Paropiona gardneri Shear & Marek, 2025

Paropiona gardneri Shear & Marek , sp. nov.

Figs 1–12 View FIGURES 1–6 View FIGURES 7–10 View FIGURES 11–13. 11, 12

Types: Male holotype from east of Frontage Road on Rose Valley Road , Cowlitz Co. Washington, 46.1692°N, - 122.7080°W, collected 29 April 2007 by W. Leonard and C. Richart (collection number CR1840 ) GoogleMaps . Two male and four female paratypes from Ellsworth Creek Preserve , 46.431°N, - 123.890°W, collected 23 November 2003 by W. Leonard et al. Parts of the paratype males are mounted on SEM stubs WS37-18 and WS38-6 GoogleMaps .

Etymology. We are pleased to name this unusual species for Michael R. Gardner, coauthor of the first comprehensive review of the family Caseyidae ( Gardner & Shelley 1989) .

Diagnosis. Distinct from Paropiona aenigma sp. nov., the only other known species in the genus, in having both anterior and posterior angiocoxites of the gonopods. Only a single angiocoxite is present in P. aenigma .

Description. Holotype male. 11.0 mm long, about 1.1 mm in diameter ( Fig. 30 View FIGURES 30–32. 30 ). Triangular eyepatch of 21 ommatidia. Thoracic rings smooth, cylindrical, pale brownish gray irregularly marked with cream white. Ring macrosetae short, acute, in nearly straight row across posterior margin of metazonite.

First legpair ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–6 ) short, stout, coxae fused in midline; postfemur, tibia with few elongate, slightly flattened setae.

Second legpair ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–6 ) with coxae bearing long, curved gonapophyses (ga) sparsely setose on anterior surface; vas deferens (vd) and accessory pore (ap) both basal; telopodites (t2) reduced, femora long, postfemora and tibiae very short, tarsi button-like, clawless.

Third legpair ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 1–6 ) with elongate coxae (cx3) extended into broad, flattened, sparsely setose lobes (cl); reduced telopodites (t3) of four podomeres attached at base of coxal lobes, femora not flattened or enlarged, tarsi with single, long, apical setae.

Fourth through seventh legpairs scarcely enlarged.

Gonopods ( Figs 5–7 View FIGURES 1–6 View FIGURES 7–10 ) arising from and fused to coxosternum.Anterior angiocoxites (aac) broad, sigmoid, curved first posteriorly, then anteriorly; posterior angiocoxites (pac) extending anteriorly between anterior angiocoxites, with broad lateral lamella, curved, acute tip. Telopodites (t) large, robust, following curve of posterior angiocoxites, distally divided into many fine microfibers ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 1–6 ). Possible vestigial flagellocoxite (f?, Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7–10 ) attached to posterior surface of anterior angiocoxite.

Ninth legpair ( Figs 8–10 View FIGURES 7–10 ) coxae (cx9) elongate, with bifid coxal process; medial branch of process (mcp) shorter than telopodite, strongly hooked, with lateral groove or channel running to tip from pore at base of process; lateral branch (lcp) thin, flattened, appressed to mesal surface of telopodite, divided at tip into fine fibers. Telopodite (t9) narrow, elongate, with apicomedial cluster of many stout setae ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 7–10 ).

Tenth legpair (Fig, 11, 12) with much enlarged glandular coxae (cx10) carrying long, posterior, curved process. Telopodite smaller than those of adjacent legs, trochanter (tr10) with small, bifid process (trp), prefemora (pf10) and femora (f10) with rows of short, acute tubercles.

Paratype female. 11 mm long, 1.2 mm in diameter. Nonsexual characters as in male. Vulvae not modified, sparsely setose.

Records. In addition to the holotype and paratype localities: WASHINGTON: Pacific Co.: Ellsworth Creek Preserve, 14 March 2003, W. Leonard, m, f; GoogleMaps Same , 1 mile north on Parapala Road , 46.415°N, - 123.892°W, 20 June 2003, W. Leonard, m; GoogleMaps North Nemah River , 46.492° N, - 123.824° W, 20 September 2008, C. Richart (collection number CHR3192), mm; GoogleMaps 5.9 mi south of Rt. 6 on Trap Creek , 46.541°N, - 123.660°W, 334’ asl, 19 November 2005, W. Leonard, C. Richart, m GoogleMaps .