Archispirostreptus syriacus ( Saussure 1859 )

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 : 26

Archispirostreptus syriacus ( Saussure 1859)

Fig. 9

Julus syriacus Saussure 1859 , p. 329–330. [type locality: Palestine] Archispirostreptus tumuliporus judaicus (Attems 1926b) , p. 225. [type locality: Syria] Archispirostreptus transmarinus Hoffman 1965 , p. 18–23, figs 1–3. Syn. n. Archispirostreptus transmarinus: Krabbe & Enghoff 1978 ; Krabbe 1982 Archispirostreptus syriacus: Shelley 2009

Type material of A. transmarinus : YEMEN: Sanaa, ( ZMH 19, 1932).

Material examined: SAUDI ARABIA: 1 3, M. Adamson ( MNHN 1B 111). JORDAN: 1 3, Ajlum, Djerash, 13.iii.1977, Kinzelbach & coll ( MNHN 1B 033).

Diagnosis: Apical metaplical process concave proximally, with an angular projection laterally; medial edge of apical metaplical process convex distally ( Figs 9a, 9b ).

Description: Size: Body length 125–140 mm; maximum body width 8–10 mm.

Number of body rings: 59–68.

Colour: Body dark grey or black; legs and antennae brown.

Collum: Rounded ventrally, with 3–4 complete striae and 0–2 incomplete striae.

Pre-femoral process of 1st pair of male legs: Proximally rounded with distal nipple.

Gonopod: ( Figs 9a, 9b ) Sternum triangular, reaching level of paracoxite apex; paracoxite apex horizontal or broadly rounded and fused tightly to metaplica.

Width of proplicae constant along length; proplica apex covering lateral metaplical process proximally.

Width of metaplicae unchanged along length up to level of lateral metaplical process.

Lateral metaplical process long and tapering, proximal half wider.

Proximal apical metaplical process concave, with an angular projection laterally. Distal apical metaplical process convex medially.

Distribution: Known from Israel, Syria, Yemen, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Remarks: Archispirostreptus syriacus is the only species from the Middle East. The angular projection on the lateral edge of the apical metaplical process characterizes the gonopod of A. syriacus .

Besides having overlapping body size ranges, A. syriacus and transmarinus have similar gonopods, with a lateral angular projection on the apical metaplical process and a triangular sternite. Therefore, we propose synonymy of A. transmarinus with A. syriacus . Our conclusions are further supported by the relatively close proximity of the localities from where the material was recorded.

Figures

FIGURE 9 a, b. Archispirostreptus syriacus (ZMH 19, 1932). a, oral view of gonopods; b, aboral view of gonopods.