Carinobolus gen. nov.

Type species: Carinobulus complex sp. nov., by present designation.

Name. To reflect the bimodally crested metazonae characteristic of the genus, and ʻ-bolusʼ, a common suffix for genus-group names in the Spirobolida; masculine in gender.

Diagnosis. This new genus and species is remarkable not only in the bimodally crested metazonae (slightly, but clearly concave in the middle), which in itself is unique in the family, but also in the anterior gonopods being particularly elaborate and complex, multiramous and rather palm-shaped. In addition to the bimodal crests, Carinobolus gen. nov. differs from the similar Costabolus gen. nov. by the absence of prominent prefemoral protuberances from male legs 2 and of prominent coxal protuberances from male legs 3, and by the overall shape of the anterior gonopods which are palm-like rather than subtriangular. See also Key below.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality in southeastern Nigeria (Fig. 8).