Amphinemura mirabilis subsp. turkestanica Zhiltzova 1978

Amphinemura mirabilis turkestanica Zhiltzova, 1978

Figs. 1–5

Zhiltzova, 1978:39, plate 1 (figs. 5–8, 10, 12), plate 2 (2); Zhiltzova, 2003:163, figs. 211–215; Teslenko & Zhiltzova, 2009: 116, figs. 700–703.

Material examined. China, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Eastern Tien Shan: 1 male (damaged), Bogdo-Ula Range, Urumqi city, Dabancheng District. Zienzan stream in the upper reaches of the confluence of the Malu River, an altitude 2,443 m above sea level. 09.VII.2017, N 43°49.738’, E 88°10.351’, leg. D.M. P.

Supplementary description. Only a damaged A. mirabilis turkestanica male was collected, but all structures are consistent with the original description (Zhiltzova 1978). Tergum 9 modified posteromedially forming a relatively short, V-shaped outgrowth (Fig. 1). Hypoproct elongate and broad, lateral margins parallel at base, narrowed distally to a short tongue-shaped extension between the inner lobes of the paraprocts, posteriorly with thin transverse wrinkles (Fig. 2). Vesicle large, widest distally with rounded angles (Fig. 2). Median paraproct lobe resembles inverted Arabic numeral two, and is large, elongate with rounded darkly sclerotized posterior angle, medial edge covered with black hairs (Fig. 3). The distal portion of the median lobe recurves upward then downward, apex bears two stout spines. Outer paraproct lobe short, strongly sclerotized with pointed tip (Fig. 3). Epiproct bilaterally symmetrical, membranous dorsally except for the base, which is darkly sclerotized and subtriangular, broadest basally, narrowed to rounded apex, and covered with tiny scales (Fig. 4). The paired dorsal sclerite is triangular, large, and broad at the base, extending dorsolaterally as paired long darkly sclerotized lateral arms that narrow gradually toward the apex, with the apical portion of the lateral arms rounded, directed medially, slightly extending above the ventral sclerite and bearing small, sclerotized scales (Fig. 4). The lateral arms ventrally support a pair of large membranous folds covered inside with stout scales close to the bases of the lateral arms and lateral edges of the ventral sclerite (Fig. 5). The ventral sclerite is lanceolate, heavily sclerotized, broad basally, narrowed at apex. In the dorsal view, its lateral edges roll up to the dorsal side and are covered with small, stout spines. In the ventral view, the ventral sclerite forms a median ridge that is densely covered with heavily sclerotized small stout spines (Fig. 5). The apical portion of the ventral sclerite is bifurcated and composed of two thin sclerotized tips covered by tiny sclerotized scales.

Distribution and ecology. Amphinemura mirabilis turkestanica is widespread in the mountains of Central Asia, from the Tien Shan to the Kopetdag and Pamir. It is one of the most common and numerous subspecies in the Tien Shan, and in the Pamir it may be the only stonefly inhabiting streams and rivers at altitudes of 1,000 –4,200 m above sea level. A. mirabilis turkestanica was found at an altitude of 2,443 m above sea level in the Zeinzan mountain stream with substrates consisting of large boulders and the riparian area being of coniferous forest (Fig. 36).

Note. A. mirabilis turkestanica was established as a Central Asian subspecies of the nominative form, A. mirabilis (Martynov, 1928), widespread in the Caucasus, Himalaya, and Iranian Plateau. Perhaps, our finding is a novel record for the stonefly fauna of China. Prior to our discovery, only A. mirabilis was known without subspecies identification from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Yang et al. 2015, Yang & Li 2018). According to D. Murányi (personal communication), A. mirabilis (Yang & Li 2018, fig. 164) should be considered as the Central Asian subspecies A. mirabilis turkestanica. Further research may confirm or refute these assumptions.