Montana Field Guide

The validity of this species uncertain. The holotype male apparently immature, lacking one molt to maturity (holotype with 28 body segments). On the basis of the original description and distribution data (see Loomis and Schmitt 1971), Endopus parvipes has been proposed as a junior synonym of Brunsonia (=Conotyla) albertana (Shear 1976, 2003), which was redescribed previously as Brunsonia complexipes (Loomis and Schmitt 1971).

Genus Endopus: Body of moderate size, rather stout, fusiform, little flattened, not strongly pigmented. Ocelli usually in 3 rows arranged in a truncated triangle. Antennae not especially long or slender. Gnathochilarium with simple mentum. Metazonites flattened lengthwise, the dorsal setae not in a straight transverse row and relatively short, their basal tubercles not borne on large surface swellings; lateral keels poorly developed, little more than moderate convexities of the lateral surface. Preanal scale broadly truncate at apex. Gonopods exceedingly simple; the anterior pair small and contained within the body; posterior ones 3-jointed, the 3rd joint short, thick, extending only a little over side of segment 7, lacking a terminal claw. Pregenital legs of male with no unusual modifications except that for first 2 pairs are rather small and with the usual ventral comb of setae on outer joint. Coxae of 10th male legs with large open pore at apex (Loomis and Schmitt 1971).

[From Loomis and Schmitt 1971] Endopus parvipes: length to 11.0 mm, width to 1.5 mm. Head with eyesquite uniformly composed of 15 ocelli in a truncated triangle of 3 rows of 7, 5, 3, with another ocellus sometimes below lower 3. Antennae of moderate length and thickness, with joints increasing in length as follows: 1, 7, 6, 2 almost = 4, 5 slightly shorter than 3. Gnathochilarium with mentum undivided, triangular, deeply concave across basal half; a large greatly depressed area between mentum and hypostoma. Principle body segments with lateral keels poorly developed; dorsal setae of moderate length, rising from hemispherical tubercles; outer setae each side at posterior corner of keel; preanal scale about twice as broad as long, apex broad, transverse or faintly concave. Both pairs of gonopods small and very simple; the anterior ones low, broad, somewhat thickened, held within body; the posterior ones 3-jointed; coxal joint small, 2nd joint much thicker at base than apex, outer joint with chitinized area at tip but lacking claw.

Limited information, in part because of uncertain taxonomy. Adults and large immatures reported early to late July (Loomis and Schmitt 1971).

See genus in the General Description above. Differs from Orthogmus by the interior portion of metazonites not swollen, dorsal setae never in a straight transverse row, the lateral keels smaller.

Coniferous forest; moist areas, in leaf litter, under bark and logs sunk 2.5 cm in soil under canopy of subalpine fir, pine, hawthorne shrubs (Loomis and Schmitt 1971).