Acanthophorella irystoni Antić & Makarov, 2016

Fig. 21E, 22

Acanthophorella irystoni Antić & Makarov, 2016: 152, figs 126–128.

Acanthophorella irystoni – Golovatch & Antipova 2022: 134, 140.

Remarks and distribution

Epigean species. Russian endemic so far known only from one locality between Chmi and Baltik in North Ossetia. The specimens were collected in the litter and under stones on a slope with Quercus L. and Alnus Mill. (Antić & Makarov 2016) (Fig. 22, yellow circle). Considered as being endemic to the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, north-central Caucasus Major (Golovatch & Antipova 2022).

Key to the species of the Flagellophorella complex

Modified and refined after Antić & Makarov (2016).

1. 29 body rings (including telson) in adults. Angiocoxites of anterior gonopods with a pair of flagella ........................................................................... Flagellophorella hoffmani Antić & Makarov, 2016

– 31 body rings (including telson) in adults. Angiocoxites of anterior gonopods with a pair of pseudoflagella, spinelike, tapering, mostly acuminate processes or hidden processes .................... 2

2. Angiocoxites with a pair of hidden processes, with only distal parts visible ..................................... ............................................................ Crypthacanthophorella manubriata Antić & Makarov, 2016

– Angiocoxites with visible pseudoflagella or spinelike acuminate processes, only partly covered with mesal parts of the angiocoxites ......................................................................................................... 3

3. Angiocoxites with very long and slender pseudoflagella of equal thickness over the entire extent, forming a semi-circular curvature first and then rising distad ............................................................ ........................................................................... Pseudoflagellophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016 (4)

– Angiocoxites with rather stubby, tapering and mostly acuminate spinelike processes arising from synangiocoxal base directly distad without making a proximal curvature ......................................... ..................................................................................... Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016 (6)

4. Proximal parts of angiocoxites very wide and rounded ................. P. eskovi Antić & Makarov, 2016

– Proximal parts of angiocoxites not rounded, same width as the rest ................................................ 5

5. Angiocoxites with fimbriate lateral parts showing numerous single, bi- or triramous fringes/fingers orientated posteriad. Sternal lamella well-developed, fimbriate ........................................................ .................................................................................................... P. mirabilis Antić & Makarov, 2016

– Anterior gonopods with neither fimbriated lateral parts nor fringes/fingers. Sternal lamella poorly developed with only distal margin fimbriated .................... P. papilioformis Antić & Makarov, 2016

6. Unpigmented, whitish species. Presumed troglobionts .................................................................... 7

– Pigmented, epigean species .............................................................................................................. 9

7. Ommatidia black ........................................................................................... A. valerii Antić sp. nov.

– Ommatidia pale brownish or transparent, sometimes barely visible ................................................ 8

8. Large species, 16–26 mm long (usually about 20 mm). Macrochaetae long and trichoid. Coxal processes of leg-pair 7 in males with a mesal tooth. Coxae of leg-pair 10 with strong subtriangular or rounded protrusions. ............................................................. A. barjadzei Antić & Makarov, 2016

– Smaller species, 11–13 mm long. Macrochaetae shorter and bacilliform. Coxal processes of leg-pair 7 in males without mesal tooth. Coxae of leg-pair 10 without or with only a poorly visible protrusion .......................................................................................................... A. devi Antić sp. nov.

9. Angiocoxites of posterior gonopods wide, ear-shaped .................................. A. aurita Antić sp. nov.

– Angiocoxites of posterior gonopods neither wide nor ear-shaped ................................................. 10

10. Lateral lamellae of angiocoxites of anterior gonopods as high as medial parts of angiocoxites. Angiocoxites of posterior gonopods well developed, hook-shaped, curved anteriad ........................ .................................................................................................... A. chegemi Antić & Makarov, 2016

– Lateral lamellae of anterior gonopods distinctly lower than medial parts. Coxal processes of posterior gonopods small, columnar .......................................................... A. irystoni Antić & Makarov, 2016

To easily distinguish all nine species of the genera Acanthophorella and Pseudoflagellophorella, see also Figure 21.