Table Of ContentPROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
115(3):670-675. 2002.
Eurhinocricus rosenbergi, a new species of rhinocricid from the
Caribbean island of Jamaica (Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae)
Jason E. Bond and Petra Sierwald
—
(JB) East Carolina University, Department of Biology, Howell Science Complex N 411,
Greenville, North Carolina 27858 U.S.A.;
(PS) The Field Museum of Natural History, Department of Zoology, Division of Insects,
1400S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605 U.S.A.
—
Abstract. This paper describes a new species of Rhinocricidae, Eurhinocri-
cus rosenbergi, endemic to the Caribbean island of Jamaica. In addition to the
standard male gonopod illustrations we present scanning electron micrographs
(SEM) and illustrations of the female genitaha, cyphopods, and SEM of the
mandibles. This new species is rather novel morphologically, relative to other
Jamaican Eurhinocricus, because of its large size and very distinct banding col-
oration. Based on anterior gonopod configuration we suspect that E. rosenbergi
may be a close relative of the Mexican species E. omiltemae (Pocock).
The purpose of this short paper is to de- two slender subparallel rods joined by a
scribe a new species of Jamaican Eurhino- membrane." In contrast, other rhinocricid
cricus. This interesting species, collected genera have more slender, or even flagelli-
during the course of a terrestrial inverte- form, telopodites. The telopodite ofthe spe-
brate biotic survey ofJamaica being under- cies that we describe in this paper clearly
taken by Dr. Gary Rosenberg of the Acad- fits Hoffman's description and thus war-
emy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia), rants placement in Eurhinocricus. However,
adds another species to the list of Eurhin- it is important to note that without the aid
ocricus that compose the already diverse of a phylogenetic analysis ofall rhinocricid
diplopod fauna ofthe island. Atpresent, the genera it is impossible to know whetherthis
rhinocricid genus Eurhinocricus Brole- single genitalic feature truly defines a
mann, 1903 (order Spirobolida) comprises monophyletic group to the exclusion of all
32 nominal species (Hoffman 1999) and is others or rather simply defines a monophy-
distributed throughout the New World letic lineage that is paraphyletic with re-
Tropics with a large concentration of spe- spect to some other larger aggregation of
cies on the Caribbean island of Jamaica rhinocricid species. Additional phylogenet-
(now 13 species). ic studies of the Rhinocricidae are neces-
Based on Hoffman's (1953 & 1955) de- sary to ultimately resolve this issue.
limitation of Eurhinocricus, the only syna-
pomorphy for the genus is a unique con- Terminology and Methods
formation of the posterior gonopod char-
acterized (Hoffman 1955:31) as being "a Ocelli and setal counts are taken from the
somewhat shortened appendage, its distal left side. Setal counts are listed from the
segment (the telopodite sensu Keeton 1960) tarsus to the prefemur. All measurements
composed of a long, acicular solenomere are given in mm. Millipede size is estimated
arising very near the coxal articulation, and by width taken at three points (segment
VOLUME 115, NUMBER 3 671
Fig. 1. Eurhinocricusrosenberginew species, malegenitalia. A-C,holotype. A. Anteriorgonopod,posterior
view. B. Anterior gonopod, anterior view. C. Left posterior gonopod, posterior view. D. Paratype. Anterior
gonopod, anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm. Abbreviations: Cx, coxa; Sc, seminal canal, Sm, solenomere; St,
sternum; Tp, telopodite.
number given parenthetically after mea- FMNH and The Field Museum Millipede
FMMC.
