Rhysodesmus tepanecus (Saussure, 1859)

John Hollier, Edmund Schiller & Nesrine Akkari, 2017, An annotated list of the Diplopoda described by Aloïs Humbert alone and with Henri de Saussure, and the Diplopoda from Saussure’s Mexico expedition, Revue suisse de Zoologie 124 (2), pp. 203-224 : 219

tepanecus Saussure, 1859a: 321 [ Polydesmus (Fontaria) ].

Des terres chaudes du Mexique. Unspecified series.

Saussure (1860) gave a more detailed redescription of the ♂ without mentioning the ♀, and gave Cordova as the type locality. Saussure & Humbert (1872) described the ♀ on the basis of five specimens from Moyoapan and Santa Cruz, but these are not syntypes (and may not be conspecific). The MHNG collection has five dry specimens under the name Fontaria tepanecus , the ♂ having the data label “Cordova, Mexique, M H de Saussure.” There is also a tube containing a dry pair of gonopods secured by a pin through the cork stopper. These are all part of the type series. Hoffman (1970: 155) refers to a ♂ specimen in the MHNG collection as the holotype, which can be considered a lectotype designation by holotype assumption, particularly because the specimen has the label “Lectotype sig. Hoffman ’60.”

Rhysodesmus tepanecus (Saussure, 1859)

teres Humbert & Saussure, 1870: 175 [ Spirostreptus ].

Brasilia. Unspecified series.

Saussure & Humbert (1872) gave a more detailed redescription of the ♀ only, stating that the specimen(s) had been collected by Natterer. No specimens found in the MHNG. There is one dissected ♂ type specimen in the NHMW (Inventory number 2442, Acquisition number 1866.I.46) collected by Natterer. The Acquisition Register shows that the lot contained only one specimen, so this can be considered the holotype. The sex given in the redescription is either an error or they used a different specimen, the whereabouts of which is unknown. The generic placement is uncertain.

‘ Spirostreptus ’ teres Humbert & Saussure, 1870.