A new genus of Pseudospirobolellidae (Diplopoda, Spirobolida) from limestone karst areas in Thailand, with descriptions of three new species

Abstract

A new genus of the millipede family Pseudospirobolellidae, Siliquobolellusgen. nov., is described from limestone mountains in Thailand, based on three new species, viz. Siliquobolellus amicusdraconisgen. et sp. nov. from Uthaithani Province, Siliquobolellus constrictusgen. et sp. nov. from Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and Siliquobolellus prasankokaegen. et sp. nov. (type species) from Lampang Province. The descriptions are based on gonopod morphology and mitochondrial DNA data (COI barcodes). The COI barcodes grouped the three new species in a well-supported Siliquobolellusgen. nov. clade. The mean interspecific COI sequence divergence among the three new species was 12% (range: 8–15%). The mean intergeneric COI sequence divergence between Siliquobolellusgen. nov., Coxobolellus Pimvichai, Enghoff, Panha & Backeljau, 2020, and Pseudospirobolellus Carl, 1912 was 19% (range: 14–23%). Three conspicuous gonopodal synapomorphies differentiate Siliquobolellusgen. nov. from other pseudospirobollellid genera: (1) the telopodital part of the posterior gonopod forms a deep concavity, (2) the telopodite of the anterior gonopod is directed distad and does not reach the tip of the coxal part of the anterior gonopod, and (3) the tip of the anterior gonopod coxa is narrowed, curving mesad. As such, the monophyly of the new genus is well supported by both morphological and mitochondrial DNA data. A distribution map and an identification key to the species are provided.