

Material Examined: Male ( SPC0012 ) from Giriraj Society in Junagadh, 21° 31' 23.14'' N, 70° 27' 9.80'' E, Gujarat, India, 98 m. alt., 9 August 2023, R. A. Dave ( Fig. 15 View FIGURE 15 ) GoogleMaps .

Female ( SPC0013 ) from Durgapur in Kutch, 22° 51' 58.18" N, 69° 19' 50.63" E, Gujarat, India, 224 m. alt., 7 August 2023. R. A. Dave GoogleMaps .

Habitat Preferences: Anoplodesmus saussurii Humbert, 1865 is the predominant paradoxosomatid species in Gujarat, commonly thriving in habitats with high humidity and nutrient-rich black soil deposits. Animals are frequently found in areas where organic matter has accumulated. This behaviour is strongly linked to their crucial role in decomposition processes and their significance as indicators of soil fertility and environmental health in the habitats.

Seasonal Occurrence in Gujarat: This species shows a longer lifespan than any other paradoxosomatid species found in Gujarat. Under normal weather conditions, this species typically emerges towards the end of June and persists until December in Gujarat.

Morphology: Colouration blackish, with smooth prozona and metazona, metaterga have deep transverse sulci. Legs and antennae brownish to blackish, Paranota yellow, The posterior parts of the pleural keels are longer and more acute towards the body's rear than the front ( Fig. 15 View FIGURE 15 ). Males of this species have distinctive 6 th and 7 th legs with a ventral femoral process.

The gonopod features a stout coxite that is sparsely setose distally, with a densely setose prefemorite. The femorite is separated from the prefemorite by an oblique sulcus. The acropodite is pointed and distinct from the solenomere, which is short and enclosed by the solenophore ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 ). The gonopods of our male specimen are identical to those presented by Decker and Tertilt (2012), confirming species identification.