Glyphiulus scutatus Zhao & Liu sp. nov.

Figs 5B, 12, 13

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (SCAU WL30), China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hechi City, Du’an Yao Autonomous County, Napang Dong, 24°08'22"N, 107°51'07"E, 650 m alt., 2015-VII-26, leg. Chen Jujian, Wang Xinhui & Tang Mingruo. Paratypes: 2 ♂, 12 ♀ (SCAU WL30), same data as the holotype. 3 ♂, 4 ♀ (SCAU G72), same County, Cave Bianfu Dong, 24°01'55"N, 108°20'12"E, 550 m alt., 2017-VIII-18, leg. Tian Mingyi, Huang Sunbin, Wang Dianmei & Chen Mengzhen.

Etymology.

To emphasise the anterior gonopod showing a scalloped and shield-shaped coxosternum.

Diagnosis.

Differs from congeners of the Glyphiulus formosus -group by both ♂ femora 6 and 7 being slightly inflated and the anterior gonopod without apicomesal process, as well as the posterior gonopod with less than ten microspinules. Based on molecular evidence, G. scutatus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. differs from all other Glyphiulus species analysed in a> 15.8% uncorrected p-distance of the COI barcoding gene.

Description.

Length of both sexes ca. 25.0-41.0 mm, mid-body rings round in cross-section, their width and height similar, 1.3-1.8 (♂) or 1.8-2.0 mm (♀). Body with 55-68 podous + 1-4 apodous rings + telson. Colouration purple-brownish to dark brownish, legs light brownish to almost transparent (Fig. 5B).

Head surface smooth. Labrum with four teeth anteromedially (Fig. 13A). Ocellaria blackish, with 8-12 ommatidia arranged in two irregular linear rows (Fig. 12B). Antennae short, slightly clavate, reaching back to ring 3; in length, antennomeres 5> 3> 4> 2> 6> 1> 7. Antennomeres 5-7 each with a distodorsal field or corolla of bacilliform sensilla (sensory bacilli). Antennomere 7 with four sensory cones (Fig. 13B). Gnathochilarium with a separate promentum, setae variable in number, polytrichous or smooth on promentum and mentum, lamellae linguales each with 4-6 setae (Fig. 13A). Mandible not dissected.

Collum: crests complete and evident; carinotaxy formula I-III+P+M (Figs 11A, B). Following metaterga strongly crested and extremely sharp; carinotaxy formula 2/2+I/i+3/3 (Fig. 12). Ozoporiferous tubercles very large, subcylindrical. Prozonae delicately alveolate-areolate, fine longitudinal striations in front of stricture. Metazonae with an obvious, corrugate, carved texture (Fig. 12). Rings 2 and 3 with long pleural flaps.

Epiproct simple, very narrow, caudal edge uneven, with a clear central tubercle dorsally (Fig. 12E). Paraprocts regularly convex, each with several irregular rows of setae. Hypoproct transversely bean-shaped, with 3+3 small setae (Fig. 12F).

Legs slender, about 1.1-1.3 times as long as mid-body height; claw with a small accessory spine at base, about ¼ as long as claw (Fig. 13H). ♂ legs 1 very strongly reduced, represented by a sternum showing a pair of small, fused, paramedian, subunciform prongs directed forward, with 3+3 long setae at base; flanked by strongly separated, rudimentary, 2-segmented leg vestiges, with either a few or no setae (Fig. 13D). ♂ legs 2 slightly hypertrophied, coxae large; penes small, much shorter than coxae, oblong-subtrapeziform, each with 1-4 strong setae distolaterally (Fig. 13F). ♂ legs 3 modified through coxae being especially slender and elongate (Fig. 13C). Both ♂ femora 6 and 7 slightly inflated.

Anterior gonopods (Fig. 13I) with a scalloped and shield-shaped coxosternum with about 6-8 microsetae near lateral corner of coxite. Telopodite very large and coiled, 1-segmented, lateral in position, much higher than lateral corner of coxite, with a field of 5-7 microspinules at base and 4-5 strong setae apically.

Posterior gonopods (Figs 13G, J) compact. Coxite subquadrate, with a field of about 8-10 basolateral microspinules in frontal view and with a field of ten median microspinules in caudal view; apical and mesal parts of coxite with dense, strong and curved setae. Lamelliform lobe membranous, with a short, broad, distally spike-like flagellum.

Vulvae very simple, bare, rather faintly emarginate medially (Fig. 13E).

Remark.

In the absence of direct troglomorphic traits, this species can only be considered as troglophilic at most.