surement), using digital calipers accurate to Collection is abbreviated as
0.01 mm. We use Keeton's (1960) termi-
nology when describing female genitalic Eurhinocricus rosenbergi new species
structures. Although this terminology may Figs. 1-4
not reflect true homologies, we retain his —
nomenclatural scheme to ease comparisons Type material. Male holotype and fe-
between this work and those that are pre- male paratype, deposited in the Field Mu-
existing. Specimens were prepared for seum of Natural History (FMNH; FMMC#
scanning electron microscopy by cleaning 2376) collection, from Jamaica, Trewlany
with an ultrasonic cleaner, critical point Parish, Cockpit Country, South ofCaledon-
drying and coating with gold. Muscle tissue ia, Pantrepant to Quickstep Trail, elevation
was digested from mouth parts and genita- 360 m, 18°20.51'; 77°41.02'W (colls. G.
lia using trypsin. Mouthpart terminology is Rosenberg and D. Holmes, 23 May 2000).
from Kohler & Alberti (1990) summarized Male paratype, deposited in the Institute of
in Hopkin & Read (1992). The Field Mu- Jamaica in Kingston Jamaica (FMMC#
seum of Natural History is abbreviated as 2430), from Jamaica, St. Ann Parish, Re-
672 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Fig. 2. Eurhinocricus rosenbergi, new species, female paratype. Pigmentation pattern ofhead and segments
1-4, lateral view.
tirement, elevation 611 m, 18°17.73'; vation 508 m, 18°20.31'; 77°27.03'W
77°23.45'W (colls. I. Muratov and C. Schu- (colls. G. Rosenberg and J. Bond, 21 Oc-
bart, 10 October 2000). — tober 2000), 1—female (FMMC# 2479).
Additionalmaterialexamined. Jamaica: Etymology. The specific epithet is a pa-
St. Ann Parish: North of Grants Bailey, el- tronym in honor of Dr. Gary Rosenberg
evation 747 m, 18°15.46'; 77°24.88'W who was the first person to collect this new
(colls. G. Rosenberg, D. Holmes, and S. species and b—ring it to our attention.
Koenig; 18 October 2000), 1 female Diagnosis. A large Eurhinocricus spe-
(FMMC# 2471); Southwest of York Casde, cies (length greater than 60 mm) with
elevation 726 m, 18°15.6r; 77°13.74'W cream-colored segments and with males
(colls. G. Rosenberg and D. Holmes, 17 having the anterior gonopod sternum dis-
October 2000), 1 female (FMMC# 2465); tally nanow. —
Irons Mountain, elevation 750 m, Description of male holotype. Head,
18°17.63'; 77°09.24'W (colls. I. Muratov antennae, and collum light brown, slightly
and D. Holmes 1 1 October 2000), 1 juve- darker than other segments. Collum with
nile (FMMC# 2434); Richmond Pen, ele- darker outer band, lighter emargination.
VOLUME 115, NUMBER 3 673
Fig. 3. Cyphopods. A. SEM, leftanteriorview, stillattachedtolegbase. B. SEM,clearedcyphopodshowing
spermethecal bulb and duct. C. Diagrammatic representation of left cyphopod, side view. Arrows show orien-
tation ofoperculum. Scale bars = 1 mm. Abbreviations: At, attachment point; Cp, caudal plate; Dc, duct; Od,
oviduct insertion point; Op, operculum; Sb, spermethecal bulb.
