Archispirostreptus divergens Krabbe & Enghoff 1978

Mwabvu, Tarombera, Hamer, Michelle, Slotow, Rob & Barraclough, David, 2010, A revision of the taxonomy and distribution of Archispirostreptus Silvestri 1895 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae), and description of a new spirostreptid genus with three new species, Zootaxa 2567, pp. 1-49 : 10

Archispirostreptus divergens Krabbe & Enghoff 1978

Fig. 3

Archispirostreptus divergens Krabbe & Enghoff 1978 , p. 247–249, figs 1–5. Archispirostreptus divergens: Krabbe 1982

Type material: Holotype: KENYA: 13, Lake Baringo Lodge c 100 km from Nairobi [0 0 59'N, 36 0 03'E], 21- 22.vii.1977, H. Gonget ( ZMUC uncatalogued). Paratype: KENYA: 13, same data as holotype ( ZMH A89/78)

Diagnosis: Medially diverging and overlapping apical metaplical processes ( Figs 3a, 3b ).

Description: Size: Body length 130–150 mm; maximum body width 12–14 mm.

Number of body rings: 56–62.

Colour: Body black; legs and antennae red-brown.

Collum: Antero-lateral corners not produced into lobes, with 2–3 complete striae and 0–2 incomplete striae ( Fig. 3d ).

Pre-femoral process of 1st pair of male legs: Proximally broad and parallel, with laterally diverging and tapering distal extension ( Fig. 3c ).

Gonopod: ( Figs 3a, 3b ) Sternum wide proximally, dome-shaped apically; paracoxite rounded and not fused tightly to metaplica.

Proplicae with shallow central groove. Apex of proplica acute, overlapping lateral metaplical process proximally and with a spinous medial lobe.

Metaplicae wide proximally; opposite metaplicae wider apart at level of lateral metaplical process; oral fold of metaplica overlapping proximal lateral metaplical process and apical proplica. Medial edge of oral metaplica raised sharply at level of lateral metaplical process.

Lateral metaplical process slightly tilted anteriad, ending in distal spine. Lateral metaplical process proximally narrow, widens abruptly before tapering distally. Lateral metaplical process and apical metaplical process at obtuse angle.

Apical metaplical processes strongly diverging and overlapping medially leaving a proximal window ( Fig. 3a ).

Antetorsal process of the telopodite extends distally past the paracoxite apex.

Distribution: Known only from Lake Baringo, Kenya.

Remarks: The overlapping apical metaplical processes of the gonopods are unique to A. divergens . Other species of Archispirostreptus , except A. phillipsii , have erect and almost finger-like apical metaplical processes.

Figures

FIGURE 3 a, b. Archispirostreptus divergens (ZMH A 89 / 78). a, oral view of gonopods; b, aboral view of gonopods.