Afraustraloxenodes schultzei ( Attems, 1909 ) Duy-Jacquemin, 2003

Duy-Jacquemin, Monique Nguyen, 2003, A new genus of Penicillata from Southern Africa with pseudoarticulated sensilla on the palpi of the gnathochilarium (Diplopoda: Polyxenida: Polyxenidae), African Invertebrates 44 (1), pp. 71-88 : 83-85

Afraustraloxenodes schultzei ( Attems, 1909) , comb. n.

( Figs 55–66 )

Material examined: Two adult females ( SAMC), SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Province, Prince Albert, under stones, no. 1640, pres[ented] W.F. Purcell, March 1896 .

This material, identified as Monographis schultzei Attems, 1909 by Attems (1928), was redescribed by Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin & Condé (1967), with the species transferred to the genus Chilexenus . As a recent re-examination of a cotype (syntype) of Chilexenus rosendinus shows (Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, in prep.), as in Macroxenus , a spine is present on tarsus II (not mentioned by Silvestri, 1948). Since schultzei shows a seta on tarsus II, and the trichomes are shorter than those in rosendinus , it is to be transferred to Afraustraloxenodes . A more complete description of schultzei than that given in 1967 is provided here, together with figures.

Redescription of adult females (nos 1 and 2):

Measurements: Body length (without caudal penicil): 3.50 mm; length of caudal penicil: 0.60 mm. Length of tarsus II of 13th leg: 107 and 117 m.

Head: Eight ocelli on each side. Vertex with one pair of posterior tufts consisting of two rows: anterior row with 10 to 11, posterior row with eight to 10 trichomes, the last trichome being slightly more posterior than the trichobothria ( Fig. 55 ). Distance between each tuft small. Proportions of antennal articles as in Fig. 62 . Article VI more than twice as long as diameter. Antennal article VI with thick dorsal sensilla basiconica: two short anterior and one longer posterior ( Figs 57, 64 ); one posterior sensillum coeloconicum; one setiform sensillum between the second short anterior and the posterior sensilla. Antennal article VII with two subequal dorsal sensilla basiconica separated by one setiform sensillum ( Figs 56, 63 ). Three trichobothria of equal size, each with a cylindrical funiculum. Entire surface of labrum with numerous, small, apiculate papillae ( Fig. 66 ), except two to three anterior rows of larger spherical papillae; anterior row largest. Five and six lamellate teeth at anterior margin in female no. 1 ( Fig. 65 ). Clypeo-labrum with 10 or 11 setae along posterior margin. Outer palp of gnathochilarium with 12 sensilla pseudoarticulated apically, middle palp with 20 sensilla, comprising 14 long pseudoarticulated sensilla and seven short non-articulated sensilla.

Trunk: On tergites, arrangement of trichomes similar to that of above described species. Total number of trichomes of each tuft on tergites as follows: collum 62 (female no. 2); tergites II to VIII 90 to 115. Lateral protuberance of tergite I with four and five trichomes in female no. 2 ( Fig. 55 ).

Legs: Each article of legs bearing sensory setae, except first tarsus. Coxa, trochanter and prefemur each bearing a seta with oval base furnished with acute process at apex ( Fig. 60 ). Chaetotaxy as follows: coxa I with two setae; trochanter and prefemur with one seta each; femur and tibia each with one small seta ( Figs 58, 59 ); second tarsus with a small seta. Pretarsus similar to that of namibiensis and coineaui , anterior process with a spinous projection slightly shorter than claw, two subequal latero-anterior and posterior spiniform processes, and a posterior lamellate process ( Fig. 61 ).

Telson : Five setae above anal valve in female no. 1, two external ones with a raised base. Bundle of caudal penicil unseparated. On each side, dorsal trichomes of telson consisting of three and four trichomes (a) in one female, six and seven in the other, one trichome (b), 11 trichomes (c). Trichomes of caudal penicil generally with three, sometimes two, hooks.

Figures

Figures 55–66. Afraustraloxenodes schultzei (Attems, 1909). 55–61. Adult female no. 2. 55. Head, dorsal view. 56–57. Sensilla of articles VII (view from above) and VI of left antenna. 58–60. Tibial, femoral and prefemoral setae of right leg II. 61. Telotarsus of right leg VIII, antero-internal view. 62–66. Adult female no.1. 62. Right antenna. 63–64. Sensilla of articles VII and VI of the same antenna. 65. Labrum, only some papillae shown. 66. Structural details of papillae shown in Fig. 65. Scale bars: Figs 55, 62 = 50 m; other figures = 25 m.