taxonID	type	description	language	source
03A3096E3A17FFF6F462FA3E4E25C1DB.taxon	materials_examined	Type species. Retrorsia leonardi, new species. Diagnosis. A genus of minute, pallid Polydesmidae with 19 segments including epiproct, adult body dimensions ca. 5.6 mm in length and 0.7 mm in width; body noticeably broader with wider metaterga from segments 10 – 14. 6 th antennomere distinctly swollen. Collum slightly narrower than succeeding tergites, not covering epicranium, setae scattered subuniformly across surface. Dorsum slightly convex, metaterga lightly papillate with dense coverings of parallel­sided setae, latter arranged in four rows on segments 2 – 9, five rows on segments 10 – 17, and four rows again on segments 18 – 19; paranota present on all segments, margins variably dentate. Sterna without modifications. Legs with prefemora noticeably swollen through segment 10, becoming progressively narrower caudad; tarsal claws inconspicuous. Gonopodal telopodite relatively long, curving ventrad for most of length, divided distad into tibiotarsus and endomerite, with variable expansion proximal to division point and rounded or oblong pulvillus proximal to expansion; tibiotarsus curving variably dorsad, countering axis of stem; endomerite located laterad, length and configuration variable. Species. Two are known, R. leonardi and R. benedictae, n. spp., but others may exist in nearby areas. Distribution. Western Oregon and Washington, USA, most sites being in the lower Columbia River Valley (Figs. 1 [6], 2). Etymology. The generic name denotes the retrorse curvature of the tibiotarsus, the most distinctive feature. Remarks. The species of Retrorsia are the smallest known polydesmids in western North America, smaller than even the species of Bidentogon, which are over 6 mm in length (Buckett and Gardner, 1968). They are thus comparable in size to representatives of the Pyrgodesmidae and Fuhrmannodesmidae, and their gonopods are only microns in length, mere specks in a watch­glass of alcohol.	en	Shelley, Rowland M. (2003): A new polydesmid milliped genus and two new species from Oregon and Washington, U. S. A., with a review of Bidentogon Buckett and Gardner, 1968, and a summary of the family in Western North America (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae). Zootaxa 296 (1): 1-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.296.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.296.1.1
03A3096E3A11FFFAF462FC164D33C18B.taxon	description	Figs. 3 – 4 Type specimens. Male holotype (NCSM) collected by W. P. Leonard on 14 December 2002 at Ainsworth State Park in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, ca. 30 mi (48 km) E of downtown Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Male paratype (CAS) collected by D. R. Malcolm on 21 January 1968 along Bishop Road, 2 mi (3.2 km) N Helvetia [ca. 8 mi {12.8 km} NW Portland], Washington County, Oregon. Six male and 4 female paratypes (CAS, NCSM, VMNH) collected by E. Benedict on 8 January 1972, 3 mi (4.8 km) SW Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon. Diagnosis. Stem of gonopodal telopodite long, slender, and curvilinear, widening slightly distad at level of endomerite but not produced into a discrete flange; pulvillus rounded; tibiotarsus bent strongly dorsad, apically broad; endomerite short and subtriangular, oriented transversely to telopodal stem. Holotype. Head densely covered with short, fine, parallel­sided setae; epicranial suture distinct; genae not extending beyond adjacent cranial margins. Paranota broad with strongly serrate, notched margins on segments 1 – 6, becoming slightly narrower on segment 7 and progressively less dentate caudad. Epiproct short and broad, with two tufts of long, terminal setae. Paraprocts with slight marginal rims. Gonopodal aperture obchordate, caudal margin extending backwards between 9 th legs, sides flush with metazonal surface. Gonopods in situ with telopodites extending anteriad in subparallel arrangement over anterior margin of aperture and sternum of segment 6. Gonopod structure as follows (Figs. 3 – 4): Coxa large, expanding into ventral lobe extending for 1 / 4 of length of telopodite. Prefemur expanding distad into short, rounded lobe. Telopodite relatively