Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 July 2025 | 17(7): 27288–27294
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9544.17.7.27288-27294
#9544 | Received 09 December 2024 | Final received 10 April 2025 |
Finally accepted 29 June 2025
A new species of millipede of the
genus Xiphidiogonus Carl, 1932 (Paradoxosomatidae: Polydrepanini)
from Satara District, Maharashtra State, India
S.B. Mane 1, M.D. Aswathy 2, P.P. Badade
3 & V.Y. Deshpande 4
1,3,4 VYD Lifesciences, Team VYD, Mangalwar Peth, Satara,
Maharashtra 415002, India.
2
Centre for Animal Taxonomy and Ecology
(CATE), Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Kerala 680125,
India.
1,3,4 Hindavi Research Centre, Satara, Maharashtra 415002, India.
1 sb95.milli@gmail.com, 2 aswathym.das94@gmail.com,
3 pratikb9511@gmail.com, 4 vydzoo@gmail.com
(corresponding author)
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4CD22B22-9925-4D3C-A1F7-B4FCE5F4650B
Editor: Jackson Means,
Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, Virginia. Date of publication:
26 July 2025 (online & print)
Citation: Mane,
S.B., M.D. Aswathy, P.P. Badade
& V.Y. Deshpande (2025). A new species of millipede of the genus Xiphidiogonus Carl, 1932 (Paradoxosomatidae:
Polydrepanini) from Satara
District, Maharashtra State, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(7): 27288–27294. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9544.17.7.27288-27294
Copyright: © Mane et al. 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: This study was not supported by any external funding agency. It was self-funded by the authors.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to Dr. Sergei Golovatch for providing support for identification of species. The authors are also thankful to all members of team VYD, Satara for their support and cooperation.
Abstract: The new species Xiphidiogonus sinispinus
sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Satara District, Maharashtra. The new species belongs to
the tribe Polydrepanini (Paradoxosomatidae).
The genus was established by Carl in 1932 with three new species, all from
Tamil Nadu. This is the first record of the genus Xiphidiogonus
from Maharashtra. The species X. sinispinus
sp. nov. differs from its congeners by the lack of a gonofemoral process whereas all three previously known
species bear an either internal or external gonofemoral
process.
Keywords: Arid zone, biodiversity, Diplopoda, millipedes, Polydesmida,
taxonomy, Xiphidiogonus sinispinus
sp. nov.
The family Paradoxosomatidae
is one of the most diverse of class Diplopoda, having
more than 200 genera worldwide (Jeekel 1968; Nguyen
& Sierwald 2013; Golovatch
et al. 2021). Golovatch & Wesener
(2016) published the millipede (Diplopoda) checklist
of India reporting more than 270 species falling under 16 orders and 125
families. A total of 22 genera and 56 species were reported in family Paradoxosomatidae.
There are three subfamilies
within family Paradoxosomatidae. Of these, two
subfamilies—Alogolykinae Hoffman, 1963 and Paradoxosomatinae Daday, 1889 (Jeekel 1968; Golovatch et al.
2021)—are reported from India. Golovatch et al.
(2021) revised the tribe Polydrepanini with a new
species Delarthrum anomalans
(Golovatch et al. 2021) from Kerala. The tribe Polydrepanini
is distinguished on the basis of long, slender & untwisted gonofemorite (fe), and thin &
subflagelliform solenomere
(sl). The tribe currently comprises seven genera,
which are illustrated by Golovatch et al. (2021). The
genus Xiphidiogonus is a member of the tribe Polydrepanini (Jeekel 1968). The genus
Xiphidiogonus was proposed by Carl (1932) to
accommodate three new species from southern Indian states with distinctive
characters, such as the presence of a leaf shaped acropodite
and a small & twisted solenophore with a flagelliform solenomere.
The current paper puts forth a
record of new species Xiphidiogonus sinispinus sp. nov. from Satara District, Maharashtra, India.
Materials and Methods
The material underlying this
study was collected by hand from a dry mixed deciduous forest region and agricultural
field of Diwadi (17.6960 N, 74.4450
E), Dahiwadi Tehsil, Satara
District, Maharashtra, India. The samples were collected between May 2024
(Summer) and July 2024 (Monsoon) and preserved in ethanol (98%). The holotype
and paratypes are deposited in BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society)
Depository.
