Protosiphonorhinus patrickmuelleri, Moritz & Wipfler & Wesener, 2025

† Protosiphonorhinus patrickmuelleri sp. nov.

Material examined.

1 ♂ holotype, ZFMK MYR 13870 , preserved in amber from the Burmese Kachin region, Hukawng valley . Exported before 2017, donated from the vast amber collection of Patrick Müller (Käshofen, Germany, BuB 1991) .

Derivation of name.

Adjective, after the collector and donator.

Diagnosis.

As the genus is monotypic, the genus diagnosis is the same as the species diagnosis.

In case additional species are discovered in Myanmar amber in the future, the surface of the prozonites and metazonites, the location of the ozopores starting at tergite 6 (Figs 2 C View Figure 2 , 3 G View Figure 3 ), and the pear-shape of the head necessitate examination (Figs 2 D View Figure 2 , 3 A – C View Figure 3 ). The gonopods of Protosiphonorhinus patrickmuelleri gen. et sp. nov. are peculiar, with both anterior and posterior gonopods consisting of seven podomeres (Fig. 4 A – E View Figure 4 ). Apical-most podomere of posterior gonopod, often carrying species-specific characters in extant species of the family, is unfortunately only partly preserved (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ).

Taphonomic notes.

The holotype is preserved in a piece of amber whose shape is round and which measures 10.02 mm in width, 12.25 mm in length, and 2.42 mm in thickness. The color is light orange, with good transparency. Syninclusions present in our amber piece are an insect leg, a mite, and vegetal fragments (Fig. 2 A, B View Figure 2 ).

Description.

Body: elongated (Figs 2 A, B View Figure 2 , 3 D View Figure 3 ), 18 times longer than wide, half-cylindrical. Measuring around 6.9 mm in length, with 38 + 1 body rings plus telson (Fig. 3 D View Figure 3 ). Each tergite approximately 0.38 mm wide. Setation of the head not visible (Fig. 2 C View Figure 2 ). Color between dark orange and yellow, in light-orange colored amber (Figs 2 A, B View Figure 2 ).

Head: pear-shaped, tapering anteriorly. Longer than wide, length of 0.3 mm (Fig. 3 A, B View Figure 3 ). Epicranium and forehead smoothly rounded, without delimitation. Epicranium partially arching above the antennal socket. Labrum triangular, visibly delimited in the anterior part of the head, encompassing approximately one-fifth of the head length, with a lighter color and slightly extending ventrally (Figs 2 D View Figure 2 , 3 A, B View Figure 3 ). Genae (area laterally below antennae) almost straight, extending below the lateral extension of the collum. Head below antennae (at genae) ca. three-quarters of the width of the epicranium above antennae. Ventral margin of head capsule apically slightly concave (Fig. 3 B, C View Figure 3 ). No eyes (Fig. 3 A View Figure 3 ). No organ of Tömösváry visible.

Gnathochilarium triangular, tightly appressed to the head capsule, with at least five well-distinguishable plates (proximal part obscured by legs) (Fig. 3 E View Figure 3 ): two lateral stipites, two apical mesal lamellae linguales, and a central mentum. The apical-most part (lamellae linguales) is difficult to observe. Mandibular cardo visible in ventral view, mandibular stipes and gnathal lobe internalized, not visible externally (Fig. 3 E View Figure 3 ).

Antennae laterally inserted on the posterior part of the head, in antennal socket, which opens fronto-lateral (ca. 45 ° angle) (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ). Antennae consisting of seven antennomeres plus an apical disc, protruding if stretched out up to the posterior margin of segment 4. Elbowed between antennomeres 3 and 4 (Figs 2 D View Figure 2 , 3 A – C View Figure 3 ). Antennomere 1 cylindrical, wider but shorter than antennomere 2. Antennomere 2 slender, almost as long as antennomeres 3 and 4 combined. Antennomeres 3 and 4 of equal width and length. Antennomere 5 slightly wider and longer. Antennomere 6 massive, swollen, with a lemon shape reaching its widest point at ca. one-third of its length, tapering towards antennomere 7, wider and as long as combined antennomeres 3, 4, and 5. Antennomere 7 very small, as large as one-fifth of antennomere 6 and terminated by an apical disc (Figs 2 D View Figure 2 , 3 A – C View Figure 3 ). Relative lengths of antennomeres: 7 <1 <3 = 4 <2 <5 <6. Each antennomere is covered by numerous small setae, the length of setae ca. 0.05 times the diameter of the antennomere (Fig. 2 C View Figure 2 ). Sensilla basiconica not visible, but two sensory pits are situated latero-apically on antennomeres 5 and 6 (Fig. 2 E, F View Figure 2 ). The pit on antennomere 6 is significantly large, as large as one-quarter to one-third of the antennomere length (Fig. 2 F, E View Figure 2 ). The terminal disk with the usual four large apical cones, smaller sensillae not observable (Fig. 3 B View Figure 3 ).

