Lamelloramus, Frederiksen, Sara B., 2013

Frederiksen, Sara B., 2013, East African odontopygid millipedes 3: Two new genera; Lamelloramus and Aquattuor proposed to contain three new species (Diplopoda; Spirostreptida; Odontopygidae), Zootaxa 3694 (1), pp. 59-66 : 60-61

Genus Lamelloramus n.gen.

Type species: Lamelloramus rhombiformis n.sp.

Diagnosis: Characterized by a large side-branching lamella on the long, ribbon-shaped telomere, which is more or less curled up, and a simple whip-like solenomere with a small loop at the apex. The coxa separates apically into two large processes; a median metaplical flange and the actual coxal/proplical apex.

Resembles the genus Allantogonus , but the telomere of that genus is folded into a tube, has no side-branching lamella and does not curl up or loop as the gonopod of Lamelloramus does. Allantogonus furthermore has square teeth on the limbus, or it is completely straight-edged instead of being regularly serrated as the Lamelloramus limbus is. The solenomere apex has a single loop, seemingly unique for this genus.

Etymology: Named after the side-branching lamella on the telomere (ramus lt. for branch).

Description: Resembles any odontopygid externally:

Colouration: Head and antennae mostly brown, but with two lighter brown/yellow spots between the antennae. Darker brown towards collum, more yellow towards labrium. Labrium brown. Collum yellowish brown. The rest of the body rings likewise yellowish brown, but posterior part of metazona darker brown, resulting in a banded look. Legs yellow. Telson ranging from brown to yellow. Yellow dorsal spots run the length of the trunk.

Head and body: 6 supralabral setae and a row of labral setae. Antennae reaching back to body ring 6. Distal margin of mandibular stipes bilobed, ventral lobe bigger. Lateral end of collum square, with three furrows, one upper furrow distinct, two lower marginal furrow. Metazonites with furrows ventrally. Anal valves (fig. 3) with three setae each, evenly distributed dorsal to ventral on posterior edge, and with a dorsal spine, extended smoothly from telson. Male legs with postfemoral and tibial pads. Limbus serrated (fig. 1).

Gonopod: Coxa differs somewhat amongst the species, but proplica always with a distad proplical lobe overreached either by a metaplical or proplical apex, depending on how it is folded around the telopodite. Coxa otherwise simple with few lobes and no spines. Telopodite basomere with torsotope and posttorsal narrowing, a spine might be situated just basal to narrowing. Telomere long and ribbon-shaped, strongly curled up or looping, always with a large square lamella just before the curl. Solenomere long and whip-like, simple except for a small loop always present at the apex, with strong striation.

Distribution: So far only known from the type locality; the East Usambara Mts., Tanzania.