Glyphiulus conuliformis Zhao & Liu sp. nov.

Figs 5E, 8, 9

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (SCAU G24), China, Guangdong Province, Yangjiang City, Yangchun, Cave Yanzi Dong, 22°5'N, 111°36'50"E, 400 m alt., 2016-X-29, leg. Tian Mingyi, Chen Mengzhen & Wang Dianmei. Paratypes: 2 ♂, 26 ♀ (SCAU G24), same data as the holotype.

Etymology.

To emphasise the metatergal anterior tubercles being very sharp and coniform.

Diagnosis.

Differs from congeners of the Glyphiulus formosus -group by the conical shape of the anterior tubercles of metaterga and by the first segment of the telopodite being significantly enlarged in ♂ legs 1, combined with the anterior gonopod process being slender, finger-shaped and curved inwards distally. Based on molecular evidence, G. conuliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. differs from all other Glyphiulus species analysed in a> 17.0% uncorrected p-distance of the COI barcoding gene.

Description.

Length ca. 32.5-37.0 (♂) or 47.0-58.0 mm (♀), mid-body rings round in cross-section, their width and height similar, 1.7-2.0 mm (♂) or 2.2-3.0 mm (♀). Body with 48-53 (♂) or 57-67 (♀) podous + 2-4 apodous rings + telson. Colouration dark brownish, head and legs yellowish (Fig. 5E).

Head surface smooth. Labrum with four teeth anteromedially (Fig. 9C). Ocellaria blackish, with 12-22 ommatidia arranged in 2-3 irregular linear rows (Fig. 9A). Antennae slender, slightly clavate, reaching back to middle of rings 2 and 3; in length, antennomeres 5> 3> 2 ≈ 4> 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. 9B). Gnathochilarium with a separate promentum, polytrichous on promentum and mentum, lamellae linguales each with 6-7 setae (Fig. 9C). Mandible not dissected.

Collum: crests complete and evident; carinotaxy formula I-III+P+M (Figs 8A, B). Following metaterga strongly crested, anterior tubercles very sharp and coniform; carinotaxy formula 2/2+I/i+3/3 (Fig. 8). Ozoporiferous tubercles very large, coniform (Figs 8C, D). Tegument delicately alveolate-areolate, fine longitudinal striations in front of stricture. Rings 2 and 3 with long pleural flaps.

Epiproct simple, caudal edge with a very low central protrusion, dorsally with an obvious sharp tubercle (Fig. 8E). Paraprocts regularly convex, each with several irregular rows of setae (Fig. 8F). Hypoproct transversely bean-shaped, with 3+3 small setae.

Legs slender, about 1.3 times as long as mid-body height; claw with a small accessory spine at base, about 1/6 as long as claw (Fig. 9D). ♂ legs 1 very strongly reduced, represented by a sternum showing a pair of small, unfused, paramedian, subunciform prongs directed forward, with about 4-5+4-5 long setae at base; flanked by strongly separated, rudimentary, 2-segmented, asymmetric leg vestiges, first segment significantly enlarged (Fig. 9F). ♂ legs 2 slightly hypertrophied, coxae large; penes rather small, much shorter than coxae, oblong-subtrapeziform, each with 1 or 2 strong setae distolaterally (Fig. 9H). ♂ legs 3 modified through coxae being especially slender and elongate (Fig. 9E). ♂ femora 6 and 7 normal, without modifications.

Anterior gonopods (Fig. 9I) with a broad and plate-shaped coxosternum supplied with about 14-16 microsetae near distal margin; apicomesal process of coxite high, slender and digitiform, curved inwards distally. Telopodite very large and stout, coiled, 1-segmented, lateral in position, almost parallel to lateral corner of coxite, with a field of 8-16 microspinules at base and five strong setae apically.

Posterior gonopods (Figs 9J, K) compact. Coxite subtrapezoid, with a longitudinal field of 22-24 basolateral microspinules in frontal view and a slanted field of 32-36 median microspinules in caudal view; apical and mesal parts of coxite with dense, strong and curved setae. Lamelliform lobe membranous, with a rather short and broad flagellum.

Vulvae very simple, bare, M-shaped (Fig. 9G).

Remark.

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