The in-field photographs were
taken with a Realme 3 Pro smartphone with a 64 MP
rear camera. The laboratory work was done with a compound microscope with zoom
capacity of 20–60 x. The laboratory photographs were taken by Realme 3 Pro smartphone and stacked by an online photo
stacking website https://focusstackingonline.com/. The map used in this study
was prepared using QGIS 3.34.11-Prizren software. Approximate coordinates were
obtained from Google Earth Pro software and satellite data were accessed via
quick map services. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was done after
dehydrating samples in ethanol (90%, 2 x 100%) followed by drying for 24 hours, and mounted on aluminum stubs. The sample was then
coated with gold for half a minute in a sputter coater and SEM images were
taken by using a JEOL JSM IT 200 scanning electron microscope.
The SEM samples were returned to ethanol after the study.
Taxonomic Account
Order Polydesmida
Latreille, 1802/03
Family Paradoxosomatidae
Daday, 1889
Subfamily Alogolykinae
Hoffman, 1963
Tribe Polydrepanini
Jeekel, 1968
Genus Xiphidiogonus
Carl, 1932
Type species: Xiphidiogonus
spinipleurus Carl, 1932
Diagnosis: Carl (1942) described the genus Xiphidiogonus from peninsular India with
three new species. The genus is defined by the following characters:
metazonites with fine longitudinal and mostly smooth transverse furrows, weakly
developed keels (paraterga) without corners. Sternal
cones are present on coxae of 4th leg pairs of males. Legs robust,
first & second pair of legs short, somewhat thick, more or less hooked, and
femur with adenostyle. Gonofemorite
straight, long, cylindrical, untwisted, and armed with processes on either or
both sides. Acropodite leaf-shaped with short lobes; solenophore (sph) unusually small
and strongly twisted with a free flagelliform solenomere (sl) (Golovatch et al. 2021).
Xiphidiogonus sinispinus sp. nov.
(Figure 1, Image 1–16, 23, 24)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1779DD8D-65CE-4539-ACA2-F6E876FF6EC2
Material examined
Holotype: Male, BNHS Mi 1, 27.v.2024, Diwadi, Dahiwadi Tehsil, Satara District, Maharashtra, India. (17.6960 N,
74.4450 E), coll. P. Badade
& S. Mane.
Paratypes: 2 males, BNHS Mi 2, BNHS Mi 3,
same as holotype. 2 females, BNHS Mi 4,
BNHS Mi 5, same as holotype.
Other material examined: Aasrai Devi Temple (17.8410
N, 74.3400 E), Phaltan Tehsil, Satara District, Maharashtra. Near Kartik Swami Temple
(17.6040N, 74.2760 E), Rahimatpur,
Koregaon Tehsil, Satara
District, Maharashtra.
Etymology: The specific epithet ‘sinispinus’ refers to the absence of gonofemoral spine/ wing-like projections.
Diagnosis: Xiphidiogonus sinispinus sp. nov.
is defined by the presence of long, slender and untwisted gonofemorite
lacking a gonofemoral process, unlike Xiphidiogonus hendersoni
Carl, 1932 with internal wing-like femoral edge, Xiphidiogonus
dravidus Carl, 1932 with one internal and two
external femoral edges, or Xiphidiogonus spinipleurus Carl, 1932 with two internal and one
external femoral edges.
Description
Colour of live animals black with
brown shade on metazonites (Image 1); head, paraterga
and prozonites black; clypeolabral
and mandible region yellow; antennae, sterna, and legs black or black-brown;
trochanter and prefemur joints are paler; tips of legs with yellow tint. After
preservation in alcohol for two months the specimen appeared darker.
Body moniliform with 20 segments.
Length of holotype, 28 mm, of paratypes, 27–29 mm (male) or 28–31 mm (female).
Antennae longer in males (reaching up to segment 4) than in females (reaching
up to segment 3). Body width, head < collum <
segment 2 < segment 5 – 16 (both male & female), thereafter tapering
towards epiproct. Segment 3 and 4 comparatively
smaller than others. Head setose with longitudinal
groove starting from vertex to clypeus. Clypeolabrum setose. Collum with minor arc
shape and two rows of setae, anteriorly 4+4, and posteriorly 3+3 setae. Post collum terga with a single row of 2+2 setae at anterior
side and 3+3 setae at posterior side of metazonites. Collum
shows a sagittal sulcus from anterior to posterior side. Some segments show
traces of sagittal sulcus. Metazonites with clearly visible transverse sulcus
up to 18th segment. Paraterga smooth and
well developed from segment 3–18 and relatively smaller on segments 3, and 4; paraterga of second segment with rounded corners and
extended forward, and backward. All paraterga
anteriorly convex; caudal corner of paraterga rounded
laterally. Ozopores evident, lateral at ovoid groves
of paraterga of segment—5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–19. Epiproct conical, not pointed posteriorly, dorsoventrally
flat. Sterna granular, setose, dark brown coloured. Fourth coxa of males with sternal cones (Image 7)
directed towards anterior side. Sternal cones are trapezoid, bearing setae.