narrow, curving gently ventrad for most of length, distal expansion short and narrow, pulvillus small and rounded, widely separated from expansion, hairs continuing distad along ridge on medial margin; tibiotarsus curving strongly dorsad, directed caudad, folded distad, apically broad; endomerite short and subtriangular, oriented transversely across stem, expanding into two narrowly rounded lobes. Prostatic groove apparently without loop or chamber, opening on medial surface proximal to pulvillus. Male paratypes. Agreeing closely with holotype in all details. Ecology. The holotype was collected on a north­facing slope, probably in sword fern litter (Polystichum munitum); the paratype from Washington County was extracted from a berlesate of mixed conifer and deciduous duff. Their discoveries in winter along with several new chordeumatidans (Shear & Leonard, 2003) testifies to the need for collecting during cool weather in the Pacific northwest. Distribution. Occurring along a 70 mi (112 km) stretch in the lower Columbia River Valley, Oregon, from the Gorge in Multnomah County westward to Columbia County some 30 mi (48 km) from the river’s mouth. Etymology. I am pleased to name this species for the collector, William P. Leonard, in recognition of his discoveries of new milliped species and genera in the northwestern United States. Remarks. The gonopod is so minute that even after clearing in lactic acid for a few days and viewing at 400 x under a compound microscope, I could not discern whether or not there is a distal loop or chamber on the prostatic groove. Retrorsia benedictae, new species Figs. 5 ­ 8 Type specimens. Male holotype (CAS) and 3 male and 1 female paratypes (CAS, NCSM) collected by E. M. Benedict on 27 November 1971 along OR hwy. 202, 3 mi (4.8 km) SE Olney, Clatsop County, Oregon. Male paratype (CAS) taken by same collector on same date 6 mi (9.6 km) SE Olney and the North Fork Klaskanne River, Clatsop County. Diagnosis. Stem of gonopodal telopodite relatively broad, curving moderately ventrad, with distinct flange distad at level of endomerite; pulvillus oblong; tibiotarsus curving gently dorsad, apically acuminate; endomerite relatively long, breadth and configuration variable, oriented along axis of telopodal stem. Holotype. Somatic features as in R. leonardi except paranotal margins lightly dentate on segments 1 – 6, becoming slightly narrower on segment 7 and progressively less dentate caudad. Epiproct with two pairs of relatively short terminal setae. Gonopodal aperture rounded, caudal margin not extending backwards between 9 th legs. Gonopods in situ extending ventrad in aperture in subparallel arrangement, not extending over anterior margin of aperture or sternum of segment 6. Gonopod structure as follows (Figs. 5 – 6): Coxa large, with horizontal, triangular projection directed ventrad, without ventral lobe. Prefemur with margin gently sinusoid, without ventral lobe. Telopodite relatively broad, curving moderately ventrad for most of length, distal expansion in form of discrete concave flange with subacuminate corners, demarcated from tibiotarsus by strong indentation, pulvillus oblong, expanding apically, arising at base of flange; tibiotarsus curving gently dorsad, proximal corner slightly expanded, apically linear and acuminate; endomerite long, apically acuminate, oriented along axis of telopodal stem, curving generally subparallel to tibiotarsus but shorter than latter, with short, triangular, medial and lateral lobes, former overlapping telopodal stem at level of base of tibiotarsus. Prostatic groove with distinct distal chamber. Male paratypes. Agreeing closely with holotype in all particulars. Variation. The gonopods of the Washington specimen (Figs. 7 – 8) differ from those of the Oregon males in that the flange is less concave and has a sublinear margin, the pulvillus is apically rounded and not expanded, and the proximal corner of the tibiotarsus is pointed but not produced into a lobe. The most variable aspect is the endomerite, which is blade­like and broader than that of the holotype. It also lies parallel to the telopodal stem instead of the tibiotarsus and expands apically into two lobes that are similar to those in R. leonardi, though the terminal one is slightly