Polydrepanum Carl, 1932

Muhsina, Othayoth Musthafa, Misal, Pooja Kumar, Kalawate, Aparna Sureshchandra & Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu, 2025, Two new species of the Indian millipede genus Polydrepanum Carl, 1932 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), Zootaxa 5642 (1), pp. 29-40 : 30-38

Genus Polydrepanum Carl, 1932

Type species: Polydrepanum tamilum Carl, 1932

Other species included: Polydrepanum lamprum Chamberlin, 1920 ; Polydrepanum granuliferum Attems, 1936 ; Polydrepanum horridum Golovatch, 1984 ; Polydrepanum xiphosum sp. nov. and Polydrepanum spinatum sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The genus Polydrepanum , as recently redefined by Golovatch et al. (2021), is distinguished from other genera in the tribe by the twisted structure of the gonopodal femorite, with the seminal groove primarily positioned along its lateral side.Among its contribal genera, only Dasypharkis Attems, 1936 shares this characteristic. However, Polydrepanum differs from Dasypharkis by possessing a large, coiled, and complex solenophore, which includes a basal loop of the solenomere. In contrast, Dasypharkis has a fully erect solenomere lacking a basal loop that is supported by a solenophore consisting of two simple upright lobes on either side ( Golovatch et al., 2021).

Key to Polydrepanum species, based on male features

The details of Polydrepanum spp. , except P. xiphoideum sp. nov. and P. spinatum sp. nov., are modified from Golovatch et al. (2021).

1a Leg pair 2 without adenostyle; gonopod solenophore with four spines on lateral margin................ P. spinatum sp.nov.

1b Leg pair 2 with adenostyle; gonopod solenophore without spines on lateral margin................................. 2

2a Gonofemorite stout; distomesal processes forming a complete dorsal ring, strongly coiled solenomere........... P. tamilum

2b Gonofemorite long and slender; distomesal processes not forming a dorsal ring.................................... 3

3a Gonopod with distofemoral process a and b; with a short solenophore................................ P. granuliferum

3b Gonopod with broadened distomesal process a and b; with a prolonged solenophore................................ 4

4a Gonopod with three distomesal process a, b, c; curved solenophore...................................... P. lamprum

4b Gonopod with only two distomesal process a and b; semi-curved solenophore...................... P. xiphosum sp. nov.