Opionoides Shear & Marek, 2025

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2025, Additions to the millipede family Caseyidae Verhoeff, 1909. IV. Two new genera and three new species (Chordeumatida, Striarioidea, Caseyidae), Zootaxa 5631 (3), pp. 533-547 : 542

Opionoides Shear & Marek , new genus

Type species: Opionoides cataracta Shear & Marek , new species. Monotypic.

Diagnosis: Distinct in the form of the gonopods ( Figs 24–27 ) from all other caseyid genera. The anterior angiocoxite is distally crowned with an array of stout cuticular spines (not setae) and the large posterior angiocoxites, which project anteriorly between the anterior angiocoxites bear a complex array of feathery, fimbriate processes.Large, poorly sclerotized colpocoxites are present, and a small, fimbriate branch may represent a vestigial telopodite.

Etymology. The genus name is a Greek neologism, “like Opiona ” and should be considered feminine in gender.

Description. As for the single known species, described below.

Figures

FIGURES 22–25. Paratype male Opionoides cataracta Shear & Marek, sp. nov. 22. First legpair, posterior view. 23. Second and third legpairs, anterior view. 24. Left gonopod, lateral view. 25. Right gonopod, mesal view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cl, coxal lobe of third leg; cx3, third leg coxa; f, flagellocoxites; ga, gonapophysis; pac, posterior angiocoxite; pf3, third leg prefemur; s, gonopod sternum; t2, second leg telopodite; t3, third leg telopodite; t?, possible vestigial telopodite of gonopod.

FIGURES 26–29. Paratype male Opionoides cataracta Shear & Marek, sp. nov. 26. Distal part of anterior angiocoxite, mesal view. 27. Posterior angiocoxite, mesal view. 28. Ninth legpair, anterior view. 29. Tenth legpair, anterior view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cg, coxal gland; cp, coxal process; cx9, Coxa of ninth legpair; cx10, coxa of tenth legpair; t9, telopodite of ninth leg; t10, telopodite of tenth leg.