Nepalmatoiulus humlaensis, Mikhaljova, 2025

Nepalmatoiulus humlaensis new species

Figs 24–37 View FIGURES 24–28 View FIGURES 29–31 View FIGURES 32–37

Material examined. Holotype: male ( ZMUM), Western Nepal, Humla District, 34.5 km SE to 41 km E of Simikot, N 29˚?45?′(Unfortunately, the numbers on the label are illegible)10′′–29˚41′47′′, E 82˚4′26′′–82˚6′4′′, 1655–2625 m, disturbed montane forest, 23.VI.2022, leg. D. Telnov.

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners (except N. uncus Enghoff, 1987 ) mainly by the velum margin with a very deep notch near the mesomeral process of gonopod, by the solenomere apex densely spinose, with anterolateral flagellate spines, by the margin of apical excavation of the promere strongly produced caudad. Differs from N. uncus mainly by the moderately slender, but not long, mesomeral process, by the stout solenomere which is not spinose throughout and by the promere without large apical hook.

Description. Male. Length in alcohol about 17.0 mm, midbody vertical diameter 1.3 mm, with 44(–2) rings, excluding telson. Coloration (in alcohol) marbled brown with light brown venter, colour pattern of entire rings of the usual julid type (description of the pattern of the julid type see Enghoff 1982). Eyes black, antennae brown. Legs light brown.

Head smooth, 2 epicranial setae, 4 supralabral setae. Eye patch subtriangular, composed of at least 40 ommatidia. Antennae short, slender and clavate. Antennomeres 5 and 6 with incomplete distodorsal corolla of sensilla basiconica. Mandibular stipites with large, evenly rounded, slightly swollen lobes. Gnathochilarium with group of dense nonapical stipital setae; lamellae linguales each with 5 setae arranged longitudinally. Collum with striae at posterior margin. A transverse row of very sparse short setae at hind edge of collum.

Body rings circular. Metazona with dense, regular, longitudinal striae reaching hind margin (12–13 striae in an approximate square with sides equal to metazonital length of a dorsal side of a midbody ring). Limbus straight, smooth (of Type 1 in Enghoff 1987). A transverse row of thin and very sparse setae at hind edge of metazonites. Ozopores very small, lying behind suture dividing pro- and metazona in touch with suture. Telson with caudal dorsal projection straight and long, covered with setae and carrying at tip a claw-shaped process curved dorsad. Preanal ring, anal valves, and subanal scale covered with setae.

Legs medium sized, slender. Very delicately serrate ventral pads ( vp) present on postfemur and tibia, starting from legs 2 ( Figs 25–26 View FIGURES 24–28 ). Claw of all legs at base with a setiform accessory claw ventrally; accessory claw of unknown length, as no whole (unbroken) accessory claws were found ( Figs 25–26 View FIGURES 24–28 , 29–31 View FIGURES 29–31 ). Leg pair 1 forming hook, the distal podomere not coming into close contact with the basal podomeres (“open hook” type in Enghoff 1987); postfemur with indistinct scaly-rugose ventral surface, coxa with one seta, distal podomere without seta ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 24–28 ). Coxa 2 with one long mesapical oral seta anteriorly, gland opening positioned in central and axial position sensu Enghoff (1987) ( Figs 24–25 View FIGURES 24–28 ). Penis subrectangular, about 1.8 times longer than wide ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 24–28 ).

Gonopods slightly protruding. Promere ( p) flattened, with parallel margins, apically obliquely rounded, in posterior view apically excavated for accommodation of mesomeral process, margin of apical excavation strongly produced caudad, papillate (in mesal and lateral views promere apex resembles a hook with an elongated tip), posterior surface subcentrally with small flattened rudimentary telopodite ( t) ( Figs 32–34 View FIGURES 32–37 ). Flagellum slender, of medium length ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 32–37 ); its basal part covered with cuticular conical spikes on the caudal side; its distal part completely covered with cuticular conical spikes ( Fig. 37 View FIGURES 32–37 ). Mesomeral process of the opisthomere moderately slender, with rounded, strongly papillate apex ( a) ( Figs 32, 34 View FIGURES 32–37 ). Velum w i th arcuate margin and a very deep notch ( dn) near the mesomeral process ( Figs 32, 34 View FIGURES 32–37 ). Solenomere ( sl) moderately stout, almost parallel-sided; apex with concavity, densely spinose, anterolateral flagellate spines ( fs) long ( Figs 34–35 View FIGURES 32–37 ). Additional membrane (not visible in Fig. 34 View FIGURES 32–37 ) with an uneven edge. Acicular process ( ap) of a flagellum-guiding flap short ( Fig. 34 View FIGURES 32–37 ).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Humla District. Adjective.

All fifteen species of Nepalmatoiulus known from Nepal are presented in Table 1.