Body rings: Anterior margin of collum straight. Collum at least twice as long but not extending as far ventrally as following tergites, and only slightly overlapping head (Fig. 3 B, C View Figure 3 ). Each mid-body ring composed of one tergite, two pleurites, and two sternites, well differentiated and not fused. Tergites without paranota or paraterga. Tergites divided into prozonite and metazonite (Figs 2 C View Figure 2 , 3 G View Figure 3 ). Metazonite wider and almost twice as long as prozonite, strongly arched, colored in a light orange color. Metazonite surface smooth, dirty, covered with some small setae, more concentrated at the posterior margin (Fig. 2 C View Figure 2 ). Prozonites covered with longitudinally 16–19 and latitudinally three or four round protuberances, lacking setae, and colored in a darker orange (Figs 2 C View Figure 2 , 3 G View Figure 3 ). Posterior margin of metazonite (limbus) with rectangular projections whose posterior margin is toothed (Fig. 2 C View Figure 2 ). Tergites decreasing in width in the posterior part of the body (Fig. 3 D View Figure 3 ). Starting at the fifth tergite, ozopores are laterally posteriorly situated on metazonite, close to the posterior margin (Figs 2 C View Figure 2 , 3 G View Figure 3 ). Ozopores not marked and not surrounded by visible setae or sensillae, difficult to distinguish on some tergites. Ozopore at least on some tergites slightly projecting posteriorly on the posterior tergite margin (Fig. 3 G View Figure 3 ).

Pleurite surfaces are covered with around eight rows of round protuberances, similar to those of prozonite (Fig. 3 H View Figure 3 ). Legs attached to the sternite portions of body rings (Figs 3 G, H View Figure 3 ). Large paired spiracles present on the sternites, posteriorly to legs (Fig. 3 F View Figure 3 ). Sternites without a projection between the coxae, surface irregular, with some protuberances not well discernible (Fig. 3 H View Figure 3 ). One apodous ring and telson at the posterior end of the body, covered by numerous small setae (Fig. 3 I, J View Figure 3 ). Anal valves of telson well-developed, also covered by protuberances (Fig. 3 I, J View Figure 3 ). Subanal scale (epiproct) small.

Legs: Six podomeres, coxa, prefemur, femur, postfemur, tibia, and tarsus, terminated by a claw (Fig. 3 E, H View Figure 3 ). First legs shorter than the head and comparing to mid-body leg (Fig. 3 E View Figure 3 ). Elongated tarsus with no visible claw. First prefemur, femur, and tibia of similar length. Prefemur and femur wider than longer. Tibia longer than wider. Shorter postfemur, wider than long. First sternite with a smooth surface. Second leg pair with wider than longer prefemur and femur, smaller postfemur, and an elongated tibia. Tarsus elongated and terminated by an apical claw. Lobe posteriorly on the coxa of the second leg pair inferred to be male gonopores (Fig. 3 F View Figure 3 ). Midbody legs with elongated tarsus and claw (Fig. 3 H View Figure 3 ). Tarsus slenderer, less than half as wide as other podomeres, apically tapering. Triangular and wide coxa. Relative size of podomeres in midbody legs: postfemur <tibia <prefemur <femur <coxa <tarsus (Fig. 3 H View Figure 3 ). Elongated apical claw with no visible apical spine / accessory claw. Long spines present on each podomere. Tarsus shorter in anterior and posterior legs than on midbody legs. General mid-body leg length equal to half the body width of the ventral side (Fig. 3 H View Figure 3 ). Posterior legs comparatively shorter, measuring only one-third of the body width (Fig. 3 I View Figure 3 ). Five anterior-most legs curved and ventrally oriented (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ). Other legs extended and laterally oriented (Fig. 3 C, D View Figure 3 ). Coxal sacs visible and weakly everted on some legs. Leg pairs 9 and 10 modified into gonopods (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ).

Gonopods: Two pairs of gonopods situated posteriorly to the eighth leg pair and curved anteriorly (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ). Anterior pair (leg 8) consisting of seven podomeres without fusion (Fig. 4 A – E View Figure 4 ). Podomeres 1 to 6 cylindrical, each carrying setae, especially well developed on anterior side (massive, almost spine-like appearance of these setae is probably a preservation artefact). Podomere 4 at posterior margin apparently with wide, well-rounded process projecting as far as apical end of podomere 5. Podomere 7 elongated with apical tip curved laterally (Fig. 4 A View Figure 4 ). Podomeres 5–7 ventrally projecting and apically curved, forming protection sheath for posterior gonopods (Fig. 4 A, B View Figure 4 ).

Posterior gonopod (leg 9) consisting of seven podomeres, without fusion and with podomeres 1 to 6 cylindrical (Fig. 4 A, B, D, E View Figure 4 ). Ultimate podomere elongated and expanded into filamentous process, resting in mesal sheath formed by apical podomeres of anterior gonopod. Apex of ultimate podomere not visible. Process protruding at least as far as the sixth anterior podomere (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ). Posterior gonopod with short setae.