Atalopharetra spp.

(Order Polydesmida, family Dalodesmidae)

Atalopharetra is an H+20 genus of large burrowing dalodesmids (to 25 mm long) with short, broad gonopods curled over into 'hoods'. The genus (formerly coded 'Atal') is confined to southwestern and southern Tasmania and includes two cave-dwelling species.

A. bashfordi and A. johnsi can only be separated by examining the gonopods of mature males (see images below), hence the many uncertain identifications in the distribution map. These two species have overlapping ranges in the Southern Forests. Both species prefer richly organic soils and are only rarely seen in leaf litter or rotting logs, although both have been pitfall-trapped. Note the great reduction in paranota (whole-animal image, above)

Rear views of gonopods of A. bashfordi (left) and A. johnsi (right).

A. clarkei and A. eberhardi are cave-dwellers with the usual range of troglomorphic features: pale colour, thin body and unusually long legs. In contrast to surface-dwelling Atalopharetra, the cave-dwellers have well-developed paranota (see images below) and A. eberhardi is armoured with an abundance of paranotal teeth. A. clarkei is so far known only from caves near Ida Bay, while A. eberhardi has been collected in caves near Precipitous Bluff.

Left paranotal margin of midbody segment of A. clarkei (left) and A. eberhardi (right), and rear view of A. clarkei gonopods (centre).

Localities for Atalopharetra spp.: A. johnsi (red), A. bashfordi (blue), unidentified Atalopharetra females and juveniles (gray), A. clarkei (purple) and A. eberhardi (light green). Scale bar = 100 km.
For an interactive map with more up-to-date localities, go to the mapper page.

More information:
 
Taxonomy - Mesibov (2005b)
Distribution, conservation and general - Mesibov (1997b), Mesibov (1998b)