Description

Description. Male / female approximate measurements: length 12 / 11 mm, ring 12 paranota width 1.2 / 1.2 mm. Live and freshly preserved specimens with reddishbrown head and antennae and complex pattern of strongly contrasting yellow and brown patches on most rings (Figs 1 D, 1 H): prozonites have paired paramedian yellow patches with brown patches medially and laterally, metazonites have paired paramedian yellow patches anteriorly and posteriorly, strongly contrasting with dark brown patches marginally on paranota and more diffuse paramedian brown bands along posterior margin and just anterior to transverse furrow. Live specimens similarly coloured but yellow not so intense; in alcohol, long-preserved specimens completely decoloured. Figure | 5. Tasmaniosoma fasciculum sp. n., paratype males. A Right posterolateral view of gonopods in situ (ex QVM 23: 46638) B lateral and slightly anterior and C medial views of left gonopod telopodite (ex QVM 23: 46635). Scale bars = 0.2 mm. As for T. armatum in most non-gonopod details, but relative widths tergite 6> 5> (4, head)> (3,2)> collum, leg 6 tarsus 1.5 × as long as femur. Metatergite almost completely covered with three transverse rows of 10 – 12 large, low tubercles, each with a small seta near posterior edge. Ring 2 pit not apparent except as slight concavity near anterior margin of ring. No setae on anterior margin of ring 6 (Fig. 5 C); leg 6 tab short, with a few fine setae; leg 7 tab long, thickened, with brush of stout setae. Gonopod telopodite (Fig. 15) arching anteriorly, strongly narrowed at ca 1 / 4 telopodite height, tip divided into four processes: (a) small, subcylindrical, distally tapered solenomere arising on medial surface and directed distally, curving medially near tip; (b) thick, tab-like bulge arising posterolaterally and bearing a tight cluster of 6 – 8 long, stout, rod-like setae directed anterodistally and slightly laterally; (c) anvilshaped process arising on anteromedial surface, flattened anteroposteriorly, rounded medial end and pointed lateral end of “ anvil ” both curving posteriorly; (d) long, blade-like, acute process arising on anterolateral surface and directed distally. Second tight cluster of ca 15 stout, rod-like setae arising on posterior surface just basal to division of telopodite into processes, setae reaching almost as far distally as solenomere; sparse fine setae on posterior surface near base and along lateral surface to level of telopodite division into processes. Prostatic groove running on medial surface directly to solenomere base. Female with sternites as wide as long.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Diplopoda

Order: Polydesmida

Family: Dalodesmidae

Genus: Tasmaniosoma

Species: Tasmaniosoma fasciculum Mesibov, 2010