Harpagophora monodus Attems, 1909

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 : 225-227

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.7666308
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7E3D87A0-8808-8007-FE7B-BA14004FF792
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Harpagophora monodus Attems, 1909
status

Treatment

Harpagophora monodus Attems, 1909 View in CoL

Figs 1 View Fig , 50–58 View Figs 50–58

Harpagophora monodus Attems, 1909: 43 View in CoL ; Attems 1914 1928; Lawrence 1938; Schubart 1966.

Harpagophora (Harpagophora) monodus View in CoL ; Demange 1983; Hamer 1998.

Type material (not examined): The whereabouts of the type material is unknown, but the type locality was given as ‘Cape’ ( Attems 1909). The type locality is here fixed as Northern Cape, Skilpad Nature Reserve, Swartjies River (30.16596˚S:17.79866˚E) .

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 1ơ2^, 14 miles inland of Port Nolloth [2916BD], 4.vi.1962, W. J. Lawson ( NMSA18922 View Materials ) ; 2ơ, Little Namaqualand, Springbok, Anenous Pass [2917BA], xi.1962, W. Haacke ( NMSA 18943 View Materials ) ; 1ơ3^, Garies [3018CA], 6 km NE of and south of road to Studers Pass , on hill slope facing north under stones and walking around on ground 29.viii.1986, P. Croeser, J. Londt & B. Stuckenberg ( NMSA 16159 View Materials ) ; 1ơ, Kamiesberg Pass [3018AC], Hardeveld , under rock, 28.ix.1994, P. Reavell ( NMSA 15632 View Materials ) ; 1ơ, South Richtersveld, Vlieholteberg (29˚10'S:17˚37'E), 900 m, 29.ix.1994, P. Reavell ( NMSA 16489 View Materials ) ; 2ơ, Skilpad Nature Reserve, Swartjies River, (30.16596˚S:17.79866˚E), Succulent Karoo , 10.ix.2001, R. Slotow & M. Hamer ( NMSA 19101 View Materials ) ; 1ơ 4^, Garies [3018CA], Little Namaqualand , - no original label with specimen lot ( SAMC C2102 View Materials ) . No locality data : 2ơ ( SAMC B7674 View Materials ) . Diagnosis: Distinct black projection at apex of larger femoral spine, directed laterally at right angle to major part of spine ( Fig. 55 View Figs 50–58 ). Spine branch a laminate plate, broadening apically with smooth margin and one large, curved, black tooth at one end ( Fig. 57 View Figs 50–58 ). Telocoxite rounded with short, blunt protuberance on medial distal margin. Lateral margin of telocoxite forming obscure, broadly rounded lobe ( Fig. 53 View Figs 50–58 ). Telocoxal spine absent .

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 8; females, n = 2. Body width 5.7–8.3 [7.3], female 9.0–11.0; collum width 7.0–8.7 [6.9], female 7.8–9.0; body length 65.0–100.0 [81.3], female 85.0–86.0; leg length 2.6–5.0, female 2.5–4.0; antenna length 5.0–5.4 [5.1], female 5.0.

Number of segments: 47–51 [49], female 49.

Colour: Head, clypeus and collum light brown. Prozonites brown, mesozonites light brown, metazonites dark brown. Anal valve and caudal spine light brown. Legs and antennae light brown to orange.

First ozopore: Segment 6.

Collum: Anterior corner with approximately 90˚ angle, posterior corner passing a little beyond posterior margin ( Fig. 50 View Figs 50–58 ). One submarginal groove.

Gonopods: Larger femoral spine directed distally, apex broad with black spine positioned at right angle and pointing towards lateral margin of telocoxite. Margin of area at base of black spine serrated ( Fig. 55 View Figs 50–58 ). Smaller femoral spine slender and partially curled round base of larger femoral spine ( Fig. 55 View Figs 50–58 ). Pectinophore with laminate plate expanded apically, hollow, saucer-like and curved inwards towards other apical elements. Surface of pectinophore with several setiform processes along entire margin of branch ( Figs 56, 57 View Figs 50–58 ). Spine branch a laminate plate with apical black spine ( Fig. 57 View Figs 50–58 ). Telocoxal spines absent. Telocoxite rounded with short, blunt protuberance on medial distal margin. Surface of telocoxite raised between medial margin and larger femoral spine, such that first femoral spine partially concealed. Outer margin of telocoxite formed into obscure, broadly rounded lobe ( Figs 52, 53 View Figs 50–58 ).

Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine short, just reaching margin of anal valve and sharply upturned distally.

Distribution: The species is endemic to the Northern Cape ( Fig. 1 View Fig ). It occurs in the western part of the province in the succulent Karoo biome.

Remarks: In terms of gonopod structure, the species is most similar to H. attenuata , but H. monodus differs from H. attenuata in the lack of telocoxal spines along the inner margin of the telocoxite. In H. monodus the protuberances on the medial distal margin of the telocoxite are not as long as in H. attenuata , and are more bluntly rounded. Specimens of H. monodus are much shorter and less robust than H. attenuata .

In some specimens the suture on the syncoxosternum is incomplete.

The origin of the name monodus is unclear and it has therefore not been modified to agree with the gender of the genus name.