Zinophora slotowi, Redman & Hamer & Barraclough, 2003

Redman, Guy T., Hamer, Michelle L. & Barraclough, David A., 2003, Revision of the Harpagophoridae (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida) of southern Africa, including descriptions of five new species, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 203-277 : 264-266

Zinophora slotowi sp. n. Redman

Figs 3 , 175–183

Type material (examined): Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 1ơ, Mt. Ayliff [3029CD], on road, xi.1961, R. F. Lawrence ( NMSA 8209 ) . Paratype: 1ơ, same data as holotype .

Etymology: This species is named for Prof. Robert Slotow (University of Natal), in recognition of his interest in millipede biogeography, and his contribution of numerous specimens for this study.

Diagnosis: Telopodite with one long, narrow, apically tapered and slightly curved femoral spine partially concealed under posterior telocoxal fold ( Figs 176, 179, 180 ). Distally, medial margin of anterior telocoxal fold extended to form a large, aborally directed, flattened process with two to four teeth/telocoxal spines apically (spine plate) ( Figs 176, 177, 179 ).

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 3. Body width 6.0, 6.0–7.5; collum width 6.3, 6.0–7.5; body length 70.0, 65.0–75.0; leg length 4.0, 4.0–4.7; antenna length 5.0, 5.0–5.0.

Number of segments: 43, 43–45.

Colour: Head, clypeus, and collum brown. Prozonites and mesozonites orange, metazonites brown. Pre-anal ring and anal valve orange. Tip of caudal spine dark brown. Legs and antennae brown.

First ozopore: Segment 5.

Collum: One submarginal groove, anterior corner rounded, forming an angle of about 90˚ ( Fig. 182 ).

Gonopods: One long, narrow and slightly curved femoral spine emerging from flexure of telopodite ( Fig. 180 ), this partially concealed under posterior telocoxal fold ( Figs 176, 179 ). Pectinophore curved towards thumb. Thumb a concave/saucer-like laminate plate widening apically, dentate along distal margin and curved towards pectinophore. Second lamella distally widened ( Figs 178, 181 ). Distally, medial margin of anterior telocoxal fold extended to form a spine plate, a prominent, aborally directed, flattened, broad, plate-like protrusion with two to four teeth/telocoxal spines apically, positioned one above the other ( Figs 177, 179 ). Anterior margin of posterior telocoxal fold sloping diagonally, not concealing telocoxal spines nor overlapping opposite posterior telocoxal fold ( Figs 175, 176 ). Lateral margin of posterior telocoxal fold without distinct projection. Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine extending beyond posterior margin of anal valve and upturned distally.

Distribution: The species is known from one locality, namely Mt Ayliff in the Eastern Cape ( Fig. 3 ).

Remarks: Lawrence initially labelled the type material as Z. diplodonta , but this was because he had examined only the specimen with two spines on the telocoxal spine-plate, without dissecting out the gonopods. Z. diplodonta is distributed in the northern parts of the subregion, and the Eastern Cape locality falls far out of this range.

There is a degree of variation in the structure of the gonopods. One specimen has two telocoxal spines ( Fig. 177 ) and the other has four ( Fig. 179 ). In both cases one spine is further split into two, i.e. apically bifid.

Figures

Fig. 3. Distribution of southern African Zinophora species.

Figs 175–183. Zinophora slotowi sp. n. 175. Oral view of gonopods. 176. Aboral view of gonopods. 177, 179. Aboral view of distal region of gonopod showing variation in number of spines on spine plate. 178, 181. Apical elements of telopodite. 180. Telopodite. 182. Lateral view of collum; arrow indicates anterior end of millipede. 183. Oral view of first pair of male legs. c = telocoxal spines; f = femoral spine; p = pectinophore; sl = second lamella; sp = spine plate; t = thumb.