All other segments distinctly banded. Pro- Anterior gonopod and telopodite as illus-
zonite light cream color, metazonite dark trated in Fig. 1. Sternum narrow distally
brown with light cream colored posterior (Figs. IB, ID), coxae (Cx) and telopodite
margin. In live specimens legs are dark (Tp) as in other rhinocricids (Fig. 1). Pos-
pink. terior gonopod telopod (Tp, Fig. IC) is
Antennae with four sensory cones, 11- spatulate with a membranous interior. Sem-
11 labral setae, clypeal groove distinct, 35 inal canal (Sc) is visible extending from the
ocein. Width 7.50 (1)-9.31 (20)-8.05 (45), coxae (Cx) to the solenomere (Sm). Sev-
50 ring segments. Leg I setal formula: 7- enth segmental ring posteriorly ventrally
3-2-3-2; Leg IL 7-2-2-3-2. Tarsi lack modified as a postgenital bar to accommo-
ventral pads. Scobinae not formed as dis- date gonopods. —
tinct pits but appear on the 7th-ca. 40th Size variation, male paratype. Labral
segment as a dorsal pair of light scars setae 1 1-10, 29 Ocelli, Width 8.22 (l)-9.68
(scobinellae [?], Hoffman 1998). Epiproct (20)-9.05 (48), 53 ring segments including
short, does not extend beyond paraprocts. the epiproct. —
Hypoproct short, triangular with blunt ter- Description offemale paratype. Color-
minal end, does not extend beyond para- ation as described for males (Fig. 2). An-
procts. tennae with four sensory cones, 10-11 la-
674 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Fig. 4. Female mouthparts, SEM. A, Left mandible, lateral, inner margin. B. Enlargement ofleft mandible,
inner margin. C. Right mandible, ventral view. D. Distal extremity of gnathochilarium, ventral view (inset:
enlargement ofright distal margin, scale bar = 1 mm). Abbreviations: It, intermediate teeth; Mp, molar plate;
PI, pectinate lamella.
bral setae, clypeal groove distinct, 34 ocelli. Figure 4 illustrates female mouthpart
Width 9.84 (1)-12.63 (20)-11.42 (45), 53 morphology. This species' mandibles (Fig.
ring segments. Leg I setal formula: 7-3-2- 4A-C) have a reduced, non-prominent ex-
3-3. Scobinae not formed as distinct pits ternal tooth, the internal tooth (It) row con-
but appear on the ca. 14th segment as a sists of three large, rounded teeth. The pec-
dorsal pair of light scars, much less prom- tinate lamella (PI) consists of ca. 5 loose
inent than in males. Epiproct slightly longer rows of large spines. Molar plate lacks a
than in males extending up to but not be- distinct anterior fringe. Gnathochilarium
yond paraprocts. Hypoproct larger than in (Fig. 4D) is as described for other spiro-
males with a much more rounded terminus, bolidans (e.g., Keeton 196—0).
does not extend beyond paraprocts. Female size variation. Ring segments
Cyphopods as illustrated in Fig. 3. These 51-54, including the epiproct. Width [9.63-
are very simple, sclerotized structures com- 10.47]-[11.08-—12.3]-[10.47-12.12].
prising two caudal plates (Cp), lacking se- Systematics. Eurhinocricus rosenbergi
tae, which open ventrally via a lightly scler- males have a distally narrow anterior gon-
otized operculum (Op) (Figs. 3A, 3C). In- opod sternum, whereas the distal aspect of
ternally (Fig. 3B) they consist of what ap- all other described Eurhinocricus males are
pears to be a ventral blind sac, or much broader. The exception is E. omilte-
spermethecal bulb (Sb), that may open mae (Pocock 1907) that likewise has a dis-
through to the outside by way of the oper- tally narrow anterior gonopod sternum but
culum and is connected dorsally via a duct is much smaller (total length 41 mm) and
(Dc). has segments that are uniformly black (Po-
VOLUME 115, NUMBER 3 675
cock 1907). Although Pocock's drawings Literature Cited
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have been ideal to have examined the ho- —
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Acknowledgements —
da). Memoirs ofthe American Entomological
Society 17:1-146.
This project was supported by National Kohler, H. R., & G. Alberti. 1991. Morphology ofthe
Science Foundation (NSF) PEET grant mand—ibles in millipedes (Diplopoda, Arthropo-
DEB 9712438 to P Sierwald and W. Shear da). Zoologica Scripta 19:195-202.
and NSF grant DEB 9870233 to G. Rosen- Pocock, R. I. 1903-1910—. Chilopoda and Diplopoda.
Biologia Centrali Americana. 217 pp. [Fasci-
berg. The government of Jamaica provided cle on the species ofRhinocricus distributed in
collecting permits G. Rosenberg. November 1907.]