produced and the proximomedial lobe is absent. Ecology. The holotype and associated paratypes were collected at ca. 400 ft. (120 m) elevation, and the other paratype was at 800 ft. (240 m); no habitat information is available for either site. The Washington individual was encountered at 900 ft. (270 m) elevation on a gentle slope in the Willapa Hills on Washington State Forest lands. The habitat is a young, mixed coastal forest of Douglas­fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Mature trees have been harvested twice on this site, so this is a “ third growth ” forest approximately 40 years old. Conifers dominate but are mixed with red alder (Alnus rubra) and other hardwoods; the understory vegetation is sparse, consisting primarily of ferns and shrubs. Distribution. Occurring near the mouth of the Columbia River in northeastern Oregon and some 25 mi (40 km) to the north in coastal Washington (Fig. 2); the area is about 25 mi (40 km) west of that of R. leonardi. In addition to the types, the following sample is available: WASHINGTON: Pacific Co., 2 mi (3.2 km) NW Menlow, ♂, 17 December 2002, J. Ziegltrum, R. Shoals (CAS). Etymology. This species is named for the collector of the holotype and paratypes, Ellen M. Benedict, in recognition of her efforts in collecting minute litter organisms in Oregon.	en	Shelley, Rowland M. (2003): A new polydesmid milliped genus and two new species from Oregon and Washington, U. S. A., with a review of Bidentogon Buckett and Gardner, 1968, and a summary of the family in Western North America (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae). Zootaxa 296 (1): 1-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.296.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.296.1.1
03A3096E3A1DFFFBF462FBEE4E16C6A3.taxon	materials_examined	Type species. B. helferorum Buckett and Gardner, 1968, by original designation. Diagnosis. A genus of minute Polydesmidae without distinct pulvillus but with scattered hairs along caudal surface of gonopodal telopodite; division point located distad, tibiotarsus and endomerite widely separated, subparallel to each other. Species. Two Distribution. The coast of California from Mendocino to Santa Cruz counties, extending inland to Sacramento County (Fig. 1 [5]). Remarks. Chamberlin (1918) based his description of Brachydesmus californicus on a sample from Stanford, Santa Clara County, containing only one male, which is therefore fixed as the holotype by monotypy (Article 73.1.2 of the Code); the date of collection was not provided. During the next 46 years, Attems (1940), Chamberlin & Hoffman (1958), and Buckett (1964) all recorded Stanford as the type locality, but Shear (1972) reported discovering the type sample at the MCZ, which contained an unspecified number of male and female syntypes, was collected in January 1914 from Sacramento, Sacramento County, and was labeled “ ‘ HOLOTYPE. ’ ” Subsequently, Hoffman (1999) and Shelley (2002) reported Sacramento as the type locality. I have examined this sample and found it to contain two males and three females with a label stating “ Brachydesmus californicus sp. n. ” instead of one stating “ HOLOTYPE. ” Evidently, Chamberlin or somebody else mistakenly placed the “ sp. n. ” label with the Sacramento sample because it does not match the locality or number of specimens reported by Chamberlin (1918) in the original description. There is a vial with one male at the NMNH that was collected at Stanford in 1910 and matches the requirements for the type, but the possibility cannot be discounted that there might have been another pre­ 1918 sample from Stanford that is now lost. As both the Sacramento sample and that taken at Stanford in 1910 were collected prior to Chamberlin’s description (1918) of B. californicus, one can conjecture that he had both samples on hand when preparing the account and placed the label in the wrong vial himself. We will never know what happened, but Chamberlin’s clear intent, as evidenced by the published account, was to apply this name to the form at Stanford, the designated type locality. I have therefore placed a label in this vial stating “ Brachydesmus californicus Chamberlin, 1918, PROBABLE HOLOTYPE " and deposited it in the NMNH type collection. Shear (1972) noted that the endomerite in the males from Sacramento is apically broad whereas that of the type of Bidentogon helferorum, from 1 mi (1.6 km) north of Mendocino, Mendocino County, is narrow and acuminate. I have examined most of the available males of Bidentogon and found that all those collected along the coast and San Francisco Bay, including Stanford, exhibit the latter condition; the only sample in which the tibiotarsus is broad is that from Sacramento. Consequently, as the true type localities of both nominal species occur along the coast, its name must be changed to californicus, which holds priority over helferorum by 50 years. No name is available for that from Sacramento, so I propose Bidentogon expansus n. sp. I have placed the type label for B. expansus in this vial along with one stating that Stanford is the true type locality for Brachydesmus californicus.	en	Shelley, Rowland M. (2003): A new polydesmid milliped genus and two new species from Oregon and Washington, U. S. A., with a review of Bidentogon Buckett and Gardner, 1968, and a summary of the family in Western North America (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae). Zootaxa 296 (1): 1-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.296.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.296.1.1
03A3096E3A1CFFF8F462FAAE4F43C16B.taxon	materials_examined	Type specimen. Probable male holotype (NMNH) taken by an unknown collector in January 1910 at Stanford, Santa Clara County, California. Diagnosis. Tibiotarsus tapering distad, apically narrow and acuminate (Shear, 1972, figs. 1 ­ 2). Description. As reported by Buckett and Gardner (1968) for B. helferorum. Ecology. No habitat information was provided on vial labels in the new samples, but the type specimen of B. helferorum was collected in a pine, oak, and coastal chaparral community (Buckett & Gardner, 1968). Distribution. Coastal California from Mendocino to Santa Cruz counties including those around San Francisco Bay. New samples are available as follows: CALIFORNIA: Alameda Co., Berkeley, 4, 20 December 1959, D. D. Linsdale (UCB) and ♂, ♀, 18 December 1946, H. P. Chandler (FSCA); and Oakland, ♂, ♀, 8 February 1953, R. O. Schuster (NMNH). Marin Co., Stinson Beach, 2 ♂, 10 ♀, 24 December 1980, A. K. Johnson (NCSM); 1 mi (1.6 km) W Olema, 2 ♂, 2 ♀, 28 February 1976, J. T. Doyen (UCB); and 2 mi (3.2 km) E Pt. Reyes Station, 2 ♂, 19 December 1960, J. S. Buckett (NCSM) and ♂, ♀, 25 December 1961, C. W. O’Brien (FSCA). Mendocino Co., Mendocino, ♂, 2 ♀, 9 March 1968, J. R. Helfer (UCD). San Mateo Co., Portola Valley vic., nr. jct. Portola St. & San Gregorio Rd., ♂, 25 June 1961, W. H. Lange (FSCA). Santa Clara Co., Stanford, campus of Stanford University, ♂, 20 March 1931, collector unknown (NMNH); Milpitas, 2 ♂, 1 February 1928, J. C. Chamberlin (NMNH); and Mt. Madonna, ♀, 2 January 1954, collector unknown (FSCA). Santa Cruz Co., Ben Lomond, ♂, 22 January 1955, D. Burdick, M. Wasbauer (UCB).	en	Shelley, Rowland M. (2003): A new polydesmid milliped genus and two new species from Oregon and Washington, U. S. A., with a review of Bidentogon Buckett and Gardner, 1968, and a summary of the family in Western North America (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae). Zootaxa 296 (1): 1-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.296.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.296.1.1
03A3096E3A1FFFF8F462FC664F22C744.taxon	materials_examined	Type specimens. Male holotype and one male and two female paratypes (MCZ) collected by M. G. Childs in January 1914 in Sacramento, Sacramento County, California. Diagnosis Tibiotarsus expanding distad, apically broad and spatulate (Shear 1972, figs. 4 ­ 5). Ecology. The types were collected from debris in a hollow apple tree. Distribution. Known only from the type locality.	en	Shelley, Rowland M. (2003): A new polydesmid milliped genus and two new species from Oregon and Washington, U. S. A., with a review of Bidentogon Buckett and Gardner, 1968, and a summary of the family in Western North America (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae). Zootaxa 296 (1): 1-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.296.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.296.1.1