Sterna of segments 2–4 with small triangular outgrowth ventrally. Legs long,
first two pairs are modified, thickened, with femoral adenostyle
(Image 8, 9). Adenostyle of 1st leg pair
is small while 2nd leg pair bears a more protruding adenostyle. Tarsi with small and dense bristles.
Gonopods with strong,
cylindrical, untwisted gonofemorite (fe) lacking a femoral process while X. hendersoni with internal wing-like femoral edge, X. dravidus with one internal and two external femoral
edges, X. spinipleurus with two internal and
one external femoral edges. Coxite
sparsely setose near prefemur. Prefemur short, dark,
and densely setose, with cannula. Acropodite
from mesal view with semilunar extension, i.e.,
lateral lobe (lo) at exterior side (Image 12, 13) with seminal canal which runs
internally towards the solenophore (sph) located at caudal part of acropodite
(Image 12, 13). Solenophore (lateral view) is a leaf-like
structure with two pointed edges at the tip, between which solenomere
(sl) extends out (Image 14, 15). Solenomere
(sl) is a short, unprotected, hair-like extension
from solenophore.
Habitat
Xiphidiogonus sinispinus sp. nov.
is reported from three tehsils of Satara District
named Dahiwadi, Koregaon,
and Phaltan (Figure 1). All three regions are
relatively arid as compared to the western region of Satara
District. The species is commonly found under small logs, along with other
burrowing animals in dry regions. The species is moderately abundant in dry
areas.
Discussion
The genus Xiphidiogonus
was established on the basis of long, untwisted gonofemorite
with small solenomere (Carl 1932; Golovatch
et al. 2021). The genus was established with three new species named X.
hendersoni having internal wing like gonofemoral edges, X. dravidus
with one internal and two external gonofemoral edges,
X. spinipleurus with two internal and one
external gonofemoral edges (Carl 1932). Herein we
describe a fourth species in the genus Xiphidiogonus
and provide the first report of the genus from Maharashtra. The novel
species lacks any type of gonofemoral edges with a
long, straight, cylindrical gonofemorite.
Key to the accepted genera of Polydrepanini, based on gonopodal
characters (Golovatch et al. 2021)
Gonofemorite clearly twisted
………………………………………………………......................................……………..…. 2
Gonofemorite untwisted
………………………………...........………………………………………………………………....….…..
3
Solenophore particularly simple, two upright
lobes on either side of a higher, and suberect solenomere,
the
latter devoid of a basal curve/loop ……………………………………………………………………………... Dasypharkis
Solenophore much more complex, strongly coiled; solenomere with a basal loop/curve .... Polydrepanum
Solenomere with neither a distinct basal
loop nor a protecting lobe at its base ……………...........……..…..
4
Solenomere with both a distinct basal loop and a protecting
lobe at its base …………...........……….….…… 5
Solenophore relatively small but clearly
twisted ………………………………………………………...…… Xiphidiogonus
Solenophore usually large, varied ……………………………………………………..…………………………….…… Delarthrum
Solenophore cup-shaped, enlarged
……………………………………………………..……………………...………. Pocockina
Solenophore otherwise ……………………………………………………………………………………………..……………......……. 6
Both solenophore
and solenomere either suberect or subcircular
……………….……………... Grammorhabdus
Both
solenophore and solenomere
strongly coiled, the former with two distomesal
processes (a and b),
b
being unusually large and shield-like …………………………………….………………………………...…. Telodrepanum
# The above key is the modified
version of key suggested by Golovatch et al. (2021)
We suggest the new key to all
species of genus Xiphidiogonus as below:
Key to all species of the genus Xiphidiogonus
Gonofemorite without additional wing-like
edges or outgrowths …......................….. X. sinispinus sp. nov.
Gonofemorite
with additional wing-like edges ………..……………...................................................……….…..
2
Gonofemorite with internal wing-like edges
only ………………..................................……….….… X. hendersoni
Gonofemorite
with both internal and external wing-like edges
………....................................................... 3
Gonofemorite with one internal and two
external edges …………....................................…….... X. dravidus
Gonofemorite
with two internal and one external edges
……………..................................……. X. spinipleurus
FOR
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